Shenango Valley News

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) criticized President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address, stating, "When it comes everything from the border and crime, to the cost-of-living and the economy, to the green energy agenda, tonight we heard President Biden show just how out-of-touch he really is with the American people." Kelly also highlighted Biden's failure to address the safe return of Americans imprisoned in Russia, including Butler County native Marc Fogel. In a call for unity, Kelly urged both Republicans and Democrats to collaborate on legislation that focuses on securing the border, cutting spending, and improving the future for all Americans.

During the speech, Rep. Kelly introduced his special guest, Laura Crago, a Digital Producer and Host of the Butler Eagle's "Alter Eagle" podcast. Kelly praised Crago's dedication to addressing mental health and addiction stigma, stating, "I've known the Crago family for years, and the one thing I've learned about Laura personally is her passion for helping others." Emphasizing the importance of mental health legislation, Kelly commended Crago for shedding light on these critical issues at a national level.

Laura Crago, a Butler County native, is the host of The Alter Eagle, a podcast that focuses on mental health and addiction issues. Graduating from Butler High School in 1998 and later obtaining her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting with a Communications minor from Clarion University in 2002, Crago has dedicated herself to raising awareness on mental health and addiction. Her commitment to these topics led her to start her own podcast in 2019 in Boston and eventually return to Butler in 2022 to work for the Butler Eagle as the Podcast Producer and Host of Alter Eagle.

Rep. Kelly's support for mental health legislation and collaboration with individuals like Laura Crago highlights the importance of addressing critical issues affecting communities nationwide.