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In this Update:

• PA Elk Cam Now LIVE Streaming from Elk County
• Strategies to Prevent Electric Bill Spikes
• Reporting Suspected Benefits Fraud
• What to Know About Teen Gambling
• School Bus Safety Legislation Awaits House Action
• Apply Now for Schools Safety AED Training Grants
• Getting Potholes Filled

PA Elk Cam Now LIVE Streaming from Elk County

Live from Elk Country (Benzette, PA) wildlife enthusiasts can conveniently check in on the PA elk herd from the comfort of your own home or business by clicking on the Pennsylvania ELK CAM icon on my home page at www.SenatorDush.com.

Elk were once native to Pennsylvania but disappeared in the 1800s due to overhunting and habitat loss. Today, Pennsylvania is home to 1,300 to 1,400 elk, making it the largest free-roaming elk population in the eastern U.S.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission, in partnership with HDOnTap and the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, has installed a camera on Elk County game lands that are typically a hub of elk activity as the bugling season heats up.

The camera is on 24/7, so tune in day or night. The best times to view elk and many other impressive animals such as turkey and deer are mornings and evenings.

If you’d like to see the bugling season in person, the Keystone Elk Country Alliance – Elk Country Chapter also reminds visitors to always be “Elk Smart.” Give elk space, never feed elk and do your part to ensure the welfare of the herd.

Strategies to Prevent Electric Bill Spikes Highlighted at Senate Hearing

Strategies to increase energy production and lower utility bills for Pennsylvanians were the focus of a public hearing by the Senate Majority Policy Committee.

The committee heard from energy generators, utilities, business groups, taxpayer advocates and more. Pennsylvania is the top electricity exporter and supplier of natural gas, but the retirement of generation sources is driving up prices and risking electric grid reliability.

Testifiers noted the commonwealth needs to build more reliable baseload generation to keep prices stable and ensure access to energy. Read more and access hearing video here.

Reporting Suspected Benefits Fraud

You can help eliminate fraud in benefits programs such as cash assistance, food stamps, childcare, home energy assistance and medical assistance.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Office of the State Inspector General. A complaint should be completed only if an individual has been issued benefits that you believe the individual was not entitled to receive.

Report suspected fraud to the State Inspector General here.

What to Know About Teen Gambling

Just because teens aren’t allowed to gamble doesn’t mean they don’t.

Gambling among teenagers is a growing problem. Information is available to learn what teen problem gambling is, how to recognize the warning signs and where to go for help. 

Topics include: Why do people gamble? The “gambler’s fallacy,” and Who’s at risk? Learn more here from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

School Bus Safety Legislation Awaits House Action

Over the past five years, 25,136 Pennsylvania drivers have been cited for school zone violations, including 8,302 for overtaking or illegally passing a school bus. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania breaks down the numbers here.

In September 2025, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 65, Enhancing the Safe Transportation of School Children, which would extend the stopping distance requirement from 10 feet to 15 feet before reaching the bus when the red signal lights are flashing and the side stop arm is activated. It also develops a tiered penalty system for a second or subsequent offense. Current law does not penalize repeat offenders.

With the start of a new school year nearly a year later, it still awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives. Read more about this effort to boost school bus safety here.

Apply Now for Schools Safety AED Training Grants

School districts can apply now for the latest round of funding to improve safety, including an initiative passed by the General Assembly to increase the presence of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at school events.

Under the School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program, school districts, career and technical centers, intermediate units, charter schools and cyber charter schools are eligible for funding to use for safety and security assessments, staff training and more. It can also be used to improve CPR training and AED preparedness.

In addition, nonpublic schools can apply for CPR/AED Training for Nonpublic Schools Grant Program that can be used for CPR and AED training.

The AED funding is made available through Greg Moyer’s Law, named in honor of Pennsylvania student-athlete Greg Moyer, who died after suffering sudden cardiac arrest during a high school basketball game.

Getting Potholes Filled

If you spot a pothole on a Pennsylvania road, you can report it through the PennDOT Customer Care Center.

If you notice an urgent issue, please check the list of district engineering offices and contact the one for the county in which the issue is found. 

For immediate safety concerns, call 1‑800‑FIX‑ROAD (1-800-349-7623), and always call 9‑1‑1 for emergencies.