E-news Updates - February 13, 2026

In this Update:

Lines Crossed: Governor Accused of Seizing Neighbor’s Land
Celebrating John Ciarrocca’s 100^th Birthday
Honoring K9 Detective Briggs
State Grant Supports Traffic Safety in Straban Township
Throwback!
Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Now Accepting Applications
Strengthening Pennsylvania’s Economy and Creating More Jobs
Concerned About Winter Energy Bills? Call Utilities Now
The Dangers of Walking on Frozen Bodies of Water
Celebrating Presidents’ Day

Lines Crossed: Governor Accused of Seizing Neighbor’s Land

By any measure, a governor sending state police onto his neighbor’s property — without a court order — is a serious matter. But when that governor is also a former attorney general and licensed attorney, the stakes are even higher.

In the lawsuit Mock v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Jeremy and Simone Mock allege Gov. Josh Shapiro and his wife, Lori, commandeered a strip of their property after failed attempts to buy or lease it. According to the complaint, what began as a routine neighborly boundary conversation spiraled into a full-blown constitutional showdown.

The Mocks claim after negotiations stalled, the Shapiros asserted ownership of the land via “adverse possession,” a legal doctrine requiring decades of open, continuous use and, crucially, a court ruling. They had none. Instead, the complaint alleges, the Shapiros took physical control: planting trees, deploying drones and enlisting state police to patrol and block the rightful owners from using their own property.

If true, this is not merely a zoning squabble or neighborhood tiff. It’s an alleged abuse of state power, where the machinery of government is accused of being turned against private citizens — without process, without compensation and without legal justification.

The Mocks’ case is built on bedrock constitutional claims: violation of due process, unlawful seizure and taking of property without compensation — rights enshrined in the Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. They also allege common law trespass.

Let’s be clear: No one, not even a governor, is above the Constitution. Property rights are not optional. The right to be free from government seizure without due process is not a privilege granted by political office — it’s a protection guaranteed by law.

What this case ultimately demands is accountability — not just for the property at stake, but for the principle that no public official should be allowed to redefine legal boundaries without due process. In America, the law — not position or power — must remain the final authority.

Celebrating John Ciarrocca’s 100^th Birthday

It was a distinct honor to celebrate and spend time with John Ciarrocca, who recently turned 100 years old and is a proud World War II Veteran.

In recognition of his extraordinary service to our nation, we had the privilege of presenting Mr. Ciarrocca with a World War II medal and a citation expressing our deep gratitude for his courage, sacrifice, and dedication to freedom.

Honoring K9 Detective Briggs

In tribute to our four-legged friend and Pennsylvania’s famous crime-fighting bloodhound, Detective Briggs who crossed the rainbow bridge. She will be deeply missed!

State Grant Supports Traffic Safety in Straban Township

Straban Township was awarded more than $105,000 in state funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Automated Red-Light Enforcement grant program to improve traffic safety and accessibility at key intersections. This funding will be used to update signs, pavement markings and lighting at the pedestrian crossing of Old Harrisburg Road and Johnson Drive.

Upkeeping our roads is an important piece of building strong communities. I’m grateful these dollars will improve safety for drivers and pedestrians in Adams County, as these projects can be very expensive for local governments

Throwback!

Pictured is me with Afghan children — moments like this meant everything. I personally led multiple humanitarian operations to bring them comfort and care.

Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Now Accepting Applications

Eligible Pennsylvanians can now apply for a Grow PA Scholarship Grant for the 2026-27 academic year. Applications are available at pheaa.org/growpa.

This program offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who pursue a degree or certification in an in-demand occupation and administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).

Courses of study that qualify for the grant include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs as approved by PHEAA. The full list is available here.

To qualify, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in that occupation after graduation for 12 months for each year they received the grant.

Please note: Applicants who received this grant last year MUST reapply to receive the grant again for the upcoming academic year.

Strengthening Pennsylvania’s Economy and Creating More Jobs

As we prepare to examine Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new state budget proposal, one of the things I’ll be most focused on is improving our state’s economy and laying the groundwork to allow businesses to create more family-sustaining jobs. Over the past several years, we’ve steadily improved the tax climate in Pennsylvania by, for example, reducing the corporate net income tax, which used to be second-highest in the nation.

We’ve also positioned Pennsylvania to be a national leader in the emerging field of drone research and deployment, protected seasonal workers from unemployment compensation benefit cuts (UC), improved the systems for training barbers and cosmetologists, and much more.

One of the most important things we can do to make our state’s economy work better is to enact a state budget that includes responsible state spending. We must also take steps to make Pennsylvania a better place for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses, bringing more jobs to the commonwealth and strengthening our communities.

Concerned About Winter Energy Bills? Call Utilities Now

January and February are usually the months when home energy bills tend to peak, due largely to increased heating demand.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission encourages consumers who are concerned about their utility bills to call their utility company to discuss available options. Utilities can help customers explore payment arrangements, budget billing and assistance programs that may help manage winter energy costs before a bill becomes unmanageable.

Utility representatives can also help direct consumers to additional state and local resources. Read more about reducing energy use and how to find help with bills here.

The Dangers of Walking on Frozen Bodies of Water

Cold weather means more frozen bodies of water and the risk that comes with walking on them, especially rivers and streams.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission offers this safety advice:

No ice is considered “safe” ice. There is no official authority that measures ice thickness.
Never go out on ice alone.
Never walk on ice that has formed over moving water such as a river or stream.
The PFBC recommends a minimum of 4 inches of ice for walking onto the surface of a lake or pond.
Always wear a life jacket or float coat while on the ice. (Inflatable life jackets do not perform well in freezing temperatures.)
Survey the ice and listen for loud cracks or booms, which are signs of deterioration.

Look for new ice, which is clear or has a blue tint, and remember that ice thickness is not consistent across the surface of a lake or pond. Learn more about ice fishing and ice safety, including an ice thickness and safety chart, here.

Celebrating Presidents’ Day

Monday is Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday that began as a celebration of George Washington’s Feb. 22 birthday and was expanded to cover Abraham Lincoln’s on Feb. 12.

While it’s now considered an occasion to honor all the nation’s chief executives, the first and 16^th presidents hold a special place in the hearts of Americans. General George Washington led the Continental Army and became the nation’s first president, stepping aside after two terms.

President Lincoln guided the country through a horrific Civil War, holding the United States together when victory was not assured, and setting the tone for unity by declaring “malice toward none.”

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