Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania universities reject GOP call to freeze tuition
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — 4 Pennsylvania universities mentioned Wednesday they may comply with by with tuition will increase regardless of calls from Home Republicans to roll again the value hikes.
The lawmakers, together with Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, the GOP nominee for governor, argue Penn State, College of Pittsburgh, Lincoln and Temple are receiving federal funds and don’t want to extend tuition.
The schools didn’t obtain a bump in funding on this yr’s state price range. As a substitute, by one-time federal funds, the colleges will cut up about $30 million on high of price range funding.
“From a long-term planning standpoint, it might not be prudent for us to make use of it as a part of our recurring operations,” mentioned Steve Orbanek, a Temple College spokesman.
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi mentioned the funds could be put towards scholar success.
“This infusion of one-time funds, although, won’t get rid of the bigger monetary pressures the establishment is dealing with,” she mentioned.
Mastriano and Home Republican leaders despatched letters to the colleges in current days.
“In not less than two cases, the state flat-funding appropriations over final yr was cited as a trigger for the schooling improve,” Home Republican management mentioned in an announcement Wednesday. “Given the current information about receiving extra funding for the 2022-23 tutorial yr, it might solely be prudent to roll again these selections for all college students, however at a minimal, for Pennsylvania residents attending your establishments.”
A Pitt spokesperson mentioned their share will likely be earmarked for scholar monetary support and outreach.
Lincoln College President Brenda Allen mentioned in an announcement the rise solely applies to new college students. Lincoln declined to touch upon the way it will allocate the extra funds.
At Penn State, in-state undergraduate college students will see tuition improve by 5% on the College Park campus and a pair of% on the Commonwealth Campuses. Non-residents will see a 6% tuition improve at College Park and a 3% improve on the Commonwealth Campuses. A 5% improve will likely be instituted for Penn State World Campus undergraduates.
Most in-state college students paying full tuition at Pitts’ campus will see their tuition fee rise by 3.5%. Regional campus tuition charges will rise by 2%.
Temple college students will see a 3.9% improve for 2022–2023 undergraduate and graduate base tuition for each in-state and out-of-state college students.
Lincoln’s tuition will elevated by lower than 1% for the incoming class, in keeping with figures on its web site. A college spokesperson didn’t instantly verify the rise quantity.
The 4 faculties, referred to formally as “state-related universities,” usually are not owned by the state, however obtain authorities subsidies. Collectively, they obtained $597 million from the state authorities on this yr’s price range.
Tuition will increase are simply the newest dispute between the colleges and state lawmakers. In June, Home Republicans doubled down on not sending funding to Pitt over its use of fetal tissue from elective abortions by approving an modification to the appropriations invoice.
The dispute ended quietly within the Legislature when GOP lawmakers backed away from requiring {that a} college monetary officer submit a sworn assertion testifying that their college doesn’t use the tissue to be able to get state funding.
___
Brooke Schultz is a corps member for the Related Press/Report for America Statehouse Information Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on undercovered points. Comply with Brooke Schultz on Twitter.
Pennsylvania
Former Pennsylvania cop accused of sexually assaulting students while working at high school
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A former police officer and school resource officer in Lackawanna County has been accused of sexually abusing five students.
In a news release, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office said Stephen J. Carroll has been charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, official oppression, institutional sexual assault and other offenses.
Officials said the 49-year-old Carroll was formerly a school resource officer at West Scranton High School and an officer with the Scranton Police Department. The attorney general’s office said the abuse happened over five years at his home and West Scranton High. The alleged sex crimes date back to 2009 and recent interviews and evidence led to the charges last week, authorities said.
“This public servant took an oath to protect his community and was specifically assigned to look out for the well being of students — instead he used his position of authority to groom and sexually assault multiple teenagers,” Attorney General Michelle Henry said in the news release.
The Scranton Times-Tribune reported that Carroll is accused of multiple crimes, including sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old and sending graphic text messages, from 2009 to 2017. The newspaper reported, citing the criminal complaint, that four of the five victims were under 18 years old.
He was last employed by the Scranton Police Department in 2022 and has not been with the high school as a resource officer since 2018, The Times-Tribune reported.
“The safety and well-being of our children and students are our highest priority, and any violation of that trust is both deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” Pennsylvania State Police Captain James Cuttitta said in the news release. “We are committed to ensuring that justice is served.”
Carroll’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 3, 2025.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s Child Care Crisis Sparks Petition Demanding Action from Governor Shapiro – MyChesCo
HARRISBURG, PA — Child care in Pennsylvania is in crisis, and parents, educators, and advocates want Governor Shapiro to know it. On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Start Strong PA delivered a petition with 5,077 signatures, demanding that the Governor include $284 million in his 2025-2026 state budget to directly tackle the child care sector’s mounting workforce challenges. Their message is urgent and clear—fix child care now.
At the heart of the crisis is a workforce stretched to its limits. With low wages and declining program availability, the child care sector is teetering on the edge of collapse. “As Pennsylvania businesses continue to seek qualified, dependable employees, tens of thousands of working parents are struggling to find the child care they need to remain in the workforce,” explained Cara Ciminillo, Executive Director of Trying Together. “This is due to a staffing crisis within the child care sector, resulting in closures of classrooms and even entire facilities. Currently, there are 600 fewer child care programs in the commonwealth than there were at the start of the pandemic.”
A Broken System Hurting Families and Workers
The numbers paint a stark picture. A recent survey of 1,140 child care programs revealed over 3,000 unfilled child care staffing positions. This worker shortage has forced closures and capacity cuts across the state, eliminating more than 25,300 child care slots. The reality for families is bleak—being left without the care they desperately need to stay in the workforce. For child care providers, it’s no better. The financial foundation of the industry simply doesn’t work.
At the core of the problem? Wages that fail to attract and retain staff. The average child care teacher in Pennsylvania earns just $15.15 per hour, a rate that doesn’t even meet the cost of living in any county statewide. Jen DeBell, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, called it out plainly, saying, “If we don’t allocate funds to directly address our teacher recruitment and retention crisis, child care classroom and program closures will continue to disrupt thousands of families’ ability to work.”
Child care workers—the individuals shaping young minds and caring for the next generation—are being forced to leave the industry because they simply can’t afford to stay in it. It’s a vicious cycle that leaves parents scrambling for solutions and businesses unable to retain employees who need stable care for their children.
The Cost of Legislative Inaction
The petition, buoyed by voices from across the state, isn’t just about sounding the alarm. It’s a call for state leaders, especially Governor Shapiro, to act decisively. Advocates are demanding $284 million to fund a child care teacher recruitment and retention initiative aimed at stabilizing the industry. Neighboring states have shown what’s possible—about 20 others already prioritize funding for child care workforce initiatives. But Diane Barber, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Child Care Association, noted Pennsylvania lawmakers’ slow response. “The difference is Pennsylvania lawmakers have only offered solutions to one side of the issue – the demand side – in the form of tax credits to help families better afford child care,” Barber said. “Solutions to fix the supply side – to make sure families can find care – are desperately needed.”
Without intervention, this crisis won’t just impact parents and teachers; it will reverberate across Pennsylvania’s economy. Parents unable to find care are leaving the workforce, reducing economic productivity, and increasing pressure on businesses already grappling with tight employee pools. Further inaction could deepen the state’s challenges, stalling growth and driving families to untenable situations.
A Movement to #FixChildCare
To amplify their efforts, Start Strong PA has introduced FixChildCarePA.com, a platform highlighting the personal stories of families left without care options and detailing the struggles of child care providers fighting to stay open. The campaign’s goal is not just to draw attention but to push for meaningful change in the state’s child care infrastructure.
This isn’t just a call for funding—it’s a demand for a vision. It’s about what Pennsylvania values. Do we consider child care foundational to the state’s present and future? Or will the workforce crisis continue to snowball unchecked?
Every signature on that petition is a reminder. Parents want to work. Educators want to teach and care. Communities need to thrive. But without a functioning child care system, all of this is at risk. The solution exists—now it’s up to Governor Shapiro and state lawmakers to make it a reality before more programs shut their doors and more families are left stranded.
The message is resounding. Pennsylvania has a choice to make—and time is running out.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania state trooper hit by vehicle in Somerset County
A state trooper was hit by a vehicle in Somerset County.
Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar said the trooper was trying to help a disabled vehicle on Route 31 westbound when they were hit on Saturday.
According to our partners at WJAC, the trooper suffered injuries to their head, leg and pelvis.
The trooper has been released from the hospital.
“This is a stark reminder of the dangers that our first responders face on a daily basis. I encourage everyone to life the trooper and his family up in their thoughts and prayers,” Metzgar said.
Officials said the trooper still has “a long way to go” before returning to duty.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
-
Technology1 week ago
OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever says the way AI is built is about to change
-
Politics1 week ago
U.S. Supreme Court will decide if oil industry may sue to block California's zero-emissions goal
-
Business1 week ago
Freddie Freeman's World Series walk-off grand slam baseball sells at auction for $1.56 million
-
Technology1 week ago
Meta’s Instagram boss: who posted something matters more in the AI age
-
News1 week ago
East’s wintry mix could make travel dicey. And yes, that was a tornado in Calif.
-
Technology3 days ago
Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
Politics4 days ago
Illegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
News4 days ago
Novo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints