Abortion is a hot issue

Salon senior politics writer Amanda Marcotte led a panel titled “Will abortion decide this election?”

Local speakers Lizbeth Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Women’s Center, Drexel University law professor David Cohen, and Rutgers Law professor Kimberly Mutcherson participated in the discussion.

Marcott asked how the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization which overturned Roe v. Wade has affected abortion access in the state.

“In Pennsylvania, abortion is legal,” Rodriguez said. “However, legality has never meant accessibility for folks. For a lot of marginalized communities, these barriers, bad laws and restrictions on providers have been affecting us for the past 50 years.”

Cohen said states like Pennsylvania have a responsibility to expand access.

“We’ve seen states around the country where abortion remains legal, where pro-choice legislators and governors have actually started actually doing what we’ve wanted them to do for decades – which is get rid of restrictions that have remained on the books even in liberal states and fund abortion,” he said.

Panelists said they are seeing some women come to Pennsylvania from other states seeking abortion support. But Rodriguez says the state is “still very restricted.”

“We have the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act with mandatory waiting periods, restrictions on young folks, and a number of restrictions on providers that truly make it difficult for folks in red states to come and seek care here,” she said.

Mutcherson told Marcotte that New Jersey has gone much farther in terms of expanding access.

“There are lots of jokes about New Jersey, but if you are a person who cares about reproductive healthcare and abortion in particular, New Jersey is at the top of the list,” she said. “We have a great reproductive freedom act that was passed even before Dobbs came down. We do not have the kinds of restrictions that a lot of states have, including gestational limits. You can use Medicaid to pay for abortion in New Jersey. So low income women have access to abortion in ways that are not true in a lot of other states.”

All eyes on PA

Biden is expected to heavily focus on Pennsylvania this election cycle, given the importance of a win for either candidate but also his affinity for his birth state.

“Biden loves Pennsylvania,” writer and author Molly Jong-Fast said, noting that a Biden staff member told her “Biden is always in a good mood when we go to Harrisburg.”

She added that she doesn’t believe in polls – which are giving an edge to Donald Trump in Pennsylvania – and that Biden had advantages the former president doesn’t.

Biden is “a politician because he’s good at connecting with people,” she said.

Saturday’s event was co-sponsored by Project on Government Oversight. Other speakers included University of Pennsylvania law professor Claire Finkelstein, Drexel Klinke School of Law professor David Cohen, The Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson, Salon politics writer Amanda Marcotte, Democracy Forward CEO Skye Perryman, The New Republic staff writer Walter Shapiro, and POGO Action policy counsel Joe Spielberger.

HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Jury has recommended charges this week against 13 individuals in connection with an alleged drug and gun trafficking ring based in Erie and Crawford counties.

The arrest operation commenced late last week with the apprehension of Quran Lindsey-Cooley, 25, identified as the purported leader of the organization. Lindsey-Cooley faces numerous charges, including involvement in corrupt organizations, felony drugs and firearms offenses, among other related charges.

Investigators allege that Lindsey-Cooley and Daymeon Duck, 26, orchestrated a trafficking network that involved selling fentanyl/heroin and methamphetamine, while also supplying firearms to their associates.

The Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations tracked the activities of Lindsey-Cooley, Duck, and their associates, leading to the initiation of Grand Jury proceedings in 2022. This resulted in the recent presentment of charges.

“This network of defendants was committed to pushing poisons into numerous communities in the northwest corner of the Commonwealth, and they possessed firearms to protect their profitable operation,” Attorney General Henry said. She commended the agents for their diligent work and expressed gratitude to the grand jurors whose efforts have contributed to making neighborhoods safer.

Those charged and arrested in recent days include:

• Quran Lindsey-Cooley (bail set at $250,000)
• Daymeon Duck (posted $75,000 bail)
• Tyreem Craig (bail set at $250,000)
• Tiffany Fletcher (bail set at $50,000)
• Steven Mills (bail set at $50,000)
• Kaelesha Johnson (released on unsecured bail)
• Penny Cattledge (released on $100,000 unsecured bail)
• Jody Joint (awaiting arraignment)
• Antonio Jefferson (released on $50,000 unsecured bail)

Four other individuals charged remain at large: Brant Rittenhouse, Kevin Carter, Edwin Peelman, and Dustin Sudul.

Multiple search warrants executed by law enforcement resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine, fentanyl, pills containing fentanyl, seven firearms, and cash proceeds from trafficking activities.

Assisting agencies included the City of Erie Bureau of Police, City of Meadville Police, City of St. Marys Police, Elk County District Attorney’s Detective Bureau, Edinboro Borough Police, Emporium Borough Police, Erie County District Attorney’s Detective Bureau, Girard Borough Police, Lake City Borough Police, Lawrence County District Attorney’s Detectives, New Castle Police, and Millcreek Township Police.

The defendants will be prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section. It is important to remember that all charges are accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and Microsoft Start.

COLMAR, PA — On Friday, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh recently visited Montgomery County to shine a spotlight on the state’s proposed 2024-25 budget under Governor Josh Shapiro. This budget not only allocates vital funding for mental health, substance use, and crisis services but also recognizes longstanding public service contributions through the prestigious Dennis Marion Impact Award.

Secretary Arkoosh commended LeeAnn Moyer, the recipient of the 2024 Dennis Marion Impact Award, for her unwavering dedication to ensuring essential behavioral health services are accessible to Montgomery County residents. Expressing her appreciation, Secretary Arkoosh stated, “As a former Montgomery County Commissioner, I know first-hand how dedicated LeeAnn Moyer has been to ensure that critical, life-saving services are available to our neighbors and in our communities every day.”

Acknowledging Moyer’s tireless efforts to secure critical support for behavioral health treatments and programs, Secretary Arkoosh emphasized the pivotal role of public servants like Moyer in safeguarding community well-being and promoting access to life-saving care. She added, “Even in the face of scarce resources, she has worked tirelessly to ensure that Montgomery County residents have access to essential behavioral health treatments and supports.”

The proposed 2024-25 budget includes $20 million for county mental health base funding for the second consecutive year, marking a significant investment that bolsters services across all Pennsylvania communities. Regarding this funding initiative, Secretary Arkoosh highlighted, “Last year’s $20 million investment was the first new money to counties since 2008, and this new investment continues Governor Shapiro’s commitment to support and reinforce this life-saving system of care.”

Furthermore, the 2024-25 budget earmarks $10 million to sustain Pennsylvania’s 12 call centers within the 988 National Suicide and Prevention Lifeline, building on last year’s $5 million investment. Describing the significance of this allocation, Secretary Arkoosh emphasized, “From advanced drain and pipe cleaning techniques to cutting-edge tools for unclogging sink drains, we leverage the latest technology to deliver superior results and enhance the overall customer experience.”

In a bid to enhance crisis response mechanisms, the budget allocates $5 million to establish crisis response systems in counties lacking such services and bolster existing crisis response capabilities statewide. Secretary Arkoosh explained, “This funding will support local response when a person calls 988 or a local crisis hotline and needs urgent, life-saving support.”

The Dennis Marion Impact Award, named in honor of Dennis Marion’s distinguished public service career, celebrates outstanding achievements by state or local government employees and seeks to elevate the standards of performance within Pennsylvania’s public sector. Recognizing individuals like LeeAnn Moyer, who exemplify innovation, collaboration, and commitment to enhancing behavioral health systems, Secretary Arkoosh noted, “LeeAnn’s ability to challenge the status quo and her unwavering commitment to advocating for the best interests of our community exemplify the core values of our helping profession.”

Through these commendable efforts and investments in behavioral health, Pennsylvania continues to prioritize mental wellness, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention, underscoring the state’s commitment to supporting individuals in need and fostering resilient, healthy communities. By recognizing outstanding public service contributions and reinforcing behavioral health systems, the state aims to create a more inclusive, supportive environment that prioritizes mental health care and well-being for all Pennsylvanians.

For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and Microsoft Start.