Our blogs are written by the staff of the Center for Coalfield Justice, with an occasional guest post. The most recent post appears on top, and others show up below in order of publishing date. You can receive the blogs in your inbox by signing up for our mailing list. Once per month we publish a newsletter, which contains most of the blog posts.
Potential hope for the opioid epidemic
On May 24, 2022 the House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to pass House Bill (HB) 1393, and an amendment was adopted. HB 1393 is the bill that provides the definition of drug paraphernalia, which are products and tools used to grow, manufacture, test, and contain controlled substances (see the bill for the full definition). …
New locations added to the Washington County Broadband Initiative Program
The effort to bring high-speed internet service to underserved communities throughout Washington County continues. The Washington County Authority is in charge of the program and is requesting proposals for other parts of the county. Lots of companies are interested in getting involved with this initiative, and we are expecting to see more projects being approved…
We Could Owe Flag Day to a SWPA Native
On June 14, 1777, the United States officially adopted Old Glory as our national flag. Interestingly enough, Pennsylvania remains the only state in the nation to honor Flag Day as a legal holiday.
Local Elected Officials Object To Hearing Your Voice
Photo by Katherine McAdoo on Unsplash Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) is taking steps toward meaningfully engaging residents of communities that are disproportionately affected by industrial development through a new Environmental Justice Policy. While CCJ sees this policy as a step in the right direction, some of our local legislators feel that these steps…
I-70 Accidents and “Construction” over Tunnel Ridge
This is the 21st installment in our What’s on your mind? blog series and was written by CCJ Community Organizer Tonya Yoders. Almost every day, I have to drive the stretch of I-70 interstate between Washington, PA and Wheeling, WV. More often than not, there are significant delays just trying to get to my destination….
Bipartisan bill would open Pennsylvania primary elections
According to a 2020 report to the general assembly of Pennsylvania regarding the Administration of Voter Registration, more than 1.3 million voters were registered as independent or unaffiliated. Therefore, over a million people did not have the opportunity to vote in the primary elections that year, because Pennsylvania is one of only 11 states that…
Sustainable Forestry is a Great Climate Solution
Pennsylvania is not called Penn’s Woods for nothing! Our state is rich in natural resources with dense hardwood forests, in addition to our fossil fuels below the ground. According to Penn State data, Pennsylvania is the nation’s top hardwood producer. Additionally, forest-based recreation and tourism is the state’s second-largest industry.
Meet the New CCJ Team Members
This summer, CCJ will be hosting community meetings, educational events, festivals, and tabling around the community. Joining our team to help with our summer blitz are four fellows and a community organizer. Read more about each of them below: Allison Evans (she/her) is our new organizer working primarily in Washington County, where she was born…
Takeaways for Washington and Greene Counties from “Climate Solutions from the Frontlines of Environmental Justice”
It’s not often that environmental justice communities are centered in discussions about the solutions we need in order to address climate change. This is unfortunate for one critical reason: people who are most impacted by the climate crisis are the ones who know what has to happen to bring about real solutions.
$51.5 million coming to southwestern PA for infrastructure improvements
On March 10th, Congress cleared the first major federal spending legislation of President Biden’s administration. The $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill will bring roughly $51.5 million to Southwestern PA. The funds will be distributed across the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland. The incoming funds are for initiatives including the construction of…