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Carl E. Stotz Statue Rededication Kicks Off 2026 Little League Baseball World Series

The rededication of the Carl E. Stotz statue at its new home next to the World of Little League Museum officially kicked off the 2026 Little League Baseball World Series and celebrated the legacy of the man who founded Little League right here in Williamsport.

I was honored to present a Senate Citation to his daughter, Karen Stotz Myers, recognizing her father’s vision and the lasting impact it has had on children, families and communities around the world.

LycoCTC Celebrates Expansion with Official Ribbon Cutting

Photo Credit: Lycoming Career & Technology Center (LycoCTC)

The ribbon cutting for the Lycoming Career and Technology Center’s expansion marked an exciting investment in our students, workforce and the future of Lycoming County.

I was proud to support and advocate for this project, which was made possible in part by a $5 million state RACP investment. The expanded facility will allow LycoCTC to welcome more students and offer additional career and technical education programs, helping young people gain the skills they need for rewarding careers while meeting our region’s workforce needs.

Update on COLA Included in State Budget

The state budget enacted earlier this summer includes a cost-of-living (COLA) increase for retired teachers, school district employees and state employees who retired prior to July 2, 2001, as well as certain retired municipal firefighters and police officers.

If you are a retired member of SERS, the monthly lifetime increase will be included in your Sept. 30, 2026, payment. Your retroactive increases for July and August will also be paid no later than Sept. 30, 2026. 

If you are retired member of PSERS, the process is (as follows): 

• First week of September: Eligible retirees will receive a letter from PSERS confirming their eligibility for the COLA.
• Week of Sept. 14: Eligible retirees will receive a letter detailing the amount of their September payment that will reflect the increased monthly benefit amount plus the retroactive COLA funds due from July and August.
• End of September: Eligible retirees will receive their September payment that will include the new COLA adjusted monthly benefit amount plus the retroactive COLA funds due from July and August.
• Week of Oct. 12: Eligible retirees will receive a letter detailing the amount of their October payment. The October amount will be lower than the September payment because it will reflect the new COLA adjusted monthly benefit without the retroactive COLA funds due from July and August.
• End of October: Eligible retirees will receive their October payment, which will be their new COLA adjusted monthly benefit that they will receive for life.

Celebrating Local Friend of the Fair Awardees

Kevin and Jonna Zimmerman were recently honored with the 2026 Friend of the Fair Award by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for their longtime service to the Union County West End Fair.

Elizabeth Vollman of my Williamsport office was on hand to recognize their contributions with a congratulatory Senate Citation. The Zimmermans have generously volunteered their time over the years and given countless hours to make the fair a better experience for their community.

In Tioga County, Sandy and Charlie Johnson were honored with the 2026 Friend of the Fair Award and Deb Rudy from my Wellsboro office was on hand for the celebration.

The Johnsons have been part of the Tioga County Fair community for decades, serving as 4-H leaders and mentoring generations of young people. Their commitment to the fair and its youth programs is a great example of the community spirit that makes the Tioga County Fair so special.

Congratulations to all of this year’s Friend of the Fair awardees!

Sullivan County Fair Begins This Week

The 174^th Annual Sullivan County Fair begins on Wednesday, September 2^nd and runs through September 6^th. More information on admission, parking and schedule of events can be found on the fair’s website.

Bill Protecting Fairness in Women’s Sports Awaits House Action

As students across Pennsylvania return to school, it is past time for the commonwealth to ensure fairness for women and girls taking part in collegiate and high school sports.

Earlier this year, at the urging of students and parents, the Senate approved bipartisan legislation – twice – to preserve opportunities for female athletes at public schools and colleges by requiring scholastic sports teams to be designated based on biological sex. Senate Bill 1293 would also allow students to take legal action if they are harmed by violations of this rule.

Month after month, the House of Representatives has avoided voting on this reasonable legislation grounded in fairness. The bill has been moved to multiple House committees in a series of parliamentary maneuvers to avoid a vote.

The longer the House delays, the more female athletes are at risk of being unfairly forced off the field or the winner’s podium. We must enact the Save Women’s Sports Act to restore common sense to scholastic sports.

Treasury Launches New Financial Education Hub

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced the launch of the department’s online Financial Education Hub, a one-stop-shop of resources designed to help Pennsylvanians improve their financial literacy and make informed financial decisions.

The new hub brings together state and federal resources covering topics such as budgeting, saving, retirement planning, digital assets and cryptocurrencies. It also includes information on Treasury programs, like the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program, Keystone Scholars and PA ABLE.

Resources are organized for specific audiences including students, teachers, active military members, veterans and older adults. Visit the Financial Education Hub here.

Avoiding Student Loan Forgiveness Scams

Students and families take out significant loans to pay for higher education, which attracts scammers looking to exploit the situation.

“Act immediately to qualify for student loan forgiveness” is just one of the high-pressure loan forgiveness pitches used to trick borrowers into sharing personal information. Scammers will frequently request an up-front or monthly fee while promising immediate and total student loan cancellation. Most government forgiveness programs require years of qualifying payments or employment in certain fields before forgiving loans.

Be wary of aggressive language and check the source before clicking. Learn more about avoiding these scams here.

Job Opportunities for Nurses at PA Veterans Homes

Pennsylvania’s six veterans homes care for our neighbors who answered the call to serve. The homes offer levels of care tailored to the specific health needs of residents and are supplemented with an array of clinical services.

Pennsylvania veterans homes are looking to hire registered nurses and license practical nurses to provide the kind of care that will allow veterans to live an active and healthy life with as much independence as possible.

Learn more about these opportunities and apply here.

Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Accepting Applications for 2027

Teenagers in jeopardy of not graduating on time or dropping out of school have a chance at obtaining their basic education through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy.

Applications are being accepted for its first class of 2027, which begins in January at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. There is no tuition cost to attend, and meals, housing, uniforms and school supplies are provided at no charge.

The program lasts for five-and-a-half months as a residential phase and 24 months of mentorship by academy staff back in home communities. Learn more about the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy and apply here.