Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Politics Splits over Taylor Swift

Published

1 year ago

December 17, 2023

Pennsylvania Politics Splits over Taylor Swift

“The haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.” That lyric by Taylor Swift echoed the hallowed halls of government when legislators in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives erupted in fury over what they see as the state’s frivolous decision to recognize 2023 as “Taylor Swift’s Era.”

The speaker of the House, Joanna McClinton, quoted Ms. Swift’s hit song, “Shake it Off” amid debate over a proposal to honor the Pennsylvania native on Wednesday, her birthday. While a couple of lawmakers argued that the pop sensation should not be a point of discussion in the general assembly, House Resolution 282 passed with 103 yes votes and 100 nays in what could have been the most lyrical session of the Pennsylvanian Congress.

Even elected officials cannot deny Ms. Swift’s stardom. While their invocation of her break-up songs might make a mockery of America’s legislative branch, what’s most salient is that the singer-songwriter has transcended the realm of pop culture. Now, she gleams from Harvard’s course offerings, Bloomberg’s billionaire list, and the front page of TIME magazine as their “Person of the Year.”

To bring Ms. Swift into the world of politics renders Pennsylvania’s state governance “a joke,” argued state representative, Stephanie Borowicz. “This is the Democratic party though, idolizing Hollywood,” she said during the House debate, “giving Taylor Swift an ‘era’ while our veterans get a day. Taking down our Founding Fathers’ statues while elevating a Hollywood singer.”

“Taylor Swift fangirling,” added another “hater,” representative Wendy Fink, “doesn’t belong in the general assembly.” She pointed to the assembly’s failures of governance, like its delay in determining the state budget. “I was elected by my constituents to serve them and pass meaningful legislation to better the lives of them in Pennsylvania,” she said, “and considering a resolution by a celebrity does not fall under that purview.”

If the House’s debate this week were a genre of film, it would be not a “love story,” but a comedy, bursting with cringe-inducing puns. “I will be swift in my remarks!” proclaimed representative Paul Schemel, sporting wire glasses, a bowtie, and a broad smile. The audience erupted in laughter. “This,” Ms. McClinton admonished him, “is not open mic night.”

Yet representative Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz captured the sentiment in the room when she later exclaimed, “I really love that we can have fun while we work!”

The eight members of Virginia’s Congress who introduced House Resolution 282 appear to be as big of “fangirls” as the 53 percent of Americans who praise her music. When the proposal passed on Wednesday, Representative Danielle Friel Otten shared a poster from the Eras tour that was altered to include profile photos of those lawmakers encircling a sketch of Ms. Swift. “It’s official,” Ms. Otten said, “Pennsylvania is in its Taylor Swift Era!”

Speech turned into song when representative Russ Diamond belted before the assembly Ms. Swift’s hit tracks, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “Shake it Off.” Mr. Diamond said that during his “business era,” he produced compact discs for Ms. Swift as she began her career in the music industry.

Yet Mr. Diamond was quick to criticize the star for leaving her home state for Nashville at age 13. “She writes a lot of break up songs,” he said, “and let’s not forget that she broke up with Pennsylvania by moving out.” According to a recent survey, more than half of 18- to 44-year-olds have considered moving out of the state — representing one of the highest rates of out-migration of any U.S. state.

“Perhaps it’s appropriate that we honor her,” said Mr. Schemel, the fan sporting the bowtie, “because she is emblematic of the young demographic that seems to be leaving our state to find opportunities elsewhere.” He suggested that Ms. Swift serves as a lesson for lawmakers. “When we make policy in this room, that policy affects families, and it affects people like Taylor Swift who used to live here,” he said, “people that we want to continue to live here in the future.”

Representative Jessica Benham, taking the podium, viewed the resolution as an opportunity to “celebrate and recognize the contributions to our economy by Taylor Swift.” Indeed, the U.S. gross domestic product grew an estimated $4.3 billion as a result of Ms. Swift’s first 53 concerts, Bloomberg Economics reports. She revives local economies and brings tens of thousands to their feet in each city she visits. “This resolution is a love story,” said Ms. Benham, “so baby, let’s just say yes.”

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Pennsylvania

Native trout prized by anglers is getting nearly $4M in habitat help in N.J., Pa. and N.Y.

Published

2 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Native trout prized by anglers is getting nearly M in habitat help in N.J., Pa. and N.Y.

Millions of dollars are coming to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York waterways to improve habitat for the native Eastern brook trout.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced Wednesday it will lead the multi-state partnership to help restore the fish to waterways in parts of all three states.

The grant for $3.5 million was announced by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as part of nearly $122.5 million awarded through the America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative: America the Beautiful Challenge. This is a competitive grant program funded by President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, other federal conservation programs and private sources.

Recipients agreed to at least $8.7 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $131.1 million spread among 61 grants supporting landscape-scale conservation projects across 42 states, 19 Tribal Nations, and 3 U.S. territories. The match for the Eastern brook trout grant is $389,200, for a total project amount of $3,889,200.

Eastern brook trout, known as brookies, are the official state fish species for New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York — and considered an indicator of good water quality, the N.J. DEP said in a news release. Prized by anglers, it’s the Garden State’s only native trout species.

Like the lake trout, it’s part of the genus Salvelinus, different from other trout species familiar to local anglers. Rainbow trout are in the genus Oncorhynchus, while brown trout are in the genus Salmo, though all three genera are part of the subfamily Salmoninae in the family Salmonidae.

The grant will fund cold-water conservation projects in priority watersheds over the next four years, including removing barriers such as dams and culverts, enhancing in-stream habitat, restoring floodplain habitat and mitigating upstream stressors that can lead to higher water temperature, according to the release. It is focused on safeguarding the biodiversity of the Appalachian Corridor highlands and streams within the three states, according to the N.J. DEP’s release.

“New Jersey is proud to be part of this effort,” stated New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “This species holds a special place for anglers and anyone who cares about the health of our cold-water streams and lakes.

“We thank the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for this opportunity and look forward to working with our partner states in developing projects that will enhance habitat not only for Eastern brook trout, but for other cold-water fish species as well.”

Amy Wolfe, director of Trout Unlimited’s northeast coldwater habitat program, told the public radio station WHYY the tri-state initiative is the first of its kind in the region: “Our goal in this will be to focus on projects that can reconnect fragmented habitat and reduce pollution from sediment runoff and from other land use impacts in these areas.”

Biden launched the America the Beautiful Challenge grant program in 2021, setting the nation’s first-ever goal to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, according to the N.J. DEP release.

The program being administered by N.J. DEP Fish & Wildlife is a collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Trout Unlimited, the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Wildlife Management Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“This initiative is fundamentally about aligning implementation resources with identified projects to help conserve a priority species for all three states and our partners,” stated Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer. “In so doing, we are affirming a commitment to landscape-level conservation that capitalizes on unprecedented partnerships here in the Northeast.”

Steve Hurst, chief of fisheries for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, says in the release: “The work that will be accomplished under the America the Beautiful Challenge grant marks a new phase for the already successful joint venture, as states will now use the knowledge compiled over the past 20 years to collectively improve upon the habitat brook trout depend upon in the Delaware watershed.”

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.

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Pennsylvania

Lingering clouds overnight, mostly sunny start for Sunday

Published

11 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Lingering clouds overnight, mostly sunny start for Sunday

We’ve had some lingering clouds across the area so far tonight, some areas are seeing more clearing than others. Skies will clear up for our Sunday with temperatures ranging in the mid to upper 20s for our mornings temps. We have some more snow chances this week as well as next weekend. Check the full forecast for the timing.

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Pennsylvania

Mary Lynn Lofink, Hermitage, PA

Published

19 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

HERMITAGE, Pennsylvania (MyValleyTributes) – Mary Lynn (Rost) Lofink, 79 of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, formerly of Bellevue, Pennslyvania took her journey to Heaven on Friday, January 10, 2025.

She was born June 14, 1945, the daughter of the late Fred and Mary Rost.

Mary lead by example with a fierce love for her family, a kind heart, infectious smile and an affluent amount of wisdom and knowledge. She had an abundance of love and guidance for her grandchildren and she always embodied the unbreakable bond of sisterhood with her siblings. She was a true blessing in all of our lives.

She had a passion for reading, crossword puzzles, cooking and the occasional casino trip. Days with her were filled with much love, joy and laughter. She filled her family’s hearts with unconditional love and will forever be etched with cherished memories of her.

Surviving at home her devoted husband of 57 years, John “Jack” C. Lofink; children, Julie (Rick) Moore, John Michael Lofink, Sarah (Albert) Boland; grandchildren, Meghan Boland (Jack Gladysz) and Emma Boland and Ricky and Madeline Moore; siblings, Beth (John) Waselko, Fred (Deb) Rost, Jean (Hal) Schmitt and Carol (Gary) Horn. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, her sister, Jo Anne Stevenson, precedes her in death.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the dedicated team members of Jameson Care Center and Grane Hospice for their exceptional care and heartfelt compassion.

Family and friends may attend calling hours on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 from 1:00 – 3:00p.m. at John Flynn Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. 2630 East State Street Hermitage, PA 16148. A funeral service will be held immediately after at the funeral home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Lynn, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Monday, January 13 at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

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