Food Program Available for Students During COVID-19 Crisis

Jul. 29, 2020 / Newspaper Columns

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a plan to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to students who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at school through the National School Lunch Program. This program, known as Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), will be temporary and is designed to bridge the gap left by school closings and help families who may have strained resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toohil Named ATHENA Businesswoman of the Year

Jul. 27, 2020 /

HAZLETON – The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce today announced that it has chosen Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) as the 34th winner of the ATHENA Businesswoman of the Year Award.

Be Smart When Shopping for Energy Suppliers

Jul. 20, 2020 / Newspaper Columns

With the summer cooling season in full swing, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is reminding consumers of the opportunity to switch energy suppliers to help save money on their monthly electric bills. A quick visit to www.PAPowerSwitch.com allows consumers in most areas of the state to choose who supplies their electricity, based on price or other factors, such as renewable energy.

COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Launched

Jul. 13, 2020 / Newspaper Columns

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has launched an online early warning monitoring dashboard that provides information on the prevalence of COVID-19 on a statewide and county basis to track increases in the disease in the community. The dashboard can be accessed through the department’s website, www.health.pa.gov.

Toohil Takes Part in Child Abuse Webinar

Jul. 01, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – A webinar that explored the connection between child and animal abuse was the focus of a webinar in which Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) recently participated. Toohil currently serves as vice chair of the Children and Youth Committee in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and has been a strong proponent of child protection laws during her time in office.

Planning for Students to Safely Return to School

Jun. 29, 2020 / Newspaper Columns

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has released guidance to allow elementary and secondary schools in the state’s yellow and green phases to resume in-person instruction and activities this fall under a phased reopening approach that first requires schools to develop health and safety plans based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the state Department of Health (DOH).

COVID-19 Success Shows Need for PA’s State Centers

Jun. 25, 2020 /

Undoubtedly, COVID-19 brought challenges many of us never predicted. As the virus spread all over the world, it didn’t spare Americans. Before we knew it, our days were punctuated by daily Department of Health press conferences noting the Commonwealth’s case and death counts.

Beware of Unemployment Benefit Scams

Jun. 16, 2020 / Newspaper Columns

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) is working closely with state and federal partners to monitor COVID-19 scams across the country that are targeting unemployment benefits programs and their claimants.

Toohil Votes to End Wolf’s Order Favoring Corporations and Big Box Stores

May. 29, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) joined a bipartisan majority of her colleagues in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives late Thursday in supporting a measure that would eliminate Gov. Tom Wolf’s widespread COVID-19 business restrictions. House Resolution 836 would end the governor’s executive order to shut down certain businesses through a waiver process that has proven to be inconsistent and unfair.

Voters Reminded of New Mail-in Voting Options

Mar. 23, 2020 / Newspaper Columns

Pennsylvania voters are reminded that if they have concerns about coronavirus and wish not to vote in their polling place during the April 28 primary election, they can instead request a mail-in ballot, the Commonwealth’s new voting option that allows voters to vote by mail without having to provide a reason.