Lawmakers return for June with big agenda, sharp differences
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania state lawmakers are returning to session with a big June agenda and sharp differences. They have four weeks starting Monday to wrap up their work for an on-time budget. The state has some good fiscal news: a huge surplus. Meanwhile, there’s also $7.3 billion of federal coronavirus aid. Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward said the Republican-controlled Senate’s focus is wrapping up the budget, as well as funding for public and private education, broadband and transportation. Election legislation is also a top priority, but deep partisan differences make its passage iffy. Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, wants a $1.3 billion boost to public school aid, about a 20% increase.

Jeff Bezos riding his own rocket in July, joining 1st crew
By MICHELLE CHAPMAN and MARCIA DUNN Associated Press
Jeff Bezos will ride his own rocket into space next month, joining the first crew to fly in a Blue Origin capsule. The Amazon CEO announced Monday that he will launch July 20 from Texas along with his firefighter brother. Also on board the capsule for the 10-minute hop will be the highest bidder in a charity auction. Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson also plans to launch aboard his own rocket later this year. Blue Origin completed the 15th test flight of its New Shepard rocket in April. For its first launch with passengers, the company chose the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Supreme Court rules against immigrants with temporary status
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A unanimous Supreme Court has ruled that thousands of people living in the U.S. for humanitarian reasons are ineligible to apply to become permanent residents. Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court Monday that federal immigration law prohibits people who entered the country illegally and now have Temporary Protected Status from seeking “green cards” to remain in the country permanently. The designation applies to people who come from countries ravaged by war or disaster. It protects them from deportation and allows them to work legally. There are 400,000 people from 12 countries with TPS status.

(Richland Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Gibsonia are reporting that while they were conducting a speed check for traffic along the Pa Turnpike in Richland Township Sunday at 11:40 AM they clocked a black motorcycle going 114 MPH in a 70 MPH zone using radar.

Troopers say that 22-year-old Daniel Alexander Martinez Pereira of Doral Florida did not stop for the trooper’s lights and siren and fled. While pursuing Martinez-Pereira the Trooper who clocked him crashed his Police cruiser. Martinez-Pereira continued eastbound for approximately 4 miles and crashed his motorcycle at the Pittsburgh Interchange.

Martinez-Pereira was transported to Forbes hospital for his injuries. There is no word on his condition. Troopers file charges of fleeing and eluding at the local district court.

(Wayne Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they were called to the scene of a motorcycle accident on Wampum Road in Wayne Twp. Sunday night around 11:25 PM.

Troopers stated via release that 65-year-old Keith Shaffer of Ellwood City had to be air lifted to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for serious injuries that he suffered while operating a 2015 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special Motorcycle on Wampum Road.

Troopers say that Shaffer’s motorcycle was traveling east on Wampum Road when it went off the roadway and struck a residence sign and then struck a guardrail with a mailbox behind it. Shaffer was ejected from the motorcycle and landed approximately 30 feet south from the point of impact. The release stated that Shaffer was wearing a helmet. There is no word on Shaffer’s condition at this time and Troopers are continuing to investigate.

(Moon Township, PA) Heritage Valley Health System and Encompass Health
Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley are pleased to announce the renovation and re-opening of a 12-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit located on the fifth floor of Heritage Valley Kennedy hospital.

Officially named the Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley at Heritage Valley Kennedy, the unit will function as a satellite expansion unit of the main facility located in Sewickley. The location will provide rehabilitation care for patients recovering from strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, hip fractures, and complex orthopedic conditions.

“Heritage Valley and Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley have a history of collaboration and joint venture relationships,” said Norm Mitry, President and CEO, Heritage Valley Health System. “Establishing the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Heritage Valley Kennedy was a natural fit. It brings much needed services to patients residing in the western and northern communities of Allegheny County. They can now receive this specialized care close to home.”

Patients of the unit benefit from exceptional care that is standard to both organizations. Those receiving care will experience a minimum of three hours per day of therapy for five days each week from a multidisciplinary therapy team, 24-hour nursing care, access to advanced technologies, and frequent visits by an attending physician during their stay.

To learn more about Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley at Heritage Valley Kennedy, please call 412.749.2396.

(Photo by PSP)

(Harrisburg, Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Corporal Jennifer Ruhl was charged on June 4, 2021 with crimes related to obstructing and tampering with a criminal investigation. Charges were filed by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division.

Corporal Ruhl is accused of attempting to cover up a driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol investigation involving an alleged father of a PSP trooper in November 2019 while assigned as a patrol supervisor at Troop J-Avondale.

She is being charged with :
Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, False swearing – official proceeding,
Tampering with public records or information, Hindering apprehension or prosecution

Corporal Ruhl enlisted in the PSP in January 1998. She is assigned to the Drug Law Enforcement Division within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. She is currently suspended without pay pending resolution of the criminal charges against her.

WEST MIFFLIN, PA – Amid growing demand to head outdoors for family fun, Kennywood and Sandcastle are adding more hours and days to their Summer 2021 operating schedules, and offering a delicious incentive to bring in more new Team Members.

Kennywood will host a job fair at the historic Parkside Café from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 7. People interested in a position at America’s Most Thrilling Historic Landmark can do more than interview for the Kennywood or Sandcastle teams: they can dig in to free Potato Patch fries, grab a complimentary cotton candy, and try a few rounds at one of the park’s popular midway games.

The fresh [cut fries] approach to hiring in today’s competitive job market comes with another bump in the parks’ pay rates for Food & Beverage and Lifeguards staff, where high school graduates now start at $14 and $15 an hour, respectively. Pay rates for high school grads are now at least $13 an hour at Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier.

The uptick in applicants and new Team Members brought on board, coupled with increasing consumer demand, allows the parks to expand the operating schedules beyond the conservative plans crafted during the offseason. Kennywood will now begin daily operations on Wednesday, June 9, with Sandcastle following on June 12 and Idlewild on June 17.

“Our season is off to a strong start,” says Kennywood/Sandcastle General Manager Mark Pauls. “Coming off a successful opening weekend for this month’s Bites and Pints Food & Drink Festival and the expansion to daily operations, we’re looking to this June 7 Job Fair and Free Fries event to bring in the last batch of applicants to make a great summer at our parks.”

In April, parent company Palace Entertainment increased wages at its properties nationwide, including boosting the starting seasonal pay rate for Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild & SoakZone to at least $13 an hour for high school graduates (or those at least 18 years old). Further, targeted increases will now pay Food & Beverage Team Members at Kennywood and Sandcastle $10 an hour for 16 and 17-year-olds, and $14 an hour for 18 and up. Lifeguards now make at least $15 an hour at Sandcastle and $14/hour at Idlewild.

The surge in applicants and new hires led Kennywood to add nine summer operating days to the 2021 schedule. Now, the park will extend hours on Fridays to 9 p.m., with daily operations from June 9 – August 23. Beginning July 4, the park will add an hour to Sunday through Thursday operations, closing at 8 p.m. Kennywood will be open weekends through the end of October and, along with Idlewild, host Halloween events after being canceled in 2020. Idlewild has also added fourteen additional summer operating days to the summer months.

Those interested can apply online at the park of their choice: Kennywood, Sandcastle or Idlewild, or stop at the job fair June 7 for free Potato Patch fries and a great job opportunity!