Pennsylvania

Vote for Pennsylvania’s high school football player of the week for games played Sept. 27-Sept. 29

Published

1 year ago

October 1, 2023

Vote for Pennsylvania’s high school football player of the week for games played Sept. 27-Sept. 29

The sixth week of Pennsylvania’s high school football season is in the books, and it was filled with some big-time individual performances.

But who had the best showing?

Sign up for PennLive’s new high school sports newsletter here .

Check out the list below and then vote in the poll at the bottom to let us know who you think Pennsylvania’s top player was for games played Sept. 27- Sept. 29.

The poll, sponsored by Renewal by Andersen of Central PA, will be closed at noon Wednesday. More than 50,000 votes were cast in last week’s contest.

Check out this week’s top performances below:.

Alex Erby, QB, Steel-High — Erby was 21-of-24 passing for 464 yards and six touchdowns in a 48-7 win over Middletown.

Matt Sieg, QB, Fort Cherry — Sieg accounted for 449 yards — 277 rushing, 172 passing — and seven touchdowns in a 48-41 win over Bishop Canevin.

Kole Olszewski, QB, Bishop Canevin — Olszewski threw for 417 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-41 loss to Fort Cherry.

Logan Kushner, QB, North Allegheny — Kushner accounted for 404 yards — 265 passing, 139 rushing — and five touchdowns in a 45-10 win over Pine-Richland.

Sam McCracken, QB, Ephrata — McCracken accounted for 393 yards — 326 passing, 67 rushing — and three touchdowns in a 42-22 loss to Garden Spot.

Brad Birch, QB, Gateway — Birch accounted for 387 yards — 266 passing, 121 rushing — and six touchdowns in a 63-21 win over Hempfield Area.

Carson Nagle, QB, Bald Eagle Area — Nagle threw for 382 yards and six touchdowns in a 55-7 win over Bellefonte.

Payton Wehner, QB, Central Catholic — Wehner threw for 365 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-6 win over Canon-McMillan.

Rylie Vanderpool, QB, Towanda — Vanderpool accounted for 353 yards — 300 passing, 53 rushing — and three touchdowns in a 27-6 win over Athens. He also had 11 tackles and an interception.

Derek Burk, QB, Deer Lakes — Burk accounted for 322 yards — 234 passing, 88 rushing — and two touchdowns in a 41-21 loss to Knoch.

Ian McDonald, QB, Titusville — McDonald accounted for 320 yards — 228 passing, 92 rushing — and five touchdowns in a 56-12 win over Conneaut Area.

Madden Patrick, QB, Danville — Patrick threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-3 win over Lewisburg.

Eli Muthler, QB, Central — Muthler accounted for 306 yards — 257 passing, 49 rushing — and four touchdowns in a 34-21 win over Huntingdon. He also intercepted a pass.

Caden Mengel, QB, North Schuylkill — Mengel accounted for 304 yards — 163 passing, 141 rushing — and three touchdowns in a 28-21 win over Notre Dame Green Pond.

Kye Harting, QB, Garden Spot — Harting accounted for 298 yards — 189 passing, 109 rushing — and four touchdowns in a 42-22 win over Ephrata.

Codi Mullen, QB, Knoch — Mullen accounted for 296 yards — 186 passing, 110 rushing — and two touchdowns in a 41-21 win over Deer Lakes.

Jay Wrona, QB, Mohawk — Wrona threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-14 win over Ellwood City.

Marcus Quaker, QB, West Perry — Quaker accounted for 284 yards — 120 rushing, 164 passing — and four touchdowns in a 72-28 win over Boiling Springs.

Tyler Gee, QB, Loyalsock Township — Gee accounted for 276 yards — 234 passing, 42 rushing — and five touchdowns in a 50-10 win over Central Columbia.

Ryan Newton, QB, Warrior Run — Newton threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-6 win over Bloomsburg.

Shawn Lee Jr., QB, Harrisburg — Lee Jr. accounted for 270 yards — 164 passing, 104 rushing — and three touchdowns in a 54-7 win over Altoona.

Maddox Hetrick, QB, Punxsutawney — Hetrick threw for 264 yards and a touchdown in a 25-24 win over DuBois.

Cole Buckley, QB, Franklin — Buckley accounted for 262 yards — 147 rushing, 115 passing — and four touchdowns in a 35-0 win over Warren.

Lou Swartz, QB, West Shamokin — Swartz accounted for 254 yards — 134 rushing, 120 passing — and five touchdowns in a 42-6 win over Conemaugh Valley. He also had six tackles, three for loss.

Mason Campagna, QB, Claysburg-Kimmel — Campagna accounted for 254 yards — 199 passing, 55 rushing — and four touchdowns in a 61-6 win over Southern Huntingdon County. He also intercepted a pass.

Jackson Humes, QB, North East — Humes accounted for 254 yards — 229 passing, 25 rushing — and in a 31-0 win over Lutheran East (Ohio).

Jaivin Peel, QB, Western Beaver — Peel threw for 253 yards and four touchdowns in a 47-0 win over Freedom Area.

Danny Darno, QB, Notre Dame Green Pond — Darno accounted for 247 yards — 170 passing, 77 rushing — and a touchdown in a 28-21 loss to North Schuylkill.

Grady Snyder, RB, Central Cambria — Snyder accounted for 246 yards — 181 rushing, 65 on three catches — and two touchdowns in a 42-21 loss to Chestnut Ridge.

Steven Rutherford, QB, Central Valley — Rutherford accounted for 245 yards — 145 passing, 100 rushing — and three touchdowns in a 42-14 win over Blackhawk.

Drew Branstetter, QB, Camp Hill — The Lions quarterback threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns in a 22-3 win over Susquenita.

Riley Martinez, QB, Exeter — Martinez accounted for 242 yards — 134 passing, 108 rushing — and two touchdowns in a 28-21 win over Warwick.

Demaj Jalloh, QB, CD East — Jalloh threw for 241 yards and ran for a touchdown in a 43-17 loss to State College.

Jake Wolfe, QB, Montour — Wolfe accounted for 239 yards — 169 passing, 70 rushing — and and three touchdowns in a 48-14 win over New Castle.

Quadir Stribling, QB, Serra Catholic — Stribling accounted for 239 yards — 224 passing, 15 rushing — and two touchdowns in a 27-12 win over Derry.

Quinn Bramble, QB, Eastern York — Bramble thew for 231 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-14 win over West York.

Ty Rozier Jr., QB, Greensburg Central Catholic — Rozier Jr. threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-28 loss to Clairton.

Zac Hahn, QB, Manheim Central — Hahn threw for 230 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-0 win over Muhlenberg.

Eddie Corkery, QB, State College — Corkery threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns in a 43-17 win over CD East.

Eion Snider, QB, Northern Bedford — Snider accounted for 229 yards — 221 passing, 8 rushing — and four touchdowns in a 62-28 win over Tussey Mountain.

Jerrin Loomis, QB, Jersey Shore — Loomis accounted for 227 yards — 216 passing, 11 rushing — and four touchdowns in a 55-14 win over Executive Education.

Steel-High defeats Middletown 48-7 in high school football

Lloyd Fountain, QB, Northwestern — Fountain accounted for 226 yards — 144 passing, 82 rushing — and three touchdowns in a 19-13 win over Union City.

Tommy Hunsicker, QB, Wilson – Hunsicker accounted for 223 yards — 133 passing, 90 rushing — and three touchdowns in a 21-14 win over Governor Mifflin.

TD Evans, QB, Susquehanna Township — Evans threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-21 win over Waynesboro.

Aiden Hess, QB, Catasauqua — Hess threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-13 loss to Schuylkill Haven.

Key’Ron Plummer, QB, Central Dauphin — Plummer passed 217 yards and four touchdowns in a 50-16 win over Carlisle.

Braylon Wagner, QB, Redbank Valley — Wagner accounted or 216 yards — 200 passing, 16 rushing — and four touchdowns in a 50-6 win over UACV.

Vincent Campoli, QB, Fairview — Campoli accounted for 213 yards — 141 rushing, 72 passing — and three touchdowns in a 31-13 win over Corry.

Nate Whysong, QB, Chestnut Ridge — Whysong accounted for 211 yards — 190 passing, 21 rushing — and two touchdowns in a 42-21 win over Central Cambria.

Cowan Ruhland, QB, Spring Grove — Ruhland accounted for 206 yards — 106 passing, 100 rushing — and six touchdowns in a 66-27 win over Northeastern.

Cameron Connelly, QB, Annville-Cleona — Connelly ran for 206 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-40 win over Kutztown.

Tyler Miller, QB, Blue Mountain — Miller accounted for 195 yards — 125 rushing, 70 passing — and two touchdowns in a 41-13 win over Lehighton.

Max Qureshi, QB, University Prep — Qureshi threw for 149 yards and five touchdowns in a 70-0 win over Perry.

Carter Burton, QB, Lower Dauphin — Burton rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-7 win over Lower Dauphin.

Payton Molter, QB, Jeannette — Molter threw three touchdowns and ran for another in a 42-22 win over Riverview.

Elijah Cunningham, RB, Lancaster Catholic — Cunningham ran for 332 yards and five touchdowns in a 61-23 win over Hamburg.

Aaron Crossley, RB, Wyoming Area — Crossley ran for 311 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-19 win over Scranton. He also had five tackles, three for loss, and a sack.

Colin Brady, RB, West Greene — Brady ran for 295 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-32 win over Monessen.

Brycen Armold, RB, Manheim Central — Armold accounted for 256 yards — 151 rushing, 105 on eight catches — and three touchdowns in a 42-0 win over Muhlenberg.

Bryce Staretz, RB, Cumberland Valley — Staretz ran for 255 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-20 win over Chambersburg.

Josh Vinton, RB, Western Wayne — Vinton ran for 248 yards and a touchdown in a 21-14 win over West Scranton.

Bruce Giles, RB, Connellsville — Giles ran for 242 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-26 win over Hampton.

Jayson Skipalis, RB, Hanover Area — Skipalis ran for 241 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-6 win over Holy Redeemer.

Jance Henry Jr., RB, Central Valley — Henry Jr. ran for 234 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-14 win over Blackhawk.

Adam Johnson, RB, Northern Bedford — Johnson accounted for 231 yards — 177 rushing, 54 receiving — and five touchdowns in a 62-28 win over Tussey Mountain.

Nazye Boggs, RB, Plymouth Whitemarsh — Boggs ran for 231 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-13 win over Cheltenham.

Anthony Leonardi, RB, Central Bucks South — Leonardi ran for 213 yards and a touchdown in a 50-28 win over North Penn.

Ben Grabowski, RB, Penn-Trafford — Grabowski ran for 205 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-28 win over Norwin.

Bishop McDevitt defeats Milton Hershey 55-14 in high school football

Donald Barksdale, RB, Steel Valley — Barksdale ran for 202 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-17 win over Apollo Ridge.

Mason Chambers, RB, Upper St. Clair — Chambers ran for 202 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-27 win over Mt. Lebanon.

Brock Cornell, RB, West Allegheny — Cornell ran for 198 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-6 win over Chartiers Valley. He also had 10 tackles.

Kyle Dupill, RB, Franklin Regional — Dupill ran for 196 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-26 win over Plum.

Jared Porter, RB, CD East — Porter ran for 195 yards and a touchdown in a 43-17 loss to State College.

Eddie Lewis, RB, Washington — Lewis ran for 194 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-14 win over Waynesburg.

Tasso Whipple, RB, Penn-Trafford — Whipple ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-28 win over Norwin.

Eric Doerue, RB, South Park — Doerue ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-28 win over Seton LaSalle.

Anthony Eakin, RB, Neshannock — Eakin ran for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-7 win over New Brighton.

Nizeah Mummert, RB, Spring Grove — Mummert ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns in a 66-27 win over Northeastern.

Nuhsi Valenti, RB, Eastern York — Valentia accounted for 170 yards — 140 rushing, 30 receiving — and a touchdown in a 39-14 win over West York Area. He also had five tackles and a sack.

Brendan Gilliland, RB, Troy — Gilliland accounted for 169 yards — 118 rushing, 51 receiving — and two touchdowns in a 51-7 win over Wellsboro. He also had seven tackles and a sack.

Kolton Sutter, RB, Northwestern — Sutter accounted or 168 yards — 94 on three catches, 74 rushing — and a touchdown in a 19-13 win over Union City.

Ethan Varesko, RB, Beth-Center — Varesko ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-20 win over Carmichaels.

Johnny Garcia, RB, Solanco — Garcia ran for 167 yards in a 29-28 loss to Twin Valley.

Logan Ross, RB, Tunkhannock — Ross ran for 166 yards and five touchdowns in a 13-12 win over Lake-Lehman.

Luke Stevenosky, RB, Minersville — Stevenosky ran for 164 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-20 win over Pen Argyl.

D’Antae Sheffey, RB, State College — Sheffey ran for 163 yards and two touchdowns in a 43-17 win over CD East.

Cooper Huston, RB, Berlin Brothersvalley — Huston ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-14 win over Meyersdale. He also had an interception.

Darius Fields, RB, Northgate — Fields ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-13 win over Shenango.

Aaryn Longenecker, RB, Cocalico — Longenecker ran for 158 yards and a touchdown in a 56-7 win over ELCO.

Luke Blessing, RB, Mount Carmel — Blessing ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns in a 55-0 win over Midd-West.

Terrell Mcfarland, RB, Pottsville — Mcfarland ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns in a 17-8 win over Bangor.

Dorian Thomas, RB, Easton — Thomas ran for 155 yards and a touchdown in a 21-13 win over Liberty.

Noah Sanders, RB, Jeannette — Sanders ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns on six carries in a 42-22 win over Riverview.

Angel Cabrera, RB, Hershey — Cabrera ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-0 win over Red Land.

CD hosts Carlisle in high school football actionMark Pynes

Tate Sechrist, RB, Jersey Shore — Sechrist accounted for 152 yards — 118 rushing, 34 on three catches — and two touchdowns in a 55-14 win over Executive Education.

Dante Giallonardo, RB, Mount Pleasant — Giallonardo ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-7 win over Greensburg Salem.

Garon Quillen, RB, Dover — Quillen ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-0 win over York Suburban.

Cale Wagner, RB, North Penn-Mansfield — Wagner accounted or 148 yards — 120 rushing, 28 on four receptions — and two touchdowns in a 20-14 win over Cowanesque Valley.

Austin Rollman, RB, South Western — Rollman ran for 146 yards and four touchdowns a 30-7 win over Red Lion.

Eddie Sebright, RB, Bermuidan Springs — Sebright accounted for 144 yards — 93 rushing, 51 receiving — and three touchdowns in a 42-7 win over Hanover.

Erik Schriver, RB, Cedar Cliff — Schriver Rushed for 143 yards in a 48-6 win over Mifflin County.

Bryson Watson, RB, Franklin — Watson ran for 142 yards in a 35-0 win over Warren.

Zack Fox, RB, Nanticoke — Fox ran for 139 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-28 win over Pittston.

Sevon Parham, RB, Conrad Weiser — Parham ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-26 loss to Berks Catholic.

Kelvin Morrison, RB, Hickory — Morrison accounted for 134 yards — 122 rushing, 12 receiving — and a touchdown in a 48-14 win over Slippery Rock.

RJ Tallion, RB, Windber — Tallion ran for 131 yards and four touchdowns in a 37-7 win over Uniontown.

Caden McCully, RB, UV — McCully ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns and also had 11 tackles in a 14-0 win over Penns Manor.

Rell Ceasar, WR, Steel-High — Ceasar caught eight passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-7 win over Middletown.

Jaxon Covell, WR, Titusville — Covell accounted for 232 yards — 129 on five catches, 103 rushing — and three touchdowns in a 56-12 win over Conneaut Area. He also had seven tackles.

Jason Cross, WR, Bishop Canevin — Cross caught 11 passes for 229 yards and 11 touchdowns in a 48-41 loss to Fort Cherry.

Mateo Crummel, WR, Central Dauphin — Crummel caught six passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns in a 50-16 win over Carlisle.

Beau Thomas, WR, Punxsutawney — Thomas accounted for 196 yards — 162 on six catches, 34 rushing — and two touchdowns in a 25-24 win over DuBois.

Carter Marr, WR, Warrior Run — Marr caught six passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-6 win over Bloomsburg. He also had an interception.

Khiryn Boyd, WR, North Allegheny — Boyd caught five passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-10 win over Pine-Richland.

Derek Guzman, WR, Hershey — Guzman accounted for 160 yards — 77 on six catches, 83 rushing — and a touchdown and also had an interception in a 41-0 win over Red Land.

Jaeion Perry, WR, Steel-High — Perry caught five passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-7 win over Middletown.

Xavier Armstrong, WR, CD East — Armstrong caught six passes for 138 yards in a 43-17 loss to State College.

Scoop Smith, WR, Woodland Hills — Smith caught four passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-14 win over Shaler.

AJ Lozano, WR, Notre Dame Green Pond — Lozano caught four passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in a 28-21 loss to North Schuylkill.

Kahale Burns, WR, Bald Eagle Area — Burns caught eight passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns in a 55-7 win over Bellefonte.

Carter Raup, WR, Danville — Raup caught 10 passes for 116 yards in a 35-3 win over Lewisburg.

Aaron Johnson, WR, Danville — Johnson caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-3 win over Lewisburg.

Mark Lattieri, ATH, Claysburg-Kimmel — Lattieri accounted for 95 yards — 49 receiving, 46 rushing — and a touchdown, and also had five tackles and three sacks in a 61-6 win over Southern Huntingdon County.

Levi Ayala, ATH, Eastern York — Ayala ran for 50 yards and two touchdowns, and also had two sacks in a 39-14 win over West York.

Jaylen Andrews, CB/WR, Loyalsock Township — Andrews had two interceptions and also caught six passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in a 50-10 win over Central Columbia.

Darrian Holloway, LB, Annville-Cleona — Holloway was in on 18 tackles in a 41-40 win over Kutztown.

Justin Strausbaugh, LB, Eastern York — Strausbaugh was in on 16 tackles with a sack in a 39-14 win over West York.

CAN’T SEE THE POLL BELOW? CLICK HERE.

Source link

Pennsylvania

‘The labor shortage will only get worse:’ Trump deportation plans could hit Pa. agriculture hard • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Published

4 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

‘The labor shortage will only get worse:’ Trump deportation plans could hit Pa. agriculture hard • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Pennsylvania is home to an estimated 155,000 undocumented migrants, according to the American Immigration Council. And around 30,000 of them may work in the state’s agricultural sector, according to estimates from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

With the state’s agriculture industry already facing a workforce shortage, President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to begin a mass deportation program at the start of his term next week could exacerbate the problem.

Lerae Kroon, a supervising attorney at the Pennsylvania Farmworker Project, said that a mass deportation program like Trump has pitched would “cause chaos and pain for everyone in the community.”

“Many undocumented workers live with and support multi-generational and mixed status families, who will be in economic distress,” Kroon said. “The labor shortage will only get worse as folks are swept up in raids – and even documented workers may decide that the risk is not worth it and leave agricultural jobs.”

According to Kroon, increased hostility towards immigration is already being felt in Pennsylvania.

“We have heard from clients and community partners who are scared,” Kroon said. “Anti-immigrant rhetoric is already driving folks further into the shadows, and we expect that will continue.”

Pennsylvania elected officials are urging the incoming Trump administration to proceed with caution, ensuring that any changes to the immigration system ensure that seasonal workers are able to enter the country legally.

Gov. Josh Shapiro addresses reporters at the Pa. Farm Show on Jan. 8, 2025 (Ian Karbal/ Capital-Star)

‘Let’s see what the president-elect actually decides to do’

Speaking to a crowd at the Pennsylvania Farm Show last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro called filling workforce shortages in the state’s agriculture sector “critically important.”

Shapiro said his administration has made investments in agricultural education and apprenticeship programs to bring younger people into the workforce. He also said it’s important to ensure that immigrant and seasonal workers, who make up a large share of the agricultural workforce, are able to work in the country legally.

Though Shapiro didn’t mention Trump by name, the president-elect has repeatedly promised to enact “the largest mass deportation program in American history,” which he’s said will begin on his first day in office in less than a week. Trump has also floated ending birthright citizenship and potentially deporting entire families with mixed immigration status.

“We also need a thoughtful, responsible immigration reform at the federal level that prioritizes the needs of our ag industry,” Shapiro said. “I hope our federal partners will be able to come together to accomplish that.”

Asked during a news conference after his speech how he would support agricultural workers and business owners if Trump takes a more extreme approach to his deportation plans, Shapiro was noncommittal.

“Let’s see what the president-elect actually decides to do here — he’s said a lot of different things,” Shapiro said. “Our administration will be prepared.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has estimated that nearly half of Pennsylvania’s crop farm workers, roughly 30,000 people, may be undocumented immigrants, according to 2017 census numbers. The American Immigration Council, an immigration advocacy group, estimates that immigrants, both documented and undocumented, make up around 9.7% of the state’s total workforce, according to 2022 data, and that a large share work in the agricultural sector generally.

According to Bailey Fisher, the federal affairs specialist at the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, some Pennsylvania industries that rely heavily on migrant labor include dairy, mushroom, fruit and Christmas tree farms.

“The jobs that foreign-born farm workers fill are specialized, technical and grueling,” said Kroon, speaking to why migrant workers are so prominent in the agricultural sector. “They are also historically low-paying. As labor shortages in agriculture continue to grow, the work still has to be done and some undocumented workers are willing to do it.”

Trump has said at times that he would focus his early deportation efforts on criminals. He also told NBC’s Meet The Press after winning election that he would be open to deporting all undocumented immigrants in the country over the course of his next term.

‘A devastating impact’

Shapiro’s response to Trump’s statements are similar to other remarks he’s made since Trump’s election in November. Other Democratic governors have taken a more hard-line stance, saying they will try to block deportation efforts or instruct law enforcement in their states not to cooperate with federal agents.

As governor, Shapiro could take a leading role in shaping the state’s response to any deportation plans enacted by Trump. And he has some history of pushing back on Trump’s immigration policies. When he was Pennsylvania’s attorney general, Shapiro joined a multistate lawsuit to stop Trump’s family separation policy that saw young children taken from their parents. He also pushed back on Trump’s attempts to ban Muslims traveling to the United States and his first administration’s policies that made it more difficult for immigrants living in the U.S. to change their immigration status.

Pennsylvania state House Rep. Jose Giral (D-Philadelphia), vice chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus and a member of the House Labor and Industry Committee, called for more measured immigration reform.

“President-Elect Trump’s mass deportation plan would have a devastating impact on our agriculture industry – our largest industry generating tens of billions of dollars in revenue and economic activity every year – and losing these workers would send everyone’s grocery bill skyrocketing,” Giral told the Capital-Star in a statement. “The federal government should focus on immigration reform instead of targeting hardworking and essential farm workers.”

But some Democrats, like Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, have shown more willingness to work with Republicans on immigration reform. Fetterman recently signed on as a cosponsor of the GOP-led Laken Riley Act, named for a young Georgia woman whose murder by an undocumented immigrant who had previously been arrested for shoplifting and endangering a child became a rallying cry for the Trump campaign’s immigration proposals. The vote in Pennsylvania’s House delegation was bipartisan. Democratic Reps. Brendan Boyle and Chris Deluzio voted for the bill along with all Republicans from the state. The Senate has yet to take a final vote on the bill.

The bill would require Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents to detain undocumented immigrants who are charged with theft-related crimes like burglary and shoplifting, regardless of whether they’re convicted. It would also give state attorneys general greater power to sue the federal government for harm to their citizens caused by undocumented immigrants.

Recent polling shows that support for deporting undocumented immigrants has grown among the American public.

U.S. Sen Dave McCormick (R-PA) toured the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Jan. 11, 2025. (John Cole/Capital-Star)

Pennsylvania’s recently-elected Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) also addressed immigration at the Farm Show on Saturday, saying that immigration reform should follow efforts to increase border security and slow immigration.

“Job one has to be closing the border, but I’m hopeful that as we get a little further into the president’s term, we’ll also be able to return to legal immigration reform,” McCormick said.

Speaking specifically to the needs of Pennsylvania farmers, McCormick said, “in this community in particular, there are needs for H-2A and other reforms that allow us to have legal agricultural workers,” McCormick told the Capital-Star. “And these are jobs that are not replacing American workers. These are jobs that are left unfilled unless we have legal immigration reform

‘We’re already struggling to get enough workers’

As it stands, the H-2A visa program, which allows U.S. employers to bring in foreign workers to fill temporary agriculture jobs, may not be able to bring in enough people to make up for the loss of undocumented workers if Trump enacts a broad deportation program.

“The H-2A program, in its current capacity, I don’t know if it could handle that,” said Fisher, the federal affairs specialist at the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. “We’re already struggling to get enough workers through the program.”

Fisher said the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau isn’t taking a stance in debates over immigration, but is talking with the incoming Trump administration to convey the seriousness of the worker shortage and seasonal migrant workers’ roles in filling it.

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is advocating to let visa holders work for a full year, as opposed to just six months, and to make it easier for farmers to apply for the program.

Fisher also said that getting enough workers isn’t the only issue with the program. Employers relying on it have to fill out a hefty amount of paperwork, sometimes requiring them to hire specialized consultants. And with strict housing standards and transportation requirements, hiring seasonal workers can become expensive.

“We of course want to make sure employees feel safe and healthy,” Fisher said. “But we also want to have some practicality to it.”

But ultimately, Fisher said, reform may be difficult.

“The H-2A program is such a beast,” Fisher said.

And there’s another issue. “We understand immigration is related to ag labor with the H-2A visa program, but whenever you bring up immigration it turns into this politicized topic and you can never get anything done.”

Fisher said she’s begun to hear concerns from business owners in the Pennsylvania agricultural sector about the potential impacts of a deportation program. But, like Shapiro, she’s telling them, “wait and see what happens. Right now a lot of this can be just rumors.”

Capital-Star reporter John Cole contributed.

Source link

Pennsylvania

Wegmans Announces Plans For Pittsburgh Location

Published

12 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Press Room

Wegmans Announces Plans For Pittsburgh Location

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA — Wegmans, the supermarket chain known for its customer service, restaurant foods and one-stop shopping, is about to enter the Pittsburgh market.

Wegmans, which has 111 stores on the East Coast, announced Monday that it will open a 115,000-square-foot store in Cranberry, on 12 acres of land on Cool Springs Drive next to the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

A timeline for construction and opening was not disclosed. The supermarket will be part of the Cranberry Springs development, which includes commercial, residential, office, and retail space.

“We’ve received thousands of requests for a Wegmans in the Pittsburgh region since opening our first Pennsylvania store over 30 years ago,” Dan Aken, Wegmans vice president of real estate and store planning, said in a statement. “We’re excited to have finally found the right location to bring Wegmans to the Pittsburgh area.”

Said Cranberry Manager Dan Santoro: “Cranberry Township is home to many exceptional businesses that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. We are delighted that Wegmans has chosen Cranberry Township as its first location in the Pittsburgh area.”

Wegmans will hire 400 to 500 employees for the new store, with the majority hired locally. Wegmans has ranked highly on FORTUNE magazine’s list of “The 100 Best Companies to Work For” for 27 consecutive years.

According to its website, Wegmans operates more than 100 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington D.C. and Delaware. There are 19 Wegmans stores in Pennsylvania, with the closest ones to Pittsburgh being in Erie and State College.

The privately owned company was launched more than a century ago and has more than 54,000 employees. Wegmans says it generates $12.5 billion in annual sales.

Source link

Pennsylvania

New Hope, Pennsylvania and Lambertville, New Jersey host first-ever restaurant week

Published

19 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Press Room

New Hope, Pennsylvania and Lambertville, New Jersey host first-ever restaurant week

Riverfront towns New Hope and Lambertville kick off first restaurant week

11:35

Calling all foodies! Restaurant Week in Lambertville, New Jersey, and New Hope, Pennsylvania, kicks off on Monday, Jan. 13.

In reality, diners can take advantage of special meals and discounts for two weeks at restaurants in both riverfront communities.

Unfortunately, the New Hope-Lambertville Toll-Supported Bridge is also shut down to all motor and pedestrian traffic for the next two weeks for repairs. But business owners hope the closure doesn’t deter people from coming out to eat.

“Lambertville and New Hope are known as sister cities separated by the Delaware River and the river closing has impacted business greatly,” said Vice President of New Hope Chamber of Commerce Mary Brashier. “Typically, we see some impact to the businesses.”

Still, restaurant owners and staff say they’re working hard to create a charming experience for diners.

“A lot of us live in Lambertville and got used to being able to walk over the bridge to come into New Hope,” said Caelin Murphy, the event coordinator at Nektar Wine Bar in New Hope. “Enjoying that beautiful walk, seeing the views of the Delaware.” Murphy said. Nektar is highlighting their favorite tapas dishes during restaurant week.

Across the river in Lambertville, the team at Under the Moon is looking forward to this unique restaurant week.

“Under the Moon is a Spanish-Italian restaurant with wonderful craft cocktails at our bar,” owner Eric Richardson said. “We’ve been in town eight years and Lambertville is a wonderful community, and we appreciate the support of everyone.”