I will be hosting a free shredding event October 11 in Munhall to help you safely dispose of papers and disks with sensitive information. It’s a great way to protect your identity by ensuring documents don’t fall into the wrong hands—documents such as financial statements, cancelled checks, legal and insurance papers.

So plan on stopping by if you have any documents you’d like to shred, and feel free to call my office with any questions at (412)664-0035.

I realize the challenges we face staying healthy as we get older, which is why I’m co-hosting a free Senior Wellness & Safety Expo this month with Sen. Pisciottano. It will be 10:30 am to 1 pm on October 16 at McKeesport Palisades, 100 Fifth Ave.

We’ll have flu shots and health screenings, and we’ll make it fun with door prizes, refreshments, and live entertainment. For more information, call my district office at (412)664-0035.

If you receive health insurance through Pennie, the state’s health insurance marketplace, I want you to know about the serious impact that new federal law has on your coverage. Unless Congress acts soon, the new federal law will raise the cost of your insurance and force you to take extra steps to stay covered.

All Pennie enrollees must update their information and shop for plans during the 2026 Open Enrollment Period that starts November 1. So be sure to read all communications from Pennie and your insurance company.

You can learn more about the upcoming price increases here. The PA Insurance Department is also hosting free sessions to help you prepare, and one is coming up October 9 at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Main in Oakland. Learn more about the sessions here.

With approximately 83,000 grandparents caring for grandchildren in Pennsylvania, the state now has a free statewide helpline for those grandparents to connect with services and legal advice. The PA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Legal Line can be reached at 1-877-727-7529. It offers help with legal proceedings and information on caregiver support groups.

For more information, visit the Department of Aging website.

Lead is toxic to humans, especially children, yet the paint in many old homes still has it. If you have young children or a pregnant person in a home built before 1978, check out Allegheny County’s Lead Safe Homes program. It offers free lead-paint testing and treatment to qualifying homeowners, renters, and landlords.

For more information, call the Lead Safe Homes Hotline at 412-227-5700 or visit www.alleghenycounty.us/leadsafeprogram.

To honor Pennsylvania’s historically strong commitment to education, the state commission planning America’s 250th anniversary celebration will award $250,000 in scholarships to deserving PA students attending in-state colleges next school year. Any Pennsylvania high school senior who plans to attend a PA college for 2026-27 may apply. Twenty-five scholarships, totaling $10,000 each, will be awarded by the America250PA commission.

Applications are due January 31, 2026. More details can be found here.

Scammers are sending fake texts pretending to be from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, trying to steal your personal and financial information by promising a refund. Don’t reply or click on any links.

The Department of Revenue does NOT send unsolicited text messages asking for your banking info or Social Security number. To safely check your refund status, visit myPATH or call 1-888-PATAXES. If you have questions or want to report a scam, contact the Department of Revenue at 717-425-2495, Ext. 72267.

The Office of the State Fire Commissioner is accepting grant applications from fire companies and EMS squads for a wide range of purposes. Grants may be used for facility improvements, equipment purchases, debt reduction, training, education, and recruitment and retention efforts. Grant amounts will range from $2,500 to $20,000 per fire company and up to $15,000 per emergency medical service.

The application deadline is October 20, 2025. For more information, visit the Office of State Fire Commissioner Website.

Next week is Fire Prevention Week, the perfect time to make sure your home is protected from fire dangers. So test your smoke detectors and make sure you have a fire escape plan, among other precautions. For more information, visit the website for the National Fire Protection Association.

My team and I are here to assist with a variety of state government-related services, so please don’t hesitate to visit the district office at Tube City Center in McKeesport, call us at 412-664-0035, or visit my website, www.repgoughnour.com.