Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor visited the River Crossing YMCA in Allentown this week to talk to young students about the importance of being smart with their money and to promote programs the YMCA offers to help students improve their financial literacy.
“Knowing how to be smart with your money is one of the most important lessons a young person can learn to achieve future financial success,” DeFoor said. “It is never too early to start thinking about how money works. It’s essential that we continue to work with partners like River Crossing YMCA to give Pennsylvanians the tools to help them on their journey to financial independence.”
DeFoor’s ‘Be Money Smart’ financial literacy initiative was launched in November 2021 to emphasize the need for financial literacy in Pennsylvania and highlight resources available for all residents across the commonwealth.
Since the launch of Be Money $mart in 2021, DeFoor has:
• Created a Be Money $mart Community Partners page for individuals to directly access resources and information about financial literacy.
• Launched a statewide art contest for students to design the cover of a financial literacy activity book.
• Partnered with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Members 1st Federal Credit Union to coordinate a statewide financial literacy competition for high school students.
• Met with teachers and students in high school classrooms across Pennsylvania in recognition of successful financial literacy learning opportunities.
Visited all state and state-related universities in Pennsylvania, as well as community colleges, to talk about job and internship opportunities within the department and the importance of knowing how your money works.
• Moderated financial literacy panels for community organizations, the agriculture industry and local chambers of commerce.
• Partnered with the Pennsylvania Library Association to highlight free financial literacy resources and the PA Forward program.
• Visited YMCAs across the Commonwealth to talk about financial literacy for all ages.
Worked with Junior Achievement to emphasize financial literacy messages to elementary school students and participated in multiple BizTown simulations.
• Partnered with CrossState Credit Union Association and other credit unions and financial institutions across the state to promote free financial literacy resources, including hosting ‘Money $mart Mondays’ with PSECU.
Culver to host event on data centers
Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-R-27, will host a virtual informational session with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission on Wednesday, July 22, from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. to discuss water demand associated with data centers.
The session, titled “Managing Water Demand Associated with Data Centers,” will feature Andrew D. Dehoff, P.E., executive director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.
“Our region and its residents deserve clear information about how water use is reviewed, regulated and balanced,” Culver said. “This session will give the public an opportunity to hear directly from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission about its role in evaluating water demand and protecting the resources that are so important to our communities.”
The virtual event will focus on how water usage is evaluated within the Susquehanna River Basin, including the review process for proposed projects and how water demand is considered alongside environmental and community needs.
Attendees will be able to submit questions during the event.
Registration information will be available at https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/2b6aa9ac-adad-403d-9168-718bc6660fb3@68d0106a-1653-4100-8648-bae76b2c26a0.
McCormick completes 11-day tour
U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pittsburgh, recently completed an 11-day, 32-stop tour across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, marking the milestone of visiting all 67 counties in the Commonwealth since taking office.
In total, his 67-county visit included 297 official stops across the Commonwealth.
Traveling from Philadelphia County to Greene County, Sen. McCormick met with rural healthcare providers, manufacturers, veterans, small business owners, educators, county commissioners, labor leaders, tourism officials, and community members to hear firsthand about the issues impacting Pennsylvanians across every corner of the Commonwealth.
The completion of this tour reflects Senator McCormick’s commitment to maintaining a strong, visible presence throughout Pennsylvania and ensuring that every region in the Commonwealth has a voice in the United States Senate.
“Pennsylvania’s greatest strength has always been its people, and there’s no substitute for showing up and listening,” McCormick said. “Over the last 11 days, I traveled from one end of the Commonwealth to the other, meeting with Pennsylvanians who are building businesses, caring for patients, manufacturing world-class products, educating our children, protecting our communities, and powering our economy.
“Completing this tour marks an important milestone. During our campaign, we visited all 67 counties across Pennsylvania, and now I’ve done it again since taking office. That commitment doesn’t end here. I’ll continue traveling the Commonwealth because the best way to represent Pennsylvania in Washington is to hear directly from the people who call it home.”
Throughout the 11-day tour, Sen. McCormick highlighted Pennsylvania’s diverse economy and communities while focusing on issues critical to the Commonwealth’s future.
The tour reinforced Sen. McCormick’s commitment to ensuring that every community — urban, suburban, and rural — is represented in the Senate and that Pennsylvania remains a national leader in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, energy, innovation, and economic opportunity.
Bresnahan secures $2M in federal funding
U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, Jr., R-Dallas Township, this week announced he secured $2 million in federal funding for the completion of repairs for the State Route (SR) 6 over Wallenpaupack Creek Bridge.
The funding will go towards the deck rehabilitation of two structures that connect Wayne and Pike Counties over Wallenpaupack Creek.
“For the people who live, work, and travel here, this is more than just a bridge, it’s a connection people count on every day,” Bresnahan said. “Every day, thousands of people cross this bridge on their way to and from Lake Wallenpaupack, supporting local businesses and the communities that depend on tourism. These repairs will keep this economic investment moving, extending the life of the bridge and keeping it safe and reliable. This announcement is the result of strong partnerships between local, state, federal, county, and community partners, and I want to thank everyone who has pushed this project to the finish line.”
The structures, which were originally built in 1959, were last rehabilitated in 1984 and currently carry nearly 10,000 vehicles across the bridge each day. Recently added to the National Highway System, the bridge is classified as a Principal Arterial due to its significance to the nation’s economy, defense, and mobility.
“One of my top priorities in Congress is making sure Northeastern Pennsylvania gets its fair share of federal resources,” Bresnahan said. “When taxpayers send their hard-earned dollars to Washington, they should see those dollars come back home to projects that make life better. I’ll keep fighting to bring investments like this to Northeastern Pennsylvania because every community deserves safe roads, reliable bridges, and infrastructure that’s built to last.”
Bresnahan secured the $2 million in funding through a Community Project Funding (CPF) request in the FY 2026 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development appropriations bill.
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on X @TLBillOBoyle.