(File Photo of Pa. State Rep. (15th) Josh Kail during a recent appearance at Beaver County Radio)

(Harrisburg, Pa.)  In order to address the issues Pennsylvanians care about most, House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) hosted a hearing Monday titled “Constitutional Amendments – Why We Care” on a joint resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The proposed amendments would provide for a two-year window for victims of childhood sexual assault to file previously time-barred claims, to authorize the General Assembly to disapprove regulations, and require voters to present identification when casting a ballot.

“Meaningful change starts with innovative policy solutions to support a prosperous Commonwealth for future generations,” said Kail. “We are ready to get to work on these measurers and want the people of Pennsylvania to be able to vote directly on these proposals.”

Held at the Main Capitol Building in Harrisburg, the policy hearing’s testifiers were:

• Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair/Huntingdon).
• Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State.
• Madeline Malisa, senior fellow for the Foundation for Government Accountability.
• David Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association.
• Grant Gulibon, environmental specialist for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

Gregory, who survived childhood sexual abuse, has been a leader on creating a two-year window of time in which survivors of childhood sexual abuse could file lawsuits if the statute of limitations has otherwise expired in their case. He said speaking with fellow survivors inspires him to fight every day on this issue, particularly after a Department of State administrative error in 2019 created delays.

On the issue of voter ID, Pennsylvania is one of only 15 states where voters can cast their ballot without showing an identification document. Seeking outside advice on how a neighboring state successfully conducts its elections, LaRose said Ohio was able to pass legislation requiring photo identification to vote and making state-issued photo identification available for free, preventing the disenfranchisement of any eligible citizen.

In order for good governance to remain at the forefront, Taylor testified that the system of checks and balances is non-negotiable. He emphasized that instances such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic are examples of how crippling overregulation can be.

“We heard a lot of great feedback, and I am excited to continue our discussions on how we can move Pennsylvania forward,” said Kail.

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News
(New Brighton, Pa.) 41-year-old James L. Pulley, of New Brighton,  is being lodged in the Beaver County Jail after he fled when his vehicle struck an unoccupied vehicle in the 800 block of Grove Ave in the borough around 9:10 PM Wednesday night.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The snowfall that hit Beaver County didn’t stop the Commissioners from holding their weekly work session, though it was a more hastened meeting than most.

Much of the shortened session was focused on the moves of the Parks & Recreation department, who finally received the new Zamboni machine for the Brady’s Run Ice Arena. Director Tony Caltury said that the next step for the indoor playing surface is to reach out to businesses throughout the county for advertising on the boards and the Zamboni itself over the next several months.

Caltury also provided an update on the digital sign for Brady’s Run Park to be placed at the corner of Constitution Boulevard (Route 51) and Brady’s Run Road. “We have quotes. So if we want to move forward, we can,” Caltury stated. He noted that in conversations with Brighton Township officials, the quotes for a digital sign fall “roughly about $30,000”.

Solicitor Garen Fedeles spoke about the Board of Commissioners’ recent and “very productive” meeting with the Brady’s Run Municipal Authority and Beaver Falls Municipal Authority in regards to the installation of water lines at Brady’s Run Park. “We are in the final process of putting together what those designs would be,” Fedeles said. “Unfortunately, with the lag as far as getting the necessary approvals, it doesn’t look like this project will be completed until maybe the fourth quarter of this year.”

Fedeles then presented an unusually short list of thirteen resolutions for the January 26 public meeting, for which Commissioner Jack Manning joked “we’re gonna pay for that.” The resolutions will be voted on at the meeting tomorrow at 10:00 AM.

Pittsburgh, PA –PennDOT has lifted the speed limit and right-lane-only commercial vehicle restrictions that were in place on several roadways in Beaver and Lawrence counties.

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News
(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Schriber and Company, owners of the shopping center, filed appeals for the tax years 2022 and 2023 for the 3 parcels that they own at Monday night’s Hopewell Township commissioners meeting.

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News
(Center Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) A bus for the Central Valley School District is off the job die to complaints about the the driver’s driving. A Todd Lane  Elementary School mother reported  the bus driver several times concerning  his driving habits , and she said things just got worse. The mom said they live in  Monaca and her daughter  called home last week screaming and crying about the bus driver.
Bob Rhodes, owner of Rhodes Transit confirmed that he didn’t have all the details, but the unnamed driver is off the job as Center Township Police are investigating. Police confirmed that they weren’t called  first before the mom went to the news media . Central Valley Superintendent Dr. Nick Perry  had nothing to add about the bus driver’s driving habits.

Pittsburgh, PA – Due to the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in Beaver and Lawrence counties.

A missing student from the Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy is being sought by police in Wilkinsburg Borough.

14-year-old Denaejah Walker is 5 foot 2, 120 pounds, and was last seen wearing a blue leather jacket and torn jeans.

Those with information are asked to call 911 or the Wilkinsburg Police at 412-244-2913.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Sometimes “business as usual” can draw an unusually large crowd.

The city of Beaver Falls held their second meeting of 2023 at the city building on Tuesday night, doing so in front of a standing-room-only gathering of citizens. Several of the citizens were students from Beaver Falls High School attending for a class project, but the majority of citizens in attendance were there to show improvements in the city–or challenge whether improvement is taking place.

Council itself went through the standard agenda, starting off by approving demolition of 804 3rd Avenue per the Reclaim Project and approving General Fund expenditures of $382,215.53. The Asset Purchase Agreement of the city’s wastewater treatment plant was also ratified, opening up the plant for sale to a purchaser.

Two properties were approved for purchase by Darren Cole, who is currently a firefighter for the Beaver Falls Fire Department. Another two properties were approved through repository purchase for renovation by Martin Cleckley Sr. and Martin Cleckley Jr. All four properties were approved unanimously by council.

City manager Charles Jones sought council’s approval for two grants to be sought: an AARP Community Challenge grant and a CDBG Grant specifically for 5th Avenue Park. Both were approved by council, greenlighting the city to pursue applications for the grants. Jones also announced that the city was approved for a $200,000 grant for 2nd Avenue Park, and stated that the Library Park’s construction is sought to be completed by spring.

Fire Chief Mark Stowe also is pursuing grants for his department, including the Assistance To Firefighters Grant through FEMA. Stowe explained that the SCBA units that allow the firefighters to breathe need to be renewed, as seven units are out of service and the remainder are approaching expiration. “They’re just worn out to the point where it doesn’t pay to have them fixed anymore,” Stowe stated. “So, we are in absolute dire need for these.” The grant would be for $210,000 to replace the SCBA units.

Tigerland Inc. secretary Jen Cunningham questioned the council on their decision to pull out of the transfer agreement for the wave pool, after Mayor Kenya Johns announced the decision at the beginning. Cunningham accused the city of “giving the keys” for the wave pool to Tigerland Inc., only for the cooperation to dissipate to its current stage. Shannon Steele, the solicitor of Beaver Falls, spoke about the decision on behalf of the council.

“I have had discussions with your council,” Steele said. “After the most recent correspondence that I received, where Tigerland made a proposal and said they would only sign an agreement with certain conditions; when I shared that with my council tonight, those conditions would not be in the best interest of the city in their opinion. If your council wants to continue discussions with me, we can certainly do that with regard to moving forward in any capacity from Tigerland to the city. But I will tell you…the city’s property is the city’s property.”

The next Beaver Falls City Council meeting is scheduled for February 14 at 7:00 PM.