Vanessa Campagna previews her upcoming Christmas shows with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on A.M. Beaver County on Friday morning at 8:35 AM.
Also: Last chance for the week to get registered for the Holiday Helper contest, and the Friday Funny contest will be open for good, funny (and clean) jokes. It all begins tomorrow at 6:30 with Matt Drzik and Frank Sparks on Beaver County Radio.
US jobless claims at 52-year low amid seasonal volatility
By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits plunged last week to the lowest level in 52 years, more evidence that the U.S. job market is recovering from last year’s coronavirus recession. Unemployment claims dropped by 43,000 to 184,000 last week, the lowest since September 1968, the Labor Department said Thursday. The four-week moving average, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, fell to below 219,000, lowest since the pandemic hit the United States hard in March 2020. Overall, just under 2 million Americans were collecting traditional unemployment benefits the week that ended Nov. 27.
Police chief faces intimidation count in sex assault case
BETHEL PARK, Pa. (AP) — A police chief in western Pennsylvania has been charged with witness intimidation stemming from the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. Duquesne Chief Thomas Dunlevy turned himself in Wednesday after Allegheny County police obtained a warrant for his arrest. It wasn’t known Thursday if he has retained an attorney. The suspect in the sex assault case is a 20-year-old man who authorities say is a friend of Dunlevy’s. Authorities say Dunlevy confronted the teen’s father with information that would come out during the trial of the sex assault case and that he said could result in “a negative contact” with the county’s child welfare department.
Penn State hires first woman, person of color to head school
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
The Penn State trustees on Thursday named the University of Louisville’s president Neeli Bendapudi to succeed Eric Barron as the school’s top administrator. That makes her the first woman and first person of color to serve as president of Penn State. The 58-year-old Bendapudi is a marketing professor whose research involves consumer behavior. She became Louisville’s president three years ago. Barron came to head up Penn State from Florida State University in 2014 while fallout from the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal was still a major problem for campus leaders in State College. He is retiring in June.
By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MIKE STOBBE Associated Press
The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters, opening a third dose of Pfizer’s vaccine to people as young as age 16. The U.S. and many other nations already urge adults to get a booster to pump up their immunity months after initial vaccination. In the U.S., the Pfizer vaccine is the only option for children and teenagers. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday cleared an extra dose for those ages 16 and 17, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rapidly endorsed a booster for those ages. It’s not clear if younger teens will need one.
Friday’s Teleforum program starts with Larry Kelley of the LGKG law group, ends with Norm Mitry of Heritage Valley Health Systems, and in between is filled with the Friday Funny jokes to win an Al’s Corner Giftcard! More chances to get registered for the 100$ Aliquippa Giant Eagle gift card too! Teleforum starts at 9a on 1230WBVP, 1460WMBA, and 99.3FM presented by St. Barnabas. Teleforum also streams live and free on Beavercountyradio.com
(File Photo)
Story by Frank Sparks News/Program Director
11:57 AM
(Beaver, Pa.) Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier has announced that his office has reached a plea bargain with Michael Miklaicic, who is accused of killing his father earlier this year.
The district attorney said in a release that Miklaucic will plead guilty to third-degree murder for the strangulation death of his father.
Miklaucic told police he went to his dad’s home in New Sewickley to help him get out of a scam in March. He said his father already lost a substantial about of money.
On Tuesday morning, March 16, 2021, at approximately 8:05 a.m. New Sewickley police received a 911 dispatch call from Michael miklaucic reporting that his father was dead, and he was the one that killed him. When officers arrived at 657 Fezell Road, New Sewickley Township, Miklaucic was found on the front porch and was immediately taken into custody without incident.
At some point, police say Miklaucic strangled his dad. He later told police he did it to protect his dad from the humiliation he might face.
Miklaucic of New Sewickley Township was charged with one count of Criminal Homicide arising from the death of his father that same morning.
Following discussions between the Commonwealth, representatives of the deceased victim, and the Defendant, an agreement has been reached.
Michael Miklaucic will enter a plea to one count of Murder in the Third Degree and one count of strangulation tomorrow morning, December 10, 2021, at 10 AM for an agreed sentence of 20–50 years in state prison.
The Aliquippa Quips have done a lot on the football field over the last few decades. They’ve won three state titles and 18 WPIAL Championships, so it may be hard to imagine that they could be part of something that has never happened before. When they take the field tonight in Hershey, however, such opportunities are there.
The PIAA Class 4A Championship is tonight between Aliquippa (12-1) and the Bishop McDevitt Crusaders (12-1) out of District 3, and the two squads will battle it out on Beaver County Radio beginning at 7:00pm at Hersheypark Stadium; pregame for tonight’s contest will be at 6:30 on WBVP, WMBA, 99.3 FM & beavercountyradio.com.
Bob Barrickman, who will have the call tonight for the Class 4A title game, joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to preview the game that could prove historic for the Quips and for Beaver County. Not only would a Quips victory give the school its first-ever title in Class 4A–despite Aliquippa maintaining a Class 1A enrollment–but as Barrickman pointed out, it would keep alive the possibility of having two Beaver County PIAA football champions for the first time ever. It’s only the second time the possibility has arisen (Rochester and Hopewell in 2002), and an Aliquippa win tonight coupled with a Central Valley victory on Saturday in the Class 3A championship would seal the double deal for Beaver County.
To hear the full preview with Bob and Matt, click on the player below!
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A lawyer for Pennsylvania’s acting health secretary is defending the validity of the secretary’s order requiring masks inside K-12 schools to fight COVID-19. The attorney for Acting Heath Secretary Alison Beam asked state Supreme Court justices during oral argument in Philadelphia on Wednesday to focus their decision on a single regulation he says gives her that authority. The directive remains in place while the court considers a legal challenge from the state Senate’s highest ranking leader and others. Beam’s mandate took effect in early September. A lower court has ruled Beam lacked authority to require masks, didn’t follow state laws about enacting regulations and acted without a required existing disaster emergency.
Keystone State News Connection
| December 9, 2021 |
Emily Scott
PHILADELPHIA — New legislation in the state Senate would address what housing advocates say are unfair eviction records leading to residents being denied rental applications.
The screening report services landlords use for personal information on prospective tenants take data from court websites to determine if there was an eviction filed against them, without always including the outcome.
Sen. Nikil Saval, D-Philadelphia, introduced Fair Records for Renters legislation, which would permanently seal eviction records for tenants, and only allow them to become public if the landlord wins the eviction case.
Saval said the flaw in eviction records can create housing barriers for Pennsylvanians.
“This is incredibly pertinent right now because of the pandemic when a number of people have had evictions filed against them for nonpayment of rent,” Saval asserted. “They are going around with these eviction records in the data screening services, and it’s going to be impossible or very difficult for them to find housing and stable housing.”
Saval released a co-sponsorship memo last week and plans to introduce legislation this month. A similar bill has already been introduced in the House by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Philadelphia, and Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Philadelphia.
Holly Beck, supervising attorney for Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, has supported many families who have experienced issues finding housing because of an eviction case coming up on their screening report.
Beck said Black mothers are hit hardest by these rental procedures.
“It is an enormous racial-justice and gender-justice issue,” Beck contended. “Sealing eviction records would allow families to move forward from a time of crisis and stabilize neighborhoods, communities, and allow landlords to see responsible tenants who are able to pay their rent.”
Philadelphia’s Renters’ Access Act went into effect in October and requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the screening report to check for errors in the event it is used to deny housing.