Pennsylvania
Semi carrying cars caught fire overnight on Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County
WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A car carrier caught fire overnight on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
The fire happened in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, around 2:30 a.m.
911 officials tell Channel 11 that the tractor-trailer was damaged by the flames. So were some of the cars it was carrying.
A photo shared by the Youngwood Volunteer Fire Department shows some of the cars were destroyed in the fire.
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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.
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