Washington, D.C. – Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) recently supported various legislative initiatives to reaffirm his commitment to investing in Israel’s sovereignty and its people, including signing onto a letter to President Biden urging the administration to take actions to weaken Hamas and co-sponsoring a resolution that condemns Hamas’ transgressions against Israel.

In the letter led by Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), Keller called on President Biden to maintain U.S. security assistance to Israel and move to sanction Hamas for using civilians as human shields.

“We must work together to help our ally defend itself from Hamas and other threats, and to cut off the support to Hamas that enables it to kill and injure Israeli and Palestinian civilians,” the letter reads. “These attacks clearly demonstrate the critical importance of our security assistance to Israel, as agreed to in the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. We urge you to uphold this commitment, and we continue to oppose any reductions in funding or added conditions on security assistance, which would be detrimental to Israel’s ability to defend itself against all threats, including the current assault.”

Read the full letter here.

Congressman Keller also co-sponsored Congressman Jeff Van Drew’s (NJ-2) resolution that recognizes Hamas’ actions as war crimes, reiterates the group’s designation as a terrorist organization, and expresses that the United States must continue to support Israel’s fight against terrorism.

Find full text of this legislation here.

In case you missed it, last week Keller co-sponsored a resolution introduced by Congressman Carlos Giménez (FL-26) that denounces the acts of terrorism committed by Hamas and reaffirms support for Israel.

Find full text of this legislation here.

On supporting Israel, Congressman Keller made the following statement:

“The terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians illustrate the need for America’s bipartisan support for the State of Israel. Unfortunately, some Democrats have continued to waver rather than joining the majority of Congress in coming to the aid of our strongest ally in the Middle East and the only democracy in the region. Hesitating to support Israel at this critical juncture not only jeopardizes its security—it sends a dangerous message to America’s strategic partners around the globe. The United States must reaffirm our support for Israel and work swiftly to aid its people.”

Photo Courtesy PCN

(HARRISBURG) – State Senator Gene Yaw issued the following statement after Governor Wolf renewed the state’s COVID-19 emergency declaration for 21 days:

“As we wait for the final election results to be certified, today marks the first step to returning checks and balances to the Commonwealth’s long-term emergencies.  We are now operating under the rules established when the people of Pennsylvania voted to amend the state Constitution. 

“The General Assembly is now receiving information from Governor Wolf that had previously not been shared. That information allows us to make better informed decisions as we move forward to implement the will of the people. 

“I will work with my colleagues and the administration to ensure that the Commonwealth continues to be eligible to receive the federal funding that is supporting our economic recovery from COVID-19 and other valuable programs, which are relied upon by Pennsylvanians.”

On Tuesday, Pennsylvania voters passed the two amendments to the state Constitution that were designed to improve the way the state responds to future emergencies. One limits an emergency declaration to 21 days unless the General Assembly approves a longer duration. The other clarifies that the governor will not be able to unilaterally veto legislative action that ends the declaration.

Photo: Lycoming County Commissioners Rick Mirabito, Scott Metzger, Tony Mussare, Administrative Manager Lycoming County Commissioners, Eileen Ebner and Lycoming County Controller, Krista Rogers.

By: Todd Bartley

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

On April 26, 2021, the Lycoming County Commissioners filed a “Motion for Contempt” against Lycoming County Controller Krista Rogers.

The motion seeks; two reassigned employees to relocate to Office of Budget & Finance, cease and desist from performing payroll, accounts payable and general ledger functions through the Controller’s office and transfer those functions to the Office of Budget & Finance.

It also seeks attorney fees and costs from the Controller.

Senior Judge John B. Leete from Potter County will hear from the parties on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in a Lycoming County courtroom.

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) today introduced the Saving Hypodermic injections and Offering vaccines to Taxpayers Swiftly (SHOTS) Act with original co-sponsors Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-16) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01).

Starting today, all adults in the United States are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. In this eligibility, the Biden administration is welcoming illegal aliens to receive shots, per a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in February, which would delay Americans and other taxpayers from accessing the vaccine.

As the crisis at the southern border continues to worsen, the SHOTS Act would instruct DHS to ensure that American citizens and lawful permanent residents are given priority to receive the COVID-19 vaccine over those visiting or who have entered the United States illegally.

Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA):

“While I’m glad that more Americans are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, I am troubled that the Biden administration is giving taxpayer-funded vaccines to illegal aliens. While preventing community spread remains a priority, the current guidance for COVID-19 vaccines only serves to further incentivize individuals to break the law and enter the United States illegally, compounding the crisis at the southern border which the Biden administration has yet to address. Americans have invested trillions in COVID-19 relief, which includes funds for vaccine development, distribution, and administration. I am proud to introduce this legislation to ensure that America’s COVID-19 vaccines are going into the arms of American taxpayers first.”

Background:

Last week, Congressman Keller joined Ranking Member James Comer (KY-01), Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (NM-02), and six other Republican members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee on a trip to the southern border to see first-hand the crisis currently unfolding and understand how it is impacting our nation.

Members of the National Border Patrol Council informed the delegation that an estimated 60,000 individuals have illegally entered the United States and evaded capture in the last two months.

According to DHS, in March of 2021:

• CBP encountered over 172,000 illegal immigrants at the southwest border, the highest monthly total in 15 years and an increase of 400% compared to March 2020.
• CBP encountered nearly 19,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs), an increase of 486% compared to March 2020.
• CBP encountered more than 53,000 family units at the southwest border, an increase of 1056% compared to March 2020.

Full text of this legislation is attached.

By: Todd Bartley

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

TalkWilliamsport.com filed Right to Know Law appeals with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records after the Williamsport Area School District again denied and redacted records related to the 2018 “criminal sexual misconduct” incident in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during the WAHS baseball team trip.

ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 was recently charged in the case by South Carolina law enforcement authorities.

In one instance, the WASD provided a “room assignment” email that had been requested three years ago. The WASD Open Records Officer Wanda Erb claimed on multiple occasions “no records exist.”

Five appeals were filed and a sixth appeal is forthcoming seeking the full release of clearly public records in possession of the Williamsport Area School District.

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

Photo: Lycoming County Commissioners Rick Mirabito, Scott Metzger, Tony Mussare, Administrative Manager Lycoming County Commissioners, Eileen Ebner and Lycoming County Controller, Krista Rogers.

By: Todd Bartley

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

On Thursday, the Lycoming County Commissioners issued a press release titled “Transfer of Financial Functions”.

It was released in response to “Caught in the Middle” an in-depth report by TalkWilliamsport.com.

The press release from Lycoming County Commissioners Rick Mirabito, Scott Metzger and Tony Mussare reads as follows:

“We offer these thoughts in response to the Controller’s attempt to politicize our recent personnel actions. As Commissioners, we have dedicated ourselves to providing efficient and effective government functions to the taxpayers of this County. That was our sole motivation for transferring a few employees and their related functions back to the County’s fiscal department (now called the Office of Budget and Finance), where they were capably handled for years.

It is an unfortunate reality that these functions were and are not being performed timely or competently under the Controller’s supervision. In fact, repeated errors in basic things such as processing payroll and continued failures to produce reports and year-end entries on time evidenced this poor performance.

Two years ago, the Controller argued that the now transferred functions should be placed under her jurisdiction. The Commissioners agreed to do so with the expectation that the transfer would be seamless and have no effect on County government and County taxpayers. Plainly put, that expectation has not been fulfilled, despite the two years the Controller has had to absorb the functions and debug any problems.

And so it has become apparent to the Commissioners that they need to transfer, at least for now, these functions back to where they were capably handled for many years, to protect the County, its employees, and its citizens. The Controller claims that this action is illegal, but the Commissioners believe otherwise. While the courts may need to resolve that contest, what is beyond dispute is this — the transferred functions that were not competently handled by the Controller will now be done well and timely.”

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

Photo: From June 29, 2020 Agent Jason Bolt (left), Mayor Derek Slaughter (middle),

Chief of Police Damon Hagan (right), former Mayor Campana (not pictured)

Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

Information listed in the Federal lawsuit COMPLAINT filed today on behalf of Steve Helm of the Williamsport Bureau of Police; allege Jason Bolt was promoted to Captain of the Patrol Division having minimum standards changed for the position as noted in #45, #46  and #53 of the complaint.

1. Plaintiff Steven Helm is an adult individual who resides in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
2. Defendant Derek Slaughter, is an adult individual, who at times relevant to this Complaint was the Mayor of the City of Williamsport.
3. Defendant Gabriel Campana, is an adult individual, who at times relevant to this Complaint was the Mayor of the city of Williamsport.
4. Defendant City of Williamsport is a Municipality located at 245 W. Fourth Street, Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, and is a Political Subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania duly organized as a Third Class City.
5. Defendant City of Williamsport is vested with the management and administration of law enforcement in the City of Williamsport by and through its agency, the Williamsport Bureau of Police, in which it is further vested with the supervision, hiring, promotion of police officers and police administration employed by the City of
Williamsport.

This is an action to redress the deprivation under color of statute, custom or usage of the rights, privileges, and immunities secured to the Plaintiff by the Constitution of the United States and 42 U.S.C. §1983.

15. In the Fall of 2018, David Young, Williamsport Police Chief at the time, announced his intention to retire.
16. In or about December 2018, Defendant Gabriel Campana, Mayor of the City of Williamsport at the time, began discussions with Miller, a former Williamsport Police Officer, regarding thoughts on the open Chief position.
17. Campana sought the advice of Doc Miller on who should be the next Chief of Police.
18. Doc Miller advised Campana that it was obvious that it should be Plaintiff Steven Helm because of his years in the department, his experience in leadership roles and the fact that he was respected in the Department.
19. Campana indicated that he would not promote Plaintiff to Chief because Plaintiff had filed lawsuits against the City.
20. Campana eventually offered the position of Chief to Doc Miller.

21. Doc Miller specifically advised Mayor Campana that he wanted to have Plaintiff Steven Helm as Assistant Chief, because he was the most qualified Police Officer in the Department.
22. Mayor Campana would not agree to allow Plaintiff Steven Helm to be promoted to Assistant Chief.
23. In or about January 2019, Damon Hagan was appointed by Mayor Campana as the Chief of Police.
24. Damon Hagan advocated his desires to have Plaintiff Steven Helm be appointed to the Assistant Chief position, as the most qualified Police Officer in the Department.
25. Mayor Campana refused to allow Plaintiff Steven Helm to be promoted to Assistant Chief.
26. In or about January 2019, Aaron LeVan was promoted by Mayor Campana to the Assistant Chief position.
27. In or about September of 2019, Aaron LeVan stepped down as Assistant Chief.

28. After LeVan stepped down, Chief Hagan again pushed for the promotion of Plaintiff Steven Helm to Assistant Chief, as the most qualified Police Officer in the Department.
29. Once again, Mayor Campana refused to promote Plaintiff Steven Helm to Assistant Chief.
30. Steven Helm to Assistant Chief, Chief Hagan advised Campana that Plaintiff Steven Helm is the most qualified person within the Department to take the job and that Helm deserved the promotion.
31. On or about September 10, 2019, Mark Sechrist was promoted to Assistant Chief. Prior to being promoted  Assistant Chief, Mark Sechrist had served the Department as a Patrolman since approximately 1991.
32. On January 6, 2020, Defendant Derek Slaughter was officially sworn in and assumed the office of Mayor of Williamsport replacing Defendant Gabriel Campana.
33. In the Fall of 2020, Chief Hagan began solicitating letters of interest and resumes to replace Mark Sechrist as Assistant Chief because Mark Sechrist was retiring.
34. In or about September 2020, Chief Hagan announced that he intended to seek approval to promote a Captain of Detectives, which would be an additional Police Administration position.
35. During multiple conversations and meetings between Plaintiff Steven Helm and Chief Damon Hagan, Hagan and Sechrist as Assistant Chief as he was the most qualified Police Officer in the Department.

36. After it was announced that the Department was taking applications for the open position of Assistant Chief and the newly created Captain of Detectives, six (6) Police Officers applied for the positions. This included Plaintiff Lieutenant Steven Helm, Lieutenant Fred Miller, Lieutenant Marlin Smith, Lieutenant Jason Bolt, Sergeant Jody
Miller and Agent Justin Snyder.
37. With the exception of Agent Justin Snyder and Lieutenant Bolt, who had recently been promoted to Lieutenant on August 17, 2020, the candidates had extensive supervisory experience.
38. In or about October 2020, Jason Bolt resigned from his position as Lieutenant and requested to return to the ranks as an Agent.
39. In or about December 2020, it became known that Lieutenant Marlin Smith would be promoted to Assistant Chief and Agent Justin Snyder would be promoted as Captain of Detectives.
40. Lieutenant Fred Miller had previously been performing supervisory duties with respect to the Detectives but was passed over for the position in favor of a less experienced candidate.
41. Prior to the official announcement of the promotions, Plaintiff Steven Helm was summoned to Chief Damon Hagan’s conference room. The purpose of the meeting was for Hagan to officially notify Plaintiff Steven Helm that despite Hagan’s belief that Helm was the most qualified candidate for the Assistant Chief position, he was being passed over for promotion yet again.
42. Approximately one week later, Plaintiff was called back again to meet with Chief, but Defendant Mayor Slaughter would not permit the promotion.
43. Shortly after Plaintiff’s meetings with Chief Hagan, Marlin Smith announced his intention not to accept the promotion to Assistant Chief and to withdraw his name from consideration.
44. After Marlin Smith’s withdrawal the remaining candidates for the Assistant Chief position included Plaintiff Lieutenant Steven Helm, Lieutenant Fred Miller, Sergeant Jody Miller and Agent Jason Bolt, who had resigned from his Lieutenant
position.

45. After Marlin Smith’s withdrawal, on Plaintiff Steven Helm, Fred Miller and Jody Miller met the minimum qualifications for the Assistant Chief position. Agent Bolt did not meet the minimum qualifications for the Assistant Chief position.

46. After Marlin Smith’s withdrawal, defendants changed the open position from Assistant Chief to Captain of the Patrol Division and altered the minimum qualifications for the new position. 

47. As indicated infra, Plaintiff Lieutenant Steven Helm had filed two (2) recent 42 U.S.C. §1983, First Amendment Freedom of Association claims against the City of Williamsport and his Supervisors.
48. On November 6, 2018, Lieutenant Fred Miller filed a 42 U.S.C. §1983 Freedom of Association Claim against the City of Williamsport and its Supervisors at No. 4:18-CV-2148.
49. Lieutenant Fred Miller entered into a Settlement Agreement with Defendant City of Williamsport in relation to his Freedom of Association Claims on June 14, 2019.
50. Like Plaintiff Steve Helm, Fred Miller’s Freedom of Association Claim was premised upon First Amendment Retaliation based upon Fred Miller association with F.O.P. Lodge 29 and his pursuit of matters on behalf of the Union.
51. Both Plaintiff Steve Helm and Fred Miller believed the Union’s status and activities were vitally important to protect the interest of police officers and the general public and for that reason they pursued claims against the City to preserve the Union status and stop the City and its Supervisors from engaging in unlawful anti-union activities.
52. Sergeant Jody Miller filed a 42 U.S.C. §1983 First Amendment Retaliation Claim against the City of  Williamsport and his Supervisors. His complaint was filed on March 25, 2020, at No. 4:20-CV-00485, and was dismissed by an Opinion and Order of the Court filed December 28, 2020.

53. Agent Jason Bolt was promoted to the position of Captain of the Patrol Division over three (3) far more experienced candidates, all of whom had filed recent 42 U.S.C. §1983 First Amendment Retaliation Claims against the City and their Supervisors.

54. In conversations with Chief Damon Hagan regarding the failure to promote him to the Assistant Chief or Captain of the Patrol Division position, Hagan has advised Plaintiff Steven Helm that he would have liked nothing more that because Hagen felt Helm deserved it and was the most qualified person for the positions without a doubt.
55. The Mayor of the City of Williamsport makes all final decisions as to promotions of police officers to the position of Assistant Chief and Captain.

Is this a case of retaliation and reverse racism?

The entire complaint can be read here.

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

Photo of WASD school board meeting at WAHS Auditorium, Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

The following is an opinion editorial addressing the lack of action taken by WASD school board member, Jennifer Lake .

With the Derek Chauvin murder trial of George Floyd winding down; a grave injustice did not go unnoticed at the WASD school board meeting this past Tuesday night.

On background it is important to note from the “WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution”:

“BE IT RESOLVED that the Williamsport Area School Board, unequivocally stand firm in our collective responsibility to foster an equitable and inclusive environment for every student, staff member, parent, and community member. We commit to use our role as school board directors to recognize, respond, and speak out against injustice and racial inequity in our school community.”

As the photo to this story shows, WASD school board member Barbara Reeves sat alone.

Barbara Reeves is black.

Jennifer Lake fellow WASD school board member is white; has told the general public for years has woke she is and even authored an article on “Black Lives Matter”.

From, OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART III

In fact Jennifer we are approaching the four year anniversary of an article you posted on your own website titled “I’M A WHITE WOMAN RAISING A BLACK SON. HERE’S MY PERSPECTIVE ON BLACK LIVES MATTER.” published on July 14, 2016.

Allow me to make a prediction, that post and entire website will soon be coming down and the argument will be to “protect her children and her privacy.”

The article and site are still set to private.

Over the past year plus Lake championed the cause of “racism has no home here”.

At the October 20, 2020 WASD school board meeting Lake and Reeves sat side by side.

Jennifer Lake, if “Black Lives Matter” and “racism has no home here” why did Barbara Reeves sit alone at the WASD school board meeting?

Only you can answer that; and you will most likely blame the administration for setting up the seats that way.

However, if your woke was not broke, when you noticed Reeves was sitting alone – is when you go to her aid, right?

Or, could it be your woke is just a big joke on this community?

Only you know the truth.

From, OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone

Did you mean to say on your personal Jennifer Lake Facebook page on June 1 at 12:14 PM ·

“Behavior Matching is one of the five Engagement Strategies of Trust Based Relational Intervention. It silences the amygdala (which detects threats) and creates felt-safety. When we mirror someone’s behavior, posture, thoughts, feelings, and interests, we create togetherness. We create connection.

Behavior matching is a bridge between you and me that says, “I see you. I hear you. You matter.”

While considering the “WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution” last June, Reeves weighed in.

On Wed, June 12, 2020, 1:38 PM Barbara Reeves (REDACTED) wrote:

“Thank you Dr. Bowers for sharing that information. This is a rough one for me. While the statement will not be in support of Black Lives Matter, I hope we can all agree that black lives matter!!!

This is just a time that people of color need the world to acknowledge that they value their lives. This is especially true for colleagues, friends and acquaintances.

We are talking about a people who were considered as 3/5 of a person.

How long should it take to gain the respect of the other 2/5 that makes a whole.

It’s not enough to be colorblind because that means that you do not see me!”

The only question is, Jennifer Lake, what happened, where were you?

WASD Superintendent, Dr. Bowers has already provided the mechanism for his resignation, IN HIS OWN WORDS.

Maybe Jennifer Lake will join him after Bowers previously shared this text with your Tuesday night table mate;

Bowers supplements his response to Jane Penman:

“In my opinion our actions are more impotent (important) than our words.”

That quote came from the text message records of Dr. Timothy Bowers on Thursday, June 11, 2020, either 6:03 PM or 8:03 PM between WASD school board members Jane Penman and Lori Baer as noted in “The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution” – PART I.

Penman is not seeking reelection in the May primary election.

Since Jennifer Lake failed to sit with Barbara Reeves at the meeting this past Tuesday; again missing a moment to demonstrate her devotion to the cause – she must resign, immediately.

Jennifer Lake, based on the “WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution” you had a strong role in authoring and  volunteered to read into the record; Barbara Reeves demands your resignation for failing her on Tuesday.

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

Previous article links:

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part I

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part II

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part III

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part IV

The anatomy of the WASD Anti-Racism Board Resolution – Part V

OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART V

ENDGAME

OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART IV

OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART III

OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART II

OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone