State House Republicans are urging the Wolf Administration to prioritize small business, restaurant recovery, and vaccine deployment with pandemic funds. As Commonwealth restaurants and small businesses continue to struggle from the effects of COVID-19 economic shutdowns, Republicans yesterday urged Governor Wolf to prioritize their recovery with the $372 million pandemic response discretionary account his office received as part of the state budget. According to the lawmakers, $150 million would go to a Small Restaurant Pandemic Relief Fund, and another $150 million would go to a Small Employer Pandemic Relief Fund.  Finally, $20 million would create a Vaccination Awareness Fund. The remaining $52 million would be available for pandemic relief on an as-needed basis. 

Tonight is National Night Out.  The Mifflin County Regional Police Department (MCRPD) along with the Lewistown (LPD) and Granville Township Police Departments (GTPD) will be jointly hosting the event at Kish Park.  The goal is to promote crime prevention while uniting community members against crime in their neighborhoods.  It is a national event, held in communities across the U.S. on the same night, at the same time.  National Night Out was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, and a few changes will appear this year.  National Night Out will be from 6:00pm to 9:00 pm at Kish Park.   

Visitors at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, will have opportunities to learn about issues and policies affecting Pennsylvania agriculture as well as governmental services and programs that may help them address production or economic challenges.  A variety of events and exhibits will feature representatives from state and federal agencies, state legislators and cabinet officials, and a federal lawmaker.  Congressman Glenn Thompson, from Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District, will provide the latest updates from Washington, and highlight solutions the House Ag Committee is developing to address issues facing farmers.  Ag Progress Days will be August 10th through the 12th at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs. Admission and parking are free.  For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days website.