Special celebration; healing garden; bridge reopening; new resource if your loved one is struggling with substance use disorder – and more!

Rep. Abigail Salisbury July 27, 2026

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s preferable to you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

Mark your calendar for the Whiskey Rebellion celebration on Aug. 12!

Come celebrate the 232nd anniversary of the Whiskey Rebellion from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12 at Braddock’s Battlefield History Museum! Stop by for cocktails, mocktails, food trucks, reenactors, and a special performance! The event is free – pay only for what you buy. Visit this page to learn more about the event and how you can support the museum if you are interested.

Commercial Street Bridge to open Monday evening

Exciting news for our region! At a news conference this afternoon, Gov. Shapiro announced that Parkway East’s newly installed Commercial Street Bridge will reopen this evening – more than a week ahead of schedule! The eastbound lane is scheduled to open at 8 p.m., with the westbound lane to open shortly after that.

Successful early competition of the project – the largest bridge slide project in PA history – means traffic will soon be flowing again safely and smoothly between Exits 74-77. Thank you to PennDOT and to all the engineers, contractors, laborers, officials and state partners who helped make it happen and happen ahead of time!

Answering the court’s call for fairer sentencing

In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that state law regarding sentencing for second-degree murder – which mandates an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole – violates the state constitution. The court asked us to come up with a fairer system for these cases, which involve offenders who commit underlying felonies that result in a death.

The House responded last week by passing legislation that would replace the current mandatory life sentence with sentencing based on the offender’s level of culpability. Visit this page to read more about the bill, which is awaiting action in the state Senate.

In other legislative news, the governor recently signed my bill that would allow employees of certain state licensees to work remotely. Visit this page to read more.

Healing garden takes root in Braddock

On Friday, our staffer Leslie joined local resident Thomas Bunn, who works as a career counselor in green jobs, as he and young gardeners planted the seeds for a beautiful healing garden in Braddock.

New state tool helps families of loved ones with substance use disorder

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs today launched a new, free online resource designed to help families of loved ones with substance use disorder find support for themselves as they navigate their family member’s treatment and recovery.

Caregiver Connection is a website for parents, grandparents, siblings and others supporting a loved one with substance use disorder. It’s a one-stop shop of resources that can help with locating a local or online support group, finding the closest county drug and alcohol office, locating free Narcan, and more. Visit this page for more information.

Keeping the cameras rolling to bring more jobs & boost our economy

From “Silence of the Lambs” and “The Dark Knight Rises” to “Mayor of Kingstown” and “The Pitt,” more than 250 productions have filmed in southwest Pennsylvania, generating billions in economic activity and supporting local jobs.

Last week, I attended a policy meeting and tour in Pittsburgh hosted by my colleague Rep. Emily Kinkead and the House Majority Policy Committee. We discussed the state’s tax credit program, which provides a 25% tax credit to productions that spend at least 60% of their budget here in the commonwealth.

The program encourages production companies to bring their projects to PA, where they hire local carpenters, electricians, caterers and other skilled professionals, patronize local businesses, and generate dollars for the region. Visit this page to read more.

Brainstorming ways to boost affordable housing options

Last week I also participated in a Policy Committee roundtable on PA’s housing affordability crisis. We discussed the need for more starter homes in Allegheny County and heard from housing and transportation experts about some of the barriers to construction. Visit this page to read more.

Seniors: scam-proof yourself with this webinar

The state is offering a free webinar for older adults, caregivers, and family members on avoiding online financial scams that often target seniors. The session will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature speakers sharing practical tips on how to stay safe online. Visit this page to learn more and register.

Finding funding & help with state services

Local officials and nonprofits – if you’re searching for state grant funding, you can find an online copy of the 2026 Pennsylvania Grant and Resource Directory here or pick up a hard copy by stopping by our 501 Braddock Ave. district office. You can also find a list of the latest program openings here and a handy grant-finding tool at this page.

Finally, please remember that our office can help with a wide range of state-related matters – from filing a Property Tax/Rent Rebate or obtaining a Senior ConnectCard, to navigating state benefits and more. Contact us to find out how we can help!