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In this update:
How to Stop Ever-Higher Energy Costs?
Pennsylvanians face rising energy costs. Grid reliability continues to be a threat that may cause devastating outages like the major power crisis Texas experienced in 2021 when more than 4.5 million homes and businesses were without power for days. Rising costs and compromised reliability are worsened by Governor Tom Wolf’s unilateral decision to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). As predicted, joining RGGI increased electricity rates for consumers, cut energy and manufacturing jobs, and led to the closure of Pennsylvania power plants. Rolling blackouts will become commonplace when energy production cannot keep up with demand. Legislation which I support to repeal RGGI has been introduced and is under consideration by the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. The Senate has also passed bills that would ensure Pennsylvanians have options regarding fuel availability, help to secure the state’s future as a hub for carbon capture and sequestration and most effectively capitalize on the state’s abundant natural resources through the creation of the Independent Energy Office to provide impartial data. Dedicating the Caitlin McGarry Memorial Bridge
Family and friends of Caitlin McGarry gathered in Schuylkill Haven this week to dedicate the new bridge on Columbia Street in her honor in a very moving ceremony which Rep. Tim Twardzik and I were proud to join. Caitlin graduated from Schuylkill Haven Area School District and Penn State University, where she was very active in THON. After graduation, she began working for PennDOT, where she was the project manager for the very bridge that now is named in her memory. I was honored to introduce the legislation last year that named ten bridges in northeast Pennsylvania after PennDOT employees who passed away, including Caitlin. After the old bridge – which was 102 years old – was overrun by a flood in 2006, replacing it became a top priority for local officials including County Commissioner Gary Hess, who was mayor at the time, and former state Rep. Bob Allen. Now, after two years of construction, the new $4.2 million bridge should withstand many, many storms in the years to come. Argall Report: Bringing New Life to the Former KME Plant in Nesquehoning
The September edition of my local TV program focuses on the renovation and reuse of the former KME Fire Apparatus complex in Nesquehoning. Breathing new life into many of our local towns, large and small, is the most important part of my job as the state senator for Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill counties. This community-driven project in Nesquehoning is an excellent example. When KME closed in 2021, many of us feared it might stay empty forever. This massive plant was the economic heartbeat of the area and one of the region’s largest employers. Thankfully, local entrepreneurs stepped up to the plate. With strong support from the Kovatch family’s new generation of leaders in Kathy Kovatch Reaman and Ric Reaman, this site is now almost fully restored. The site on the west side of State Route 54 now houses the brand-new Narrow Valley Sportsplex, which features batting cages, indoor golf simulators, pickleball courts, basketballs courts, and volleyball courts, and a Bulldog Fire Apparatus plant. Reading and Northern Railroad transformed the buildings north of State Route 54 into a new passenger train platform, train maintenance, and employee training facilities. Connecting Weatherly to the D+L Trail
Weatherly received some VERY exciting news last week – a new federal grant will help build a 5-mile trail that will connect the borough to Lehigh Gorge State Park and the Delaware and Lehigh Trail. We’ve seen in communities like White Haven and Jim Thorpe how access to outdoor recreation can breathe new life into an area by attracting more visitors. Considering this news and the restoration of the vacant and blighted 1901 Schwab School building into 30 apartments, I think Weatherly’s best days are ahead. Last year, shortly after I became the new state senator for Carbon and Luzerne Counties, I hosted a summit with Rep. Doyle Heffley in Jim Thorpe focused upon how we can work together, regardless of political party or town and county boundaries, to revitalize more of our small towns. Since then, we’ve seen more and more positive developments like this – with many more to come! Remembering the Lattimer Massacre
This week marked the 127th anniversary of the Lattimer Massacre – one of the most infamous moments in the history of anthracite coal mining in this region. On September 10, 1897, at least 19 miners – almost all of them immigrants from eastern Europe – were killed by the Luzerne County sheriff and his deputies while peacefully striking for better pay and working conditions just a few miles from the city of Hazleton. The Pennsylvania historical marker at the site names it as “one of the most serious acts of violence in American labor history.” This horrific tragedy led thousands of miners to join the United Mine Workers, which ultimately won large wage increases and safety improvements just a few short years later. My grandfather Miller proudly wore his UMWA member pin for decades. It continues to remind us of how our ancestors struggled, fought, and sacrificed to build a better Pennsylvania. Celebrating Local Childcare Centers
Rep. Dane Watro and I were invited to a celebration of local childcare programs that received a Keystone STARS rating of 3 or 4, indicating that they are well-prepared in providing children with a safe environment. We thanked them for everything they do. Reliable childcare services are a necessity for working families. As the chair of the Senate Education Committee, I’m committed to addressing the challenges childcare providers are faced with every day. Thank you to Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children and the Pennsylvania Child Care Association for putting this great event together and the Hazleton Integration Project for hosting! Don’t Miss Minersville Spirit Day!
Minersville Spirit Day is on Sunday! Visit the borough from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on North Street between 2nd and 4th streets to enjoy live music, games, vendors, food and more. The Minersville Area Lions Club hosts this great community event. Rep. Twardzik and I will plan to be there! Applications Open: Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy for At-Risk Youth
The Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy (KSCA) is accepting applications for its class, which begins in January 2025. KSCA is designed to give academically challenged teens a second chance at obtaining their basic education, as well as learning leadership, self-discipline and responsibility. Learn more about eligibility requirements and begin the application process here. Anyone who prefers to have an application mailed or would like to talk with someone about the program may contact the academy by emailing RA-MVPAChallenge@pa.gov or calling 717-861-7767. Free Webinars Provide Useful College Financial Aid Info
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is holding free webinars to assist college-bound students and their families with navigating the financial aid process. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, at noon, speakers will discuss the financial aid timeline. On Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m., speakers will focus on how to search for scholarships and pay for any remaining costs. Register to attend the one-hour webinars. National Voter Registration Day is a Great Reminder
Tuesday, Sept. 17, is National Voter Registration Day. It’s a wonderful time to confirm that you are registered to vote at your current address or to register if you have moved or would be a first-time voter. The last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania before the Nov. 5 election is Monday, Oct. 21. You may submit your application online, by mail to your county voter registration office or in person at your county voter registration office. Active-duty military members or veterans who are hospitalized or bedridden may register at any time. Learn more about that option. Please note: if you are not a United States citizen and a resident of Pennsylvania at least 30 days before the election, you cannot register to vote. Upcoming Events
Is your license plate worn out? You can get it replaced for free at an event I’m hosting with Rep. Heffley on Thursday, September 19 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Kidder Township Municipal Building. A local police officer will be on hand to inspect your plate to determine if it qualifies for free replacement. For more information or to RSVP, call 570-773-0891.
Rep. Watro and I are hosting a Senior Expo at the Laurel Mall in Hazle Township on Thursday, September 19 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. If you need assistance from local, county, or state agencies, stop by!
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