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Lt. Gov. Davis announces $56M to strengthen after-school programs

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Lt. Gov. Davis announces M to strengthen after-school programs


Under that backdrop, Davis, along with state and local leaders, gathered at the Northeast Frankford Boys & Girls Club to announce 46 grants totaling $56.5 million for 113 projects aimed at reducing community and gun violence, as well as supporting after-school programming.

State and local officials funding of over $11 million Pennsylvania after-school programs at a press conference at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia’s location in Frankford on Jan. 16, 2025. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

In Philadelphia and throughout the state, there is a diverse range of program options available.

“It is critical that we create multiple ladders of opportunities for young people to succeed … making sure that they don’t turn towards violence,” Davis said.

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Having been a part of the program for nearly a decade, 17-year-old Mahiyah Azuakoemu finds the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Frankford to be a safe place from the violence prevalent in her Kensington neighborhood.

“Going home is like a nightmare,” Azuakoemu said. “Being exposed to the gun violence or the drugs or the profanity, it’s a lot.”

Maliyah Azuakoemu looks on
Mahiyah Azuakoemu, 17, has been coming to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia’s location in Frankford since she was 8 years old and said she doesn’t know where she’d be without it. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Azuakoemu walks with her brother to school, carefully navigating around discarded syringes and observing individuals with visible injuries and open wounds.

“It’s normal to us now,” Azuakoemu said. “It doesn’t faze us anymore.”

Since joining the Boys & Girls Club at the age of 8, she has emerged as a leader for her peers.

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“If they’re having a bad day, it’s always nice to be heard, to be able to express yourself,” Azuakoemu said. “We have to be able to see and hear the children or else it’s not gonna be good for the future.”

On most days, she motivates kids to show their feelings through art and other fun activities at the club.

“I love painting,” Azuakoemu said.

Maya Johnson speaks behind a podium
Maya Johnson, 16, talked about going to the after-school program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia’s location in Frankford on Jan. 16, 2025. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Proponents of gun violence prevention assert that gun violence disseminates through social networks and is exacerbated by long-standing inequities and public health disparities.

“Boost can halt the spread by enriching children with mentors and skills and love,” said Debra O’Connor, executive director of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

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three kids at the computer
Neighborhood kids play video games during the Boys & Girls Club after-school program in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement advocating for stronger gun laws, closing safety loopholes and promoting responsible gun ownership to combat gun violence and protect families.

O’Connor contends that there is insufficient funding and that more people need to care.

“We lift the messages of the many anti-gun violence groups who have had boots on the ground for decades. And we know that gun safety laws make a difference,” O’Connor said.



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Pennsylvania

Winter storm approaching central Pa., significant snow possible Tuesday

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Winter storm approaching central Pa., significant snow possible Tuesday


Central Pennsylvania will enjoy a dry Saturday with temperatures in the 30s to near 40 degrees before winter weather returns. A quick-hitting system will bring snow to northern areas and a wintry mix to southern regions late tonight into Sunday.

The National Weather Service in State College indicates Saturday will remain dry with high temperatures ranging from the low 30s in northwestern mountains to near 40 degrees south and east of the I-80/I-99 corridor. Light winds and some sunshine make today ideal for outdoor holiday decorations before conditions deteriorate.

Snow will develop after dark tonight across western Pennsylvania, spreading eastward overnight. Areas north of I-80 could see up to three inches of accumulation by Sunday afternoon, with the heaviest amounts expected in northwestern counties. Southern regions will likely experience a wintry mix changing to rain Sunday as temperatures warm. Gusty west winds of 25 to 35 mph will develop Sunday afternoon.

Monday should be dry before a more significant winter storm approaches the region. The Weather Service warns that a potentially impactful winter storm is expected Tuesday into Wednesday, with plowable snow amounts likely across most of central Pennsylvania. Northeast portions of the state face the highest probability of receiving more than six inches of snow.

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Forecasters recommend monitoring updates closely, especially for those with travel plans Tuesday and Wednesday, as winter storm watches may be issued in the coming days if confidence in heavy snow increases.

Below normal temperatures will persist through early December, with lows possibly dropping into the teens or single digits later in the week as the active storm pattern continues.

Current weather radar



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Wegmans issues recall for cheese product sold in Pennsylvania due to health risk

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Wegmans issues recall for cheese product sold in Pennsylvania due to health risk


Wegmans Food Markets is recalling a cheese product that has been sold in Pennsylvania recently due to a potential presence of Listeria, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced.

Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese with Wegmans’ scale labels is the product in question. FDA officials say it could potentially contain Listeria monocytogenes, an “organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.”

Otherwise health individuals may experience the following symptoms if infected:

  • High fever
  • Nausea
  • Severe headache
  • Stiffness
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea

It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

In addition to Pennsylvania, the product was sold at stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. between Nov. 14 and Nov. 24.

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It is packaged in a plastic tub.

Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano product. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration){ }

All lot codes have been recalled and removed from shelves, the FDA said on its website.

Customers who bought Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese can return it for a full refund.



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Aliquippa vs. Twin Valley: Watch Pa. high school football playoff state semifinal live

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Aliquippa vs. Twin Valley: Watch Pa. high school football playoff state semifinal live


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The Pennsylvania high school football playoffs are on to the state semifinals, with fans being treated to postseason PIAA games all over the state Friday and Saturday.

One of the top games to watch is Twin Valley vs. Aliquippa on Friday night in the Class 4A state semifinals.

  • WATCH LIVE: Twin Valley vs. Aliquippa football is streaming live on NFHS Network

The winner will take on either Cardinal O’Hara or Southern Lehigh in the PIAA 4A state championship game next week.

  • Best high school football players in Pennsylvania in 2025: QBs | RBs | WR/TEs | OL/DL

Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday, November 28 in Highland Park, Pa., with a live TV broadcast on NFHS Network.

High school championships on NFHS Network

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Aliquippa knocked out Kemon Spell and McKeesport two weeks ago for the Class 4A WPIAL championship, then got past Oil City last week. Twin Valley beat Susquehanna Township in the District 3 4A title round last week.

In the most recent PennLive Class 4A rankings, Twin Valley (13-0) is No. 1 and Aliquippa (10-3) is No. 3.

The quest for a trip to the 2025 PIAA state championships is nearing an end. The finals in all classifications will be played Dec. 4-6 at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg.

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How to watch Twin Valley vs. Aliquippa football livestream

What: Twin Valley vs. Aliquippa in Class 4A Pennsylvania high school football state semifinals

When: Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday, November 28

Where: Mifflin County High School | Highland Park, Pennsylvania

Watch live: Watch Twin Valley vs. Aliquippa live on the NFHS Network

Listen to the Pa. High School Football Report podcast

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