Josh Shapiro is sworn in as Pennsylvania’s 48th governor on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democrat Josh Shapiro has become the 48th governor of Pennsylvania at the inaugural ceremony at the state Capitol. The 49-year-old Shapiro took office Tuesday with more experience in state government than any recent predecessors. Chief Justice Debra Todd administered his oath on a stage erected behind the state’s ornate Capitol in Harrisburg, with lawmakers, members of Congress and others looking on. Shapiro succeeds term-limited Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, and is the first governor of Pennsylvania since 1966 to be elected to succeed a member of his own party. Meanwhile, Democrat Austin Davis was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor.

Monaca, PA – For the first time, Community College of Beaver County is included on the list of the Top 24 Community Colleges in Pennsylvania in 2023 by Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for program rankings and higher education planning. The research identifies top schools in the state based on tuition costs, the number of credits required to graduate, and the online coursework delivery format.
Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) was awarded Best for Financial Aid on the final list. Intelligent.com implemented a unique methodology that ranks each institution on a scale from 0 to 100 across six categories, with CCBC scoring 93.13. The scoring system compares each school to tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. Janet Davidson, Director of Financial Aid, stated, “CCBC provides financial aid to students from federal, state, and institutional programs and offers scholarships for honors, athletics, and more through the CCBC Foundation. Our affordable tuition rates, extensive financial aid offerings, and wide range of programs allow students to pursue their careers with confidence.” CCBC awarded $6.9 million in financial aid to students throughout the 2020-21 academic year, with $282,701 coming directly from the institution. CCBC offers 36 degrees, 7 certificates, and 1 diploma, along with hundreds of continuing education and workforce development programs, direct transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities regionally and nationally, and 6 distinctive high school academy dual enrollment programs.
“I always tell our students, staff, and faculty that the ‘best is yet to come’, and now it is here,” said CCBC President Roger W. Davis. “As the community’s college, we are so proud to receive this recognition and are committed to offering all residents real learning for real life at a realistic cost.” Studies show that obtaining a degree increases income substantially, with graduates earning 84% more than those with only high school diplomas or those without a completed GED. The percentage difference in earnings continues to grow with higher learning degrees such as master’s, doctoral or
professional degrees, with the unemployment rate decreasing to as much as 1.6% for those with a doctorate.

(Center Township Police Cruiser at the scene of the shooting in November 2022)
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published January 18, 2023 11:04 A.M.

(Beaver County, PA) In an exclusive interview on “Live Mic” with Mike Romigh, Attorney Joel Sansone shared new details regarding a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the estate of Kenneth Vinyard, who died while helping a shooting victim at the Monaca Walmart in November. The lawsuit is filed against Center Township Police Officer John Hawk, who Sansone says performed a violent leg sweep on Vinyard, bringing him to the ground causing him to hit his head, suffer an immediate seizure and die shortly after. After the shooting initially happened, Sansone says Vinyard chased after the shooter, video recording to help identify him and his vehicle to police. Vinyard then proceeded to attempt to help the shooting victim before being confronted by off duty Center Township police officer John Hawk, who went on to aggressively take Vinyard to the ground. So far, the incident has been seen on a witness video recording, but Sansone says he is still waiting on other videos to surface. Walmart has a recording of the incident from surveillance cameras and Sansone has requested a copy of those videos, which he believes he will get soon. Center Township Police is said to have police bodycam video, but they have not agreed to release it. The lawsuit also questions the training standards of the Center Township Police Department, and Sansone says he believes there is a “lawlessness” in the department. He also alleges that this is not the first time Hawk has violated the rights of people and compared recent actions of the department to the “Wild West”. Beaver County District attorney David Lozier recused himself of the case due to being a conflict of interest, and the State Attorney General is now handling the case.  Sansone says Hawk should be in jail and he will not stop until Vinyard gets justice. Sansone has also stated that the family of the man who was shot is thankful for the actions of Vinyard. We can expect to know more about the status of the case in roughly 60 days, and a bigger picture of results with the case should be known by the end of the year.
Photo of the scene in Monaca, November 2022 (Keith Walsh – Beaver County Radio): 

File Photo of Kenneth Vinyard:

Attorney Joel Sansone will join Mike Romigh on “Live Mic” Wednesday morning at 7:45am on Beaver County Radio. Sansone will discuss the federal lawsuit for the estate of Kenneth Vinyard against Center Township Police Officer John Hawk.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published January 18, 2023 6:11 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Beaver County District Attorney David J. Lozier reported that Alec Mineard has been arrested, charged and arraigned for manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter in the death of 31 year old Vincent Ciccone. The shooting occurred at a home on Mill Street just after 5 a.m. Friday morning. Mineard is lodged in the Beaver County Jail, bond was set at $500,000, and a hearing in Beaver County Court will take place Monday, January 23, 2023.

Photo provided by Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, PA. – The son of a union bus driver and hairdresser, a proud native of a steel town and a first-generation college graduate, Austin Davis today became the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor, joining a growing group of leaders of color serving as their states’ second-highest executive.

“Today we are sending a message to the next generation of leaders – young people across our state, and especially Black and brown young people – that Pennsylvania has and will always be a place where all are welcomed and where everyone has the opportunity to succeed,” said Davis, in his inaugural remarks.

“I say to all the young people watching right now, who are worried and unsure about their future – that the American Dream is alive and well in Pennsylvania. That no matter how you grew up, no matter where you come from, or what you look like – this Commonwealth will always be a place where you can create your own destiny.”

Davis’s election is historic for multiple reasons. At the age of 33, Davis is now the youngest lieutenant governor in the nation.

Davis got an early start in public service. After the epidemic of gun violence punctured the safety and security of his neighborhood in McKeesport, he lobbied the mayor to create a youth advisory council. He then went on to work for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

In 2018, Davis joined the legislative body where he had worked just a few years before, winning a special election to the state House, becoming the first Black legislator to represent his majority-white district. He chaired the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation and was the vice chair of the House Democratic Policy Committee.

Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor must fulfill the duties of the governor if he or she is incapacitated for health reasons or steps down. As lieutenant governor, Davis will also chair the state Board of Pardons, which hears requests for pardons and commutations, and will preside over the state Senate. He will also serve as a member of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, a member of the Military Base Community Enhancement Commission and chair of the Local Government Advisory Committee.