Chavis Stars with Bat, Defense, Pirates Edge Cubs in 10

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
By WES CROSBY Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Michael Chavis hit a tying home run in the eighth before pulling off a defensive gem and delivering a game-ending single in the 10th, sending the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Chicago Cubs 8-7. Chavis’ solo homer made it 7-all after the Cubs scored five times in the top of the eighth. In the 10th, Chavis charged a slow grounder by Jason Heyward toward first base and threw out Patrick Wisdom at the plate. The call stood after a Chicago challenge. In the bottom half, Chavis blooped a single to right and automatic runner Ke’Bryan Hayes scored in a collision with catcher Wilson Contreras. Hayes remained down for a few moments before walking off under his own power. Hayes homered earlier in the game.

Poll: Pennsylvanians Over 50 will Play Major Role in November Election

(Photo Provided with Release)

Keystone State News Connection

June 24, 2022

Poll: Pennsylvanians Over 50 will Play Major Role in November Election

Emily Scott

There are fewer than five months to go until the November General Election, in which Pennsylvania voters will select a new governor and U.S. Senator.

new poll commissioned by AARP Pennsylvania showed how residents over 50 are feeling about the candidates and the issues. In the 2018 midterm elections, Pennsylvanians age 50 years and older made up 61% of all voters in the state.

The AARP poll includes views about this year’s political races, including the contest for governor, with Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Sen, Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin. Shapiro leads Mastriano by three points.

Bob Ward, partner and pollster at Fabrizio Ward, said for voters over 50, it is an even closer race.

“There’s a one-point lead for Shapiro over Mastriano,” Ward reported. “And so, 50-plus voters, due to their size but also sort of the competitive nature of where the election is in the governor’s race, will be impactful. Candidates need to pay attention to what’s important to these voters.”

In the Senate race, Democratic Lieutenant Gov. John Fetterman has a six percentage-point lead over Republican TV personality Mehmet Oz. And 77% of those polled believe the state is “moving in the wrong direction.”

Some 30% of Pennsylvania voters polled said the economy is working well for them. However, one of their biggest concerns, which may influence their votes in November, is rising prices. For Republicans polled, it is their highest priority, while Democrats cite gun safety as their top issue.

Matt Hogan, partner and pollster at Impact Research, said the results also show inflation is still a cross-party worry.

“When we test it on its own and ask them to rate the importance, we certainly see it’s a dominant issue with Democrats as well, it just doesn’t rise to quite the top when we ask them to pick which is the most important,” Hogan explained. “We definitely see a surge in guns [as an important issue] following Uvalde.”

Other issues emerging as important to voters include immigration for Republicans, and abortion access and honesty in government for Democrats. The survey, which reached nearly 1,400 likely Pennsylvania voters, was conducted this month via landline, cellphone and text message.

Advocates Urge PA Lawmakers to Pass Patient Safety Act

(Lizabeth Baker Wade via AP)

Keystone State News Connection

June 23, 2022

Emily Scott

Since the beginning of the pandemic, several states have passed “safe staffing” laws aimed at balancing patient-nurse ratios in hospitals. In Pennsylvania, health care advocates are calling on lawmakers to vote on legislation still stalled in committee.

Senate Bill 240, also known as the Patient Safety Act, would establish limits to the number of patients one nurse is responsible for during a shift.

Maureen May, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, said it is about ensuring positive outcomes for patients.

“I want to be in a hospital bed in which I know that there are enough nurses to care for me and my family members,” May asserted. “I want to be a nurse that works in a hospital and walks away from the bedside at the end of the day and know that I did everything I could to make sure my patients received the best care possible.”

Many health care system administrators oppose safe-staffing legislation, saying it is costly to their bottom line. Senate Bill 240 and its companion House Bill 106, which has more than 100 co-sponsors, have been referred to each chamber’s health committees and await a vote.

Sen. Maria Collett, D-Montgomery County, said the pandemic exposed the cracks in the health care system and the need for legislation such as the Patient Safety Act. She stressed it has been disappointing to see the legislation stalled by a few lawmakers, given the bipartisan support for the bill.

“If you’re someone that’s not going to stand with nurses, that’s not going to stand with patients, then put your name on the record,” Collett urged. “Vote no on this bill because the people in our communities deserve to know where we stand when it comes to protecting patient outcomes and protecting the hardworking nursing staff.”

2017 study found patients were much more likely to survive when nurses followed a hospital-mandated patient-nurse ratio. Lower patient-to-nurse staffing ratios also have been associated with significantly lower rates of cardiac arrest, hospital-acquired pneumonia, respiratory failure and patient falls.

Ohio nips Pennsylvania All Stars in a Classic

Penn Ohio Allstar football game turns into a classic with 50 pts scored in 2nd half. The first half Ohio scored touchdowns in the first and second quarter and looked to be in control of the game. But the Penn all stars had a lot to say in the 2nd half scoring 28 pts in the 2nd half and taking the lead by going for 2 with 3 mins 26 seconds left in the 4th to take the lead. But  Ohio marched down the field and scored with 23 seconds left on the clock to pull out the win, final score Ohio all stars 35 Penn all stars 28.

VIDEO: “Compassion” The Key To Service At Patriot Home Care

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“We’re helping them live with their independence as best they can.”

The description of the services provided by Patriot Home Care by Kelly Cope showcases their dedication to assisted independent living for their many clients throughout Beaver County. Cope joined Matt Drzik on the June 23 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about how someone can become a client OR caretaker at the facilities headquartered in downtown Beaver Falls, along with the element of “compassion” it takes to care for someone in the assisted independent living arena.

To watch the full interview with Kelly Cope, click on the Facebook feed below!

Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild Converting to Cashless Payment Process to Provide a Simpler and Safer Experience

(File Photo)

(West Mifflin, Pa.) Guests at Kennywood, Sandcastle Waterpark, and Idlewild & SoakZone will soon find a more efficient, convenient, and visitor-friendly process to pay for park tickets and treats.

Beginning Tuesday, June 28 at Kennywood and Sandcastle and Wednesday, June 29 at Idlewild & SoakZone, the parks will accept credit, debit and prepaid cards or secure mobile payments only. The switch allows for a smoother and safer experience for guests, who can make payments with cards in addition to using secure mobile payment systems such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild accept all major credit and prepaid debit cards including MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover.

Guests that prefer cash have no cause for concern: they can use new, free Cash to Card Kiosks conveniently located throughout each park to convert up to $500 cash onto a prepaid card. This prepaid card can be used to purchase tickets and frequent stores and stands throughout the park. The cards can also be used outside the park anywhere cards are accepted. There is no fee to convert cash onto a card.

“By transitioning to solely accepting cards or secure mobile payments, we can provide a better, more efficient experience to our guests,” says Kennywood & Sandcastle General Manager Mark Pauls. “We expect to see wait times decrease for food and retail stores, and have added several Cash to Card Kiosks throughout each park to provide guests a simple and easy way to convert their cash onto a card.”

For full details and a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding this new program, visit Kennywood.com/CashlessSandcastleWaterpark.com/Cashless, or Idlewild.com/Cashless.

New Brighton Tax Office Closed on July1, 2022

(File Photo)

(New Brighton, Pa.) The New Brighton Borough Real Estate Tax Office will be closed until Friday, July 1, 2022.  Modified summer hours will resume on July 8 , 2022 with the office being open on Fridays from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

Fewer Americans File for Jobless Aid

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
By MATT OTT AP Business Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer Americans applied for jobless benefits last week as the U.S. job market remains robust despite myriad economic pressures, including four-decade high inflation. Applications for jobless aid for the week ending June 18 fell to 229,000, a decline of 2,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. First-time applications generally mirror the number of layoffs. The four-week average for claims rose by 4,500 from the previous week, to 223,500. The total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits for the week ending June 11 was 1,315,000. That figure has hovered near 50-year lows for months.

FDA Bans Juul E-Cigarettes Tied to Teen Vaping Surge

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Health officials have ordered vaping company Juul to pull its electronic cigarettes from the U.S. market. It’s the biggest blow yet to the embattled company that is widely blamed for sparking a surge in teen vaping. The announcement Thursday by the Food and Drug Administration is part of a sweeping regulatory review of e-cigarettes, which faced little regulation until recently. Since last fall, the FDA has greenlighted a few e-cigarettes that account for a tiny share of the vaping market. To stay on the market, manufacturers must show their products help reduce the harm of smoking for adults, without appealing to kids.