Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano 

(Beaver, Pa.) Jeffrey Ash, a local constable who is vying for a district justice seat   filed objections to five nominating petitions   for the 36-3-04  district justice  position vacated  due to Janet Swihart’s retirement.  Beaver County Common Pleas Court Judge James Ross  ruled  the petitions by Ash are denied after hearing testimony and arguments of counsel and evidence received  Monday  Judge Ross’ motion stated  in the order  the objections are denied  due to untimely filing/presentation and failing  to meet the requirements  and statutory mandates of 25P.S. 2937

Democrats vow vote on gun bills; Biden says ‘we have to act’
By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats say they are pushing toward a vote on expanded gun control measures as the nation reels from it its second mass shooting in a week. President Joe Biden says, “We have to act,” but prospects for any major changes are dim, for now, in the closely divided Congress. Biden urged Congress to move quickly to close the loopholes in the background check system and to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday that Biden would not exclude taking executive action on gun control measures, but “if we really want something that is going to be lasting, we need to pass legislation.”

(Aliquippa, Pa.) This Saturday, March 27, 2021,  from 10 a.m. to noon Communicycle will be offering kids of all ages  bikes to ride.   The event is being held at Communicycle’s headquarters. at 327 Franklin Avenue.

Across the street at the same time work  will be in progress  at the site of the Uncommon Grounds Cafe Courtyard Project. Uncommon Grounds Cafe’s address is  380 Franklin Avenue.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Hopewell Commissioners approved  HRG’s proposal for their 2021 road project. Cost of the project is $29,690, according to  Jaime Yurcina, township manager.

(New Beaver Boro, Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that 34 year old Jose Joaguin Munoz of New Galilee was charged with harassment by State Police for an incident that occurred Monday night at approximately 9:10 PM.

Troopers are reporting that they were called to the scene in New Beaver Boro for a report of a domestic disturbance. Upon investigation Troopers determined that Munoz had become physical with a 27-year-old female also from New Galilee after a verbal argument.

Munoz Jr. was subsequently charged with harassment and the charges will be filed through the office of Magisterial District Judge, Jerry Cartwright Jr. State Troopers are not divulging the name of the victim or the actual physical location of the incident because the incident involves domestic violence.

(File Photo)

(New Brighton, Pa.) The Borough of New Brighton is resuming Street sweeping in the Borough starting Thursday, April 1, 2021. In a mass e-mailing that was sent out to residents the borough and posted to the borough’s social media pages they are asking residents to please observe the parking restrictions listed on the street sweeping signs posted in each neighborhood. Reminders for parking on the street during posted street sweeping hours will be issued starting this week. Street sweeping will continue through November 30, 2021.

Residents and merchants are also reminded to not place leaves and yard debris into the street for collection by the street sweeper.   The machine is not designed to handle bulk leaf collection.  Leaves and yard debris from private property are to be placed in bags and placed by the curb for collection. If you have any questions you can call the borough offices at 724-846-1870

Massive cargo ship turns sideways, blocks Egypt’s Suez Canal
By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A massive cargo ship has turned sideways in Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking traffic in a crucial East-West waterway for global shipping. Traffic on the narrow waterway dividing continental Africa from the Sinai Peninsula stopped Tuesday after the MV Ever Given got stuck. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the Ever Given to turn sideways, though authorities said winds were high in the area. None of its containers had sunk and no sailors were reportedly injured in the incident. Around 10% of the world’s trade flows through the waterway. An Egyptian official warned Wednesday it could take at least two days to clear the ship.

Lawmakers restart amendment process on child sex abuse suits
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers are restarting the multi-year clock on amending the state constitution to allow now-adult victims of child sexual abuse to sue their perpetrators or institutions that may have covered it up. The state Senate voted, 44-3, on Tuesday after Republicans blocked efforts to make the change more quickly. The debate has been spurred by investigations into child sexual abuse allegations inside Pennsylvania’s Roman Catholic dioceses. Lawmakers had been on schedule to deliver a proposed amendment to voters in May 18’s primary election before Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration revealed that it had failed to advertise the proposal last year, as it was required to do. Without an emergency amendment, a referendum cannot happen before 2023.

Keystone State News Connection

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Some lawmakers want to add an amendment known as a “Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights” to Pennsylvania’s state Constitution, but fiscal experts say it would cripple the state’s ability to respond to its residents’ needs.

The amendment, nicknamed TABOR, would limit increases in General Fund spending to a combination of inflation and population increases, averaged over three years.

But critics say the state budget in the past 11 years has been only 0.2% over that rate of increase.

Marc Stier, director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, said TABOR would block the state from addressing critical issues, from crumbling infrastructure and inequities in education funding to property-tax relief.

“The problem with TABOR is, no matter what you want the government to do, it would stop it, because we would not be able to raise spending to deal with the serious problems we have,” Stier contended.

He added it also would prevent the state from responding to emergencies.

Supporters of the amendment say it would protect taxpayers and stabilize budget growth at a reasonable level.

But spending doesn’t rise equally for all portions of the budget. Stier noted right now, TABOR would limit budget spending increases to 2.2%, but Medical Assistance costs have risen by just over 6%.

“So unless someone has a miracle to fix spending increases on medical-care costs and long-term care costs for our seniors, we’re going to start having to cut funding for them if this plan goes into effect,” Stier asserted.

He pointed out if Medical Assistance spending is excluded, the rest of the budget has risen at a rate far below the limit that TABOR would impose.

Taxpayer Bill of Rights legislation has circulated among states for several years, but of the 30 states that have considered those bills, 29 have rejected them.

Stier argued Colorado, the one state where it passed, has suffered as a result.

“Colorado’s funding for K-12 education and for higher education was once about at the middle of the pack,” Stier observed. “Now it’s down at the bottom. Colorado’s been unable to deal with vaccinating people, even before this pandemic, because their public-health funding declined.”

To go into effect, the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights would need to pass both houses of the General Assembly in two consecutive sessions, and then be approved by voters.