November 25 – WILKES-BARRE – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced this week that it will host a virtual public information meeting to discuss the update to the Pennsylvania State Rail Plan on Tuesday, December 10 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. :30
The public can provide input through an online survey until December 19.
PennDOT is currently developing the Pennsylvania State Rail Plan 2025, which was last updated in 2020. PennDOT is working with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on the update. Gathering input from the public and stakeholders on safety, passenger and freight rail, financing, policy, the environment and economic development is critical to the development of the State Rail Plan.
The plan will also evaluate and document passenger and freight rail needs over the next twenty years to guide investments.
“Pennsylvania’s rail freight network supports jobs that support families and connects Pennsylvania communities to the global economy, while driving local economic development,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “This plan is critical to a successful rail freight network in the state, and we encourage people to join the virtual meeting.”
The first half of the meeting will include an introduction to the Pennsylvania State Rail Plan update process and background information on freight and passenger rail transportation, followed by an interactive question and answer session between the project team and the public. Project staff look forward to receiving input on the opportunities, priorities and investment needs for Pennsylvania’s rail system.
Participants must visit the Zoom meeting link before the meeting start time. The public is encouraged to share the link to the meeting with interested personal and professional contacts.
Presentation materials for the virtual public information meeting and an online survey will be available on the State Rail Plan website at – advancingparail.com. The meeting materials and an online survey are available on the State Rail Plan website until December 19.
Questions or comments may be directed to — RA-PDPASRP@pa.gov.
TSA shares three helpful packing tips ahead of Thanksgiving
The Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving will be very busy at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints across the country, and it’s important to make sure there are no prohibited items in your carry-on luggage.
TSA is expected to screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2, representing an increase in volume of approximately 6% from this time last year.
TSA expects the three busiest travel days to be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday.
It’s not easy to remember what you threw into your backpack, shoulder bag or handbag two weeks ago, so maybe there’s something in there that won’t pass a checkpoint. Or maybe you’d like to take a gift or favorite food with you and you’re not sure if it can fit in a carry-on or checked bag.
With that in mind, TSA offers these three helpful tips when packing for your Thanksgiving flight.
—Start with an empty pocket. When packing for your trip, start by dumping all the contents out of your backpack, roller bag, messenger bag, duffel bag, purse, or whatever you use to lug your stuff around. Open the zippered or Velcro compartments to make sure there is nothing in those compartments. Then start packing all over again. This way you know with certainty that there are no prohibited items in it. There is no knife in a zippered bag; no bullet stuck in a corner; no water bottle in that side pocket. Yes, starting with an empty bag when you’re packing can save you headaches at the checkpoint.
– Know before you go. If you are unsure where an item should be packed (in carry-on or checked bag), just ask us. Yes, really! We have several ways to help you quickly figure out where to pack an item. Our website www.tsa.gov has a helpful “Can I bring?” feature in the top right corner of the home page. Type in an item and you will see where it should be packaged. Another handy way to figure out where to pack an item is to download the free myTSA app, which offers the same handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask us on social media via X (Twitter) or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers can also send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).
– Thanksgiving is a foodie holiday, and we know passengers will be traveling with food. That’s fine with us, as long as you pack it in the right place. Most food items can be transported through a checkpoint, but there are some items that must be transported in checked baggage. Here’s some food for thought. If it is a solid item, it can pass through a checkpoint. However, if you can spill it, spread it, spread it, spray it, pump it, or pour it, and it is larger than 3.4 ounces, then it should go in a checked bag. TSA has an online list of common Thanksgiving-themed foods people travel with and where to pack them.
Food items often require additional security checks, so it is best to place these items in an easily accessible place in the carry-on baggage when you pack them, then remove these items from your bag and place them in a bin for checking when checkpoint.
More than 9,100 laptops will be distributed to community settings throughout PA
Brandon Carson, executive director of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA), announced this week that the PBDA Board of Directors has approved 117 applications through the Digital Connectivity Technology Program for the distribution of 9,122 laptops to community agencies in 42 Pennsylvania counties for use by residents who do not. have access to digital technology.
Governor Josh Shapiro and his administration are committed to connecting all Pennsylvanians to reliable, affordable, and high-speed internet. The Digital Connectivity Technology Program helps ensure Pennsylvania communities have access to high-speed internet on reliable internet-connected devices so they can enjoy telemedicine education, career opportunities and benefits.
“The community organizations receiving these devices will ensure that individuals who need a laptop to access fast, reliable internet will have that important access.” said Executive Director Carson. “Each organization has outlined a clear and effective plan to make these laptops available to individuals in their communities so they can achieve better health, education and economic outcomes.”
Through the Digital Connectivity Technology Program, laptops will be distributed to public institutions such as libraries, municipalities, workforce training organizations, nonprofits and other community agencies in areas where affordability is a barrier. A second round of laptop applications through the Digital Connectivity Technology Program will start in 2025.
The full list of approvals can be found on the PBDA website.
The PBDA will also partner with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry and PA CareerLink® to introduce program participants to SkillUp PA, which offers free online job skills training to the public.
“All Pennsylvanians deserve access to reliable, high-speed internet and an opportunity to compete for a good-paying job,” said Secretary of Labor and Industries Nancy Walker. “By equipping Pennsylvania workers with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in today’s workforce, we are not only strengthening our communities, but we are also one step closer to closing Pennsylvania’s digital divide.”
SkillUp PA is an online training platform that offers a variety of courses including computer courses, digital skills, Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, IT and other business courses. Participants can also pursue industry-recognized credentials in areas such as CompTIA, Cybersecurity, Project Management, Human Resources and Microsoft Office Specialist.
Last June, the PBDA opened the initial application period for the Digital Connectivity Technology Program using federal funds secured through the American Rescue Plan Capital Projects Funding.
The state is improving licensing processes to help place teachers in classrooms
Building on that work to expedite government and reduce administrative burdens, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced this week that aspiring educators can now receive an Internal Certificate for free, allowing them to enter the classroom and teach up to three years of teaching. as they take teaching classes on their way to obtaining their full teaching certification.
The free Intern Certificate opens an alternative path to a teaching career for Pennsylvanians who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to use their knowledge and skills to train future generations and place more teachers in Pennsylvania’s classrooms faster.
“Pennsylvania’s education workforce shortage is a multifaceted challenge that will require innovation, creativity and strategic thinking to overcome,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “By offering prospective teachers with prior work experience and expertise in the field a free alternative to entering the classroom before certification, we enable them to earn while they learn, while helping schools fill open classroom positions with qualified, passionate candidates.”
The Shapiro Administration is taking action to address the education workforce shortage and make it a little easier for Pennsylvanians to become teachers, because creating real opportunities for our children starts with having enough well-qualified, well-paid teachers in our classrooms.
Individuals with an Internal Certificate have passed the content test, demonstrating that they have the knowledge to teach in a content area and need only complete their core professional teaching and student teaching work before becoming fully certified. Interns have three-year certificates, giving them the opportunity to complete their student teaching while working and getting paid as a teacher.
Previously, individuals paid $200 for a trainee certificate and then another $200 once they completed their teacher preparation program and applied for an instructional certificate. By waiving the fee for the Intern Certificate, PDE hopes to encourage more people to pursue this option and encourage more schools to hire interns to meet their immediate staffing needs.
Internal certifications are an alternative to emergency permits, and PDE has worked with teacher preparation programs to expand their teacher internship programs and reduce the number of individuals entering the classroom through emergency permits.
There are currently more than 8,000 teachers working under emergency licenses and that number continues to rise – in 2022-2023, Pennsylvania saw a 27% increase in emergency licenses.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
