Quantcast
Channel: CBS 21 News Editors Picks
Viewing all 6707 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

UPDATE(2): Wrong way crash kills two on Interstate 283, victims identified

February 4, 2013, 5:15 am
$
0
0
UPDATE:

The victims from the fatal, head-on crash were identified Monday.

The driver of the Volkswagen Jetta was Mike Kelliher Sr., 59. The driver of the Hyundai Accent Marshall Black, age 53.
___________________________________________
Police in Dauphin County say they are having a difficult time investigating a wrong way crash.

They say they can't find any witnesses in the wreck that killed two men on Interstate 283.

A Hyundai was traveling North around 6 a.m. Monday, only in the southbound lanes. Police say the driven collided head-on with another car.

The call came in before six Monday morning as a man drove the wrong way, hitting a black Volkswagen driven by a 59-year-old man from Jonestown.

“Don't know why the driver may have been traveling in the wrong direction but hopefully we can figure it out,” explained State Police Trooper Public Information Officer Robert Hicks.

For hours Monday morning, Interstate 283's southbound lanes in Swatara Township near the Turnpike exit were closed as police investigated how this accident happened.

“At this point and time we don't have any witnesses, hopefully maybe when information gets out there, they'll call the Harrisburg Barracks,” stated Hicks.

The man driving the wrong way was wearing a seatbelt, but the person he struck was not.
___________________________________________

Pennsylvania State Police say a wrong-way driver on I-283 collided into another car killing both drivers early Monday morning.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, the collision happened just after 6 this morning. Police say the driver of the Hyundai Accent was driving in the wrong direction when it collided head-on into a Volkswagon Jetta. As of now, police do not why the driver of the Hyundai was driving in the wrong lanes and they say there were no witnesses.

The identities of the men have not been released, however CBS 21 News can confirm the one victim, a 59 year old, was from Jonestown.

While police investigated, I-283 Southbound lanes were closed for a couple hours causing heavy traffic problems. The lanes re-opened just after 9 this morning.

The Dauphin County Coroner reported to the scene with crews from Lower Swatara Township Fire.

Pennsylvania State Police continue investigating.

___________________________________________
Dauphin County crews are on the scene of a fatal crash.
Dispatchers tell us it happened shortly 6:30 a.m. on I-283 south in between exits one and two, near the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Swatara Township.
Our crew just arrived on scene and says they saw one body being put into the coroner's van. There are reports another person was killed.
We’re working two confirm that a second body was taken from the accident scene.
No other details are available at this time.



↧
Search

Celebration continues for Ravens fans after Super Bowl victory

February 4, 2013, 1:19 pm
$
0
0
The big game is over, but the celebration continues.

The celebrating is nowhere close to over as Ravens fans have the Super Bowl Champion parade Tuesday. Monday was the day to make sure they had all their Baltimore gear stocked up.

All the purchases were purple today at JJ Cards and Toys.

Matt Schroeder already had his Baltimore bling.

“The beads which are a collection, the jersey, everything you need, the cap,” Schroeder explained.

He's been waiting to show all his gear off.

“Long time coming, I'm 20, last time Ravens won I was 8 years old, I just want to celebrate be happy with everyone else that’s happy, it's great,” exclaimed Schroeder.

Randi Ward flew in from Montana, she wanted to watch the game with her aunt close to the action. Now she's making sure she's got enough Ravens gear for her return flight.

“You know just anything it's so hard to find anything Baltimore in Montana,” chuckled Ward. “So anytime I can find it I buy it, just shopping trying to find anything I can to take home with me.

But before she flies home, they're going to the parade.

“Oh my gosh its electric, they are crazy down there,” commented Robin Crestenson. “We’re excited to go down and see the parade. Everyone's called into work and it's crazy it's an energy I've never felt before from all of them so it's awesome

Awesome for fans and awesome for business. At JJ's, they expect sales to pick up through the week. For now, they are just enjoying the customers.

“All the people in purple you see them all and they are so happy you know its still a bad economy,” explained employee Chelsie Hare. “Even if they don’t buy anything, they come in look around and know their players were awesome.”

The parade will kick off at 10:45 and ends at M&T Stadium in Baltimore.

↧
↧

Mayor Thompson brings in big contributions from local business owners

February 4, 2013, 1:30 pm
$
0
0
The race for Harrisburg Mayor is heating up as local candidates receive campaign money from supporters.

Current Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson has received two hefty donations totaling $11,000 through the end of last year, but City Controller and Mayor Candidate Dan Miller says that smaller donations are making up his campaign.

Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson has launched her campaign for a second term as mayor, and in the process she has received to major donations from Harrisburg business owners.

Ron Kamionka, who owns multiple bars in Harrisburg, has donated $10,000 dollars to Mayor Linda Thompson's campaign along with $1,000 donated by Donald Brown who owns the Fire House.

These numbers were pulled from a campaign finance report that shows all of the donations received during the 2012 calendar year. While the Mayor received two hefty donations from business owners, neither of those donations comes from people who can vote for her because they both live outside of the city.

"I think that's a great contrast to the type of contributions that our campaign is getting," differed current City Controller and Harrisburg Mayoral Candidate Dan Miller.

Current City Controller Dan Miller has taken a different approach to his campaign for Mayor.

"We have a program called Harrisburg 400 where we're hoping to get 400 people give us 100 dollars each and we've gotten over 280 so far," Miller explained.

During the 2012 calendar year, Dan Miller received over $85,000 in donations, with no single donation being over a $1,000. That's compared to those two contributions for Mayor Linda Thompson totaling in $11,000 dollars.

"I'd much rather be in our position,” Miller stated. “We've got many voters in Harrisburg that have given us small contributions because they believe in me and they believe in change, and they think I'm the best candidate to do that job."

The primary for the Harrisburg Mayor race will take place in May, so over the next months you can expect to see a lot of campaigning.

↧

Developers looking for the public's input in how part of Carlisle is re-developed

February 4, 2013, 1:44 pm
$
0
0
In Carlisle, borough officials Monday night will launch an initiative to plan for the future of three vacant industrial sites.

It's a unique process where government officials and the owners of each of the properties will sit down with residents to talk about their thoughts on redevelopment.

Between 2008 and 2010, three major manufacturing facilities ceased operating in Carlisle. One manufactured electronic components, another specialty rubber tires and products, and the third carpeting for Ford Motor projects. Job losses totaled nearly 700.

The first to go was the largest, the International Automotive Components, formerly Lear Corp and initially Masland Carpets. The property is owned by auto show producer Carlisle Events.

Part of the vacant 54-acre facility was heavily damaged by a large fire last year. Demolition of the building continues.

The smallest of the three, Tyco, maker of electronic components, closed in 2009. That building still stands.

One year later, Carlisle Tire and Wheel closed, taking its jobs to Tennessee. Demolition is on going there as well.

The question becomes, what can be done to increase property values and replace lost job opportunities?

"We are going to be developing a vision, a blueprint if you will, to revitalize that neighborhood,” stated Carlisle Borough Manager Matt Candland. “What's very different about this process is that we have three properties that could be redeveloped; at least two they get other buildings."

Kim Donnelly worked at the carpet manufacturer for 17 years and now lives next door.

"It's kind of sad that we don't have any more production in Carlisle because that was a big part of how people make their living,” Donnelly told us. “I guess anything that will bring some incoming jobs to Carlisle and bring some jobs and would be a good thing.”

"Well just something really lovely something nice something that would benefit the community as a whole," Donnelly added.

Cassandra Lyle is going to the meeting Monday night and she's ready to share her thoughts.

"Be nice to see some more areas, some stores and nice restaurants closer to home and something beautiful to look at," Lyle commented.

Candland says the property owners have had discussions with prospective developers but it is his understanding nothing has been firmed up. There's no deal been made that he's aware of.

The property owners are very open to the input that will be received from the public.

is one of the few times that those affected by property development have the opportunity to be involved in planning so early in the process. The meeting begins at 7 Monday evening in the Carlisle Municipal Building.


↧

Petition says the day after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday

February 4, 2013, 2:03 pm
$
0
0
Does America need another holiday?

There is yet another White House petition that is making news; this one would make the Monday after the Super Bowl a national holiday.

To give you an idea of how big the game is, the president won re-election last year with about 66 million votes. While the final numbers are not yet in, Sunday’s game will be close to beating last year’s total of 111.3 million viewers.

There is very little that Americans agree on as much as watching the Super Bowl and the commercials, but does that amazing amount of national unity warrant the creation of a new national holiday?

Josh Moore, who owns the fantasy football website ‘4 for 4’ has created a White House Petition gathering more signatures by the minute, should it reach 100,000 supporters by the 23rd of February, it will get an official response from the White House.

“It'd be fun, just have a day off after the Super Bowl, that would be nice,” one person told us.

Part of the logic behind the idea is that, along Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve the day after the Super Bowl is one of the least productive work days of the year.

“I think it should be because a lot of older people get drunk, the day you don't want to put yourself in danger, hangovers, etc,” commented Elihah Blockson.

We want to know what you think, so we've opened the question up on our CBS21 Facebook page.

Brad Basselgia said, “I'm always down for a paid holiday.”

Wendy Schneck agreed, stating, “that would be great. Many tired people today. Extra sleep would be nice.”

Others don't think this is an idea whose time has come

“Better idea might be to don't drink in excess just because you're watching a football game,” believes Jon Smith.

Bill Ilgenfritz believes “they need to move the game to Saturday night.”

Dan Krodel also weighed in, saying, “take a day off for watching an ad marketing vehicle which masquerades as a sport? Seriously?”

Linda Soester also doesn’t think it is warranted, “I think there are more important days to commemorate with a day off.”

“I don't see why not most people are going to be recuperating from a nice long party,” one stated.

The Super Bowl extends beyond cultures, languages and borders. However, overall the consensus appears to be 'no.' I wouldn't put the National Super Bowl Holiday on your calendar for next year, but it is close and of course we're still taking your comments on our Facebook!

 

↧
↧

Local community looking to take steps to bring more retailers to downtown

February 4, 2013, 2:18 pm
$
0
0
A Cumberland County community will be reaching across the nation in an effort to bring new life to its downtown. A recruiter has been hired to attract new retail stores, restaurants and other businesses to Carlisle.

A mayor once said as your downtown goes, so goes the rest of the city. What he meant was pay attention to your downtown and other neighborhoods will grow and prosper.

Do you remember when downtowns were the retail hub of every city, town and community? Not so any more.

There are only so many retailers and they can be picky where they choose. So the Downtown Carlisle Association has hired a recruiter to pick, choose then recruit those who best fit Carlisle’s demographics.

"Actually we are at our lowest vacancy rate in about 20 years,” counter Downtown Carlisle Association Executive Director Glenn White. “We have going around and seen the other malls and shopping centers and they are in a lot worse shape than we are. We have a great mix right now we're looking at bringing on some really, really great stores."

Ray Wolfe is a real estate agent and broker with an office in Downtown Carlisle. He's seen the downtown at its worst and best. He says keeping it energized is a never-ending job.

"We need to develop a niche,” Wolfe told us. “We've developed a little bit of a niche with the folks on West Pomfret Street, want some other restaurant activities. It is an ongoing effort and it's been that way for many years and it will continue to be that way."

Wolfe says some national retailers could be attracted to the downtown. It will take work and persistence:

The DCA says the retailers competitors are not the shops down the street or on another block. The competition comes from stores in Harrisburg, York, Lancaster and yes, the internet.

↧

State and local agencies partner to help offenders beat their addictions

February 4, 2013, 2:41 pm
$
0
0

State and local officials today announced a partnership that will help offenders with drug and alcohol programs successfully transition from prison to their community.


“Drug and alcohol addiction and abuse are barriers for many offenders to successfully complete parole and turn their lives around,” Parole Board Chairman Michael Potteiger said. “This partnership with Dauphin County continues the emphasis on meaningful re-entry efforts under the leadership of Gov. Tom Corbett   to decrease the number of offenders who return to the criminal justice system.”

The partnership is a court-based re-entry program with the PA Board of Probation and Parole, Dauphin County Court, and Dauphin County Commissioners to decrease recidivism, increase public safety and reduce correctional costs. 

The re-entry program provides intensive supervision and oversight to higher-risk offenders with a history of substance abuse and it does so in a unique way by having a parole board member and a County Common Pleas Court judge meet with the offender on a monthly basis in the courtroom. The first session will be held on Feb. 13.

The program includes a case management team to provide individually tailored continuity of services for each parolee, maximizing their ability to succeed in the community. To be eligible, offenders must have been convicted in and returning to Dauphin County and have at least 18 months of parole supervision remaining on their sentence.

↧

Suspect in Alabama standoff is dead, five-year-old is safe

February 4, 2013, 2:42 pm
$
0
0

(CBS/AP) MIDLAND CITY, Ala. - A U.S. official tells CBS News that a nearly week-long hostage standoff in which a 5-year-old was being held captive in southeast Alabama has ended in the kidnapper's death. The child is said to be okay.

Authorities said 65-year-old Jimmy Dykes gunned down a school bus driver Tuesday and abducted a 5-year-old boy from the bus before taking him to an underground bunker on his rural property. The driver, 66-year-old Charles Poland Jr., was buried Sunday.

Dykes, a decorated Vietnam-era veteran described as a loner who railed against the government, lived up a dirt road just off the main road north to the state capital of Montgomery, about 80 miles away.

CBS radio affiliate WSB says reporters heard what may have been a concussion grenade before ambulance and fire vehicles went to and from Dykes' property about 4p.m. Eastern Time Monday.

↧
Search

Duo breaks into elementary school, but their footprints leave a trail

February 4, 2013, 1:50 pm
$
0
0
Police in York County say two people broke into a school, but they left police a pretty good trail.

This happened just after midnight Sunday when there was fresh snow on the ground and the suspects left a footprint lead.

Northern York County Regional Police went to Conewago Elementary School at 12:15 Sunday morning, responding to a burglar alarm.

Police met a school official there and they found a broken window leading into a classroom.

Police say the two suspects smashed the window to get in the school, and then once inside left a flashlight behind.

Nothing was immediately noticed as missing, but that could change. Outside the school, two set of footprints were found in the fresh snow.

Police followed them to a nearby housing development, but at this point they have not made any arrests.

Police say none of the other rooms were disturbed at the school and the suspects left through an exit door.

Of course if you have information, call police.

↧
↧

Victim tells police suspect approaches him, shoots him in knee

February 4, 2013, 3:09 pm
$
0
0
A man was shot in the left knee Sunday afternoon and suffered a minor injury.

The shooting occurred just after 330 p.m. at the intersection of South 15th Streets and Derry Streets in Harrisburg.

The victim, an Allison Hill resident, said he was standing there when a man simply approached him and shot him.

The victim was taken to Penn State Hershey Medical Center where he was treated and released.

The investigation continues and anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ramos-Sanchez at 717-255-7262.

↧

Faculty and professors' union approves contract, heads to legislative assembly

February 4, 2013, 3:15 pm
$
0
0
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A union negotiating committee has unanimously approved a tentative contract agreement affecting about 5,500 faculty members at state-owned universities in Pennsylvania.

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties said the panel made up of union leaders from the 14 campuses approved the proposal during a statewide teleconference Monday. The agreement with the State System of Higher Education will now be presented Friday to the union's legislative assembly, which could send it to the rank and file for ratification.

Officials said the four-year deal mirrors the agreements reached by Governor Corbett and the other statewide unions and includes changes to the health care plan. Details are to be released after the ratification process is complete.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
↧

Man visiting from Illinois accidentally shoots himself with pistol

February 4, 2013, 5:18 pm
$
0
0
On Monday evening around 630 p.m., State Police were called to the 2700 block of Sand Beach Road, East Hanover Township for a person shot.

When they arrived, they learned that Kevin Sheibe, 24 of Illinois, was in town visiting a friend. He was trying to clean his friends’ Smith and Wesson M&P pistol when it discharged with the bullet striking him in the thigh.

Sheibe was taken to Penn State Hershey Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries.

The friend was not home at the time of the incident.

↧

Governor Corbett to deliver budget address on Tuesday

February 4, 2013, 5:53 pm
$
0
0
Governor Corbett is expected to deliver his budget address for the next fiscal year.

But it's not clear if he'll support the expansion of Medicaid under the president's health care plan.

Expanding would provide government health insurance to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Pennsylvanians. And the federal government would pay a bulk of the cost.

But the Governor and fellow Republicans say the state can't afford to pay the balance. They say the decision would be worse for you.

"The taxpayers get hurt by Medicaid because our expenses are already going through the roof...it's already consuming 25% of our budget. We expand it is going to add at least a billion dollars on the hardworking taxpayers," explained State Representative Stephen Bloom.

Many Democrats say expanding Medicaid will actually save money for taxpayers and could help lower private insurance premiums.

Aside from Medicaid, health care, education, pensions and transportation are a few of the hot issues expected to be included in the Governor's budget.

On our Facebook page, we want to know what you think should be top priority.

We will be at the budget address on Tuesday and bring you full coverage on-air and online.

↧
↧

State faculty move closer to approving contract with universities

February 4, 2013, 6:01 pm
$
0
0
Good news for teachers and students Monday night as union presidents of the 14 state-owned universities passed an agreement with the state after more than a year of negotiations.

The agreement has to go through two more boards before it is finalized.

This is a huge step after a year and a half of negotiations, leaving both teachers and students very pleased.

On Friday the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties met for the 46th time, and after two full days of negotiations, they came to a tentative agreement on contracts.

“At that point they felt that the faculty and the state system had reached some sort of frame work for an agreement,” explained Lauren Gutshall, Director of Communications for State APSCUF. “This evening our negotiations committee formally approved unanimously that tentative agreement.”

The main topics of discussion for this agreement were teachers’ salaries, health care co-pays, distance learning practices and faculty input on class sizes.

Now the agreement will go to the legislative assembly, which is compromised of delegates from each university before it finally goes to the full membership of APSCUF for a vote.

“We are very pleased that after a very long, sometimes difficult process, we have reached an agreement with the state system that is both fair to faculty and students,” Gutshall continued.

Students at Millersville University say that’s welcome news after threat of a strike.

“I think that’s fantastic. I mean, I know I’m paying out the wazoo for it, for the education here, so it’s pretty spectacular that we can stay here and keep learning,” commented Howie Pearson, sophomore at Millersville.

“I was kind of scared that I was going to be home for a semester with nothing to do and I already paid for this semester,” admitted Tarek Richardson, a junior at MU.

For teachers, it means they can be back in the classroom with a little peace of mind.

“They can go back to working and doing what they love,” Gutshall stated. “They can go back to teaching.”

Now before this can all come official, the agreement must go through two more boards, the first of which will vote on the agreement this Friday.




↧

Water main break causes loss of water for some residents in Dover Township

February 4, 2013, 6:11 pm
$
0
0
Dover Township wants to notify area residents of a water main break that will leave some area residents without water for up to 2 days.

The water main break happened on Pine Road and the township says it was necessary to shut off water in the area of Pine Road, Park Street, Prospect Avenue, Grandview Avenue, Sherwood Lane, High Street and Royal Avenue. As well as businesses and residents located in the 2800 and 2900 blocks of Carlisle Road.

Dover Township crews are working to restore water to all places as quickly as possible. They estimate that water will be restored within 24-48 hours for most residents. Homes on Pine Road may also be without gas service for a similar time frame.

If you are affected by the water outage and need assistance, you can call the Red Cross at 717-843-0818.

For more information contact:

Dover Township
2480 West Canal Road
Dover, PA 17315
717-292-3634


↧
Search

Stay safe when driving in the snow starts with knowing what to do

February 4, 2013, 6:25 pm
$
0
0
Our snowfall total for the year is below normal, but with the series of clipper systems that we have seen the last few days, we know it doesn't take much to cause some real problems on the road.

Snow is making its move again and CBS 21 is out in it trying to help keep you safe.

In Harrisburg, very light snow started to fall about 7:45 Monday night.

For most of us if we haven't had a winter weather accident, chances are we've had a close call.

“A truck skidded across all three lanes of the South Bridge a couple of years ago on the ice,” one person told us.

“I bought tires a couple of weeks ago,” one person stated when we asked what they do to prepare for winter weather.

“If you’re driving on bologna skins for tires, your not going to have any traction,” commented Robert Mott of South Central PA Highway Safety.

Good tires don't help much if you don't let your car help you, in most modern cars pumping your brakes is what you should not be doing.

“If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, which most new ones do, you put your foot on the brake and hold it,” Mott told us.

We did unscientific, but representative test runs up to just 25 miles per hour right when the snow started to fall

And then again after the snow had been falling for only an hour and there was a significant difference in how the car performed. It’s not just your life that is depending on your skill.

“Tune them (distractions) out, and take it easy, pay attention,” one person said on how to drive in the snow.

“I like driving in the snow,” admitted another person.

Even if you feel that way, be careful out in the snow.

No matter what happens, roll the car over, get in a ditch, etc. you're always safer with your seatbelt on.

Of course the best way to stay out of trouble if there is snow on the road and you don't have to go anywhere is to just stay home.

If you'd like more great tips we have got them for you, just click on our link or on Find It.

↧

Living the good life off of government benefits

February 4, 2013, 6:34 pm
$
0
0
We’ve all heard the line that America is becoming an entitlement society or welfare state, with half of U.S. households now receiving some type of government benefit. But a CBS 21 News investigation has taken that stat one step further to show you how much people are actually getting for free.

A few years ago, reporter Chris Papst worked with a single mom who had two children. She turned down a raise because she said the extra money would decrease her government benefits. It was hard to understand why she did that, until Chris started working on this story.

“You do what you have to do as a single mom,” explained Kristina Cogan. “And that’s what I did.”

For Kristina Cogan, a single mom of two, life has been a challenge. Ever since her divorce, she has struggled to simply give her kids what they need.

So five years ago, she walked through the doors of the Department of Public Welfare and applied for welfare.

“What was it like the first time you had to walk into that office?” we asked her.

“It’s scary. You’re depending on other people,” Cogan replied.

“What if that assistance wasn’t there for you?” we continued.

“I don’t know what I would have done, I mean, it’s critical for a lot of people,” Cogan answered.

So critical that Cogan is still collecting. The Lancaster native’s in nursing school and hopes to one day free herself from the system. But she admits living a life off the government can be comfortable.

“If you’re going to get something for free, are you going to work for it?” Cogan explained. “It kind of like sucks you in. They feel like they are hopeless. They feel like they have no alternative.

It’s not hard to see why. For this story, CBS 21 researched what government programs are available to a single mother of two making $19,000 a year. What we found was incredible.

Our family would be eligible for $14,976 in free day care, another $13,400 for Head Start and Early Head Start, $7,148 in housing vouchers, $6,500 for weatherization projects, $400 to pay heating bills, $480 a year for a cell phone, with an extra $230 for a land line, and $182 in free legal advice.

The family would get more than $6,028 in food assistance and another $6,045 in medical assistance. The mother is eligible for $5,500 in Pell Grants for school with an additional $12,000 for the Education Opportunity Grant; SMART Grant; and TEACH Grant.

Our family would also get $6,800 in tax credits, and $1,900 in withholding would be returned.

Add it up and this family can get $81,589 in free assistance.

“This isn’t the American dream,” commented Matt Brouillette of the Commonwealth Foundation.

Matt Brouillette is with the Commonwealth Foundation, a government watchdog group which emphasizes a safety net, not a safety hammock.

“When there are taxpayer funded programs that could give you the equivalent lifestyle of a middle-class family, why would you have an incentive to go to work?” Brouillette questioned.

Government figures show, Pennsylvania’s Welfare Department now takes up a whopping 43 percent of the state’s budget. That number is growing much faster than revenue.

Brouillette admits in our hyper-politicized culture, meaningful reform is unlikely until there’s a financial crisis, which he says is coming.

“It simply has to. We simply don’t have the money. The only way Congress works, the only way in which Harrisburg works is that we reach a crisis,” Brouillette stated. “So there’s going to have to be a reckoning.”

“That assessment is probably pretty correct,” Alexander answered when we asked him if the system will likely only be corrected when it crashes.

Alexander says it’s simple math that the current system cannot last. The state’s welfare budget has gone from growing 11 percent a year to seven. But he admits that’s just kicking the proverbial can down the road.

“Financially we are heading for a cliff and we can’t afford it because we don’t have enough taxpayers,” Alexander stated.

That has been Alexander’s focus, adding more taxpayers by diverting funds to job training and away from free stuff. But he says many necessary reforms can’t be made, due to regulations from Washington. Plus, the political desire isn’t there because we the people aren’t demanding it.

“We need to look at what we’re spending right now and all the programs that we are offering in the same way you’ve done and we have to say what is absolutely necessary,” Alexander continued. “If we are not careful, the system will crash. And if it does crash, maybe we will finally wake up.”

“I mean I don’t know what the answer is. I’m telling you there are more issues out there,” Cowan admitted.

“But you think there is an answer?” we questioned her.

Yeah. That’s what your stories about. We need to find it,” answered Cowan.

The benefits we mentioned in this story are not the only ones available. They are just ones that a single mother of two make $19,000 could qualify for.

Below, we itemized all the programs we used for this story, so you can see for yourself how we came to that huge number.


Assistance Totals: Single Mom of two making $19,000

Department of Welfare
- LIHEAP: $400
- Child Care: $14,976
- Medical Assistance: $6,045 (includes Health Department and SCHIP)
- Food $6,028 (SNAP, WIC: average $52.32 per person, school meal programs, Dept of Ag)

HUD
- Housing Voucher: $7,148

Pennsylvania Utility Commission
- Lifeline: landline ($30 for instillation and $200 interest free loan/yr) and cell phone with 200 min and 250 text and email ($480/yr)
- PA Weatherization Assistance Program: Ave. $6,500/per household

Department of Agriculture
- Farmers Market Nutritional Program $20

Department of Education lunch programs
- National School Lunch Program ($5/day)
- School Breakfast Program ($3/day)
- Child and Adult Care Food Program ($5/day)
- After School Snack Program ($2/day)
- Summer Food Services Program ($5/day)
- At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program ($5/day)

Department of Health
- Healthy Woman Program (free clinical breast examination, cervical cancer screenings, mammogram, pelvic examination, pap smear and follow up diagnostics to low income women): $1,245
- Bureau of Community Health Immunization Program

Department of Insurance
- SCHIP (included in Medical Assistance)

Legal Services Corporation
- 2010 federal budget $420,000,000, assisted 2.3 million people in 2011: $182.61/person @ LSC.GOV

Tax Breaks
- Earned income tax credit: $4,800
- Additional Child Tax Credit: $2000
- Withholdings return on $0 taxable income: $1900

Education
- Pell Grant: Maximum $5,500
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant: Grants up to $4,000 per year. - Students who have been awarded a Federal Pell Grant receive priority.
- National SMART Grant: Maximum $4,000 (National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant: students in third or fourth year of college.)
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant: Max: $4,000 to be a teacher.

Department of Education and Office of Childhood Development in DPW
- Head Start: $6,700 per child/2009 in PA per HHS numbers
- Early Head Start: $6,700 per child/2009 in PA per HHS numbers


↧
↧

School expels Pa. student who stabbed classmate

February 5, 2013, 5:24 am
$
0
0

SINKING SPRING, Pa. (AP) — Officials at a middle school in eastern Pennsylvania say they have expelled a 14-year-old student who admitted in juvenile court to stabbing a classmate in school.

The Reading Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/YQGd87 ) the Wilson Southern Middle School eighth-grader admitted at a hearing last week to stabbing the other student three times with a pocketknife. School board members approved the expulsion Monday.

The victim is recovering after being treated at a hospital. The stabbing happened in a second-floor hallway at the school on the morning of Jan. 15.

Police have said that a dispute on a social media site may have precipitated the altercation.

___

Information from: Reading Eagle, http://www.readingeagle.com/

 

©2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

↧

Souper Bowl - kids collect food for families

February 5, 2013, 6:24 am
$
0
0
Some area students are predicting who they think will win the Super Bowl---by helping others.
Students and staff at Thomas Holtzman elementary in Susquehanna Township are collecting non-perishable food items for those in need.
Two boxes were set up in the school--one for the Ravens and one for the 49ers.
Students placed the food in the box of the team they want to win.
Sophia Shienvold, a 5th grader says, "I think the Ravens are going to win, but the real winner would be the people who get the food."
The food will be donated to families through the school's adopt a family program.
By the way, the Ravens box had the most food in it.




↧

Drunk home owner arrested after house fire

February 5, 2013, 7:11 am
$
0
0
As fire crews finished putting out a small fire at a home in Lower Allen Township, but officials say the man who lived at the home was taken into police custody after a drunken altercation with police.

Just after 6 this morning, fire crews from Lower Allen Township Police responded to a call of an attic fire at the home at 1916 Letchworth Drive. They say there were no injuries.

While the cause is under investigation by a fire Marshall, the tenant who rented the home is facing charges of public drunkenness and institutionalized vandalism.

Police say the man, who's name has yet to be released, was intoxicated and  in the way of firemen responding. He was asked to sit in the back of a police cruiser and began an altercation with officers  causing damage to the window and door.

There was also damage to a blue Suburu at the scene of the fire, and officials say that was caused by a responding fire truck.

The fire remains under investigation.

↧
Viewing all 6707 articles
Browse latest View live
Search
<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>