[naviga:h3]Toomey on task force to ‘reopen economy’[/naviga:h3]

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., has been named to a bipartisan task force to help the Trump Administration’s efforts to unwind coronavirus precautions and “reopen the economy.”

In a prepared statement Thursday, Toomey cited areas in Pennsylvania “with very few COVID-19 cases, that both rely on a low-risk workforce and can comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines” that can “gradually and safely enable these businesses to reopen their doors.”

“This week, I have spoken with local officials — Republicans and Democrats — from across Pennsylvania and one thing is clear: there are regions and sectors of our economy that can begin to reopen safely right now and not jeopardize hospital capacity,” he said in the statement.

Members of the House of Representatives will also be included in the task force. The announcement did not set a specific date but in a separate statement President Donald Trump expressed a desire to open things up on May 1, according to reports.

[naviga:h3]GCC discounts summer classes[/naviga:h3]

Grove City College is offering students who graduate from high school this spring a one-time only reduced rate on summer online courses.

Prospective college freshmen can take classes in the GCC’s two summer online sessions for the same cost as dual-enrolled high school students, a rate that represents a 70 percent reduction on the regular price. The cost per credit hour under this special program is $165.

Students who are already accepted at the college can begin enrolling May 1 in the summer courses at the reduced rate along with dual-enrolled high school students. All other 2020 high school graduates can begin registering for online courses at the reduced rate on May 15.

These classes include courses in astronomy, accounting, business, computer science, design, education, engineering, exercise science, humanities, mathematics, physics, political science, psychology, social work and writing.

For more information about the reduced rate for summer 2020 courses, visit www.gcc.du/summer20. For a full list of summer offerings, or to register for courses, visit www.gcc.edu/dualenrollment.

[naviga:h3]SNAP emergency food benefits start[/naviga:h3]

State Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday that the Department of Human Services will begin disbursing emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits starting Thursday in line with federal policy.

Payments include a supplemental increase for both March and April and will continue to be issued for current SNAP households through April 29.

These emergency payments for March and April will be distributed as a one-time issuance distributed on a staggered schedule beginning April 16 and continuing through April 29.

This payment is in addition to a household’s normal April benefit issuance that’s made in the first half of the month. These payments will be placed directly onto a recipient’s EBT card. Supplemental payments are in addition to the normal May payment beginning May 1.

“This pandemic is creating economic strains for many Pennsylvanians, and we are doing all we can to help the 1.8 million Pennsylvanians who use SNAP to keep food on the table have a little flexibility to make additional grocery purchases and reduce trips to the grocery store,” Wolf said in a prepared statement. “I hope it will help ease circumstances for Pennsylvanians during this difficult economic period.”