Author: Beaver County Radio

Judge dismisses 1 charge against former cop in Floyd’s death

Judge dismisses 1 charge against former cop in Floyd’s death
By AMY FORLITI Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge has dismissed a third-degree murder charge against the former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck, but the more serious second-degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin remains. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill’s ruling was made public Thursday. Chauvin now faces two counts going forward: second-degree murder and manslaughter. Cahill denied defense requests to dismiss the aiding and abetting counts against three other former officers, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao. Floyd, a Black man who was in handcuffs, died May 25 after Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe.

September existing home sales climb 9.4%, highest since ’06

September existing home sales climb 9.4%, highest since ’06
By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Sales of existing homes climbed 9.4% in September, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday, the latest sign that the housing market remains red hot despite the coronavirus pandemic. On a seasonally-adjusted rate, the selling pace of existing homes climbed to 6.54 million annualized units. That is the highest level for that metric since February 2006, at the peak of the previous housing bubble.

Santa Claus won’t be coming to Macy’s this year

Santa Claus won’t be coming to Macy’s this year
By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Macy’s said Santa Claus won’t be greeting kids at its flagship New York store this year due to the coronavirus, interrupting a holiday tradition started nearly 160 years ago. More than a quarter of a million people come to see Santa at Macy’s in New York each year, the company said. That makes it hard to create a safe environment during a pandemic. Santa also won’t be making in-person visits this year at its Chicago and San Francisco stores, which have similar Santalands. Macy’s said it will be offering a free online experience on its website at the end of November, where families can play games and get a virtual tour of Santa’s workshop.

Former Pirate Josh Harrison re-signs with the Washington Nationals

Nationals agree to terms with Harrison on 1-year contract
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with utility man Josh Harrison. The 33-year-old returns to Washington after hitting .278 with two doubles, three home runs, 14 RBIs, six walks and 11 runs scored with the Nationals last season. He hit .309 as a starter as manager Dave Martinez wrote Harrison into the lineup at second base, third base, left field, right field and designated hitter. Harrison is a two-time National League All Star who spent his first eight major league season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

GOP-led Senate panel advances Barrett despite Dems’ boycott

GOP-led Senate panel advances Barrett despite Dems’ boycott
By LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate. Republicans powered past a Democratic boycott of the session Thursday to keep confirmation of President Donald Trump’s pick on track before Election Day. Democratic senators refused to show up in protest of the GOP’s rush to install Trump’s nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Senate has never confirmed a Supreme Court nominee so close to a presidential election. Senators plan to convene a rare weekend session for procedural actions ahead of a final confirmation vote expected Monday.

Demolition underway at SUKUP Steel in Ambridge

(Photos by Sandy Giordano)
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Ambridge, Pa.) SUKUP STEEL STRUCTURES plant  360 14th Street  in Ambridge was the scene of a fire   on Saturday, July 18.  . the plant, which is next to  the Beaver County Emergency Services Center is being demolished, according to Ambridge Assistant Fire Chief Don Larrick, He said completion ix expected by the end of the year.   Cause of the fire is still under investigation  by the property and  building owner, and he said the actual business owner is WELL BUILTY REALTY. He added, “We’ll try and get a new business in  the borough here.”

Council president Mike Mikulich  said, “They were a good employer. We’re sad to see them go.”

No one was on site Wednesday  afternoon.

Fedeles Says Reassessment Personnel Cannot Enter Your Home

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

At Thursday’s work session for the Commissioners at the Beaver County Courthouse, an update regarding the reassessment of county properties by Tyler Technologies was currently reassessing properties in Ambridge, and that they will be making their way towards Economy Borough next week.

Fedeles then proceeded to start talking about the resolutions for the Thursday Public Meeting, but he was halted by Commissioner Tony Amadio before too long. Amadio had received complaints and concerns from county citizens in regard to being safe in their homes, left wondering if reassessment is going to cause any house entrances or similar intrusions.

“So to be clear for everyone, Tyler Technologies is not going to be asking to go into your house,” Fedeles responded. “If anyone asks that question, immediately close the door and contact the police department.”

Fedeles further clarified what will happen during the reassessment process: “It’s just general questions and measurements they’re going to be taking. If you’re not there, they’re going to leave you a tag for you to call them back, that they’ll ask you questions probably over the phone…or arrange a time that they can go back to your house that you’re going to be there.”

Commissioner Dan Camp was not in attendance for the work session; rather he participated via conference call line. Similarly, Tony Caltury (Beaver County’s Chief Clerk) was also absent, and Nicole Long (Administrative Assistant to Commissioner  Amadio) filled in for the brief work session.

The Commissioners will hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 24, at 10 AM at the Beaver County Courthouse.

World Polio Day: Joseph Max Lewis Talks About Eradicating The Disease Worldwide

It’s a battle that has lasted longer than most wars combined, and it’s a battle that is slowly–but hopefully–approaching its end.

World Polio Day, acknowledged every October 24 for many years, once again seeks to spread awareness of the disease in hopes that the last few areas dealing with polio will soon see it eradicated.

Joseph Max Lewis, a Rotarian in New Brighton, joined Matt Drzik to talk about the disease on A.M. Beaver County, including the discovery of the vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh in 1954, the citizen-led fight to make the vaccine available nationwide, and the events that led to polio being eradicated in the United States by 1979.

But Lewis also spoke of the countries worldwide that still are dealing with fighting off polio once and for all, and the everyday factors that have made the eradication a struggle.

For more info or to donate, go to endpolio.org/donate.

To hear the full interview about World Polio Day, click on the player below.

Jones lands iconic No. 43 with Richard Petty Motorsports

Jones lands iconic No. 43 with Richard Petty Motorsports
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Richard Petty Motorsports will enter the next chapter of its storied history with driver Erik Jones. The pairing gives Petty a proven winner to replace Bubba Wallace. Wallace is leaving at the end of the season. His departure could have crippled the cash-strapped Petty organization, but the team instead landed one of the top available talents. Jones was released after six seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing because the megateam needed a seat for a new prospect. The volatile free-agent market helped Jones slide to Petty.

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead to 3 criminal charges

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead to 3 criminal charges
By MICHAEL BALSAMO and GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, will plead guilty to three federal criminal charges as part of a settlement of more than $8 billion. OxyContin is the powerful prescription painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States and violating federal anti-kickback laws. The deal doesn’t release any of the company’s executives or owners from criminal liability, and a criminal investigation is ongoing. One state attorney general says the deal fails to hold accountable members of the wealthy Sackler family who own the company.