The new state budget includes a $75-million increase in money for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program. In case you’re not familiar with the EITC, it has been a great help to Catholic schools and other private institutions. As the Pennsylvania Resources Council explains, eligible businesses and individuals can receive tax credits equal to 75% of their contribution, or 90% if they agree to do it for two years. One of the biggest supporters of the EITC program is Bishop McCort Catholic High School Principal Tom Smith. “The EITC component has been a game-changer for our school,” Smith told us. “Not just for Bishop McCort, but mainly for our families. It allows those families who might not be able to afford it, to actually come here. I can tell you firsthand that it has changed the lives of several of the kids that have come into this building over the last few years. I would say that it has impacted hundreds of kids. About 70% of our kids get EITC funding.” Critics of the program, which include many Democratic lawmakers in Harrisburg, say the program is exploited by well-to-do families who really don’t need the money. Smith that is simply not true from his perspective. “The concept that EITC dollars go to rich families so that they can send their kids here so they can more money at home…that is so false,” he said. “Our school resides in one of the poorest cities in Pennsylvania—in the greater Johnstown School District– and we have a lot of the kids from the city come to our school. I would say almost every one of them get EITC dollars.” But not everyone that goes to McCort gets the financing. “There’s a qualifier for EITC for what a family brings in in terms of income,” Smith said. “Not all of our families meet that standard. We will show you that it is not going to kids of better means. There are kids of poverty that struggle every single day, but their parents want them to be to have more opportunities in life and move forward in life and the EITC program has done that.” Many schools reach out to members of the community to try to get them to participate in the EITC program. But it’s easy for anyone to initiate the process. “We actually have a person here, within our school—that is their job, to do outreach for EITC,” Smith said. “She has a pamphlet that she sends out teaching people how they can become involved. It’s not that cumbersome. It’s just a one-page sheet. They fill that out, return it to us and then we send it to the state.”

We talked with Jim Lee of Susquehanna Polling & Research about his latest poll on the Presidential race. Here is how we shared the comments on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/eFvLAT1aT9FYqFRY/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/NdQXTChmWarrunmi/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/hjjie61Pso2UFX7A/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/ztTnwXpFqx7Leb6u/?mibextid=WC7FNe    

The PA Senate returned to the Capitol for full sessions and committee meetings. The Bishop of Harrisburg, Timothy Senior gave the opening prayer on Tuesday. That is in the first of our Facebook posts offered here. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/gji9z8diELbaWi5E/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/JLLp8LZNLFuBAyrH/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/XRs363N9Mvpog1pe/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/wGTgGutdEcf6vX6V/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/JRyWvi2KkipabkwQ/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/3aBxFaPwQxATNBJj/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/L7H8rK475qyztwnM/?mibextid=WC7FNe

From the USCCB – June 4, 2018 – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The case involves a Christian baker named Jack Phillips who declined in 2012 to create a custom wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony. State officials sought to compel Phillips to create such cakes under Colorado’s public accommodations law. The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of Phillips under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., of Philadelphia, Chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, and Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Chairman of the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued the following joint statement: “Today’s decision confirms that people of faith should not suffer discrimination on account of their deeply held religious beliefs, but instead should be respected by government officials. This extends to creative professionals, such as Jack Phillips, who seek to serve the Lord in every aspect of their daily lives. In a pluralistic society like ours, true tolerance allows people with different viewpoints to be free to live out their beliefs, even if those beliefs are unpopular with the government.” The USCCB filed an amicus curiae brief supporting Masterpiece Cakeshop, which can be found here: http://www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/16-111-tsac-USCCB.pdf.        

Our series on Maternal & Early Childhood Issues continues today with a look the work being done by Morning Star Pregnancy Services in Harrisburg to help kids build a foundation for strong relationships and avoid problems down the road. https://fb.watch/bECfSEse06/ We’ve all had our fair share of relationships that have not gone well over the years, whether they were romantic or just friendly in nature. Wouldn’t it be nice to have gotten some advice before sailing on those waters and crashing into the rocks? The folks at Morning Star Pregnancy Services in Harrisburg are offering just such advice to teenagers and also actually to moms and dads through a program called Unfiltered Truth. Leslie Moyer is the Director of Educational Programs at Morning Star. She works with Ann Deegan from an established curriculum called “Real Essentials” to present different lessons to try to teach kids to build a foundation for strong relationships. Leslie Moyer : “So what are people expecting and what are your boundaries and do you have boundaries and how do you make sure the person knows?” The program is –not- lecture based. Moyer says that would never work. They have discussions so the kids will take ownership of the concepts they are presented and make them their own.  They are getting a lot of positive feedback. Moyer :  “I believe it was woman, she said I wish I’d had this when I was younger. I needed to know about those relationship red flags, the break up skills, which is two lessons that we do. I needed that two years ago when I was in a really bad relationship.” One of the lessons is on living together, which is something that many young people see as the go-to route for couples in love. Ann Deegan : “So many people are living together and so we talk about what are the benefits and what it really looks like and what are some of the myths surrounding living together and why it isn’t a good thing to do. Most of the classes have been with high school students. Moyer says they’re hoping to get more time with middle school kids to help them build their skills by the time they get to high school. There are also classes for adults. Deegan  : “The focus isn’t just on mothering skills, like taking care of a baby. The focus is on what do your relationships look like? And what do you want to pass on to your children? What is the legacy? What do you want to pass on to your children and have your children receive from you?” There is also the goal of having kids take a more deliberate and thoughtful approach to having sex. It may prevent many problems down the road, not the least of which being an unwanted pregnancy. Moyer shares a recurring sentiment that she hears from returning clients. Moyer  : “Over and over again I will hear ‘I would not change the fact that I had my child. But I wish I had waited. I wish I had waited just a little bit longer. I wish I was married. I can’t tell you how many times I hear that.”

Associate Professor of Accounting Holly Yang from SMU’s School of Accountancy has researched on the role of individual managers in corporate disclosure and determinants of firms’ voluntary disclosure decisions. Together with co-author Associate Prof Young Jun Cho, she is currently working on publishing a paper on Institutional Cross Ownership of Peer Firms and Investment Sensitivity to Stock Price. In this podcast, she discuss how cross-ownership of industry peers helps institutional investors better acquire industry insights and produce private information, thus allowing managers to incorporate this information in their investment decisions.

11/15/2024 - 11:30 AM - Venue: Pueblo West Library

11/14/2024 - 10:00 PM - Venue: Rainbow Bar

11/13/2024 - 7:30 PM - Venue: Park East Restaurant

11/13/2024 - 6:30 PM - Venue: The Senate

11/13/2024 - 11:30 AM - Venue: Pueblo West Library

The 19 July 2023 landslide at Irshalwadi in Khalipur, in western India, which has killed at least 16 people.

An update on the 19 July 2023 Irshalwadi landslide in India and the 20 July 2023 debris flow at Ungar in Bhutan

A video posted to social media shows three people having a very lucky escape from a debris flow in Arunachal Pradesh, northern India.

AGU24 is just around the corner and our Science Policy and Government Relations team has a jam-packed agenda for our members at this year’s meeting in Washington, DC. From science policy 101 to understanding how scientists can engage with congress after the election to exploring science policy careers, we are here to help you make the most of your meeting. Explore our day-by-day schedule below:    Monday through Thursday, daily: Free …

The post Join AGU Science Policy at AGU24 in Washington DC appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

A new paper presents the first clear evidence that the relationship between fog levels and vegetation status is measurable using remote sensing. The discovery opens up the potential to easily and rapidly assess fog's impact on ecological health across large land masses -- as compared to painstaking ground-level observation.

The post Hydrologists show environmental damage from fog reduction is observable from outer space appeared first on GeoSpace.

AGU24 is just around the corner and our Science Policy and Government Relations team has a jam-packed agenda for our members at this year’s meeting in Washington, DC. From science policy 101 to understanding how scientists can engage with congress after the election to exploring science policy careers, we are here to help you make the most of your meeting. Explore our day-by-day schedule below:    Monday through Thursday, daily: Free …

The post Join AGU Science Policy at AGU24 in Washington DC appeared first on The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy.

More than 19,000 people attended the events, which were held simultaneously at McCormick Place in Chicago Nov. 3-6. The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) and the International Dairy Foods Association say they will again co-locate these events in 2015.

Dairy companies and students were honored for innovation and new products.

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA), the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and NürnbergMesse today announced that registration and housing are now open...

From increased regulation, to a growing emphasis on food safety, to changing workforce and customer demographics, food processors and their vendors and partners are facing a period of unprecedented change.

The Foundation of the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FFPSA) is pleased to announce the recipients of ten $5,000 Career Development Scholarships for the 2015-2016 academic year.

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) today introduced the Innovation Showcase which will make its debut at PROCESS EXPO 2015, taking place from September 15-18 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

The Eagle-LP  joins the company’s extensive blister packaging equipment family as a reliable, cost-effective solution.

The guidance is aimed at ensuring recycled plastic packaging meets and exceeds U.S. regulatory compliance.

Bazooka Candy Brands is introducing a new product unique packaging to allow customers to create their own eating experiences.

The coffee is said to be the first super-concentrated coffee available in plastic bottles.

From filling to sterilizing, flexible packaging must be handled differently than rigid containers.

Functionality, sustainability and shelf appeal will continue to be key factors in the choice of packaging in this market, with formats made from plastic continuing to edge out other materials in most cases.

Despite the steady drumbeat of “less is more” when it comes to packaging, Eldon Schaffer of TekniPlex Consumer Products makes a case for the continued use of container liners, citing several of their invaluable contributions.

Businesses are seeking innovative ways to reduce their environmental impact and invest in sustainability. A Gartner survey found that 87% of business leaders plan to increase their sustainability investment in the next two years. There is pressure from investors, supply chains, and consumers to make more sustainable decisions.

ProMach brand Pharmaworks will debut their capability to handle new 100-percent recyclable, mono-material packaging films on their blister machines.

BMP Medical first met Shawpak at MD&M West Pack 2024 while seeking a small footprint thermoforming packaging machine.

At its Booth W-19027, the company will showcase Vial Protect Pack II, a robust, multilayer vial protection/labeling solution for high-value or high-potency drug applications whose container breakage rates must be near-zero.

The 500 ml D-PAK™ carton is made with paperboard from responsibly managed forests and is fully recyclable, as well as carbon neutral.

Tata Elxsi played a pivotal role in crafting a fresh design language system, which visually represented Vatika’s commitment to sustainability and connoted as a natural haircare brand.

The TOPPAN booth will focus on cosmetics, featuring a lineup of digital solutions addressing the challenges faced by the luxury cosmetics industry, such as achieving both brand differentiation and labor-saving as well as enhancing customer service.

The event is expected to attract more than 70,000 visitors and 2,000 exhibitors, making it an excellent opportunity to connect with industry leaders and explore the latest developments in the Middle East’s beauty industry.

Dropps, a direct-to-consumer challenger brand, is now marked by the introduction of an updated brand identity that emphasizes powerful cleaning from nature. 

Custom packaging can help offset rising freight costs by optimizing packaging size and weight, reducing damage, streamlining logistics, and enhancing brand recognition.

Packaging Strategies recently sat down with Natalie Kaczorowski and Todd Meussling of Fresh-Lock® to discuss the company’s development of the award-winning Costco Kirkland Signature® Ultra Clean Premium Laundry Detergent Pacs.

Acquisition expands the company's local footprint in Asia-Pacific and offers exciting new packaging solutions to customers worldwide.

Sun Chemical’s SolarWave Integra and SolarWave FSP are both UV-LED curing ink solutions designed to meet diverse printing needs.

Best practices at the highly automated Mountain View Foods plant in Denver preserve milk’s freshness and help Kroger develop innovative dairy-based products.

Rule No. 1 in journalism is to avoid reliance upon clichés when writing feature stories.

For years, the health-and-wellness and food industries have been bringing Americans back to a traditional mindset — the decades-old foundational thought that eating a good breakfast can jumpstart the day and in some ways, assist with healthy goals in individual consumers.

Smart packaging is developing rapidly. A major factor driving the growth of the smart packaging market is increasing demand for packaging that indicates and maintains product quality throughout the supply chain.