PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – A Downington, Pennsylvania woman was sentenced on Monday to three years probation for her role in a conspiracy that shuttled illegal immigrants through the immigration system to get them fraudulent work visas, prosecutors said.

Mary Gillin, 60, pleaded guilty last December before a U.S. District Court Judge. Gillin was working for Michael Glah, who owned and operated International Personnel Resources (IPR), a West Chester, Pennsylvania-based company that recruited workers from outside the United States for client businesses and then helped secure the work visas for those workers.

Between January 2003 and December 2008, IPR systematically applied for a greater number of temporary work visas than its client businesses needed. By inflating this number, IPR was able to create its own personal stockpile of approved visas. Glah is scheduled to be sentenced on August 23.

The case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the State Department, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – Pennsylvania’s economy expanded by adding $34,000 jobs in April, the largest one month gain since 1996, governor Edward Rendell announced on Friday.

The majority of the job growth was in the service-providing industries, which include education, health care and financial services. This increase shows that the economic recovery is on track, especially in Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector.

“In the month of April, our factories added 4,400 jobs. April marked the third straight monthly increase in factory jobs – something that hasn’t happened in four years,” Rendell said.

It was reported that 6,000 people were hired in Pennsylvania to perform stimulus road, bridge and transit construction projects during our construction season. Another 2,000 Pennsylvanians were hired in factories to manufacture steel, concrete and asphalt.

Despite this increment in job offers, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is still too high, at 9.0 percent, but it is still below the overall unemployment rate of the nation.

“The fact that our unemployment rate is below the national rate is another indication that we are on the right path to economic recovery. Our unemployment rate is lower than any other industrial state,” the Governor concluded.

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia announced Thursday that it will be partnering with the Philadelphia Eagles, Drexel University, the PA National Guard and Numana, Inc. to help promote and volunteer for the Salvation Army Million Meals for Haiti event.

Philadelphia Eagles guard and Haiti native, Max Jean-Gilles and Eagles linebacker Akeem Jordan along with SWOOP and Eagles employees will volunteer in the city-wide effort to get nutritious food to the starving people of earthquake-ravaged Haiti this Friday, from 2 to 4 p.m., local time.

“We’re thrilled with the tremendous support organizations like The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing to The Salvation Army Million Meals for Haiti Event,” said Major Jorge Diaz, Director of Operations for The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia. “We’ve set the bar high and we’re hopeful that Philadelphians will band together and help the Haitian people who still have no means of earning wages and buying food.”

Last month, Mayor Michael Nutter called on business and civic leaders to get behind the effort in rallying the 5,000 volunteers needed to assemble and package the meals, which are specially designed to boost the immune systems of malnourished people.

“The Philadelphia Eagles are proud to mobilize our employees and players to assist in The Salvation Army Million Meals for Haiti project,” said Philadelphia Eagles Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Pamela Browner White. “We’ve been supporting efforts in Haiti since the earthquake occurred, and are committed to working with The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia to make a difference for victims still in need.”

Each meal consists of rice, soy protein, freeze-dried vegetables, and 21 vitamins and minerals. Once delivered to Haiti, the meals will be distributed by Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams on the ground.

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950, and currently operates schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children’s homes and church-related activities through 60 community centers across the country. Since the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010, The Salvation Army has distributed more than 10 million meals in Haiti.

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HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – Pennsylvania will invest $1.2 million through the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps (PPC) projects for 10 community improvement projects in eight counties, Governor Edward Rendell announced on Thursday.

The projects covers various areas including erosion control, wildlife habitat improvement, trail restoration and the construction of community facilities such as playground, athletic fields and pavilions. Such projects are expected to be completed between July 2010 and June 2011.

“These projects provide hands-on training for young workers who are eager to learn. Their service benefits residents and communities across the state, and they should be proud of their work and their lasting contribution to making a better Pennsylvania today – and for generations to come,” Rendell declared.

The counties selected to benefit from the investment includes Armstrong, Butler, Carbon, Franklin, Huntingdon, Montour, Northumberland and York. The Alameda County Park in Butler County will benefit from two projects in a combined $239,000 investment which will renovate playgrounds, pavilions, picnic areas, control erosion and develop trails.

Established in 1984, the PCC is one of the largest statewide conservation corps in the nation and has provided nearly 15,000 young people with jobs, career and technical training and educational funding.

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MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – A Pennsylvania winning lottery ticket has yet to be presented, the Pennsylvania Lottery said Monday.

The Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball warned that the ticket worth $50,000 from the May 30, 2009 drawing, which was sold at Stop-N-Go Mini Market, New Holland Ave., Lancaster, will be expiring in less than two weeks – one year from the date of the drawing.

“The Lottery never likes to see a prize expire, so we’re hoping the winning ticket-holder comes forward,” said Lottery Executive Director Ed Trees. “Anyone who bought a Powerball ticket from the Stop-N-Go Mini Market in Lancaster for the May 2009 drawing should check their ticket because this $50,000 prize will expire in less than two weeks.”

The holder is encouraged to sign the back of the ticket and contact the Lottery as soon as possible, as the prize will expire on Sunday, May 30, but the last day to file a claim will be on Friday, May 28.

The soon-to-expire Powerball ticket matched four of five drawn numbers, 01-23-42-51-59, the Powerball, 20, and purchased Power Play for a $50,000 prize, less 25 percent federal withholding.

Unclaimed, expired lottery prizes remain in the Lottery Fund and are used to support programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians.

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Harrisburg – Pennsylvania companies can help Chile rebuild from its devastating February earthquake and find new markets during a conference next month in Santiago, the Department of Community and Economic Development said today. Pennsylvania companies do not have to attend Rebuild Chile Expo 2010 on June 15-17; but the conference is providing them with another [...]

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – Pennsylvania will invest $12.9 million in eleven rail projects to restore or expand rail service and enhance safety in 10 counties, Governor Edward Rendell announced on Thursday.

The investment was authorized by the General Assembly and is administered by PennDOT’s Bureau of Rail Freight. The grants were approved by the Pennsylvania Transportation Commission.

“Investing in freight rail infrastructure makes businesses more competitive and pays huge economic dividends for communities,” said Rendell. “These investments will help businesses safely and efficiently handle more freight which would otherwise travel by truck on our already congested highways and bridges.”

The rail projects will benefit 10 counties across Pennsylvania which are Allegheny, Armstrong, Clearfield, Mifflin, Mountour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

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HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – Schlumberger Technologies Corp. will expand its operations in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania and will create more than 50 jobs, Governor Edward Rendell announced on Tuesday.

Schlumberger, a leading oilfield services company, will locate a centralized maintenance and remanufacturing operation for its northeast region in a 183,000-square-foot Pine Creek Township facility.

The project will cost about $5.6 million and will create at least 51 full-time jobs within three years. It will also retain 77 current employees statewide.

Schlumberger is a world leading oilfield services company supplying technology, information solutions and integrated project management for customers working in the oil and gas industry. The company employs 78,000 people from 140 nationalities in 80 countries.

“Schlumberger’s decision means the arrival of dozens of high-paying jobs in Jefferson County and it speaks well of our economic climate. With this project, we’re offering a nearly $287,000 investment for which we’re getting a project that will bring $5.6 million into Jefferson County, create more than 50 new jobs, and save 77 others. That’s a good return on our investment,” said Rendell.

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HARRISBURG, PENNSYVANIA (BNO NEWS) – The Pennsylvania Board of Education on Wednesday advanced proposed student nutrition and physical activity standards to battle nation’s growing obesity epidemic.

The Board’s regulations would set baseline nutritional standards for foods provided outside reimbursable school meals, including items dispensed from school vending machines and sold through fundraisers. State Board Chair Joe Torsella said that the regulation takes a “common sense” approach by exempting homemade and home-baked goods from the requirements while providing schools with the important flexibility to ensure successful integration of the standards with local food service programs.

“Today’s schoolchildren are part of what may be the first generation with a shorter life expectancy than its predecessor’s,” said Torsella. “Getting junk foods out of our schools – and getting healthier food options and 30 minutes of daily physical activity into them – are simple steps that can have a tremendous impact for our young people.”

The regulation also requires 30 minutes of daily physical activity for every student, while giving schools broad discretion in implementation. Students could satisfy requirements through physical education classes, recess, classroom “energizers”, or curriculum-based physical activity.

“The research is clear: young people need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. With children spending nearly one-third to one-half of their waking hours in school each day, we have an obligation to meet them halfway on a critical public health goal.”

Presented with mounting evidence linking student health to academic outcomes, in 2009 the Board indentified nutrition and physical activity as policy priorities and formed a standing committee to examine best practices nationally and d3evelop a state-level response. Committee Chair Corrinne Caldwell, ph. D., expressed “sincere thanks to the stakeholders who contributed so much to this process and this important step forward.”

The backdrop to the Board’s action is unprecedented public awareness and activism on the need to curb rising child obesity rates. According to the state Department of Health, one-third of all Pennsylvania students are overweight or obese.

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HARRISBURG, PENNYSLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – Joel Ario, Insurance Commissioner of Pennsylvania, warned citizens of possible scams on Monday, relating to the new federal health care law.

Scam artists may well take advantage of the new health care law, which will eventually provide coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans, to prey on those in need of immediate coverage and care.

“No business should be attempting to sell health coverage under the new federal law just yet,” Ario said. “If they are, it is likely a scam and should be reported to the Insurance Department immediately.

“We understand that the upcoming changes can be confusing and consumers will need some assistance to understand their new options under the law. But consumers should be wary of any door-to-door sales pitch or an offer to help them enroll. Do not sign anything or offer any payment until you are sure you know all the facts,” he added.

Ario is urging Pennsylvania residents to allow the Insurance Department be their first line of defense against fraud and their first line of information on the new health care law and its benefits, as several scam artists have even set up toll-free phone lines.

The new law will take effect this year, and even after new health-insurance marketplaces open in 2014, door-to-door salespeople are unlikely to be part of the outreach.

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