Pennsylvania state university system merges 6 schools into 2
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Six of Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities are being consolidated into two new institutions. The State System of Higher Education’s governing board voted unanimously on Wednesday for the plan that will begin to be implemented in about a year. It calls for Bloomsburg, Mansfield and Lock Haven universities in northern Pennsylvania to form one institution. The other will be formed from California, Clarion and Edinboro universities in western Pennsylvania. They’ll have new names that haven’t been selected. The plan is to keep all six campuses open with their own identities and brands, including existing sports teams.

Money in the bank: Child tax credit dollars head to parents
By JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is starting to deposit child tax credit money into the accounts of more than 35 million families. President Joe Biden has expanded the credit for one year as part of coronavirus relief. The result is that most families will now qualify for monthly payments of as much as $300 per child beginning Thursday. Biden is seeking to extend the payments and make them permanent. He says that would cut child poverty in half and help economic growth. Some Republican lawmakers say the payments will make parents less likely to work.

 

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh International Airport on Wednesday became the first airport in the world  to be completely powered by natural gas and solar energy as part of its newly  live microgrid.  

The first-of-its kind microgrid increases resilience and maximizes public safety and  makes PIT one of the most site-hardened airports in the world.  

Airports across the country have been exploring ways to increase power resilience  and reliability after several high-profile power outages resulted in thousands of  cancelled flights and passenger disruptions. As PIT is set to break ground on  building the smartest airport in the world through its new terminal project, creating  smart power infrastructure is a key step that can serve as a blueprint for others.

“Our region has innovation in its DNA, and the construction of this microgrid  reflects the work that has been done at the airport to maximize public safety and  sustainability,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “I’m extremely  proud that the airport is utilizing nearly 10,000 solar panels as a source of  sustainable energy. It, along with the other mix of energy generated at the airport,  continues to position this facility as an industry leader. Congratulations to  Christina, and the entire team, for their work on this important project.” 

The power generated at PIT is the primary supply for the entire airport, including  the terminals, airfield, Hyatt hotel and Sunoco. The airport will remain connected  to the traditional electrical grid as an option for emergency or backup power if needed. The microgrid will generate power, in part, through onsite natural gas  wells and 9,360 solar panels across eight acres. 

“Pittsburgh International Airport is now one of the most site-hardened public  facilities in the world while at the same time becoming more sustainable. That’s a  tribute to the innovative culture of our team, and we hope this project can be a  model across the industry,” said Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina  Cassotis. 

The Allegheny County Airport Authority Board of Directors in 2019 awarded  Peoples Natural Gas a 20-year contract to build, maintain and operate the microgrid at no cost to the airport. In addition to boosting power resiliency and  redundancy, the microgrid will achieve savings on electricity costs for the airport  and tenants. 

Crews started construction in July 2020 and completed the project on schedule  even as the pandemic stalled the aviation industry last year.  

“Essential Utilities and Peoples Gas are proud to be an integral part of the airport  microgrid project,” said Christopher Franklin, chairman and chief executive officer,  Essential Utilities. “We’re demonstrating how new, alternative energies like solar  can be integrated with traditional power sources like natural gas. This energy  solution provides the airport with a more resilient power supply, as well as  reducing its emissions.” 

 

What is a microgrid?  

A microgrid is an independent electricity source that can operate autonomously while maintaining a connection to the traditional grid. It will be powered by natural  gas drilled on-site by CNX Resources, in addition to gas from the interstate  pipeline system and solar generation. The project will offer a more efficient,  sustainable and resilient source of energy. 

The microgrid will consist of five natural gas-fueled generators and nearly 10,000 solar panels, capable of producing more than 20 megawatts of electricity, the  equivalent of powering more than 13,000 residential homes. The airport’s current  peak demand is approximately 14 megawatts.  

In addition to Peoples, other firms involved in the development of the microgrid  included CNX Resources, IMG Energy Solutions, EIS Solar, PJ Dick, LLI Engineering and Duquesne Light Company.  

Keystone State News Connection

July 15, 2021

Lily Bohlke

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Advocates for clean air are calling on the Wolf administration to strengthen a proposed regulation on methane emissions.

They say the Department of Environmental Protection has the opportunity to close the loophole for low-producing wells, which Patrice Tomcik – national field manager with Moms Clean Air Force and a resident of Gibsonia – noted are responsible for more than half a million tons of methane emitted by the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania.

She also said she supports eliminating a provision in the proposed rule that would allow oil and gas operators to reduce the frequency of inspections if previous inspections hadn’t found any leaks – she noted large uncontrolled leaks can happen at any time.

“When there’s a methane rule that is very protective, very comprehensive,” said Tomcik, “it will cut the methane pollution and it will also help to rein in those very toxic other pollutants that can impact health.”

Tomcik sends her children to school in Mars, Pennsylvania, which is near multiple gas wells and pipelines. She pointed to studies that show the people who are located closest to oil and gas operations are at highest risk of health impacts, from respiratory issues to certain cancers.

Robert Routh, public policy and regulatory counsel with the Clean Air Council and based in Philadelphia, pointed out that methane is an extremely potent climate pollutant.

He added that in the first 20 years after it’s released into the atmosphere, it’s more than 80 times as strong as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.

“Methane worldwide is responsible for about a quarter of the manmade global warming that we’re experiencing today,” said Routh. “So, cutting methane emissions is the quickest and the most cost-effective way that we can reduce climate pollution now.”

Tomcik added that the Biden administration also has been working on reining in methane emissions at the federal level. The president reinstated federal methane rules that had been rolled back by the Trump administration.

“This has really created an unparalleled moment when Pennsylvania has the opportunity to be a leader in methane-pollution protections for the rest of the nation,” said Tomcik.

(Story and photo by Beaver County Radio News Correspondant Curtis Walsh)

(New Brighton, PA) Multiple fire departments have responded to a house fire on 8th Avenue in New Brighton. It is currently unknown if anybody was inside the home. Light smoke could be seen coming from the structure. Fire fighters have the scene under control.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The attorney for a woman charged with homicide and kidnapping in the 2019 death of a toddler in western Pennsylvania is asking a judge to bar prosecutors from using video showing her talking to a police officer who was searching for the missing child. The Tribune-Review reports that Allegheny County prosecutors on Monday released police bodycam video showing 27-year-old Sharena Nancy denying any knowledge of the whereabouts of Nalani Johnson. Defense attorney Anthony DeLuca argues that his client’s constitutional rights were violated, but prosecutors say they fall under a public safety exception to the Miranda warning requirement because police were searching for the missing youngster at the time.

(Racoon Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were dispatched to the scene of a two-vehicle accident along Pa State Route 18 in Raccoon Twp. Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at 8:30 PM.

 

Troopers said via release that 88-year-old Donald Williams of Aliquippa was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Trax on Pa 18 through its intersection with Green Garden Road and continued south through a slight right-hand curve and attempted to turn left onto Green Garden Road. As Williams began the turn a 2010 Toyota Highlander being driven by 53-year-old Debra Floyd of Hookstown, was traveling along Pa-18 North and William’s vehicle turned directly into Floyd’s. The impact cause disabling damage to both vehicles. Williams was transported to Heritage Valley Beaver for suspected minor injury and Floyd was transported to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh also with a suspected minor injury. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

(Photo Courtesy of YouBehindtheWheel.com)

Lansdale, PA (July 14, 2021) – Across Pennsylvania, 88% of K-12 students from urban, rural and suburban communities begin and end their day on the school bus. But a shortage of drivers jeopardizes Pennsylvania’s ability to get 1.5 million students back and forth safely to school, sporting events and activities.

In order to address this shortage, the Pennsylvania School Bus Association (PSBA) is pleased to announce the official launch of their school bus driver recruitment campaign. The campaign is a statewide initiative aimed at raising public awareness of the school bus driver shortage as well as providing a number of resources that can be used to recruit new school bus drivers.

“Our school bus drivers are trained professionals who love what they do and provide an essential service to our communities,” said Denille Girardat Myers, PSBA President. “I would like to thank our Membership Committee and our Driver Recruitment Campaign Task Force for all their efforts to ensure our school bus driver recruitment campaign, You Behind the Wheel, will raise awareness about the benefits of becoming a professional school bus driver. The final outcome will allow our members to be involved in our overall campaign and to personalize various parts of it to meet their recruitment needs.”

At the heart of the campaign is a website – YouBehindTheWheel.com – featuring a job portal that connects interested individuals with driver openings in their backyards. Those who want to learn more about becoming a school bus driver are encouraged to visit the website. School bus transportation is widely recognized as the safest way to get students to and from school.

“We’re proud that during the pandemic school bus drivers remained on the job, dealing with various types of schedules and working as full partners with our school districts,” said Aaron Sepkowski, PSBA 2nd Vice President and Membership Committee Chair. “Our membership committee had this fabulous vision two years ago that our members would benefit from a driver recruitment campaign. Our members are working hard to ensure the bus driver seat will be filled as we plan for a full schedule of school and activities this fall.”

Individuals interested in learning more about becoming a school bus driver should visit YouBehindTheWheel.com.

The Pennsylvania School Bus Association was founded in 1980 and consists of over 300 school bus contractors and industry partners who have come together to be a strong voice for school bus safety and the school bus contracting industry.

PITTSBURGH, July 13, 2021 – UPMC Passavant-McCandless and UPMC Passavant-Cranberry have expanded pediatric emergency care services in partnership with nationally ranked UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, ensuring that children in Pittsburgh’s northern communities and beyond have convenient access to specialty care when in the emergency department.

This is the first UPMC Children’s Emergency Department affiliation offered in the western Pennsylvania region.

Children under age 18 account for 16% of all emergency department visits at adult hospitals. Starting today, UPMC Passavant providers easily can consult with board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians at UPMC Children’s via emergency department-to-emergency department real-time virtual telemedicine consultations—24 hours a day, every day of the year.

“This collaborative approach with our colleagues at UPMC Children’s allows us to provide a higher level of pediatric emergency care through advanced telemedicine technology right here in our communities,” said Raymond Viducich, M.D., associate chief of emergency services, UPMC Passavant. “By tapping into distinctive resources available to us across UPMC, it helps us address the specialty care needs of the communities we serve for Pittsburgh’s northern region and surrounding counties.”

“Additionally, advanced training by UPMC Children’s teams for our emergency department providers—with a significant investment in pediatric medical supplies and technologies—best supports our patients at UPMC Passavant hospitals,” Dr. Viducich added.

The new affiliation also allows pediatric patients to connect seamlessly with UPMC Children’s 400+ physicians across 33 subspecialities for follow-up appointments. These appointments can be scheduled before the patient and parent leave either of UPMC Passavant’s emergency departments.

“Creating an exceptional patient experience with access to UPMC’s advanced, signature specialty care is always our top priority,” said Susan Hoolahan, president, UPMC Passavant. “This innovative partnership with UPMC Children’s best serves people who live north of Pittsburgh—providing access even closer to home to specialty pediatric emergency care. The program harnesses the world-class expertise, unique resources and advanced technology that only UPMC can provide.”

This partnership builds upon UPMC’s dedication to providing families in communities north of Pittsburgh with top-quality pediatric care that’s conveniently located at multiple locations including UPMC Children’s North in Sewickley, UPMC Children’s Pine Center in Wexford, UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics locations, and UPMC Children’s Express Care in Wexford and at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township.

“Our goal at UPMC Children’s is to share our world-renowned pediatric care whether it is in person or by leveraging technology,” said Mark Sevco, president, UPMC Children’s. “As a national leader, we are excited to partner with our sister hospital, UPMC Passavant, and have them lean on us and our expertise in caring for pediatric patients with the right provider, in the right place, at the right time.”

Families now also can access UPMC Children’s AnywhereCare—which provides 24/7 urgent care for newborns and children up to 17 years old by pediatric advanced practice providers—and can be found on the ChildrensPgh app or by searching “UPMC AnywhereCare” in the app store.

To learn more about UPMC’s services in Pittsburgh’s north region, visit www.CHP.edu/Passavant.