Author: Beaver County Radio

Pa State Rep. Matzie: Nearly $440,000 awarded for Beaver County recycling programs 

(File Photo)

(AMBRIDGE, Pa.) Three grants totaling nearly $440,000 will help Beaver County communities continue successful recycling programs, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced this week.

Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the Recycling Development and Implementation grants include $350,000 to Beaver County, $70,000 to Aliquippa City, and nearly $20,000 to Rochester Township.

“Recycling programs are energy-savers, job-creators and sensible ways to preserve the resources we hold dear,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding is going to keep these programs running for the residents and small businesses that benefit from them.”

Communities can use the funding for projects including operating leaf compost facilities, developing web-based programs on recycling for consumers, expanding recycling processing facilities, installing data-collection systems on recycling vehicles, continuing and creating curbside recycling programs, and developing educational materials to encourage residents to properly recycle.

Through the grant program, municipalities and counties in Pennsylvania are eligible for up to 90% funding of approved recycling program costs. Municipalities that are designated financially distressed under the Financial Distressed Communities Act are eligible to receive funding for an additional 10% of approved costs. Grants were also awarded based on programs designed to meet current market demands for recyclable goods.

More Water Line Breaks in Aliquippa

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(Aliquippa, Pa.) Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano is reporting that for the second time in a week, in the area of Sheffield and Franklin Avenues in Aliquippa two water line breaks occurred late Thursday. Water service was restored early Friday morning, and crews are still working, according to a spokesperson.
Aliquippa schools were dismissed earlier than usual due to the breaks, according to a district spokesperson.

Aliquippa City Council Approved Planning Recommendation for Land Development

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, Pa.) At Wednesday night’s work session via ZOOM  city council approved  the  proposed land development plan  for a solar array submitted  by the Cronimet Corporation. Cronimet owns property in the city’s industrial park on Pilarsky Way. A spokesperson for the firm  told council that  being located in Aliquippa  is one of our best experiences in a long time.”

Council accepted Cynthia Robinson’s resignation from the planning commission. Any resident interested in serving on the board should submit a resume and letter of interest to the city.
The city building opens to the public on Monday May 2, 2022. Council meets in regular session on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.

Death Penalty Upheld Against Man who Shot and Killed New Kensington Police Officer in 2017

(Harrisburg, Pa.) The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the death sentence of a man convicted in the 2017 murder of New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw.
A Westmoreland County jury in 2019 had recommended the death penalty for Rahmael Holt after convicting him of murder of a law enforcement officer in the first degree.
Shaw, 25, was shot during a foot pursuit after a traffic stop on Leishman Avenue in New Kensington on Nov. 17, 2017.
Prosecutors said Holt was a passenger in the vehicle, and that he shot Shaw while running from the traffic stop.
Holt won’t be put to death anytime soon as there is currently a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania by order of Gov. Tom Wolf.

Steelers Tab Pitt QB Kenny Pickett as Big Ben’s Successor

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kenny Pickett is staying in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed the former University of Pittsburgh star with the 20th overall pick in the NFL draft. The move makes Pickett the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger, who retired in January. Pickett spent five seasons working on the other side of the building the Steelers share with the Panthers. He came into his own last fall when he threw for 42 touchdowns, was named ACC Player of the Year and finished in the Heisman Trophy behind Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

16 States that Want to Electrify USPS Fleet File Lawsuits

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
By DAVID SHARP Associated Press
California and 15 other states that want the U.S. Postal Service to buy electric-powered delivery vehicles are suing to halt purchases of thousands of gas-powered trucks. Three lawsuits, filed Thursday in New York and California by the states and environmental groups, demand that the Postal Service conduct a more thorough environmental review before moving forward with the next-generation vehicle program. Plaintiffs said emissions from gasoline-powered delivery vehicles would cause environmental harm for decades to come. All told, the Postal Service’s fleet includes 190,000 local delivery vehicles, most of which went into service between 1987 and 1994. The Postal Service plans to buy up to 165,000 new vehicles over the next 10 years.

Candidate in Pennsylvania Primary Hit with Protective Order

(Jake Danna Stevens/The Times-Tribune via AP, File)
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HONESDALE, Pa. (AP) — A candidate in next month’s Republican primary for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor has been ordered to stay away from his home after his wife made claims of physical and mental abuse. Teddy Daniels was accused of making threats, saying he would kill the family dog and grabbing his wife by the shirt. A Wayne County judge granted a temporary protection from abuse order to Daniels’ wife on Tuesday. Daniels claims he has been “swatted,” or targeted with bogus calls leading state police to his home. He is vowing to stay in the race. Daniels is one of nine candidates seeking the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.

Chauvin Appeals Murder Conviction for Killing George Floyd

 (Court TV via AP, Pool, File)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is appealing his conviction for murder in the killing of George Floyd, arguing that jurors were intimidated by the protests that followed and prejudiced by heavy pretrial publicity. Chauvin asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals in a court filing this week to reverse his conviction, reverse and remand for a new trial in a new venue, or order a resentencing. Last June, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill sentenced Chauvin to 22 1/2 years in prison after jurors found him guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin pinned the Black man to the ground with his knee on his neck for 9 minutes, 29 seconds.

VIDEO: Charles Jones Talks Home Rule Charter & Summer Events In Beaver Falls

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The future for Beaver Falls is pushing forward.

Beaver Falls city manager Charles “Mick” Jones joined Matt Drzik on the April 28 edition of A.M. Beaver County to discuss the latest developments in the 15010 zip code. The city adopted a home rule charter government in January, and Jones says that the transition has been moving smoothly so far: “Surprisingly it’s gone very well. I had the uniqueness of not just having a unique style of government change, but a whole government change within the same period of time. But everything’s been working great.”

Jones also pointed out that the city is gearing up for several events throughout the warm-weather months of 2022. The Beaver Falls Car Cruise is returning on June 11 and has been in planning for several months, and Jones showed his support for the city staff who help put it all together. He also is hoping that there will be community events at the new Library Park when construction and development are finally completed later in 2022. “Even if it’s starting to have flurries,” Jones stated, “we’re going to do something here,” hinting at the possibility of hosting Christmas events in Library Park.

To watch the full interview with Charles Jones, click on the Facebook feed below!

Bob Barrickman Makes His Pick For Who The Steelers Should Take In Round 1 Of The 2022 NFL Draft

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“If I had a dollar for every mock draft I’ve seen…unfortunately, I don’t.”

Those words came from Beaver County Radio sports director Bob Barrickman, who joined Matt Drzik on the April 28 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about the 2022 NFL Draft. The hometown Pittsburgh Steelers select their first pick tonight at 20th overall, and much speculation has been presented on whether the Steelers will focus on finding a quarterback to compete for the starting job or if outgoing GM Kevin Colbert will shift his priorities elsewhere on the roster.

“I’m not real high on drafting a quarterback,” Barrickman said. “Malik Willis might be the sexier pick; seems like he has a lot of Lamar Jackson in him and has a rifle of an arm.” But Barrickman noted that he feels that Willis’ numbers might be the result of playing at a smaller school like Liberty, while another top quarterback–Pitt’s Kenny Pickett–played well against ACC competition. “Obviously with the tragic death of Dwayne Haskins, there will be a need to draft a quarterback,” he added, “I just don’t think there’s a need to draft one that early.”

Rather than focus on a QB, Barrickman feels that the Steelers should focus on the defensive side of the ball: “I think the player that they would really like to get would the nose tackle from Georgia, Jordan Davis. But I have a feeling that he won’t be on the board.” Barrickman acknowledged that the Steelers might have a shot if they move up, but thinks that he may drop to the Baltimore Ravens at 14th overall: “Jordan Davis would be a Raven-type of player. If he would slip by the Ravens, I could see the Steelers grabbing Jordan Davis in the first round.”

To hear the full analysis from Bob Barrickman, click on the player below!