The state's Department of Health launched an online tool that tracks violent deaths in the state.

Called the Violence Dashboard, the tool collects data on the scope, frequency, geography and populations affected by violence in Pennsylvania. The creation of the dashboard was a mandate in the governor's 2019 Executive Order to reduce gun violence.

The dashboard includes data on the number of victims of gun violence, rates at which gun violence occurs in locations and contributory factors. The Department of Health will coordinate with and collect data from the Department of Human Services, state police and other organizations.

In 2018, more than 1,600 individuals were killed from a firearm death in Pennsylvania.

Gov. Tom Wolf is setting aside $28 million in federal aid to help educational institutions like Slippery Rock University and Butler County Community College prepare for the new school year with public health and safety plans.The money will be distributed by the state's Department of Education and will go to postsecondary institutions and adult basic education providers to help keep students, faculty and staff safe and assist institutions in meeting the challenges of providing instruction during COVID-19 pandemic.The funds are being released through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which authorizes governors to determine use of Governor's Emergency Education Relief Funds.These funds can be used to purchase protective equipment, hand sanitizer/cleaning products; equipment or technology to take classrooms online; installation of barriers or other protective devices in building structures; or to purchase health apps to assist in contact tracing and monitoring of students.Additionally, $500,000 of the total funds were set aside to provide relief to adult basic education providers.Pennsylvania is home to nearly 300 postsecondary institutions including 14 community colleges, 14 state-owned institutions and four state-related universities as well as two historically Black colleges and universities.

Summer hours at all Mars Area School District buildings are 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.All buildings remain closed on Fridays through Aug. 21. Regular business hours resume Aug. 24.Call 724-625-1518 for more information.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., will help secure Vice President Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee for the 2020 presidential race in his new role as one of the vice chairmen for the Democratic National Convention.“I was proud to endorse Joe Biden for president on the first day of his campaign, and I'm honored to serve as a vice chairman at the Democratic National Convention that will secure his position as our Democratic nominee,” Casey said in a prepared statement.Casey endorsed Biden for president in April 2019.