Friday morning at 9, the Teleforum program begins with host Eddy Crow yammering for the first hour, then at 10:10am Eddy will talk with the organizers of the Beaver Falls Car Cruise. After 11 the president/ceo of Heritage Valley Health Systems Norm Mitry will join the program. BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! Teleforum happens every weekday from 9 till noon on AM1230, AM1460,and 99.3FM presented by St. Barnabas.
Point Park University updates policy on masks
PITTSBURGH, PA – Point Park University has been consistent throughout the pandemic in following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Allegheny County Health Department and our medical partners at UPMC on best practices to keep our campus and campus community as safe as possible from COVID.
With the recent uptick in Delta variant cases in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and following CDC guidelines, Point Park will reinstitute masking requirements effective Friday, August 13, for everyone while inside University buildings. This includes all students, faculty, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.
Masks can be removed when dining in University spaces while eating and drinking, when inside private offices and when students are in their residential areas.
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY, August 12, 2021, TO 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING….
Heat index values up to 103 expected.
Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses to occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
Court tosses ruling against Pennsylvania COVID-19 measures
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM and CLAUDIA LAUER Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal appeals court has dismissed a judge’s ruling that threw out Gov. Tom Wolf’s sweeping COVID-19 restrictions. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says the issue is now moot because statewide mitigation measures have expired and Pennsylvania voters have since constrained a governor’s emergency powers. The Philadelphia-based appeals court ruled that since Wolf’s stay-at-home order, limits on crowd size and business closures are no longer in effect, there is “no relief that this court can grant.” Wednesday’s order instructed U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV to vacate his ruling that Wolf’s pandemic restrictions were unconstitutional.
Keystone State News Connection
| August 12, 2021 |
Emily Scott
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania is launching an online job-training program focused on helping residents looking for a new career get the expertise they need.
SkillUp PA opens to all residents Saturday and will provide teaching on career fields such as accounting, finance, human resources, information technology and more. The initiative comes as federal unemployment benefits are expected to end Sep. 4.
Sheila Ireland, deputy secretary for workforce development at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, said the courses are critical for Pennsylvanians to be competitive in the current employment market.
“If you look at the world of work and the way the labor market has changed specifically because of the pandemic, there’s a real need for digital skills no matter what job you have,” Ireland observed. “You no longer can be a cashier or parking attendant, and not have some digital literacy.”
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate as of June was 6.9%, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the month prior. The national rate was 5.9%.
SkillUp PA, which will be run through the state-managed employment website PA CareerLink, will offer help with searching for jobs and resume assistance.
Lancaster County has offered an online job-training platform since 2011 and expanded with the SkillUp program in 2017. Over the last decade, more than 12,000 people enrolled in training.
Valerie Hatfield, strategic innovation officer for the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board, said she is excited to see the state grow SkillUp, especially since it is a free resource.
“We’re very conscious of how much education costs these days, so we’re really encouraging people to get the education that’s needed for the job they want,” Hatfield explained. “But the fact that this platform is free to everybody really takes away that financial barrier for people.”
People without access to the internet or a computer can visit a PA CareerLink office. Today, PA Career Link is offering job fairs, open houses, and employer talks, at offices across the state.
Coroner: Falling tree lands on passing vehicle, kills driver
WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a falling tree landed on a passing vehicle, killing the driver in western Pennsylvania. The Washington County coroner’s office said 53-year-old Floyd Stephen of Follansbee, West Virginia was driving Wednesday on a street in Washington, Pennsylvania during a severe storm.. A passenger in the vehicle told authorities that a tree on the opposite side of the roadway began to fall as they passed and landed on their vehicle. A passing motorist called authorities. Stephen was pronounced dead a little more than an hour after the 2:20 p.m. Wednesday accident. The passenger was taken to Washington Hospital. State police are investigating.
Wainwright pitches two-hit shutout, Cards top Pirates 4-0
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Wainwright pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout and helped himself with a pair of hits as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0. The 39-year-old Wainwright allowed a pair of singles by Colin Moran in the second and fifth innings, and then retired the last 15 batters. Wainwright needed just 88 pitches to record the 11th shutout of his 16-year career and first since 2016. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk. The Pirates lost their seventh straight game and dropped their ninth in a row to the Cardinals at home.
(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)
(Beaver Falls, PA) – Members of the Beaver Falls Home Rule Government Study Commission along with members of the public met last night at the Beaver Falls High School for a hearing of what a Home Rule Charter government could do for Beaver Falls. The commission started the hearing by describing the problems Beaver Falls has faced during recent years such as multi-year deficits, aging infrastructure, and declining property values. Home Rule would allow a local charter adopted by city voters to take over city affairs that are currently controlled in Harrisburg under Third Class City Code. Under the proposed charter, council members would become policy makers, elected city controller and city treasurer positions would be eliminated, the city manager would oversee city departments, and a Chief Financial Officer would take over all financial management. Citizens would also be given more input in ways such as having the ability to propose or repeal ordinances by petitions of around 100 signatures. A home rule community cannot however, make any laws that are contrary to the United States or Pennsylvania constitutions or state laws. One question that was asked by a member of the public was “What would happen if Beaver Falls doesn’t transfer to Home Rule?”, in which Kirsten Bestor replied that the city would be in danger of going bankrupt which would cause city services to be cut, resulting in less police and firefighters. Chairperson Regina Jones also replied stating “Nobody wants to bring a new business into a bankrupt city”. The Commission will hold one more public hearing before the November 2nd Election Day. The Home Rule Government Study Commission consists of members Regina Jones – Chairperson, Michael Anderson, Kirsten Bestor – Treasurer, Doug Carson – Vice-Chairperson, Jerry Ford, Neal McDowell, Bethany Warren – Secretary, and Ray Gutowsi – Alternate.
(Story and photos by Matt Drzik, additional photos courtesy of Mark Peterson)
Aliquippa has a long and storied past–mixed with good and bad alike–but on Wednesday, Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf spoke about pushing that needle back towards the good end of the meter.
The governor’s appearance on Franklin Avenue comes on the heels of a recently announced grant that is set to help eliminate the current blight that can be seen throughout town, and revitalize the city’s overall infrastructure and appearance. Wolf spoke highly of the direction the town is to take with this plan.
“The question we have is ‘Do we like what we see? Do we like like the way things have been going over the last thirty, forty fifty years in the direction of Aliquippa?’ And I think the answer has to be ‘no’,” Wolf said. “What the mayor and his team are trying to do–and I’m proud to be a partner in this–is to make Aliquippa better than it has been.”
The mayor, Dwan B. Walker, warmly welcomed the governor to Aliquippa, sharing his vision of Aliquippa’s future for infrastructure with Wolf in an impassioned presentation.
“Everybody in this city will have an equal opportunity to speak on anything that comes,” Mayor Walker spoke. “We’re looking for partners; we’re not looking for bullies.”
Joining the two main speakers were Aliquippa Act 47 coordinator Debbie Grass, Greg Jones of the CEC, and PennDot Pittsburgh coordinator Cheryl Sirianni. The trio discussed the future plans to reconfigure the city’s look and structure, including a plan to widen and provide more access to downtown around the current Route 51 interchange.
Overall, the feeling was one of motivation and optimism. As governor Wolf stated, “Aliquippa really deserves to be back to where it was…and even better.”
Additional photos can be seen below from the governor’s visit:
Northbound I-79 Neville Island Bridge Weekend Closure August 13-16
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the second of four northbound weekend closures on the I-79 Neville Island Bridge in Glenfield Borough and Robinson and Neville townships, Allegheny County, will occur Friday night, August 13 through Monday morning, August 16 weather permitting.
A full closure of the I-79 Neville Island Bridge in the northbound direction will occur from approximately 8 p.m. Friday night, August 13 continuously through 5 a.m. Monday morning, August 16 as crews conduct bridge and roadway concrete repairs, roadway patching, strip seal replacements, bridge jacking for steel repairs, bridge painting, and barrier spall repairs.
To allow the work to occur, all northbound traffic will be detoured. Beginning at approximately 8 p.m. Friday night, the Pennsylvania State Police will begin a slow roll of northbound I-79 traffic at the Crafton/Moon (Exit 60) interchange and assist the contractor with reducing the roadway to a single lane of traffic. Police and the contractor will then close a single-lane of traffic on the southbound side of the Neville Island Bridge. Finally, at approximately 9 p.m. Friday night, another slow roll of northbound I-79 traffic will occur from the Crafton/Moon Run interchange. The police and contractor will guide all traffic to the detour route.
Posted Detour
Motorists on northbound I-79 may want to consider using I-376 (Parkway West) to I-279 (Parkway North) to avoid the detour route.
Police will assist motorists at key intersections during peak travel times. Motorists should expect delays.
Work on projects along the detour route will not occur this weekend.
Additionally, a lane closure will occur on southbound I-79 on the Neville Island Bridge during the weekend construction.
The $43 million I-79 Neville Island Bridge Rehabilitation Project includes structural steel repairs, full structure painting, bearing and deck joint replacements, deck repairs and overlays, bridge barrier repair, substructure concrete work and drainage improvements. The project also includes concrete roadway reconstruction, guide rail replacement and preservation work on four sign structures. Additionally, preservation work will occur on the I-79 bridge over Deer Run Road, north of the Neville Island Bridge. Motorists will see ramp closures and single-lane and shoulder closures in each direction on I-79 during daylight off-peak and overnight hours. Other traffic impacts include four northbound weekend closures in 2021 and four southbound weekend closures in 2022. The overall project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023.
The Trumbull Corporation is the prime contractor.
To help keep motorists informed as work progresses, PennDOT has created an email distribution list for the I-79 Neville Island Bridge rehabilitation including traffic advisories and construction updates. Enroll by sending email addresses to stcowan@pa.gov. Please write “Subscribe – I-79” in the subject line.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.