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In this update:
West Allegheny Students Enlist in U.S. Armed Forces
This week was Military Enlistment Day at West Allegheny School District where students made the honorable and lifechanging decision to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Congratulations to these students and thank you for committing to serve our country!
Check out more photos from the enlistment ceremony here. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Clark Testing in Jefferson Borough
I was proud to help secure a $500,000 grant for Clark Testing to purchase the new Electrodynamic Vibration Shaker System, putting Pittsburgh on the map as the premier destination on the east coast for large-scale product testing. This new equipment is enabling Clark Testing to better support our community as the expansion of local companies translates to the creation of new jobs with competitive wages and benefits, helping to provide stability for families which keeps talented workers right here in Western Pennsylvania. Check out more photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony here. Pennsylvania Is Leaving a Powerful Teaching Tool on the TablePennsylvania has made real progress getting more residents into the teaching profession. The new student teaching stipend is working, but recruiting teachers is only half the equation. The harder challenge is building a profession worth staying in: one that rewards growth, recognizes excellence, and gives good teachers a reason to become great ones. That’s what our legislation does. Read the full op-ed I co-authored with Pittsburgh Public Schools teacher Daniel Kliber here. $498K Awarded to Youth Science Program in Allegheny County
📢 Nearly $500,000 in state funding was awarded to The Citizen Science Lab (TCSL) in Allegheny County! 🧪🧬🔬 This grant will help TCSL expand its good work to serve approximately 500 at-risk youth in our community with high-quality educational programming that will not only teach valuable STEM skills and lessons, it will also aim to cut down on instances of community violence through essential mentorship and guidance. Learn more about TCSL and the grant funding here. TODAY – National Healthy Kids Day Event at Sewickley Valley YMCA
Today from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-44) and I will be participating in the Sewickley YMCA National Healthy Kids Day 2026 event. This is a family-focused event featuring hands-on activities with organizations like the National Aviary, Kamin Science Center, and Fern Hollow Nature Center to promote overall health for our children. There will be face painting, a bounce house, gaga ball, a digital safety presentation for families sponsored by the Sewickley Police Department, and much more! This event is FREE and open to the public – no registration necessary. More information is available here. West Allegheny Boys Soccer Team Honored for Winning State Title
Congratulations to West Allegheny School District Boys Soccer for winning the 2025 Class 3A Boys Soccer WPIAL Championship! The team’s impressive victory against Franklin Regional, a higher-seeded team, won them the title with a final score of 2-1. Go Indians! Check out more photos from the ceremony to honor their win here. Senior Resource Session at Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department
On Thursday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to noon, Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-44) and I are hosting a Senior Resource Session at the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department. Staff will be available to help seniors: Apply for Property Tax and Rent Rebates Apply for Pittsburgh Regional Transit Senior ConnectCards Reclaim unclaimed property from the PA Treasury Department This event is FREE and open to any interested seniors – no registration necessary. More information is available here. Cochran Hose Company Celebrates 150 Years
Thanks to Cochran Hose Company for serving our community for 150 years! I was pleased to honor the department with a Senate citation commemorating this incredible milestone and its continued great service. Check out more photos from the celebration ceremony here. Girl Scouts from Mt. Lebanon Visit the PA Capitol
My team welcomed Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania Troop 52745 from Mt. Lebanon to the PA Capitol for an educational tour, lunch, and a behind-the-scenes look at how our state government works. Thanks to the scouts and chaperones for making the trip to Harrisburg! Bring Your Child to Work Day at the Senate
This week was Bring Your Child to Work Day at the PA Capitol, and the kids of Team Robinson had a blast! From America250PA exhibits celebrating our country’s historic semiquincentennial to exploring the beautiful Capitol building and learning about its history and what their parents do every day at work, it was a wonderful day in Harrisburg! Check out more photos from Bring Your Child to Work Day here. Identity Theft Prevention Seminar with the Better Business Bureau
Thank you to Caitlin from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Western Pennsylvania for coming to Pleasant Hills Apartments to speak to residents about identity theft prevention measures and what red flags to look for that could indicate a scam. The BBB provides resources to find accredited businesses, report fraud, and to stay protected from bad actors. If you’re concerned you received a fraudulent test or phone call, you can report the interaction on the BBB website or call 877-267-5222. Pittsburgh Regional Transit Updates for Service During the NFL Draft
Public transit will be the easiest and most reliable way to get to the Draft locations on the North Shore and at Point State Park. PRT will operate Saturday-level service systemwide Thursday through Saturday (April 23–25), with added frequency and capacity where demand is expected to be highest. PRT’s Draft weekend service also includes increased light rail service, additional service to and from Pittsburgh International Airport, four limited-stop bus routes, and more. PRT also has a special Draft Pass available on its Ready2Ride app as of April 1. Riders will unlock unlimited rides for seven days for just $25. For more detailed information from PRT about the NFL Draft transit plan, click here. For a comprehensive transportation guide for Draft weekend, click here. Roots Natural Kitchen Grand Opening in North Fayette
Congratulations to Roots Natural Kitchen on the opening of their new location in North Fayette Township! We enjoyed celebrating the grand opening of the store with the staff and folks from the Southwest Regional Chamber of Commerce. Check out the delicious and nutritious options on Roots Natural Kitchen’s menu, from salads and grain bowls to refreshing drinks here. View additional photos from the grand opening ceremony here. Keeping Our Families and Communities Safe
A year ago this month, the Senate took decisive action on several bills to keep our families and communities safe. Among the bills we passed are Senate Bill 92, known as Tyler’s Law, to impose tougher penalties on drug dealers who sell fentanyl resulting in a fatal overdose; Senate Bill 490, which I sponsored, to prohibit non-monetary bail for the most dangerous individuals; and Senate Bill 347 to prohibit so-called “safe injection sites” – which endanger our neighborhoods in Pennsylvania. I voted for these bills because there is a clear and urgent need to give our law enforcement community new tools to combat these serious issues. Unfortunately, although the Senate passed all three bills with bipartisan votes, they continue to sit in the state House of Representatives waiting for action. It’s time for the House to advance these bills, and I will continue pushing for strong legislation to make our communities safer. Student Teachers Can Apply for Assistance Through PA Support Program
Planning to be a student teacher in 2026-27? The Student Teacher Support Program provides financial assistance in return for help alleviating Pennsylvania’s pressing teacher shortage. It provides $10,000 to eligible student teachers and up to $2,500 to teachers who mentor them. Recipients must commit to teaching in Pennsylvania for three years following the completion of their teaching certification. Selection will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis based on when the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency receives a completed student application. Learn more and apply here. New Specialty Plate Helps Preserve Pennsylvania’s Heritage
Pennsylvania drivers have another special fund license plate to put on the back of their vehicles: the Preserve Our Heritage plate featuring the Liberty Bell and Pennsylvania Bank Barn. Built from about 1790 to 1900, these barns were banked and set into a hillside and became symbols of Pennsylvania’s agricultural roots. The plates are available for cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of 14,000 pounds or less. Each plate costs $64, with $23 going directly to support the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s education and exhibit programs. You can find the plate and order it here. You Can Help Deliver Senior Services in Our Area
Delivering meals, being a senior companion, and other roles are open to volunteers of all ages and abilities with the state Aging Services Network. You can learn new skills, make friends, and help others through these programs:
Find out more and apply online here or contact the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging to see where help is needed in our area. Purple Up! for Military Kids Day in PA
April 15 was “Purple Up! for Military Kids” Day in Pennsylvania, a designation to recognize the immeasurable sacrifice that military families make in the name of defending our country. My colleagues and fellow veterans Sens. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), Cris Dush (R-25), Doug Mastriano (R-33), Gene Yaw (R-23), Greg Rothman (R-34), and I sponsored legislation to honor Pennsylvania’s military children. Last year, I was glad to host a press conference celebrating Purple Star Schools across Pennsylvania. These schools have committed to supporting the unique educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected students. I am proud to have both West Allegheny and Fort Cherry School Districts become Purple Star Schools, and several others in the 37th Senatorial District are well on their way to becoming one! Learn more and apply to become a Purple Star School here. National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
They are the calming voice who answer the call to coordinate and direct help on our worst days. We thank and honor all dispatchers during this National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 12 – 18, 2026. Last year, I had the privilege to tour Allegheny County Government Emergency Services to see firsthand how they serve our community. Always grateful for the critical work of these brave and dedicated professionals! Check out more photos from last year’s tour here. National Donate Life Month
You can save up to eight lives through organ donation, restore sight to two people through cornea donation, and heal more than 75 people through tissue donation. In honor of National Donate Life Month, PennDOT hosted a press conference in Bridgeville to remind Pennsylvanians of the life-saving benefits of organ donations, and how easy it is to register to be an organ donor at PennDOT. Choosing to become an organ donor could help save a life or significantly improve the lives of people waiting for a transplant. While the vast majority of Americans support donation, many overlook the important step of registering their decision to be a donor. Donate Life America has plenty of useful information on this lifesaving topic. Find out how to add the Organ Donor designation to your driver’s license or ID card here.
I’m proud to represent you in Harrisburg. Please contact me if my team can assist you with any state-level issues or services, including PennDOT, PA Department of Revenue, PA Department of Aging, PA State Treasury, etc. I’m always happy to hear from constituents, but if you need assistance or have concerns regarding a federal issue, you may want to contact your U.S. Senators and/or your member in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thank you. For anyone who hasn’t already signed up to receive my e-newsletters, you can get on the mailing list here. |
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