HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh-area voters will fill three vacancies Tuesday in the state House of Representatives and the results may resolve a stalemate over majority contro l that has left the chamber in limbo for the past month.

If Democrats sweep all three districts, which they also won in November, it will give them a 102-101 majority and will be the first time in 12 years that Republicans have not been able to determine what gets voted on.

Republicans had a 113-90 majority last year, but once-a-decade redistricting and strong performance in statewide races helped Democrats flip just enough seats in the fall election to control the House.

However, three of those seats became vacant after one lawmaker died and two others resigned after winning higher office.

One reelected House Democrat, Rep. Tony DeLuca, died of cancer in October. Another, Rep. Summer Lee, resigned after also winning a congressional election. And Rep. Austin Davis quit before being sworn in as lieutenant governor.

DeLuca beat a Green Party candidate by 72 points, Davis won against a Republican by 32 points and Lee did not have a fall opponent.

Democratic campaign strategists say they are optimistic about the three special elections because past voting results from the three districts have been favorable to their party and because more of their voters were returning mail-in ballots ahead of election day.

In DeLuca’s former district, Democrat Joe McAndrew, 32, a business owner, former state House Democratic staffer and the former executive director of Allegheny County’s Democratic committee, is facing off against pastor and Army veteran Clay Walker, 59, a Republican who works as a health care customer service manager.

The candidates for Lee’s seat are Abigail Salisbury, 40, a lawyer and Democratic member of the Swissvale Borough Council, and Republican Robert Pagane, 57, a security guard and former police officer.

Hoping to succeed Davis are Matthew Gergely, a Democrat who works for the McKeesport city government, and Republican Don Nevills, a Navy veteran and businessman who lives in Clairton. Nevills lost to Davis in November.

The House’s Republican floor leader, Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County, lost a key ruling in a lawsuit he filed that sought to prevent his Democratic counterpart, Rep. Joanna McClinton, from scheduling the Lee and Davis vacancies for February special elections. The two sides agreed that the election for DeLuca’s seat should be on Tuesday, and a court ruled that the other two also take place on the same day.

Once the three Allegheny County vacancies are filled, the House may still be one member short of its full complement. Republicans say Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-Northumberland, won a special election late last month to fill a vacant state Senate seat.

MCKEESPORT, Pa. (AP) — A man having a “mental health crisis” shot and killed a police officer, wounded a second and fired at a third before being wounded in a shootout in a western Pennsylvania city on Monday, authorities said.

Two officers were dispatched shortly after noon to a domestic disturbance call in McKeesport, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Police Superintendent Christopher Kearns said at a news conference.

The officers tried to talk to the man but he walked away from the home, and officers were warned by a family member that he might be armed, Kearns said. The officers encountered him nearby and he “suddenly produced a handgun and shot the two McKeesport officers,” Kearns said.

One officer was taken to a hospital in McKeesport, where he was pronounced dead. A statement from McKeesport Police Chief Adam Alfer identified him as 32-year-old Sean Sluganski, who had worked for the department full-time for two years.

The second officer, 35-year-old Charles Thomas Jr., was flown to a Pittsburgh-area trauma center. Thomas, who has been on the force for four years, was discharged by Monday night and back home recovering with family, Alfer reported.

Kearns said the suspect was shot when he walked around a corner and fired at the third officer, who returned fire.

The suspect was later listed in stable condition at a Pittsburgh-area trauma center.

The McKeesport Area School District said all schools and buildings were temporarily put on an exterior lockdown due to the police activity nearby.

Police said charges were being prepared against the suspect, who is known to McKeesport police. “They have dealt with him on past occasions,” Kearns said.

The mayor’s office asked people to keep the department in their thoughts and to respect the families’ privacy “during this tragic and traumatic time.”

The president of the Fraternal Order of Police state lodge, Joseph Regan, said the officers “left their homes knowing it was their duty to protect and serve McKeesport regardless of the outcome.

“Today, they made sacrifices we hoped and prayed they would never need to make. They are heroes,” Regan said.

About a month ago, a police chief was killed and two officers wounded in an Allegheny County borough northeast of Pittsburgh. The suspect was later shot and killed in Pittsburgh after crashing a carjacked vehicle and exchanging gunfire with police, authorities said.

(HARRISBURG)
At a press conference Tuesday evening in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro provided an update regarding the state’s actions and reactions to the train derailment and subsequent events that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3.

Shapiro stated that Norfolk Southern “carried out the recommended course of action” of a controlled explosion with the intent to burn out the vinyl chloride into the air. The reaction to the controlled explosion was a thick black smoke that emerged over East Palestine and northern Beaver County during the early evening hours.

“I know it was alarming to see the big plume of smoke and the fire,” Shapiro stated. “But I want to reassure Pennsylvanians that the process is proceeding as planned. The EPA is working with our Department of Environmental Protection to continue monitoring the air and water quality closely. Thus far, no concerning readings have been detected. We will continue to monitor as long as we need to, throughout the night and into the day time, and beyond.”

The governor encouraged anyone with questions or concerns regarding shelter to call the Beaver County Emergency Inquiry Line at 724-773-6767.

Shapiro thanked PEMA, the DEP, the Pennsylvania State Police, and local first responders for their efforts during the course of the last several day, as well as those working on the scene in Ohio. He also thanked Ohio governor Mike DeWine for coordination and communication during this time, and President Joe Biden for reaching out to him in regards to the ongoing situation.

(Photo courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services)

(File Photo of the State of the County Event in February of 2022)

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) The Beaver County Chamber of Commerce will host it’s annual “State of The County” meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. “The  State of The County” will  be be streamed live on all aspects of Beaver County Radio.  and Beaver County . The event will be held at Alexander Hall on the campus of Geneva College  from 8 A.M. to 9:45 A.M.

Beaver County Radio’s Mike Romigh will anchor the broadcast that will start at 7:45 AM and last until 10:15 AM. The Program will feature Beaver County Commissioners Daniel Camp, Tony Amadio and Jack Manning.

You can listen on-air at 95.7 and 99.3 FM along with 1230/WBVP  and 1460/WMBA. You can also watch “The State of the County” video Streaming Live on the Beaver County Radio Facebook Page and You Tube Channel. You can also listen to the broadcast streaming on line at beavercountyradio.com or you can download our apps at the Google Play Store or Apple I-Tunes Store.

Click on the appropriate link below at show time to watch or listen to “The State of The County” :

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director 3:50 P.M.

(East Palestine, Ohio) Ohio governer Mike DeWine issued a statement Monday afternoon that crews at the site of the East Palestine train crash will try a “controlled release” of hazardous chemicals in an attempt to avoid a deadly catastrophic explosion. The release is set to get underway Monday before 5 and is expected to last a few hours. The fumes that will be released from the train are said to be deadly and the one by two mile evacuation is crucial. Emergency crews urgently checked homes to ensure all people are out of the area. Crews will create a hole in the train to drain the dangerous vinyl chloride into a trench.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of Route 51 and several roadways in Darlington Township, Beaver County are currently underway.

The Western Beaver School District issued an early dismissal of students Monday in regards to concerns of the East Palestine train derailment hazards. Blackhawk School District also sent students home early.

Published by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. February 6, 2023 11:50 A.M.

(Chippewa Township, PA) The following statement has been released by the Blackhawk School District in regards to the East Palestine train derailment: “It has been requested from the Command Center in East Palestine that Blackhawk School District begin an early dismissal today, February 6, 2023, pending the possible explosion in East Palestine due to the train derailment. The High School early dismissal will be at 12:15 p.m., the Middle School at 12:45 p.m., and PPS/BIS at 1:15 p.m. Parents who reside in any zone that is not permitting traffic flow should report to your child’s school to pick them up. After 3:00 p.m., all students remaining in the buildings will be transported to Blackhawk High School for their parents to pick their child up. All evening activities are cancelled.”

Harrisburg, PA — With the tax filing season underway, the Department of Revenue is encouraging Pennsylvanians to be on the lookout for scams that are designed to trick people into turning over sensitive data and personal information.

One recurring scam that has been reported to the department involves phony letters that are sent to taxpayers through the mail. The “Final Demand for Payment” letters threaten wage garnishment and the seizure of property or assets unless the recipient calls a phone number to satisfy a lien.

“We want Pennsylvanians to remember four simple words — don’t take the bait. Take a moment to think over the situation and make sure that you’re taking the proper steps to ensure that any notice you receive in the mail is legitimate,” said Acting Revenue Secretary Pat Browne. “We have received many reports on this scam that involves fraudulent notices. This is a common time of the year for scam artists to impersonate a government agency to victimize hard-working Pennsylvanians.”

Understanding the Scam

The scam notices are sent through the mail from phony entities that closely resemble the name of a collection agency or a state taxing agency. Keep an eye out for dubious claims or suspicious details, such as:

• The phony letters come from “Tax Assessment Procedures Domestic Judgment Registry.” No such entity exists.
• The letters do not include a return address. A notice from the Department of Revenue will always include an official Department of Revenue address as the return address.
• The recipient owes the “State of Pennsylvania” unpaid taxes, rather than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or Department of Revenue.
• The phony letters are very generic and do not include any specific information about the taxpayer’s account. Legitimate letters from the Department of Revenue will include specifics, such as an account number and any liability owed, to give the taxpayer as much information as possible. Letters from the Department of Revenue also include more detailed contact information and multiple options to make contact with the department.
• The phony letters focus on public records, such as tax liens, that anyone can access. Enforcement letters from the Department of Revenue include more detailed information about the taxpayer’s account and any liabilities that are owed.

Tips to Avoid This Scam

The Department of Revenue is encouraging Pennsylvanians to keep the following tips in mind to safeguard against these types of scams:

• Look Closely for Imposters: Scam artists will pose as a government entity or an official business. If you are contacted through the mail, phone or email, do not provide personal information or money until you are absolutely sure you are speaking to a legitimate representative.
• Examine the Notice: Scam notices often use vague language to cast a wide net to lure in as many victims as possible. Examine the notice for identifying information that can be verified. Look for blatant factual errors and other inconsistencies. If the notice is unexpected and demands immediate action, take a moment, and verify its legitimacy.
• Conduct Research Online: Use the information in a potentially fraudulent notice, such as a name, address or telephone number, to conduct a search online. You may find information that will confirm the notice is a scam.

Steps to Follow if You are Concerned About a Notice

If you are concerned about a potentially fraudulent notice, visit the department’s Verifying contact by the Department of Revenue webpage for verified contact information. This will help you ensure that you are speaking with a legitimate representative of the department.

Steps to Follow if You are a Victim of a Scam

The Department of Revenue’s Bureau of Fraud Detection & Analysis is dedicated to protecting and defending Pennsylvania taxpayers and their tax dollars against fraud. The bureau is a one-stop resource for all identity theft and tax fraud issues in the commonwealth. If you believe you are a victim of tax fraud or tax-related identity theft, contact the Bureau of Fraud Detection & Analysis by emailing Ra-rvpadorfraud@pa.gov or calling 717-772-9297. The bureau’s phone line is open from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.