Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Residents of Aliquippa will not be faced with a tax increase in Aliquippa in 2021!! The $6,350,779.00 budget represents 86 mills of tax on land, and tax on buildings remains at 16.25 mills. Council approved the spending plan at Wednesday night’s meeting via ZOOM.
2nd COVID-19 vaccine gets public review ahead of US decision
By MATTHEW PERRONE and LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A second COVID-19 vaccine is moving closer to joining the U.S. fight against the pandemic. A panel of independent experts is meeting Thursday to discuss the vaccine made by Moderna. The panel’s review for the Food and Drug Administration is the next-to-last step before the agency decides whether the shots can be used on an emergency basis. The FDA staff issued a positive review earlier in the week, confirming the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. If the panel gives a thumbs-up, the FDA is expected to give the green light within hours or days. A Pfizer vaccine got the go-ahead last week.
Horton, Toney help Pitt beat short-handed Miami 70-55
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Au’Diese Toney and Ithiel Horton combined to score 29 of their 33 points in the second half as Pittsburgh pulled away for a 70-55 win over short-handed Miami. Horton, a sophomore transfer who averaged 13.2 points and shot 41% from 3-point range at Delaware, had a season-high 18 points — all in the second half — and Toney finished with 15 points. Justin Champagnie had 10 points and nine rebounds for Pitt (5-1, 1-0 ACC). Horton hit a 3-pointer to spark a 19-2 run that gave the Panthers a 16-point lead midway through the second half. Isaiah Wong scored 21 points for the Hurricanes (3-2, 0-1). Miami went into the game with only seven healthy scholarship players and Matt Cross left the game with about 12 minutes left and did not return.
LAMB BILL TO HELP MEDAL OF HONOR SPOUSES AND FAMILIES HEADED TO PRESIDENT’S DESK
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate amendment to the bipartisan Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (H.R. 7105) to increase access to health care and services for women veterans, provide for training opportunities for unemployed veterans, provide assistance for homeless veterans and increase oversight and accountability within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The final legislation includes the Veterans Valuing our Widows and Widowers (VOW) Act (H.R.1826), introduced by Representatives Conor Lamb (PA-17) and Brian Mast (FL-18), which would ensure that the widows and widowers of Medal of Honor recipients receive the same support that was given to the veteran.
“Spouses and families sacrifice so much in support of our men and women in uniform,” said Lamb. “We owe the families of our Medal of Honor recipients the financial security their spouse has earned. I look forward to the President signing this commonsense, bipartisan bill into law.”
Currently, veterans who receive the Medal of Honor are entitled to an additional monthly pension. However, when the recipient passes away the pension stops. The VOW Act would ensure the surviving spouses of the Medal of Honor recipients continue receiving the pension that their spouse was awarded, even if the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously. The Medal of Honor represents the highest recognition for valor in combat that a member of the Armed Forces can earn. It is awarded very rarely and only to those whose service and sacrifice far exceed the call of duty.
H.R. 7105 passed the U.S. Senate with unanimous consent last week and now goes to the President for his signature. Click here to learn more about the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa City Council met via ZOOM last night and accepted Councilman Matt Mottes resignation effective January 1, 2021 Mottes served 3 years on council, and asked to be reappointed to the water authority board when his term expires.’.
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Beaver County DA David J. Lozier said a search warrant was executed at 611 14th Street in Beaver Falls early Thursday morning. The resident, who is a transplant from Chicago ,was suspected of selling heroin and fentanyl. The suspect had a history of violent crimes. District Attorney Lozier reported that all police and civilians are safe.
Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio as this story continues to develop
(Photo of Seventh Ave. in Beaver Falls during yesterday’s snow)
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT has lifted the speed limit restrictions that were in place on several roadways in the region.
Due to the winter storm impacting the region, speed limits were reduced yesterday to 45 mph on all interstates and several other routes in the region. All speeds are restored to their usual posted limits.
PennDOT is continuing to treat roadways in the area and will continue until roads are clear.
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.
For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.PennDOT.gov.
Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh
PennDOT Warns Motorists to be Alert for Blowing or Drifting Snow
Pittsburgh, PA – With wintry winds and snow in the forecast this afternoon, PennDOT is reminding motorists in southwestern Pennsylvania to slow down, pay attention and use caution on area roadways, especially during snow squalls that may occur.
Motorists always should be alert for sudden squalls which can strike with little or no warning and quickly cause roads to become snow covered. Heavy squalls also can cause whiteout conditions, virtually eliminating a driver’s visibility.
If motorists do encounter snow squalls while traveling, PennDOT offers this advice:
Motorists are reminded that roadways will not be free of snow while precipitation is falling. With freezing temperatures, roads that look wet may actually be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form without warning.
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.
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.
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.
PennDOT’s media center offers resources for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders. Social-media-sized graphics highlighting winter safety can be found online at www.PennDOT.gov in the “Media Center” under the “About Us” footer.
Alaska woman has allergic reaction to vaccine
The Associated Press undefined
JUNEAU, Alaska — Health officials in Alaska reported a health care worker had a severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine within 10 minutes of receiving a shot.
U.S. health authorities warned doctors to be on the lookout for rare allergic reactions when they rolled out the first vaccine, made by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. Britain had reported a few similar allergic reactions a week earlier.
The Juneau health worker began feeling flushed and short of breath on Tuesday, says Dr. Lindy Jones, the emergency room medical director at Bartlett Regional Hospital. She was treated with epinephrine and other medicines for what officials ultimately determined was anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. She was kept overnight but has recovered.
Unlike the British cases, the Alaska woman has no history of allergic reactions.
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Fed keeps rate near zero but sees brighter economy in 2021
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve will keep buying government bonds until the economy makes “substantial” progress, a step intended to reassure financial markets and keep long-term borrowing rates low. The Fed also said after its latest policy meeting that it will keep its short-term benchmark interest rate pegged near zero. The Fed has kept its key rate there since March, when it took a range of extraordinary steps to fight the pandemic recession. In a series of economic projections, Fed officials painted a brighter picture of the economy next year, compared with its last projections in September. The improvement likely reflects the expected impact of the new coronavirus vaccines.