Mass to mark closing of 'Fortnight'
HARRISBURG - The closing of Fortnight for Freedom will be marked at 9 a.m. today at St. Patrick Cathedral, 212 State St., with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph P. McFadden.
A live video stream of the Mass will be available at www.hbgdiocese.org.
The 14-day Fortnight for Freedom, called for by the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, culminates today, Independence Day. The special period of prayer, study and public action was intended to emphasize the Christian and American heritage of liberty and was instituted because of concerns over threats to religious freedom, both at home and abroad.
Mayor's walking tour continues
MOUNT CARMEL - Borough Mayor J. Kevin Jones said he conducted a walking tour of the borough's third ward Monday morning and found 18 properties that need attention due to problems with high grass, junk in yards and other ordinance violations.
Casey: Bill will help veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) announced Monday he has introduced legislation to help returning National Guard members take advantage of programs that offer services such as employment assistance, health and mental care and financial support services by ensuring each guard member has a personal representative to guide them through military programs.
The Transition Assistance Advisors Act of 2012 would permanently authorize a pilot program that created 62 Transition Assistant Advisors (TAAs) to assist nNational Guard members.
In the two years since the TAA pilot was launched, 62 TAAs have reached more than 194,000 veterans and family members, taken 306,756 phones calls, e-mails and meetings with veterans, and assisted nearly 10,000 veterans in enrolling in the VA.
The bill has been endorsed by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS).