Latest news with #AustinDavis
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania launches online pardon application
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A pardon may soon be just a click away in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons launched an online application Tuesday, a first for the agency. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'In my experience, individuals can unfortunately face barriers to submitting an application such as not being able to print documents or not being able to mail the application for submission,' said Megan Reinprecht, staff attorney for Legal Aid of Southeastern PA. Only non-incarcerated people can use the eight-step application. Currently incarcerated people must instead fill out a PDF application. The board has also implemented AI into its process, using it to analyze hand-written applications. Staff previously had to retype each request. All of the changes are to make the process easier for applicants, said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who chairs the board. 'They're fathers, mothers, aunts and uncles – and many of them have earned a second chance and a clean slate moving forward,' Davis said. Pennsylvania House passes bill to end nonprofit filing fees for volunteer fire companies Since taking office, Davis and the board has recommended more than 1,000 pardons to Governor Josh Shapiro. Former Governor Tom Wolf holds the record for most pardons by a governor. He granted clemency to 2,540 people while in office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


CBS News
15-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis speaks during Pittsburgh's "No Kings" protest
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis spoke during a "No Kings" protest Saturday in Downtown Pittsburgh. "Every day, Donald Trump has been putting American families at risk," Davis told the crowd of a few hundred in front of the City-County Building. He told the crowd that just in the past week, troops were deployed to Los Angeles, Trump called for a governor to be thrown in jail, and two Minnesota state legislators were shot in their homes. "This is not the America I know. This is not the America we were founded on, this is not American values," Davis said. He said the large crowds send a message that America was founded "for the people and by the people," and that those people are concerned about the "dangerous" actions the Trump administration is taking. "Every day we've seen President Trump roll back our rights and freedoms," Davis said. He also spoke one-on-one with KDKA-TV, saying Trump has been abusive in how he's used his power. "He has acted in a way that has sewn distrust in our government system, and it's caused many, many of our institutions to fail and to suffer, and these folks are exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms to send a message," Davis said. He encouraged people to get involved in their communities to create change, saying that protesting is just the beginning, and added that everyone has a role to play, including those in the crowd. "I think they're organizing. I think what you're seeing is a mass organizing and mobilization of folks, and this organization is going to continue to the ballot box," Davis said. Indivisible Pittsburgh and the Black Political Empowerment Project organized the rally. It was the latter and smaller of the two rallies Saturday in the city.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Under the baobab: State College Pride a celebration of community and inclusion
Happy Pride Month. Happy Loving Day. Happy Juneteenth. It is a busy and blessed time. State College's fifth year of celebrating community and inclusion began with a parade and ended with a festival in Sidney Friedman Park, sponsored by State College Borough, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, Downtown State College Improvement District and Centre LGBT+. Trixy Valentine (Jacob Kelley) was this year's parade Grand Marshal. The State College police helped to facilitate safety and efficiency. Mayor Ezra Nanes joined the 50 or so decorated cars and floats. Downtown was filled with over a thousand joyously celebrating spectators who continued the party in the park. Guest speakers included Lt. Governor Austin Davis, Mayor Nanes and state Rep. Paul Takac. Entertainment included drag performances by State Queens, hoop artist Jamie Lee, knife juggling by Capvara, poet Jay Orlando and indigenous performer and educator Patrick Littlefoot Brooks and Family. On June 28, 1969, early morning, we were sitting in a bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan when a friend came in and told us that 'the f---' were rioting in the West Village Club called The Stonewall. None of us believed it. 'Out' homosexuals were a docile group and The Stonewall, a popular dance venue, was a mafia-run dive. We decided to go see for ourselves. The liberal Republican mayor, John Lindsay, had begun his 1969 law and order campaign raiding gay clubs and harassing the marginalized gay community. In those days it was illegal to be or act gay. When the police attacked The Stonewall, that night people fought back, singing civil rights songs and shouting antiwar slogans. Later some implied that SDS and the Black Panthers were behind the rebellion. They weren't. It was a spontaneous reaction of people who had been persecuted too badly for too long. The Stonewall Uprising is considered by many to be the beginning of the American gay pride movement, which changed our world for the better. It is no longer a crime to be gay and gay marriage is legal. Our State College police protect our Pride parade in which our mayor rides. Prior to the parade, a resident set fire to a gay pride flag hanging outside the Faith United Church of Christ. Pastor Jes Kast responded in a human and loving way. She continued the celebration of their planned Strawberry Festival. The church basement was packed with neighbors tasting the sweetness of the fruit of our community. My beloved wife and I were married just a few years after the Supreme Court decision in Loving vs. Virginia in 1967, which allowed interracial marriages to be legal. However, practice delayed by habit and ignorance often trails the law. When we drove through Southern states she would sit in the back and I, in the front, pretending to be her chauffeur lest we be harassed by the police or worst. Elsewhere around town This year marks the sixth year that Juneteenth will be celebrated in State College with the theme: 'Juneteenth: Our Freedom, Our Fight, Our Future.' The celebration weekend will take place on June 13-14. A Block Party in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and 100 Block of Fraser Street will be held on Saturday, June 14, from noon to 6 p.m. Penn State presents the premiere production of the musical 'True Crime Frankenstein or the Modern, Modern Prometheus,' June 12-15 in the Penn State Downtown Theatre, directed by John Simpkins with book by Matt Cox and music and lyrics by Eli Bolin. The show was a co-production of Penn State Centre Stage, Concord Theatricals and Penn State Musical Theatre. Sisters and brothers, you are seen; you are loved; you are not alone. Ubuntu Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party's nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.

Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislative Roundup: Lt. Gov. highlights investments in NEPA
May 4—WILKES-BARRE — Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and representatives from the state Department of Community and Economic Development this week visited Berwick and Lewisburg to tout investments from the Shapiro-Davis Administration to revitalize the communities' downtowns and support local small businesses through the new Main Street Matters program. "I'm thrilled that the Coblentz Corner Project — which is receiving nearly $700,000 in state funding — isn't just about rehabbing an old building," Davis said. "It's about investing in the young people of Berwick and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro and I want every Pennsylvania community to be a place where businesses can grow and young people can thrive." Earlier this month, the Shapiro-Davis Administration awarded $20 million in grants through the Main Street Matters program, administered by DCED. In Columbia County, Community Strategies Group is receiving a $678,062 Main Street Matters grant for the Coblentz Corner Project, which will rehab a blighted building in the heart of the new Berwick Arts District into a teen center and entrepreneurial academy. "Coblentz Corner simultaneously culminates more than 15 years of collaborative, incremental momentum in Berwick and serves as a catalyst for the Downtown's next 15 years," said Rich Kisner, executive director of Community Strategies Group. "Funding these types of projects in rural communities like Berwick is very challenging, but Main Street Matters is the kind of program that can change the entire scope of what's possible." In 2024, FHLBank named downtown Berwick as a Blueprint Community — a revitalization and leadership initiative that serves as a catalyst for creating sustainable communities in the region. Davis previously served as a Blueprint Community team member in his hometown of McKeesport. Also in Columbia County, Bloomsburg is receiving two Main Street Matters grants: —$50,955 to revitalize Market Street Square. —$50,000 for road diet planning for State Route 11/Main Street. Lewisburg, which DCED designated as a Keystone Communities Main Street in 2024, is receiving two Main Street Matters grants: —$75,000 for a business improvement grant program. —$100,000 for way-finding signage. Through Main Street Matters, the Shapiro-Davis Administration is investing $20 million to revitalize downtown areas, help businesses grow and improve community infrastructure. These funds build on the success of the Keystone Communities Program, which has helped cities and towns across Pennsylvania repair historic buildings, improve pedestrian safety and provide direct support to small businesses. Main Street Matters received more than 200 applications requesting more than $43 million, underscoring the demand for strategic investments in Main Streets across Pennsylvania. The Shapiro-Davis 2025-26 budget proposal includes another $20 million for the initiative. FBI releases annual Internet Crime Report The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) released its latest annual report. The 2024 Internet Crime Report combines information from 859,532 complaints of suspected internet crime and details reported losses exceeding $16 billion — a 33% increase in losses from 2023. Nationwide, the top three cyber-crimes, by number of complaints, reported in 2024 were: phishing/spoofing, extortion and personal data breaches. The top three crime types reported by victims of fraud loss were: investment scams, business email compromise and tech support scams. Cryptocurrency fraud continued to be a devastating crime. In 2024, the IC3 received over 149,000 complaints with $9.3 billion in total losses, representing a 66% increase from 2023. For individuals over the age of 60, the IC3 received over 147,000 complaints spanning across all cyber scams, with losses totaling $4.8 billion. This is a 46% increase in complaints from 2023 and a 43% increase in losses from 2023. The average loss was $83,000. Pennsylvania was in the top 10 states by number of complaints to IC3 as well as the top 10 states by losses. In reported complaints per state, Pennsylvania was 5th overall with over 27,000 reports. In reported losses, Pennsylvania was 8th overall, with losses of over $400 million. "Since our founding, the FBI has vigorously pursued complex financial crimes," said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. "While the methods have evolved, the motives remain the same — criminals seeking to exploit others for profit. Today, fraudsters are using advanced digital tools to scale their schemes and target victims around the globe. Whether you're an individual consumer or a large corporation, the threat is real — and growing. That's why we urge everyone to stay vigilant online, and report suspected internet crimes to the FBI at Your reports are vital — they help us disrupt criminal networks, share intelligence with our partners, and safeguard our communities." To promote public awareness, the IC3 produces the annual report to aggregate and highlight the data provided by the public. The quality of the data is a direct reflection of the information the public provides through the IC3 website. The IC3 standardizes the data by categorizing each complaint and analyzes the data to identify and forecast trends in internet crime. The annual report helps the FBI develop effective relationships with industry partners and share information for investigative and intelligence purposes for law enforcement and public awareness. PSP, Shapiro honor fallen troopers Gov. Josh Shapiro this week joined the Pennsylvania State Police to honor the sacrifice of all department members who lost their lives in the line of duty. The memorial service at Department Headquarters commemorated the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the Pennsylvania State Police. "Our fallen troopers make the ultimate sacrifice for Pennsylvania — and it's important that we take days like today to gather and honor their life in service — and to reaffirm that we never, ever forget," Shapiro said. "The men and women of the Pennsylvania State Police go to work every single day to protect and serve our communities. Policing is a noble profession, and we need to continue to have the backs of our police. That's why my Administration is working to make historic investments in our State Police. I am committed to ensuring our troopers and their families have the help and support they deserve all across our Commonwealth." "For 120 years, the women and men of Pennsylvania State Police have dedicated their lives to serving our Commonwealth," said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the PSP. "Today, we remember those who gave their lives. Our Memorial Wall bears witness to their unfaltering courage and unwavering integrity. May their legacies never fade, and may we forever strive to be worthy of their sacrifices." The service included a reading of the 104 names on the Pennsylvania State Police Memorial Wall, a moment of silence, the PSP Ceremonial Unit and a rifle salute. The Pennsylvania State Police was created by legislation signed into law by Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker on May 2, 1905, becoming the first uniformed police organization of its kind in the United States. Starting with just 228 men, the department has grown to an authorized complement of 4,841 enlisted women and men supported by more than 1,850 civilian employees. It is the 10th-largest police agency in the United States. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania investing in 3 local projects to increase economic opportunity
MEADVILLE, Pa. (WKBN) – Mercer County is set to receive some state funding focused on restoring main streets and downtown areas. On Friday, the Shapiro administration announced it's investing $20 million into the Main Street Matters initiative. Three projects were chosen in Mercer County. The Mercer and Lawrence Counties Accessible Housing Program was awarded $150,000, $70,000 was awarded to Penn-Northwest and its Greenville Facade Improvement Program, and $30,000 went to help the Sharon City Small Business Improvement Microloan Program. Lt. Governor Austin Davis was in Meadville on Friday, emphasizing the importance of this funding. 'We want to create real economic opportunity for Pennsylvania in every community, whether you live in Meadville or McKeesport, whether you're in Pittsburgh or Pottstown,' he said. 'We want every Pennsylvania community to be a place where businesses can grow and families can thrive.' The Shapiro-Davis administration is investing in 81 community projects. The 2025-26 budget proposal includes another $20 million for this initiative. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.