Apr. 19—WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Josh Shapiro, First Lady Lori Shapiro, and their family this week visited Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Station 1 to serve lunch and thank the firefighters who responded to the arson attack at the Governor’s Residence this past Sunday.
The First Family was joined by Chef Robert Irvine, who helped prepare and serve the meal.
The Robert Irvine Foundation sponsored the meal — and have sponsored similar meals alongside the Governor and First Lady for Pennsylvania veterans at the Governor’s Residence.
Firefighters from Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Station 1, Progress Volunteer Fire Department, Lemoyne Volunteer Fire Department, and the Defense Logistics Agency in New Cumberland all responded to the early morning fire. Governor Shapiro recognized members of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 428 for their courage in protecting both the community and the First Family.
“This weekend, our family witnessed the incredible bravery and excellence of our firefighters and first responders,” said Gov. Shapiro. “These brave firefighters ran towards danger to keep us safe and today, my family and I were honored to serve them lunch and thank them not just for what they did for us — but for what they do every day to keep families all across Harrisburg safe. Chef Irvine does extraordinary work to honor first responders and veterans across the globe — I’m grateful to him and his team for coming out today to help us give back to the folks who give so much to their communities.”
In the wake of the fire, the Governor and First Lady spoke with their children, who wanted to do something to thank the firefighters. Around the same time, Chef Irvine — a long-time supporter of military and first responder communities — reached out offering to help. Together, they planned the lunch to show appreciation for the firefighters’ heroism and everyday service.
“On behalf of myself and the Robert Irvine Foundation, I want to say how proud we are to sponsor today’s Breaking Bread with Heroes event,” said Chef Irvine. “The fire at Gov. Shapiro’s residence was a terrible shock; but the prompt, professional, and fearless response of the firefighters we honor today helped save lives and avert what could have been an unmitigated disaster. We’re forever indebted to first responders like these. Today’s meal is a small token of gratitude for their sacrifice.”
Supporting Pennsylvania’s first responders and firefighters
Gov. Shapiro reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to investing in and supporting Pennsylvania’s first responders and firefighters — outlining key proposals in his 2025-26 proposed budget aimed at strengthening fire companies and preventing disasters before they happen.
As fires become a growing threat across the country, Pennsylvania’s professional and volunteer firefighters continue to rise to the challenge — responding to more calls even as their ranks decline. Gov. Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal includes three major initiatives to support and sustain Pennsylvania’s fire service:
—Creating a new $30 million competitive grant program for fire companies to help them purchase life-saving equipment, recruit and retain firefighters, and meet their unique local needs — in addition to the $30 million that is already distributed to fire companies annually.
—Establishing a pilot program to help municipal fire companies work together and share resources more efficiently through cooperative service models.
—Covering annual cancer screenings for firefighters, recognizing the chemical exposures and health risks they face on the job.
Attorney General Sunday joins coalition in urging feds to allow law enforcement access to tips from National Human Trafficking Hotline
Attorney General Dave Sunday this week joined a bipartisan coalition of 41 Attorneys General in a letter to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services asking for law enforcement access to National Human Trafficking Hotline tips.
The national hotline — 888-373-7888 — serves as a vital tool for neighbors, relatives, bystanders, victims and survivors and other witnesses to report valuable information about suspected trafficking activity.
The federal department is seeking a grant awardee to run the hotline program. The previous awardee, Polaris, prevented law enforcement access to the tips.
“At a time when law enforcement is working in unity with the community to bring human trafficking out of the shadows, access to these tips could lead to more charges against traffickers — and more help for victims and survivors, who rarely escape on their own,” AG Sunday said. “My office launched a Human Trafficking Section devoted to stopping these dehumanizing crimes, and access to this information would, without a doubt, strengthen those efforts.”
The 41 Attorneys General who signed onto the letter are not seeking access to tips provided by victims and survivors, who may not want to be contacted by law enforcement.
Tipsters can also use the hotline via text message, by texting INFO to 233733.
State officials encourage residents to safely dispose of medications during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day April 26
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), and Department of Aging (PDA) this week joined officials from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and York County to encourage Pennsylvanians to take part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day initiative on Saturday, April 26.
The DEA has offered National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day since 2010 with the goal of fighting prescription drug misuse by creating convenient ways to dispose of medication that could otherwise be misused.
In addition to the DEA’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Days, the Shapiro Administration offers year-round opportunities to dispose of medication through DDAP’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Program locations.
“Every day is a take-back day in Pennsylvania. In addition to the DEA’s boxes on April 26, there are nearly 900 DDAP drug take-back boxes available throughout Pennsylvania year-round for residents to use, including at buildings throughout the Shapiro Administration,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “Our goal is to get rid of all the expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications in a safe, secure manner. It’s one of our strongest substance use disorder prevention efforts.”
Since the inception of Pennsylvania’s drug take-back program in 2015, more than 1.5 million pounds — or 750 tons — of prescription medication have been destroyed across 67 Pennsylvania counties. That’s the weight of approximately 30 fire trucks.
DDAP partners with additional agencies in the Shapiro Administration, including the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), to collect and destroy medications that are dropped off at the agency’s take-back boxes.
“The Pennsylvania State Police is committed to keeping dangerous drugs out of our communities. We have a multi-faceted approach, from education and prevention to interdiction and enforcement,” said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “Do your part to make sure prescription drugs do not end up in the wrong hands or used the wrong way by disposing of them responsibly.”
“The Pennsylvania National Guard is always ready, always there to serve our Commonwealth and nation,” said Maj. Gen. John Pippy, Pennsylvania’s Adjutant General and head of the DMVA.
Attorney General Dave Sunday said, “Drug take-back efforts are essential in getting dangerous drugs off the street because they provide education to people who may not realize their outdated or unused prescriptions could be harmful. I encourage Pennsylvanians to take this opportunity to dispose of prescription drugs in a safe manner and ensure those medications do not end up in the wrong hands.”
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.