Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Democrats quietly change website page recruiting poll watchers after GOP called out ‘disinformation’

Published

3 months ago

August 30, 2024

Pennsylvania Democrats quietly change website page recruiting poll watchers after GOP called out ‘disinformation’

Pennsylvania Democrats quietly updated their website Thursday night after Republicans accused them of publishing “misinformation” on the site’s recruitment page, which appeared to be enlisting out-of-state poll watchers in violation of the battleground state’s election law.

The Republican National Committee sent a letter to Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt earlier in the day Thursday, pointing out that the Pennsylvania Dems’ “Voter Protection” page on their website said that poll watchers on Election Day “must be physically present in PA for their shift, but do not necessarily have to be PA voters.”

That language contradicted Pennsylvania election law going back to 1937, which states, “Each watcher so appointed must be a qualified registered elector of the county in which the election district for which the watcher was appointed is located.”

“The misinformation on the PA Dems’ website threatens the integrity of November’s general election,” the RNC’s letter to Schmidt reads, explaining that the Democratic Party cannot be allowed to “flood polling places with unqualified out-of-state poll watchers.”

The Pennsylvania Department of State told The Post that poll watchers are “specifically defined as individuals appointed by candidates or political parties to observe inside a polling place on Election Day,” not outside.

In other words, Pennsylvania poll watchers must not only be Pennsylvania voters, but they can also only serve in the polling place in the county they are registered to vote.

That’s a far cry from what Pennsylvania Democrats were telling potential volunteers, thus sparking Republicans’ complaints of “misinformation.”

In a statement to The Post on Friday, the Pennsylvania Dems clapped back at their Republican opponents.

“Our Party takes our democracy seriously, unlike the MAGA Republicans that are busy launching bad faith attacks on voters and our volunteers,” said Mitch Kates, PA Dems’ Executive Director.

“Poll watchers may be located inside or outside of polling locations, and outside poll watchers can be volunteers from any state,” Kates said. “We have always made this distinction in assigning our volunteers on Election Day.”

But Pennsylvania Democrats didn’t make this distinction on their recruitment page – until it was changed Thursday night.

Still, the Republicans are urging Schmidt, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, to correct the PA Democrats’ “misinformation and disinformation” on the state’s “Fact-Checking Election Claims” page, and order them to “cease and desist” from publishing inaccurate election information.

Both Democrats and Republicans recruit voter protection volunteers from out of state, and both parties are recruiting armies of volunteers to monitor polling places to make sure their team’s ballots are counted, and contest questionable ballots on the opposing side.

An Emerson poll released Thursday showed Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump tied at 48% support in the Keystone State.

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Related Topics:Democrats Featured Pennsylvania Politics polls Republican Party republicans Swing States 2024 US News voting

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Pennsylvania

Messiah Lifeways receives $1 million in funding from Pennsylvania

Published

3 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Messiah Lifeways receives million in funding from Pennsylvania

An artist’s rendering depicts the Ferncrest campus. (Image from https://fernecrest.messiahlifeways.org/ used with permission of Messiah LIfeways)

Mechanicsburg, PA-based Messiah Lifeways has received $1 million through the commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 2024 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

RACP grant funding is meant to be used for the design, acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.

The retirement community has allocated half of the funding to prepare the site and construct the organization’s Fernecrest campus in New Cumberland, PA, for which ground was broken earlier this month. The other $500,000 will support HVAC upgrades at the Messiah Village campus in Mechanicsburg.

Messiah LIfeways said that the monies allocated to the Fernecrest property will allow it to focus on amenities such as a nature trail, a fitness center, dining venues “and various other perks designed for residents to enjoy the scenic landscape.”

Messiah Lifeways CEO and President Karl Brummer said in a press release that the grant money was an honor, “having the value of our efforts to meet the growing and evolving needs of older adults recognized and supported in such a tangible and transformational way.”

“These dollars will help us move our mission forward, broadening our regional reach and meeting a growing need for places where people can not just reside as they age, but also where they can gain a meaningful community with whom they can learn, explore and thrive, he added.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State Finalist Toby Herzog Commits To William & Mary For 2025

Published

11 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Pennsylvania State Finalist Toby Herzog Commits To William & Mary For 2025

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Toby Herzog from Ambler, Pennsylvania has announced his commitment to continue his academic and athletic careers at William & Mary beginning in fall 2025.

“I am ecstatic to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at William & Mary. Thank you to all of my coaches, teammates, and parents for your continuous support. Can’t wait for 2025! GO TRIBE! “

Herzog swims for Upper Dublin Aquatic Club and is in his senior year at Upper Dublin High School, botu out of Fort Washington, PA. This past March, he finished 4th in the 100 breast at the PIAA 3A State Championships swimming to a 55.63. He was slightly faster in prelims with a 55.46 which made him the 2nd seed heading into finals. His best time of a 55.35 from December 2023 notably would have finished 3rd.

In addition to his ‘A’ final appearance in the 100 breast, he also won the 200 IM, clocking a 1:53.43, a personal best time. He made huge strides in the event as a junior as he started his junior campaign with a best time of a 2:04.80.

Herzog’s best SCY times are:

100 breast: 55.35
200 breast: 2:02.18
200 IM: 1:53.43

The William & Mary men finished 5th out of 6 teams at the 2024 CAA Championships. The team was less than 100 points behind 4th place Drexel.

Based on his best times, Herzog has the potential to be an immediate impact upon his arrival. His best time in the 100 breast would have made the ‘B’ final. The team notably had 2 ‘A’ finalists in the event with Brock Rempe (54.00) and Logan McDonald (54.01) finishing 5th and 6th. Herzog’s best time in the 200 breast would also have made the ‘B’ final.

Herzog will arrive next fall as a member of the class of 2029 along with Leo O’Keefe (backstroke), Blaise VanSlyke (sprint free), and Aiden Grendysz (fly).

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Pennsylvania

Pa. STEM center made possible by Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation

Published

19 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Pa. STEM center made possible by Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation

STEM careers can lead students to earn higher salaries, but it isn’t always accessible for all children to pursue STEM programs or careers.

“Most Americans believe K-12 STEM education in the United States is either average or below average compared with other wealthy nations,” according to an April 2024 Pew Research Center survey.

The study also revealed that “recent global standardized test scores show that students in the U.S. are, in fact, lagging behind their peers in other wealthy nations when it comes to math,” but are doing better than average in science compared with pupils in other countries.

The foundation is for all students but it places centers in neighborhoods handpicked because they don’t have access to technology education or abundant financial resources. Ripken Jr. explained, “A lot of our centers are in rural (or inner-city) areas.”

Joe Rossow, executive vice president of STEM and outcome measurements at the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, noted that “rural areas don’t have that tax base… it’s hard for them to get new equipment, and new furniture and new things.”

Calvin Butler, president and CEO of Exelon and board chairman of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation (left) Cal Ripken Jr., baseball Hall of Fame shortstop (center) and PECO senior VP Doug Oliver (right) pose with the Philly Phanatic at the ceremonial ribbon cutting for a new STEM center at the Tinicum School in Delaware County, Pa., on November 20, 2024. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

In a 2021 report, Pew research also revealed that “Black and Hispanic workers remain underrepresented in the STEM workforce compared with their share of all workers.” The research stated that while women make up half of those employed in STEM jobs, most are in health-related careers. Women are underrepresented in other occupations, according to the report.

The foundation aims to help level the field and alter the stigma that prevents students from entering STEM-related careers. Rossow said they have seen an increase in girls showing interest in their STEM center programs. An analysis of application data from students in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Maryland found that 60% of female students had a higher increase in STEM engagement, 53% of female students had a higher percentage of STEM enjoyment and 50% of female students’ chances increased to enter STEM careers.

“Some of our female students had an increase in critical thinking as problem solvers and after that study, we didn’t realize it (the centers) really had an impact on our female engineers,” Rossow said.

The foundation’s mission is to partner with youth-serving organizations and schools across the country to provide educational life skills curriculum.

A mission that Ripken Sr. believed in wholeheartedly, according to Ripken Jr.

In Pennsylvania, STEM centers have opened at Saint Aloysius Parish School in Pottstown, Scott Sixth Grade Center in Coatesville, Delta-Peach Bottom Elementary in Delta, Robert K. Shafer Middle School in Bensalem, Feltonville School of Arts & Sciences and Avery Harrington School in Philadelphia.

The organization plans to open more centers in the future.

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