By DAVID CRARY and PETER SMITH Associated Press
By the thousands, Americans have been seeking religious exemptions in order to circumvent COVID-19 vaccine mandates. But generally they are doing so without the encouragement of major denominations and prominent religious leaders. From the Vatican, Pope Francis has defended the vaccines as the most reasonable solution to the pandemic. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America declared categorically that its followers would not be offered religious exemptions. And Robert Jeffress, the conservative pastor of a Baptist megachurch in Dallas, voiced similar sentiments. He says he has refused exemption requests from the handful of his congregation members who made requests.

Father pleads guilty in torture, starvation death of son
ANNVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania father about to stand trial on charges he tortured and starved his 12-year-old son before the boy died has pleaded guilty to several charges and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Scott Schollenberger Jr. pleaded guilty Thursday to charges that included criminal homicide, child endangerment and conspiracy for both counts. The 43-year-old Annville man’s trial had been scheduled to start March 14. Schollenberger and his 36-year-old fiancée, Kimberly Maurer, were both accused in September 2020 of imprisoning his son in a darkened room for years, starving him and beating him while treating their other children well. Maurer remains jailed and is due to stand trial next month.

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(Cranberry Twp., Butler County, Pa.) Pa State Police in Butler are reporting that they were dispatched to a one vehicle accident on Interstate 79 in Cranberry last Thursday around 9:35 PM.
Upon arriving on the scene and investigating it was learned that 40-year-old Duane Mohney of Zelienople fell asleep at the wheel of a 2011 Ford Fusion while driving northbound. Mohney’s vehicle left the right side of the roadway and went into a ditch. He was not injured in the accident but was charged by Troopers with not driving properly on highways laned for traffic.

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(Little Beaver Twp., Lawrence County, Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they were called to a location on State Line Road in Little Beaver Twp. on Saturday night at 11:35 PM for a domestic incident that was in progress.
Upon arriving on the scene and investigating it was found that 33-year-old Kenneth Borer of Enon Valley, threatened a 32-year-old female victim with a gun and also punched her in the face multiple times. After a short stand off with Troopers Borer came out of the house and was taken into custody. He was arraigned in front of District Magistrate Amodie for charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, and harassment. His bond was set at $10,000 and he was taken to the Lawrence County Jail.

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(AMBRIDGE, Pa.) Fire and EMS companies in the 16^th Legislative District were awarded $226,390 in grant funding, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said 14 fire and EMS companies are receiving grants from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

“First responders in our district have continued to answer the call even as the pandemic has interfered with fundraising, strained budgets and added new challenges to the job,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help companies replenish equipment, pay for training and building repairs, and address other needs to ease the burden a bit on these frontline heroes.”

Matzie said the following grants were awarded:

Ambridge Borough Fire Department – $14,997.

Ambridge Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.

Baden Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.

City of Aliquippa (Fire Company) – $15,000.

Conway Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.

Economy Volunteer Firemens Association – $15,000.

Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Protective Association Inc. – $15,000.

Harmony Township Volunteer Firemen Inc. – $15,000.

Hopewell Township Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000.

Leetsdale Fire Department – $15,000.

Monaca No. 1 Volunteer Fire Department – $11,980.

Monaca No. 5 Volunteer Fire Company – $11,142.
Monaca Volunteer Fire Department No. 4 – $14,946.

Quaker Valley Ambulance Authority – $8,325.
Rochester Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 – $30,000.

The grants were awarded under the OFC’s Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program and can be used for facility construction and renovation, purchase or repair of equipment, fuel purchases, member training and certification, public education, recruitment and retention, debt reduction, overtime costs associated with backfilling positions while firefighters are training, and supplementing pandemic-related expenses.

The full list of awardees is available at this link: https://www.osfc.pa.gov/GrantsandLoans/Volunteer%20Fire%20Company%20And%20Ambulance%20Grants/Documents/2021-2022-FCEMSGP-Grant-Awards.pdf.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published February 13, 2022 9:12 A.M.

(Freedom, PA) Freedom Area School District released a statement on their Facebook page Saturday stating that they are aware of “inappropriate and disgraceful comments” made to New Brighton basketball players during a game Friday night. “We are taking this very seriously and have begun an investigation.” Freedom ASD said along with “This is not the culture we want in our district”.  Social media posts have circulated showing an image of a list that was said to be found at the game.  The list contains multiple New Brighton players names, along with names of their girlfriends and a column labeled “S*** to say” which includes negative comments towards specific players.  Freedom ASD also stated that they are working with New Sewickley Police Department to investigate reported threats made against Freedom students.