An appeal to halt the demolition of 439-441 Merchant Street property owned by Ted Babich was denied last night, according to attorney George Patterson, representing the board of appeals. According to Beaver County Radio news correspondent Sandy Giordano, borough manager Joe Kauer said that he doesn’t know what direction the property owner will take now.

Just how bad is the impact of the state budget impasse on our school districts? Just ask Dave Wytiaz, the outgoing superintendent of schools in the Aliquippa School District. As we wrap up our 4-part special news series, Wytiaz tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak  that they’ll be able to survive without funding from the state through the end of this school year, but he anticipates running out of money by May 1st.  He says they’ve already stopped paying vendors. Wytiaz is resigning from his position. His last day on the job is April 1st but he insists his resignation has nothing to do with the mess in Harrisburg.

We have news of a bridge closing in Beaver Falls. PennDOT has indefinitely closed the bridge at 24th Street in Beaver Falls because of a road collapse. The small bridge will remain closed indefinitely as a safety precaution. PennDOT says traffic will be detoured and signs will be posted. No schedule has been announced for when repairs might be made.

Many Beaver County School Districts are feeling the devastating effects of the state budget impasse. We’ve been talking with school administrators all week…and today we spoke with Midland Schools Superintendent Sean Tanner. Tanner tells Beaver County Radio newsman that they have put a freeze on all purchasing, continue to take out loans which only take them deeper into debt and have monthly conversations regarding the possibility of closing the schools.

A former Beaver county VFW commander is accused of spending more than $100,000 on an organization credit card. 51-year-old Donald Smith is facing more than 1,000 theft charges. Authorities say Smith is accused of charging a Midland VFW Post 8168 credit card 568 times between 2012 and 2014, accruing $103,483.96 in debt. Most of the charges to the card were ATM withdrawals, but various retail charges and entertainment were also made, according to the criminal complaint. Smith was charged with 568 counts each of unauthorized credit card use, theft and counts of receiving stolen property. His bail was set at $50,000.

The search continues this afternoon in the Pittsburgh area for at least two gunmen who opened fire on a backyard party in Wilkinsburg. Five people were killed and three others were wounded in the shooting. Police describe the attack as an ambush, with gunshots coming from two distinct locations. The suspects fled on foot.

Nearly 46,000 Pennsylvania Democrats have switched to Republicans since the beginning of the year. According to Penn  Live, some experts attribute the the mass exodus to Donald Trump. Numbers show that some Republicans are also switching to the Democratic party, but nowhere near the numbers that are switching to Republican.