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Junior and senior Educators Rising members with Dr. Khalid Mumin, PA Secretary of Education, and Dr. Keith Miles, School District of Lancaster Superintendent. (School District of Lancaster)<br />

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Education association tackles teacher shortage with 'Educators Rising' program

The shortage of educators and school staffers has reached a crisis level in some Pennsylvania public schools, prompting a new "Educators Rising" …

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has set a goal to boost the retention rates for educators of color from 80% to 90% by August 2025. (Adobe Stock)

PA high school focuses on attracting new teachers to the field

The shortage of educators and school staffers has reached a crisis level in some Pennsylvania public schools. The state will need to fill thousands …

El Departamento de Educaci�n de Pensilvania se ha fijado el objetivo de aumentar las tasas de retenci�n de los educadores de color del 80% al 90% para agosto de 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Preparatoria de PA se centra en atraer nuevos profesores a este ámbito

La escasez de educadores y personal escolar han alcanzado un nivel crítico en algunas escuelas públicas de Pensilvania. El estado …

The American Climate Corps will reflect a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change across the country. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Climate Corps could open doors to job opportunities in Appalachian PA

The American Climate Corps seeks to create 20,000 jobs related to conservation, climate issues and clean energy. The program originated by the Biden …

The American Federation of Teachers says its

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Educators voice concern PA school voucher programs 'discriminate'

Pennsylvania's teachers' union is voicing concerns that the state's public school voucher program will negatively affect public education in lower-inc…

La Federaci�n Estadounidense de Maestros dice que su campa�a

Educadores preocupados por 'discriminación' en programas de vales escolares

El sindicato de maestros de Pensilvania expresa su preocupación de que el programa de vales para escuelas públicas del estado afecte negativ…

A new report reveals one in four rural workers would see his or her pay increase if Pennsylvania's minimum wage were increased to $15 per hour in 2026. (Flamingo Images/Adobe Stock)

Report: 1.34 million PA workers would benefit from higher minimum wage

A new report has shed light on who would benefit most in Pennsylvania from raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. More than 1.3 million …

In the past, Beaver County was home to a heavy steel industry. However, with the decline of steel, newer small manufacturing and service industries are locating in the area. (Digitalwhiz/AdobeStock)<br /><br />

Report: Shell Petrochemicals plant didn't save Appalachia with plastics

A new report says two economic-impact studies gave misleading information to Pennsylvania policymakers and residents about the economic advantages of …

Appalachia is home to 26.3 million people and covers 206,000 square miles, encompassing 423 counties in 13 states. (Iammotos/Adobe Stock)

Virtual summit on sustainable manufacturing, federal funds for Appalachia

Pennsylvania's Appalachian region needs opportunities to bolster its economy, which will be the topic of a virtual summit in mid-January. The goal is …

The Keystone Research Center estimates raising the minimum wage would affect not only minimum-wage workers, but more than 1 million others in Pennsylvania. (Fizkes/Adobe Stock)

As others see pay hikes, PA minimum wage stuck at $7.25

Low-wage workers in Pennsylvania are missing out on the pay hikes taking effect in 22 other states and 43 cities and counties this month, through …

In October, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was 3.4%, compared with 4.4% a year ago. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA job market 'fully rebounds' from pandemic

Pennsylvania's nonfarm jobs have surged past pre-pandemic levels, and a new report called it a full recovery for the state's labor market. The …

A new Keystone Research Center report highlightsd initiatives like

Report: Federal funding would ignite apprenticeships, create job pathways

Pennsylvania needs more economic opportunities and a new report from the Keystone Research Center showed federal investments in climate and infrastruc…

Asian children are the only group to have continued seeing improved uninsured rates from 2019 pre-pandemic to the present: From 4.4% in 2019, down to 4.2% in 2021 and 3.8% in 2022. (Tom Wang/Adobe Stock)

PA sees drop in health insurance coverage for children as national rates rise

A new analysis of 2022 census data has uncovered a troubling trend: The uninsured rate for Pennsylvania children worsened during the final full year o…

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act was originally introduced in March 2023 by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn. It was reintroduced in Sept. 2023 by Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J.; Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif.; and Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Penn. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Labor group urges elimination of 'union-busting' tax breaks

Tax breaks for companies engaging in what sometimes are illegal union-busting tactics could be prohibited by new federal legislation. Labor groups…

The Pennsylvania State Education Association represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees, student teachers, higher education staff, and health care workers. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

New PSEA president vows to tackle education challenges

The shortage of teachers and school staffers has reached crisis level in some Pennsylvania public schools, and is among the chief concerns of the new …

A new national poll found 79% of Republican voters say America's economic future depends on bringing back training programs for blue-collar jobs which do not require a four-year degree, such as manufacturing. (Winnievinzence/Adobe Stock)

Poll: PA GOP voters voice support for strong manufacturing policies, tariffs

A new poll found Pennsylvania Republican voters want political candidates to prioritize preserving and growing manufacturing including tariffs in the …

Older and disabled adults have received more than $7.6 billion in property tax and rent relief since the start of the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program in 1971. (Lordn/AdobeStock)

PA Expands Property Tax, Rent Rebate Program to Aid Older Adults

Pennsylvanians will soon see some financial relief with their property taxes and rent. Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed House Bill 1100 into law…

A recent report found more than 400 jobs have been created in the Keystone State since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, and more than $190 million in investments have been made in clean-energy projects. (Anatoliy_gleb/AdobeStock)

Inflation Reduction Act Funds Multiple PA Clean-Energy Priorities

It has been one year since the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act became law, and Pennsylvania is seeing and using some of the funding…

Some 23% of children served in Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance Programs in Pennsylvania are non-Hispanic Black, compared to 41% of children identifying as non-Hispanic White.<br />(Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Charting a Path to Equitable Access for PA Early Learning System

The Keystone State has some work to do to provide more access to quality pre-Kindergarten programs for the youngest Pennsylvanians. Only 43% of …

A new report reveals the number of jobs in Pennsylvania surpassed the pre-pandemic (February 2020) level in January 2023. As of July, it had exceeded that level by 61,100. (Rade Lukovic/Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: PA Workers Benefit from Tight Labor Market, Wage Gains

A tight labor market with steady growth and historically low unemployment - those are the findings in the new "State of Working Pennsylvania" report…

A new report estimated 22% of residents of Central Appalachia live in poverty, compared with less than 13% nationally and 14.5% for Appalachia as a whole. (Chalermphon/Adobe Stock)

Reconnecting Appalachia's Disconnected Workers with "Better" Jobs

A new report explored ways to reconnect residents of the Appalachian region to employment opportunities. The report dug into the many barriers to …

Pennsylvania has nearly 300 colleges, universities and technical schools for prospective students of all career interests, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.(NolaV/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)

Education Advocates: Affirmative Action Ruling a Step Back for Racial Equality

In Pennsylvania, education advocates contended affirmative action has been a critical tool in promoting equity and addressing historical …

According to the National Council on Aging, to participate in the Senior Community Service Employment Program, an older person has to be living on a family income of no more than 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. (Vadim Pastuh/Adobe Stock)

PA Job Training Program Empowers Seniors Amid Challenges

A Pennsylvania work-based job training program is helping the state's 3.4 million seniors overcome challenges to finding work. Francis McKenna…

A recent report found the U.S. Postal Service faces serious staffing shortages. Turnover at the agency jumped from 38.5% in 2019 to nearly 59% in 2022. (Cat027/Adobe Stock)

USPS Celebrates National Postal Worker Day July 1 in PA

In Pennsylvania and across the country, Saturday is National Postal Worker Day, celebrated annually to show appreciation for postal workers. The …

Jermaine Bailey and daughter ShaWanna sign their letters of job offers with the city of York's school district. Both are certified teachers and will start in the Fall. (Courtesy Jermaine Bailey)

'Grow Your Own' Program May Solve Teacher Shortage

A shortage of teachers has reached a crisis level in some of the 500 school districts serving more than 1.7 million K-12 students in Pennsylvania…

Earlier this year, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed raising Pennsylvania's state minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour effective Jan. 1, 2024. (Zerbor/Adobe Stock)

PA Could See $15 Minimum Wage by 2026

As workers wait for the full Pennsylvania House to vote on whether to increase the state minimum wage, one economist said the increase would be a …

The 2023 Kids Count Data Book noted Pennsylvania's average annual cost of center-based child care for a toddler was $11,346, or 10% of the median income for a married couple and 35% of a single mother's income in the state. (DenisProduction.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Ranks 22nd Among States in Child Well-Being

Pennsylvania ranks in the middle among states for the well-being of its children. It is 22nd overall in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

Keystone Saves creates an individual retirement account program that automatically enrolls private-sector workers, who can choose to opt out. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

'Keystone Saves' Aims to Help Millions of Working Pennsylvanians

More than 40% of private sector workers in Pennsylvania earned their living at businesses without retirement plans, as of 2020. Multiple groups are …

In Susquehanna Valley, a hiring blitz is underway this month. With the U.S. Postal Service looking to fill openings for city and rural carriers, clerks, and mail-handler assistants. (Salarko/Adobe Stock)

USPS Employees Ask for More Staff, Better Work Environment

In Pennsylvania and across the country, U.S. Postal Service workers say they are struggling to keep up amid serious staffing shortages, and they have …

The Federal Trade Commission estimates its new proposed rule on noncompete agreements could increase wages by nearly $300 billion per year. (Adobe Stock)

FTC Proposes Rule to Help PA Workers Trapped in Non-Competes

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a new rule which seeks to aid Pennsylvania workers who are stuck in noncompete agreements with low-paying jo…

Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program covers dental and vision care, as well as medical care. (Halfpoint/AdobeStock)

Pennsylvania DHS Now Oversees Children's Health Insurance Program

As families enrolled in Medicaid transition to the Children's Health Insurance Program, it is important for them to know Pennsylvania has changed how …

According to a new report, 40% of all Black apprentices in the construction field face ongoing discrimination and exclusion from high-paying supervisorial and managerial roles. (Tongpatong/Adobe Stock)

PA Workforce Training Programs Work to Increase Black Apprenticeships

Labor leaders in various industries recently celebrated the 85th anniversary of a federal law that laid the groundwork for registered apprenticeship p…

The new AARP survey says Eight in ten (81%) say they are 'very likely' to vote in the 2023 primary election for Philadelphia Mayor, with just 4% saying they will not vote. (Rawpixel.com/AdobeStock)

Poll: Pennsylvanians Over 50 will Play Major Role in Mayoral Primary

With fewer than 60 days until the May 16 mayoral primary election, a new survey by AARP Pennsylvania shows what key issues voters over the age of 50 …

A 2021 Pennsylvania Department of Education report found that Career and Technical Education participants (86.5%) had slightly higher odds of graduating on time from high school than non-CTE students (85%). (Adobe Stock)

Call to Action: More Funding for PA Career and Technical Education

A Pennsylvania advocacy group wants the state budget to include more funding for Career and Technical Education programs, or CTE, for high school …

Over 41% of people who earn minimum wage or less are in families that earn less than $50,000 per year, and 19% are in families that make less than $30,000 per year, according to the Analysis of Pennsylvania Minimum Wage report. (Fizkes/AdobeStock)

As Other States See Pay Hikes, PA Minimum Wage Stuck at $7.25

Low-wage workers in Pennsylvania are missing out on the pay hikes in 23 other states that took effect this month, when those states raised their …

According to ahe Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce survey, among women who have a bachelor's degree in communications and journalism, their median earnings are the same or higher than men's three years after graduation. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Report: Industry Decline Reduces Journalism Jobs

A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce found the number of journalism jobs will continue to decline over the next d…

Utilities offer payment programs and other arrangements for households having trouble paying bills. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said last year, utilities spent <a href=

$459 million on such programs. (Kenishirotie/Adobe Stock)">

Staying Warm in PA with Winter Heating Assistance

Higher fuel prices and a bitterly cold start to this winter mean it will cost more for most people to heat their homes, according to the U.S…

Subsidized Child Care Program assists low-income families in Pennsylvania to help with child-care expenses, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. (Lordn/AdobeStock)">

Study: Children in Child Care Don't Exhibit Problematic Behaviors

A new study shows kids in child care are not more likely to exhibit behavior problems than those who don't attend them. The Society for Research in …

During the pandemic, the child poverty rate dropped to 5.2% because of the expansion of the child tax credit and other relief efforts. (Andrii/AdobeStock)

PA Group Urges Congress to Expand Child Tax Credit

A Pennsylvania policy analysis group is adding its voice to the calls for Congress to bring back the expanded child tax credit for families in place d…

Report: More PA Kids had Health Insurance During Pandemic

A new report says during the pandemic, more children were able to keep their health insurance in the Commonwealth. The "State of Children's Health" …

The Keystone Research Center report also recommends the Keystone State establish a minimum weekly unemployment compensation benefit rate based on the Pennsylvania cost of living, rather than on wages received in the worker's base year. (Chansom Pantip/Adobe Stock)

Report Urges Governor-Elect to Fix PA Unemployment System

A new report urges Pennsylvania's governor-elect to revamp the state's unemployment compensation system as soon as he takes office in January…

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's website, the newspaper's combined print and digital circulation is 100,000 on Sundays and 73,000 on Thursdays. (Checubus/Adobe Stock)

Pittsburgh Newspaper Workers Continue Their Labor Strike

Election Day is busy at most news outlets, but some employees of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette are picketing today, still on strike for what they …

Restaurant workers are among the groups that make minimum wage, which in Pennsylvania is $7.25 per hour. It was last changed in 2008, when it was raised from $7.15. (Tigercat_lpg/Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Join Call to Action for Congress to Support Restaurant Workers

Food-service workers in Pennsylvania and their advocates want Congress to consider and support a new "Restaurant Workers Bill of Rights." The document…

As of 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Keystone State is home to more than 600,000 union members. (Sittinan/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Workers Benefit from Tight Labor Market, Unions

The latest research on the "State of Working Pennsylvania" says a tight labor market and new levels of union organizing are offering new opportunities…

The ramp-up in hiring is part of the Postal Service's 10-year strategic plan to put the service on a firmer financial footing. (Lost_in_the_Midwest/AdobeStock)

PA Post Offices Swamped as USPS Ramps Up Holiday Hiring

With the holidays quickly approaching, the U.S. Postal Service is hiring 28,000 seasonal workers in the Keystone State and across the country…

The number of Pennsylvania residents who have already installed solar power at their homes or businesses is now close to 15,000. (Diyanadimitrova/Adobe Stock)

Clean-Energy Investments to Boost PA Economy

Renewable energy has the possibility to boost the economy and benefit workers and the environment in the Keystone State. That was the message at the …

The pilot program in the CHIPS Act is based on legislation known as the RECOMPETE Act, written by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash. (Sherman Cahal/Adobe Stock)

An Asset for Distressed Rural Communities in PA

A little-known facet of the CHIPS and Science Act, passed in Congress this summer to boost the semiconductor industry, could benefit areas of rural …

In Pennsylvania, there are more than 71,500 Black-owned businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

PA Group Works to Encourage, Fund Black Entrepreneurs

August is National Black Business Month, and this year, for Black-owned companies in Pennsylvania that have managed to survive through the pandemic…

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PNS Daily Newscast - May 9, 2024

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PA: Livable Wages/Working Families