Legislators commandeer House to demand action on policing
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Black Democrats in the Pennsylvania House preempted the day’s business in an effort to force action on changes to police. They commandeered the podium for about 90 minutes at the start of voting session Monday. They hung a Black Lives Matter banner from the speaker’s dais. Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta took the podium to ask for police reform. The protest was paused if not halted after the Republican speaker said he would meet with leaders of both parties and supported holding a special session on police reform.

AAA: Western PA Gas Prices Steady; National Average Slowly Rising
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is stable this week at $2.345 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region continues to see the lowest pump price volatility. While gas prices increased across the region on the week, they only pushed more expensive by a few pennies (Pennsylvania, +2 cents). Delaware (+5 cents) and Maine (+7 cents) saw the largest increases.

Gas prices in the region range from $1.76 to $2.25, with motorists able to fill up for $1.99 or less at 63% of stations in the region.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports regional gasoline stocks increased by 500,000 barrels to push total levels to 74.2 million. Motorists can expect pump prices to continue to trend more expensive, but with increases of only a few cents.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.345
Average price during the week of June 1, 2020                                         $2.343
Average price during the week of June 10, 2019                                       $2.925

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$2.356      Altoona
$2.347      Beaver
$2.350      Bradford
$2.359      Brookville
$2.312      Butler
$2.337      Clarion
$2.328      Du Bois
$2.336      Erie
$2.347      Greensburg
$2.352      Indiana
$2.366      Jeannette
$2.370      Kittanning
$2.349      Latrobe
$2.348      Meadville
$2.370      Mercer
$2.248      New Castle
$2.348      New Kensington
$2.359      Oil City
$2.338      Pittsburgh
$2.359      Sharon
$2.347      Uniontown
$2.359      Warren
$2.345      Washington

On the National Front
For 66 days, the national gas price average held below the $2/gallon mark, pushing as cheap as $1.76. In the past week, the average has inched up to $2.03. Despite the consistent increases at the pump, gas prices are still significantly cheaper year-over-year, and haven’t been this cheap at the beginning of June since 2004. In fact, during the first week of June the past five years, gas prices have typically averaged $2.81.

U.S. gasoline demand continues to show increasing strength. The EIA’s latest reading shows a 4% weekly increase at 7.5 million b/d. That is the highest demand level since states began issuing stay-at-home orders in mid-March.

At the end of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by $2.14 to settle at $39.55 per barrel. At the end of last week, crude prices increased amid market optimism that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major crude exporters, including Russia, would extend their 9.7 million b/d production reduction agreement for May and June 2020 into July. Over the weekend, the cartel and its partners agreed to extend the deal for July, which is expected to reduce global crude supplies by nearly 10 percent while global crude oil demand remains low due to COVID-19. Crude prices will likely increase this week in reaction to OPEC’s announcement.

Additionally, approximately one third of crude oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico has been halted, as Tropical Depression Cristobal makes landfall in Louisiana. The storm is expected to bring tropical-storm force winds and potential storm surge and flooding to the state’s coastal areas. There is no estimate for when the facilities will resume operations. Any impact on domestic crude prices will depend on how long production remains shuttered and the extent of damage caused by the storm.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 78 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Wolf Administration Selects Health Care Emergency Preparedness Vendor to Assist in Preparations for Fall Resurgence of COVID-19

Harrisburg, PA- The Wolf Administration today announced it has selected Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) of Philadelphia as its health care emergency preparedness vendor, effective July 8, 2020.

“PHMC is well positioned to help move the commonwealth forward in its preparation efforts for future emergencies, including preparations in the case that coronavirus resurges in the fall or winter,” Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to expand our existing hospital preparedness program, as well as creating an inclusive environment for all members of our health care system through our health care coalitions.”

This agreement is part of the department’s annual federal health preparedness grant.

Health care coalitions (HCC) are a formal collaboration among health care organizations and public and private partners that are organized to prepare for, respond to and recover from an emergency, mass casualty or catastrophic event. The key components include comprehensive health care membership; regional presence developed within states/territories to cover larger geographic areas; and preparedness capability operationalization through plans, exercises, trainings, response, and after-action reports.

The hospital preparedness program (HPP) is a cooperative agreement program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that establishes a foundation for national health care preparedness.

PHMC is a nonprofit public health institute that builds healthier communities through partnerships with government, foundations, businesses and community-based organizations. It fulfills its mission to improve the health of the community by providing outreach, health promotion, education, research, planning, technical assistance and direct services.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are  unwell.
• If you must go out for a life-sustaining reason, please wear a mask.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials
• Map with the number of COVID-19 cases

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

For more information on other public health related issues, including  ticks and Lyme disease, or on mosquitoes and West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

 (Pittsburgh, Pa) The Rivers Casino and the Meadows Casino’s will reopen today. the Casino’s will be open from 9 AM to 4 AM. The down time will be used to disinfect the facilities. The Rivers will reopen this morning for the first time in months a 9 am and the Meadow’s will open around noon. Both Casino’s will require staff and Patrons to wear a mask and will be limited to 50 percent capacity. Some areas will not be open to the public at this time including their valet parking service, the poker room, and the event center. To keep track of capacity, the casino staff will have customer counters at their entrances.

They will also have markers on the floor and disable certain slot machines.

Pitt slams lawsuit from ex-officer seeking reinstatement
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The University of Pittsburgh police department says it has no plans to rehire a former university police officer later acquitted in the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager. The university police department said in a Twitter post Sunday that the university is “vigorously opposing” the federal suit filed in January by 32-year-old Michael Rosfeld, who alleged that he was forced from position in January 2018 in retaliation after he arrested a university official’s son outside a bar in December 2017. Rosfeld was acquitted last year of homicide in the June 2018 shooting death of 17-year-old Antwon Rose II while he was an East Pittsburgh officer.

Officer charged in Floyd’s death held on $1 million bond
By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis police officer charged with second-degree murder in George Floyd’s death will remain in custody on $1 million bond. Derek Chauvin said almost nothing during an 11-minute hearing Monday in which he appeared on closed-circuit television from the state’s maximum security prison in Oak Park Heights. His attorney, Eric Nelson, did not contest the bail amount. Nelson also didn’t address the substance of the charges. Nelson didn’t speak with reporters afterward. Chauvin’s next appearance is set for June 29.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) On Saturday morning just before 11 a.m. Aliquippa High School’s Class of 2020 Commencement Cavalcade left their starting point on Main Street in front of St. Elijah Church  they proceeded down Main Street into the city The student’s vehicles were  decorated in red and black they , honked horns and waved to bystanders who cheered them on. They  were escorted by Aliquippa Police officer/school resource officer Francis Conkle and Mayor Dwan B. Walker and the fire department .  They proceeded throughout the city on a designated route which ended at the high school. As they ascended the hill to the front of the high school staff held signs in honor of the 60 graduates,  The students were presented with their diplomas  when they exited their vehicles. The event  was made possible  in cooperation with the city and school district.

Photos of both parades are on Beaver County Radio.com

Check out the Photos below from both Parades.

Aliquippa School District

Hopewell School District

Gov. Wolf Announces $225 Million Grant Program for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

Harrisburg, PA — Governor Tom Wolf today announced a $225 million statewide grant program to support small businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis and subsequent business closure order.

“As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and shift our focus toward reopening our commonwealth, we need to help all Pennsylvanians recover. We need to provide assistance for those who were hurt by the pandemic and the resulting economic downturn,” Gov. Wolf said. “This new program will provide direct support to impacted businesses to cover operating expenses during the shutdown and the transition to reopening.”

The funding was developed in partnership with state lawmakers and allocated through the recently enacted state budget, which included $2.6 billion in federal stimulus funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, of which $225 million was earmarked for relief for small businesses.

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) will distribute the funds to the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which will then administer the funding in the form of grants.

Eligible businesses will be able to use the grants to cover operating expenses during the shutdown and transition to re-opening, and for technical assistance including training and guidance for business owners as they stabilize and relaunch their businesses.

The funds will be available through three programs:

• $100 million for the Main Street Business Revitalization Program for small businesses that experienced loss as a result of the governor’s March 19, 2020 order relating to the closure of all non-life-sustaining businesses and have or will incur costs to adapt to new business operations related to COVID-19;
• $100 million for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Revitalization Program for small businesses that experienced loss as a result of the business closure order, have or will incur costs to adapt to new business operations related to COVID-19, and in which socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51 percent interest and also control management and daily business operations.
• $25 million for the Loan Payment Deferment and Loss Reserve Program, which will allow the CDFIs the opportunity to offer forbearance and payment relief for existing portfolio businesses that are struggling due to the impact of COVID, as well as shore up the financial position of the CDFIs that are experiencing significant increased defaults in their existing loan portfolios.

“I want to thank Governor Wolf for engaging leadership in the General Assembly to inform the process of moving federal aid out to those who have been most harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I also want to thank the leadership of the Senate Democratic caucus who worked with our members to formulate a strategic plan for the deployment of nearly $4 billion in federal assistance,” said state Senator John Blake (D-Lackawanna). “The Main Street Business Revitalization program is a reflection of that cooperation and leadership and it will meet Pennsylvania’s small business owners where they are, on Main Street, after nearly three months of lost or no sales. It will enable small business owners throughout the commonwealth to meet their insurance payments, rents, health insurance premiums, local taxes and other expenses that they otherwise could not meet due to lost sales. Finally, I want to thank the 17 CDFIs throughout the state as well as DCED for their professionalism, agility, urgency and dedication to getting this federal funding to the small businesses that need it most as quickly as possible.”

“The Main Street Business and Historically Disadvantaged Revitalization Programs will provide welcomed relief for mom and pop businesses in neighborhoods across the commonwealth. Since this pandemic began, we have heard the needs of the auto body shops, the barbershops, the beauticians, the pizza shop owners, the soul food establishments and other businesses in our communities. The needs of these businesses that were unable to get much needed help from other state and federal programs were a priority in our Senate Democratic Caucus’ April 29 PA CARES Program announcement,” said state Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery). “For months, my office has worked with a network of trusted community organizations that have a proven track record of working with our small businesses, the CDFIs, to find a solution to assist our neighborhood businesses. I believe these programs are that solution. There is still more work to be done, but these programs are a win for Pennsylvania and its small businesses.”

“Small businesses bore the brunt of the economic impacts of the pandemic. This investment is a good first step toward their recovery and the recovery of communities across the commonwealth,” said House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. “This program will benefit multiple diverse industries, brought forward from many partners in the legislature, including Reps. Jared Solomon, Morgan Cephas, Jake Wheatley, Ryan Bizzarro, Chris Sappey and Melissa Shusterman.”

The PA CDFI Network is a group of 17 PA-based community development financial institutions that primarily provide financing options for small businesses.

“We are pleased to work with the governor on the COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance program to provide economic opportunities for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said James Burnett, vice chairman of the PA CDFI Network. “We know how important it is to support the smallest, most vulnerable businesses throughout the commonwealth, including historically disadvantaged and main street businesses.”

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver Falls,Pa.) Beaver Falls  Police Chief David Johnson said this morning  that an incident that occurred in the city  at an undisclosed location over this past weekend is under  investigation. He said that reports that the incident occurred at the Sheetz convenience store on College Hill in Beaver Falls  are false.