Author: Beaver County Radio

PennDOT Reduces Speed Limits on Several Area Roadways

Pittsburgh, PA – Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region.

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:

Allegheny County

  1. Interstates 79, 376 (Parkways East and West), 279 (Parkway North), and 579
  2. State Route 28

Beaver County

  • Interstate 376 (Beaver Valley Expressway)

Lawrence County

  • Interstates 79 and 376
  • State Route 422

Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, 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.

The department also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.

PennDOT reminds motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles. A basic kit should include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit, motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.

PennDOT also reminds citizens that downloadable materials, including home and car emergency kit checklists and emergency plan templates, are available at www.Ready.PA.gov or by downloading the free ReadyPA app for Apple or Android devices. Citizens can also find information about getting involved in local emergency response efforts and other volunteer opportunities through the ReadyPA website.

For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh

Report Calls for Equity in Kinship Care

Keystone State News Connection

February 18, 2021

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new report highlights the advantages of kinship care for children in contact with Pennsylvania’s child-welfare system, and the need for increased equity in child placements.

Placement in foster care is traumatic for children and their families.

Studies show compared with children placed with non-relatives, kids placed with relatives or other adults with existing relationships experience better educational outcomes and maintain stronger family and community ties.

Rachael Miller, policy director for Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said in 2019 fewer than 40% of Pennsylvania children in foster care were placed with kin, and the rates for permanent placements were even lower.

“Only 13% of children adopted from foster care were adopted by relatives and another 13% exited to guardianship with formal kin,” Miller outlined.

She pointed out Black and Hispanic children were less likely than Caucasian children to be permanently placed with kin.

Miller noted part of the problem is a lack of consistency in placement procedures across the state, and added each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties have independent child-welfare agencies, each with their own policies and practices for child placement.

“The first recommendation that we have is to update policies, regulatory practices and bulletins to eliminate those unnecessary barriers to identifying, locating and licensing kin as caregivers through the child-welfare system,” Miller explained.

She emphasized kinship placement is often denied for reasons related to poverty, not child safety, and those experiences are more like to impact communities of color.

Miller hopes the report will highlight the need to take a close look at laws and regulations governing child placement, the need for an unbiased process for kinship caregivers to appeal when disqualified for placement, and the need for increased data collection.

“We need to understand why kin are being denied, what services are being offered to support them, and how to increase the outcomes for children being connected to and supported by their family,” Miller contended.

She stressed it will be most important to guide reforms through the lived experiences of those kinship caregivers who have dealt with the child welfare system.

Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinance Proposed for Chippewa Township

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Corespondent Curtis Walsh)

Chippewa Township council discussed a proposed ordinance to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and drug paraphernalia during their monthly meeting last night. The proposed Ordinance 261 would cause people caught in possession of smaller quantities of marijuana or paraphernalia to be fined rather than charged with a misdemeanor offense. Chippewa Township police chief, Eric Hermick, spoke about the ordinance stating that  the usual routine of marijuana possession cases result in misdemeanor charges, that are later dropped to summary offenses, such as disorderly conduct, and the department only receives about $25 after all is done. Police officers are often paid overtime for attending court hearings which are an unnecessary cost that could be eliminated by the ordinance. Hermick also commented on the effect minor marijuana charges can have on young adults, stating that 18 year olds are charged with a criminal misdemeanor, pleaded down to a summary offense, and have to go through a costly process to get the criminal charge expunged from their records. Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier is also reportedly supportive of the ordinance. Ordinance 261 would make Chippewa Township the first second class township in the state to decriminalize marijuana. Audio of the discussion can be heard below.

Chippewa Township Council Discuss Multiple Topics At February Meeting

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

Chippewa Township council met tonight and discussed multiple topics.  One of the first items of discussion was for the land development of a gym that would act as a private basketball training facility. The Council then discussed funding for police dash cams and body cameras with police Chief Hermick as well as a new ordinance that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana possession within the township.  The ordinance would change possession penalties from a misdemeanor charge to a fine, similar to cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Other topics of discussion were for the hiring of a new social media specialist and a new recreation director for the township.  Audio from the meeting can be heard below.

Basketball Facility:

Police body and Dash Cameras:

Marijuana decriminalization:

 

 

 

AAA: Beware of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning During Winter Blast

With frigid temperatures and snow falling recently, AAA East Central reminds motorists that it is never safe to start or leave a vehicle running in an enclosed space, such as a garage. Vehicle exhaust contains poisonous carbon monoxide gas and can cause severe injury and even death if inhaled.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires, more than 50,000 people visit emergency rooms, and more than 4,000 others are hospitalized.

“Contrary to popular belief, cars are designed to operate as soon as you turn them on and buckle your seatbelt in the winter,” says Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central. “If you want to warm your car’s interior cabin, or take time to brush off ice and snow, be sure that the vehicle isn’t in an enclosed space.”

During a winter blast, AAA East Central recommends motorists:

  • Never start or operate a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
  • Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice, or mud, which could cause carbon monoxide to leak into the vehicle.
  • Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
  • Have a mechanic check the exhaust system of your car or truck every year. A small leak can lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide in your vehicle.
  • Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up during the winter months.
  • Unplug phone chargers and USB cables for digital devices as soon as you turn off your engine.

AAA East Central recommends homeowners and renters:

  • Never use a gas range or oven to heat a home.
  • Never run a generator, or any gasoline-powered engine inside an enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open, unless the equipment is professionally installed and vented.
  • Never use a charcoal grill, lantern, or portable camping stove inside your home.
  • If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, consult a health care professional immediately or dial 911.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 73 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

 

After Error Discovered with Second Shot of Maderna Vaccine Distribution, Department of Health and Legislative Joint Task Force Take Action

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health and the newly formed joint task force with the legislature today reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that Pennsylvanians will have access to second doses of COVID-19 vaccine within the CDC-recommended timeframe of up to 42 days after the first dose.

Acknowledging communications shortcomings and the need for more frequent outreach to providers, Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam outlined plans moving forward.

“As the Department of Health continues to review and improve the complex processes necessary to get COVID-19 vaccine from the manufacturers into the arms of Pennsylvanians as quickly as possible, we discovered some providers inadvertently administered the Moderna vaccine shipped to them intended as second doses, as first doses,” Acting Secretary Beam said. “We are taking immediate action to remedy the situation and are committed to ensuring that second doses are available.

“After careful review and discussion with legislators on Governor Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force we have a clear path forward that may include adjusting the timing of second dose administration following CDC guidelines that set the minimum time between doses at 21 and 28 days and the maximum time at 42 days.”

“The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are both two-dose vaccines,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “While the second dose was given either three or four weeks later during the clinical trials, the CDC has provided some leeway in the schedule given the limited amounts of vaccine available. Immunologically, waiting six weeks after the first dose to administer the second dose will surely result in the same booster response as that found during the three to four week interval.”

“We are in the desert with little water to drink,” Sen. Art Haywood, Senate Democratic Caucus Task Force member, said. “So it is with a scarce vaccine.  Now, we can’t waste the first dose of vaccine by not giving the second.”

“This second dose issue was the first major problem addressed by this task force and we have demonstrated that we are able to respond in real time and in a bipartisan manner,” said Sen. Ryan Aument, Senate Republican Caucus Task Force member. “However, we recognize that much work remains to implement a highly efficient and effective statewide plan to ensure that all Pennsylvanians who want to receive the vaccine, can. It is my hope that the task force will continue to work in a collaborative way to streamline and strengthen Pennsylvania’s vaccine rollout.”

“Our task force is laser focused on getting the vaccine into the arms of every eligible Pennsylvanian,” said House Democratic Caucus Task Force member, Rep. Bridget Kosierowski. “The supply clearly does not meet the demand. It is pertinent that we have the second doses available to providers that have already administered the first dose. I am very optimistic that the supply will continue to increase as we enter into the next phase of the vaccine rollout.”

“It is vitally important that we collectively work together to improve the state’s vaccination rate and get shots in arms,” said Rep. Tim O’Neal, Task Force member for the House Republican Caucus. “This is a first step in moving forward. I look forward to collaborating with other members of the task force to remove all barriers, streamline vaccination efforts and provide clear direction to all.”

“By working with local vaccine providers to help them better understand the delivery of first and second dose vaccines and by extending the time between doses, while remaining within CDC guidelines, we can minimize any disruption to first dose vaccinations,” Acting Sec. Beam said. “Our goal remains getting the extremely limited supply of vaccine to people as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The department is very closely monitoring the inventory of vaccine in Pennsylvania. To maximize the amount of vaccine getting to people, the department will begin pulling excess inventory from throughout the vaccine provider system to get it to providers that can get 80 percent of it into arms within seven days.

This week, Pennsylvania has been allocated 183,575 first doses of vaccine; and 143,275 second doses of vaccine. In addition, the federal government is sending thousands of vaccine doses directly to Rite Aid and Topco stores in Pennsylvania under the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership program. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health receives its own, separate allocation of vaccine.

“The department is working directly with vaccine providers throughout this process and, in line with the vaccine order I signed last week, will be able to provide more precise information on vaccine allocations each week to increase transparency and predictability with first doses,” Acting Sec. Beam said.

The task force is working with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as an integral part of these important conversations on how to ensure second doses are allocated accordingly.

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Every day tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Here are the latest vaccination statistics through Feb. 16:

  • Local vaccine providers have administered 1,749,949 doses.
    • First doses, 82 percent (1,313,538 administered of 1,610,175 allocated)
    • Second doses, 38 percent (436,411 administered of 1,156,225 allocated)

Vaccine Order signed Feb. 12
Last week, Sec. Beam signed an order outlining appropriate steps and recognized best practices to ensure vaccine providers deliver 80 percent of doses within seven days of receipt, provide a phone number where people can speak to an individual to make an appointment and report race and ethnicity data for everyone vaccinated.

Your Turn tool

Last week, Pennsylvania launched the Your Turn tool to help everyone understand where they fall in the vaccination prioritization effort. The Your Turn tool directs eligible residents to the department’s vaccine provider map online to locate a trusted local provider and schedule a vaccination appointment. Your Turn also allows people to register to receive updates about vaccine distribution and allows the department to let you know when it is your turn to get vaccinated.

In addition to the Your Turn tool and while vaccine supply from the federal government remains limited, the Department of Health is working to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean surfaces frequently.
  • Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
  • If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
  • Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa”.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

Lifeguards & Relief Bills: A Quick Work Session’s Main Topics

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

It may have lasted only 12 minutes, but the Commissioners’ work session on Wednesday did leave behind a significant level of wonder.

The key element to the meeting was the announcement by solicitor Garen Fedeles that the County needed to have an official contract ready by March 1 in regards to $1.8 million in relief funding for the hospitality industry granted to Beaver County. And not all restaurants or other venues are guaranteed a piece of that.

“They can only go out in blocks of $5,000, meaning that if someone shows a loss of $4,800 they wouldn’t be eligible for any of this money,” Fedeles said. “If someone shows a loss of $9,000, the most they can get would be $5,000. That’s just the way this law’s written; we can’t change from that.”

Fedeles also mentioned that the maximum that any restaurant could receive is $250,000, which would also be distributed $5,000 at a time.

Another major discussion had was in regards to Park & Recreation director Tony Caltury’s request to move forward as if the Old Economy Park would open in the summer, mainly so that the lifeguards could begin their training in early March.

“I’d be for him just trying tentatively to pursue it and see if we get applications,” spoke Commissioner Tony Amadio. “If we get in a situation where we would have to cut it off, we’d just cut it off.”

Amadio was met with agreement by fellow Commissioners Dan Camp and Jack Manning, who gave Caltury the blessing to move towards lifeguard training for now. About six are needed to fulfill operational obligations.