Harrisburg, PA – Leaving the military can be a hectic and stressful time, especially with the current COVID-19 challenges. Transitioning veterans often forget how important it is to properly record and safeguard their most important military paperwork – the DD Form 214. That is where the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) can help.

The DD-214 is a document of the United States Department of Defense, issued upon a military service member’s retirement, separation, or discharge from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. It contains information needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment, and membership in veterans’ organizations.

“Of the thousands of requests for assistance we receive each year, veterans seeking help locating their DD-214 is the most common,” said Maj. Gen. (ret.) Eric Weller, deputy adjutant general of veterans affairs. “The DMVA has continued to prioritize these assistance requests throughout the pandemic.“

The DMVA can also assist with locating the DD-215, which is used to correct errors or make additions to a DD-214, helping to assure that veterans have accurate discharge documentation.

Weller said that the easiest way to manage military documents and avoid having to frantically search for them is to make sure they are filed in a safe place upon leaving the military.

“Every service member exiting the military should stop by the courthouse in their county of record to file their DD-214/215 with the Prothonotary’s Office,” said Weller. “This way, veterans and their family members will always know where to find an official copy and avoid a time-consuming search in the event that the original paper version gets lost. Regardless, if a Pennsylvania veteran needs our help, the DMVA will work hard to find these important documents for them.”

Anyone needing assistance from the DMVA to locate their DD-214/215, or other military documentation, can call toll-free 1-800-547-2838 or e-mail RA-REQ@pa.gov. More information about locating military documents can be found by visiting the Records Request Program.

Another way to stay in touch is for veterans, family members and people who work with veterans to sign up for the DMVA’s Veterans Registry by visiting www.register.dmva.pa.gov.   Registration is available by computer or mobile device.

Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today reminded Pennsylvanians that domestic violence is a public health issue that leaves long-term effects on thousands of families across our commonwealth and screening for domestic violence should be a part of everyone’s preventive health care.

According to fatality research by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV), there were 112 victims in 2019 and over 1,600 victims in the last decade who became domestic violence homicide victims from preventable and reportable violence within their household leaving families without a mother, father or other household members.

“It is important to recognize the relationship between violence from a partner and an individual’s overall health and well-being as a public health issue as it disrupts households across the state each year,” Dr. Levine said. “The Wolf Administration is committed to protecting Pennsylvania’s vulnerable populations at all times, including those survivors who are affected by domestic violence. Those who are survivors of abuse seek medical attention of some kind, even if they do not report the abuse to police, and others may have long-term battles both physically and mentally. Survivors, please know we are here for you and there are resources available.”

PCADV describes domestic violence as a pattern of coercive behavior used by one person to gain power and control over another in an intimate or familial relationship. Violence and abuse happen to anyone regardless of gender identity or expression. This violence could occur through emotional abuse, physical violence, financial abuse, verbal abuse, stalking and sexual violence.

Victims and survivors may not only have issues with their physical health, but also the trauma caused by these experiences can leave long-lasting impacts to their overall well-being. In addition to the immediate trauma caused by abuse, domestic violence contributes to a number of chronic health problems, including depression, alcohol and substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and often limits the ability of survivors to properly support their health needs or manage other chronic illnesses such as diabetes.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), in line with the U.S. United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Institute of Medicine (IOM), recommends that intimate partner or domestic violence screening and counseling should be a core part of women’s preventive health visits.

The department encourages all physicians and health care professionals to screen for the following signs to show if an individual may be experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault:

• Appears worried or anxious about making their partner angry
• Makes excuses for their partner’s behavior
• Has unexplained marks or injuries
• Experiences changes in behavior, may have depression or anxiety
• Has a partner that puts them down in front of others, limits their time with friends or family and/or is extremely jealous or possessive

Due to COVID-19 mitigation efforts, some victims and survivors are spending more time in close proximity with their abusers, increasing the risk to their safety and well-being during an already stressful time. If you or someone you know is unsafe, resources are available. The following are resources for those experiencing or witnessing domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse:

• To find the local domestic violence program providing 24/7, free and confidential services in your area, use PCADV’s find help page.
• For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Helpline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
• The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) provides sexual assault crisis services. Those resources can be found at www.pcar.org or at 1-888-772-7227 for a 24-hour hotline to be connected to a local sexual assault center.
• The National Sexual Violence Resource Center provides educational materials and information on sexual harassment, abuse, and assault at www.nsvrc.org.
• The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), organizes the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline. This hotline is a referral service that can put you in contact with your local rape crisis center. You can call the Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or access RAINN’s online chat service.
• Suspected child abuse or neglect can be reported 24/7 to Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ ChildLine available at 1-800-932-0313.
• If you witness or hear a violent incident, do not intervene on your own, as this can result in you being injured. Call 911 immediately.

For more information about signs of abuse, how to support survivors, and PCADV, visit www.pcadv.org.

The bridge rivalry returns tonight with Montoursville (4-0) at Loyalsock (3-1) on talkwilliamsport.com by clicking here. Join Todd Bartley and Jerry Girardi from a special broadcast location at 6:55 p.m. for all the action.

Eight (8) new cases added Friday in Lycoming County now at 866 cases, no new deaths, one new death, 29 total deaths, with 14,933 negatives according to DOH report.

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19,

1,566 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 179,086

Pennsylvanians Urged to Download COVID Alert PA App

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 16, that there were 1,566 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 179,086. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

Allegheny is reporting an increase of 141 cases, Philadelphia is reporting an increase of 136 cases and Westmoreland is reporting an increase of 108 cases.

The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between October 9 and October 15 is 238,610 with 9,592 positive cases. There were 34,782 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., October 15.

There are 8,457 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 25 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

There are 1,560 cases who have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases and 646 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.

There are 2,103,044 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Approximately 1% are ages 0-4;
• Nearly 2% are ages 5-12;
• Nearly 5% are ages 13-18;
• Nearly 14% are ages 19-24;
• Nearly 36% are ages 25-49;
• Approximately 21% are ages 50-64; and
• Approximately 21% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

The department is seeing significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases among younger age groups, particularly 19 to 24-year-olds. An alert was sent to healthcare providers about the changing COVID-19 case demographics, as there are more cases in younger age groups than in those 50-64 and 65+. The following regions saw significant increases among 19 to 24-year-olds in each month from April to present in October:

• NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 34 percent of cases so far in October;
• SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to approximately 17 percent of cases so far in October;
• NE – 6 percent of cases in April to approximately 20 percent of cases so far in October;
• NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 19 percent of cases so far in October;
• SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to approximately 13 percent of cases so far in October; and
• SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 10 percent of cases so far in October.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 24,334 resident cases of COVID-19, and 5,342 cases among employees, for a total of 29,676 at 1,015 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of our total deaths, 5,603 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 11,559 of our total cases are among health care workers.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the green phase of reopening.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, Oct. 15:

• Provided latest CMU metrics report.
• Called for Affordable Care Act protections amid resurgence of COVID-19.
• Provided Pennsylvania State Police enforcement data.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
• Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

Photo: Wendy Bell and decorated war hero Sean Parnell

On Thursday afternoon, Wendy Bell and Entercom mutually agreed to part ways. Bell, formerly heard on KDKA-AM 1020, Pittsburgh had been taken off the air “until further notice,” based on a previous statement from the station.

Entercom made the change after a video of the June 26 episode of her show went viral of Bell advocating on air for park rangers to shoot people who were attempting to destroy Mount Rushmore. Bell says the characterization of her comments were taken out of context and did not incite violence.

Bell offered the following statement for this story, “To anyone out there who believes in the Constitution, who believes in the precious Amendments that make America unlike any other country on planet earth, be warned: Your speech is not free. The radical left will – as it has done to me twice – stop at nothing to silence common-sense conservative values. They might have kicked me off the air, but they haven’t silenced the truth, honesty, and facts that I share every day on WendyBell.com. We will fight on – and we will prevail. #TRUMP2020”

Talkwilliamsport.com will have more on this developing story as events continue to unfold.

Says censorship of New York Post story on Biden is “a clear violation of the First Amendment”

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) today joined his colleagues from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in calling on Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) to hold an emergency hearing before November 3 on Big Tech’s censorship and election interference.

The letter, led by Ranking Member James Comer (R-KY) and signed by all Oversight Committee Republicans, highlights the overt social media censorship of a New York Post article critical of Joe Biden and brings attention to the larger, underlying problem of Big Tech companies silencing conservative voices and values.

On the letter, Congressman Fred Keller made the following statement:

“For far too long, Big Tech companies have gotten away with suppressing Americans’ free speech online. Enough is enough—Facebook and Twitter’s decision to censor this article from the New York Post is a clear violation of the First Amendment and the parties involved must be held accountable.

“It is not the job of social media outlets to pick and choose what information Americans are allowed to see. I am glad to voice my support for curbing election interference and censorship from Big Tech and urge Chairwoman Maloney to schedule an emergency hearing on the subject as soon as possible.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.

Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Administration Michael Newsome announced today that a mapping application developed for PennDOT is among the winners of the 2020 Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology awards presented by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO).

The project was selected from a pool of over 90 nominations in 10 categories submitted by state governments.

“We are honored to see Pennsylvania recognized on the national level once again for its leadership and innovation in technology,” said Secretary of Administration Michael Newsome. “This award-winning project demonstrates how we can use data in new ways to uncover insights and improve outcomes for the people of Pennsylvania.”

The app, known as Maintenance IQ, has improved maintenance planning and the management of equipment, workers and other assets at PennDOT. The app ​uses data from ​existing PennDOT systems to better detect highway deficiencies, determine roadway treatments, plan operations and monitor production. This helps to ensure projects remain on schedule and are initiated in the proper sequence. Maintenance IQ was also integrated with another PennDOT app used to collect data on guide rails, stormwater facilities, shoulders and paved and unpaved roads. Maintenance IQ helps PennDOT complete the right maintenance or treatment at the right time, helps infrastructure last longer and maximizes the value of taxpayer investments.

“PennDOT’s maintenance crews are critical to keeping Pennsylvania’s roads safe all year round,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Maintenance-IQ has been an incredible tool for our maintenance crews and I’m so glad that it’s getting this recognition.”

Additionally, PennDOT’s REAL ID implementation and the Office of Administration’s use of data to create key cybersecurity risk indicators were selected as runners-up in their respective award categories.

NASCIO presents the Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology awards to states that have implemented exceptional programs that have made an important contribution to the operation of state government.

To learn more about the NASCIO awards, visit www.nascio.org.

Eleven (11) new cases added Thursday in Lycoming County now at 858 cases, no new deaths, one new death, 29 total deaths, with 14,843 negatives according to DOH report.

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19,

1,598 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 177,520

Pennsylvanians Urged to Download COVID Alert PA App

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 15, that there were 1,598 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 177,520. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

Allegheny is reporting an increase of 117 cases, Philadelphia is reporting an increase of 163 cases and Westmoreland is reporting an increase of 135 cases.

The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between October 8 and October 14 is 240,220 with 9,370 positive cases. There were 33,839 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., October 14.

There are 8,432 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 21 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

There are 1,474 cases who have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases and 646 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.

There are 2,089,197 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Approximately 1% are ages 0-4;
• Nearly 2% are ages 5-12;
• Nearly 5% are ages 13-18;
• Nearly 14% are ages 19-24;
• Nearly 36% are ages 25-49;
• Approximately 21% are ages 50-64; and
• Approximately 21% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

The department is seeing significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases among younger age groups, particularly 19 to 24-year-olds. An alert was sent to healthcare providers about the changing COVID-19 case demographics, as there are more cases in younger age groups than in those 50-64 and 65+. The following regions saw significant increases among 19 to 24-year-olds in each month from April to present in October:

• NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 35 percent of cases so far in October;
• SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 18 percent of cases so far in October;
• NE – 6 percent of cases in April to nearly 20 percent of cases so far in October;
• NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 19 percent of cases so far in October;
• SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to approximately 13 percent of cases so far in October; and
• SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 10 percent of cases so far in October.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 24,213 resident cases of COVID-19, and 5,332 cases among employees, for a total of 29,545 at 1,014 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of our total deaths, 5,585 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 11,516 of our total cases are among health care workers.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the green phase of reopening.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, Oct. 14:

• Provided Pennsylvania State Police enforcement data.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
• Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded funds for two local projects in central Pennsylvania.

The Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation (CPWDC) was awarded $1,018,500 for the Reboot Workforce Program: Recovery at Work in Central PA. In partnership with Geisinger and SEDA Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), CPWDC will use these funds to address the opioid epidemic in central Pennsylvania by providing workforce preparation and training services to individuals in recovery and ultimately reintegrate them back into the workforce.

Other local, state, and federal sources contributed an additional $1,104,000 to the project.

Union County was awarded $2,500,000 for the four-county Central Pennsylvania Rural Broadband Deployment Implementation Project. This grant will help bring high speed internet service to underserved locations in Union, Clinton, Lycoming, and Northumberland counties. It is expected that 20 businesses and 270 households will initially benefit from this project.

In addition to ARC’s funds, SEDA Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Revolving loan fund will provide $4,000,000 and ISPs will provide $1,500,000, bringing the project total to $8,000,000.

On the awarding of the grants, Congressman Fred Keller made the following statement:

“Congratulations to the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation and Union County for being awarded these grants. What makes these projects special are the outstanding partners—like ARC, SEDA-COG, Geisinger, and other local entities—that come together to address the challenges we face in central Pennsylvania, such as increasing rural access to broadband and combatting the opioid epidemic. I look forward to seeing how these funds are used to develop our workforce and strengthen our communities.”