Author: Beaver County Radio

Man wounded in deadly gun range shooting now out of hospital

Man wounded in deadly gun range shooting now out of hospital
ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a man shot and wounded by his friend in an apparently unprovoked attack at a western Pennsylvania gun range has been released from a hospital. It’s still not known what sparked the shooting that began around 2 p.m. on Tuesday. 26-year-old Robert Eppley, of North East, and the victim, a 28-year-old Erie man, were taking turns firing a newly purchased pistol when Eppley allegedly turned and shot the victim. A 67-year-old man in a neighboring stall saw the shooting and opened fire, fatally shooting Eppley. Authorities did not release the names of the 28-year-old man who was wounded or the 67-year-old. No charges have yet been filed.

White House invites GOP lawmakers in Pennsylvania to lunch

White House invites GOP lawmakers in Pennsylvania to lunch
By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican state senators in Pennsylvania were invited to a White House lunch as President Donald Trump baselessly maintains Democrats stole the battleground state from him. A spokesperson for the caucus said every Republican senator received the invitation this week for the Wednesday lunch. It was unclear who decided to go, and the invitation included no agenda. The invitation arrived about a month after Republican state lawmakers from Pennsylvania held a hearing in Gettysburg to discuss efforts with Trump’s lawyers to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania. Some of them later went to the White House to meet with Trump.

President Trump vetoes defense bill, setting up possible override vote

Trump vetoes defense bill, setting up possible override vote
By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has vetoed the annual defense policy bill, following through on threats to veto a measure that has broad bipartisan support in Congress and potentially setting up the first override vote of his presidency. The bill affirms 3% pay raises for U.S. troops and authorizes more than $740 billion in military programs and construction. Trump has offered a series of rationales for vetoing the bill. He has called for lawmakers to include limits on social media companies he claimed are biased against him.

Victim in Monday’s Deadly Crash on Broadhead Road in Hopewell Twp. Identified

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano 

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Hopewell Township Police reported this morning that a vehicle operated by  Boisy Hollins, 70 of Aliquippa  crossed the  center  line  in  the 2400 block of Brodhead Road Monday afternoon striking  a vehicle with 2 occupants. One of the vehicle’s caught fire, and a passerby equipped with a fire extinguisher put the fire out.

JAWS  of LIFE  were used by firefighters to free the vehicles’ occupants due to entrapment..    Hollins died as a result of his injuries. Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer ruled his death accidental  due to blunt force trauma to the lower extremity.. The occupants of the other vehicle , who haven’t been identified ,were taken to the hospital, according to  Hopewell Township Police..
The accident occurred on the busy road during Monday afternoon’s rain
Aliquippa Police, PA State Police, and Aliquippa and Hopewell Fire Departments  assisted Hopewell Police at the scene.

Struggling Steelers in midst of historic collapse

Struggling Steelers in midst of historic collapse
By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer
The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone from dreams of matching the perfect 1972 Miami Dolphins to searching for another win. After winning their first 11 games for the first time in franchise history, the Steelers were upset at home two weeks ago against Washington. That was followed by a loss at fellow AFC contender Buffalo before a humbling 27-17 defeat to last-place Cincinnati. The last team to start 11-0 and then lose three straight was the 1969 Rams in a 14-game season. The skid carried over to the playoffs with a loss to Minnesota, a fate the Steelers would like to avoid.

Gov. Wolf seeks $145M fund shift to help businesses with pandemic

Wolf seeks $145M fund shift to help businesses with pandemic
By MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s governor wants to use $145 million in a worker’s compensation fund to help businesses cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal would require a vote from the Republican-majority Legislature to appropriate the money, and there has been no deal struck to accomplish that. Wolf is seeking to give the money in grants to businesses that have the greatest need for help. The money is a surplus in the Insurance Department’s Worker’s Compensation Security Fund.

Pfizer to supply US with additional 100M vaccines doses

Pfizer to supply US with additional 100M vaccines doses
By JONATHAN LEMIRE and RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer and BioNTech will supply the U.S. with an additional 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine under a new agreement. The drugmakers said Wednesday that they expect to deliver all the doses by July 31. Pfizer already has a contract to supply the government with 100 million doses of its vaccine. Pfizer’s vaccine was the first to gain emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and initial shipments went to states last week. It has now been joined by a vaccine from Moderna, which was developed in closer cooperation with scientists from the National Institutes of Health.

President Trump pardons 15, commutes 5 sentences, including GOP allies

Trump pardons 15, commutes 5 sentences, including GOP allies
By COLLEEN LONG, KEVIN FREKING and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has pardoned 15 people, including Republican allies, a 2016 campaign official ensnared in the Russia probe and former government contractors convicted in a 2007 massacre in Baghdad. Trump commuted the sentences of five others. The acts of clemency announced Tuesday night include pardons for former Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Chris Collins of New York and a commutation for former Rep. Steve Stockman of Texas. Trump also announced a pardon for George Papadopoulos, his 2016 campaign adviser whose conversation unwittingly helped trigger the Russia investigation that shadowed Trump’s presidency for nearly two years.

President Trump threatens to torpedo COVID relief with new demands

Trump threatens to torpedo COVID relief with new demands
By KEVIN FREKING, ANDREW TAYLOR and LISA MASCARO Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is threatening to torpedo Congress’ massive pandemic relief package in the midst of a raging pandemic and deep economic uncertainty. He’s suddenly demanding changes fellow Republicans have opposed, like a huge jump in the $600 payments planned for most Americans. Trump assailed the bipartisan $900 billion package in a video he tweeted out Tuesday night, and suggested he may not sign it. He said the bill would deliver too much money to foreign countries, but not enough to Americans. The House and Senate cleared the package by lopsided votes, enough to override a veto should Trump decide to take that step.

During crucial holiday season, US consumer confidence slumps

During crucial holiday season, US consumer confidence slumps
By MATT OTT AP Business Writer
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — A closely-watched gauge of U.S. consumer confidence tumbled in December as rising coronavirus cases dragged American optimism to its lowest level since the summer. However, rising pessimism is now spreading during the crucial holiday season, which could make or break a number of retailers, airlines, restaurants other sector that have been hammered financially during the pandemic. The December reading of 88.6 released Tuesday by the Conference Board is a sharp decline from last month, which was revised downward to 92.9, and it is far worse than economists had expected. It may be an ominous sign for an economy in which consumer spending accounts for 70% of all economic economic activity.