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In this Update:
Celebrating 100 Years of Knoebels
Knoebels celebrated its 100th anniversary this past weekend on July 4th, marking a remarkable milestone for one of our region’s most beloved destinations. For generations, families have visited Knoebels to enjoy its rides, food, traditions and welcoming atmosphere. The park has remained a special part of our community because of the people who built it, the employees who keep it going and the families who return year after year. I was honored to join the celebration and present a Senate Citation recognizing this milestone. Congratulations to the Knoebel family and the entire Knoebels team on 100 years of memories, service and community tradition. You can watch my remarks at the event here. License Plate Replacement Event in Shamokin – July 21
If your license plate is peeling, blistered, discolored or difficult to read, Rep. Joanne Stehr and I are hosting an event to help you apply for a free replacement plate through PennDOT. The event will be held Tuesday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rep. Stehr’s Shamokin District Office, 300 E. Independence St. Damaged or illegible plates can create issues for drivers and law enforcement, and this event is intended to make the replacement process more convenient for residents. Law enforcement will be on site to review plates and complete the required sign-off, which is needed before PennDOT can process a free replacement plate request. Drivers should bring the vehicle with the affected plate, current vehicle registration and their driver’s license. Participants may sign up in advance by calling Rep. Stehr’s office at 570-648-8017. Virtual Event: Data Centers and Water Demand – July 22
As data center development continues to be discussed across our region, many residents have questions about water use and how those demands are reviewed. To help provide clear information, I am hosting a virtual informational session with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission on Wednesday, July 22, from 6-7 p.m. The session, “Managing Water Demand Associated with Data Centers,” will feature Andrew D. Dehoff, P.E., executive director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. SRBC experts will explain how water usage is evaluated, regulated and balanced within the Susquehanna River Basin, including how potential impacts are considered. Attendees will be able to submit questions during the virtual event. Registration is available here. Local Photographers Recognized in Statewide Photo Contest
Congratulations to Amanda Wydra of Danville and Chloe Benfer of Selinsgrove for earning recognition in the 2025 photo contest presented by the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. Amanda’s photo, “Susquehanna Sovereign”, was selected as the People’s Choice winner in the Tails on Trails category. Chloe’s photo, “Pathway to Heaven” was selected as the People’s Choice winner in the Young Photographer category. Their work highlights the natural beauty found across Pennsylvania and the talent of photographers here in our region. Congratulations to Amanda and Chloe on this well-deserved recognition. LCCC and CSIU Announce Dual Credit Expansion
Luzerne County Community College and the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit recently announced a $1 million Dual Credit Innovation Grant to expand free dual-credit opportunities for rural and underserved high school students across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. The grant will help cover tuition, textbooks, course materials, transportation assistance and instructor training, allowing students to earn college credits while still in high school at no cost to their families. The initiative includes 14 school districts and career and technology centers and will support workforce-focused coursework in high-demand fields. This is a valuable opportunity to help students explore career pathways, earn college credit and build skills connected to local workforce needs. Luzerne County Community College Website. Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Website. Senate Passes Bill to Bring Life-saving Treatments to Market More Quickly
The Senate approved legislation to help get new life-saving treatments and devices to market more quickly while preserving safety standards. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Under current law, a pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturer must first complete a lengthy federal process before it can even begin the state licensure process in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 1206 allows companies to gain temporary approval under Pennsylvania’s virtual manufacturers’ law, so that once federal approval is granted, these companies can quickly move forward without having to clear additional administrative roadblocks. Read more about Senate Bill 1206 here. Empowering Patients to Make Care Decisions
Pennsylvania Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) spell out treatments a seriously ill patient does and does not want in an emergency or at the end of life. To empower patients, the Senate passed legislation creating the legal framework for their use across all healthcare settings. These differ from an advance directive, which generally identifies a surrogate decision-maker or provide broad guidance about future care preferences. POLST is a medical order that must be followed immediately, ensuring care aligns with the patient’s wishes in real time. POLST forms are not consistently recognized or applied across all care settings in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 730 provides statutory authority so that these forms are honored statewide by healthcare providers and emergency medical services. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives. Read more about Senate Bill 730 here. Fairness in Women’s Sports
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that states may maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females and may determine eligibility for those teams based on biological sex. Here in Pennsylvania, the Senate has passed both Senate Bill 9 and Senate Bill 1293 to require public schools and colleges to designate athletic teams as male, female or coed. Both bills would limit participation on female teams to biological females. Following the Court’s decision, these bills remain pending in the House of Representatives. PA Trooper’s Death Highlights Urgent Need to Improve CDL Oversight
Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr. was recently killed in the line of duty during a Schuylkill County traffic stop when he was struck by a tractor trailer driven by a person who was in the country illegally but granted a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Massachusetts. In May, the Senate passed two bills to help prevent similar tragedies in the future: Senate Bill 1294, which improves the training curriculum and strengthens penalties to shutdown unqualified “CDL Mills,” and Senate Bill 1295, which requires English proficiency in all testing applications to operate an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle on public highways. Both bills are before the House of Representatives for consideration. We must strengthen our laws and oversight governing non-domiciled CDLs to improve commercial vehicle safety and help protect lives across our commonwealth. My prayers remain with Trooper Pahira’s family, his fellow troopers and all who are mourning this heartbreaking loss. |
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