(File Photo of the Allegheny Health Network Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Fever is common during pregnancy, with roughly 1 out of 5 patients reporting the occurrence sometime during their gestational period. 

However, a new report which was published by Allegheny Health Network (AHN) maternal fetal medicine physician Peeraya Sawangkum, MD, in Birth Defects Research Journal, highlights that hyperthermia, especially in the first trimester, may be linked to a higher risk of birth defects and other complications for newborns. 

These findings showed that maternal fever is associated with an increased risk of congenital heart defects, craniofacial anomalies, fetal growth restriction, miscarriage, neural tube defects and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. 

This review also highlighted the links between maternal fever and pregnancy loss, fetal growth restriction, as well as other complications. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Alexandra Wimley/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT confirms that the new Commercial Street Bridge on I-376 is tracking ahead of schedule. 

PennDOT District Executive Jason Zang said at a news conference yesterday that one of the bearing pedestals had to wait to be placed until the bridge moved into its current position. 

The bridge slid into place the final six feet since that press conference. 

Concrete for that final bearing was set and the concrete strength was being tested yesterday morning. 

PennDOT is trying to reopen Commercial Street on August 3rd because a replacement project is underway. 

(File Photo of Visit the Beaver County Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The Genesis Collective, which is a group dedicated to expanding art and creative opportunity throughout Beaver County, is inviting all workers and residents of the county to participate in a new survey for the community.  

This initiative is designed to gather input on the role that the arts play in local life and to build a data-backed and stronger case for future programming and funding. 

The link to take the ten-question survey, which closes at 11:59 p.m. on August 1st, can be found by clicking here.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Beaver County Radio’s Curtis Walsh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Patterson Township, PA) An event to honor local veterans who gave their lives during the Vietnam War finished up yesterday in Patterson Township at Franciscan Manor.

The Vietnam Veterans’ Moving Wall is a replica that is half the size of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, D.C. and over 58,000 American veterans were celebrated during the ceremony of that wall from July 16th through July 20th.    

(Credit and Caption for Photo: Adult Asian longhorned ticks collected in Frick Park by a group of University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health student students completing a five-year study on a variety of ticks in the area. (Louis B. Ruediger | TribLive)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The number of Lyme disease cases is increasing this year in Western Pennsylvania for the second year in a row.  

That area is still one of the most heavily impacted regions across the country for illnesses that are tick-borne. 

Allegheny and Westmoreland counties are leading that region with the confirmed Lyme disease cases so far this year.

Yesterday’s numbers reflect that Allegheny County has 915 cases, Westmoreland County has 560 cases and Washington County has 303 cases.

It is recommended to tuck pants into socks, wear long or light-colored clothing to identify ticks, use tick-repelling products, check for ticks, and use tweezers to remove one if they are found.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: This undated photo taken through a microscope provided by the CDC shows Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts found in a fresh stool sample which had been prepared with a formalin solution and stained with safranin. (CDC via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Silver Spring, MD) The Food and Drug Administration stated on Sunday that a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms which had tested positive for the parasite cyclospora was a false positive.

However, the FDA said yesterday that its investigation and data will “continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.”   

The FDA noted in a subsequent statement that same day “To clarify, this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.”   

The CDC affirms that this outbreak was first reported in May and has spread to 34 states and sickened over 1,600 people. 

According to public health experts, cyclosporiasis is a food- and waterborne illness that is caused by cyclospora, and it causes long-lasting, watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea. 

Outbreaks are occurring in late spring and summer typically and they have historically been linked to bagged salads, cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions. 

(File Photo of a Deer Approaching Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) A select group of hunters in Pennsylvania will now have a new way to test their deer for Chronic Wasting Disease as part of a pilot project which allows hunters to mail their samples to a laboratory. 

The Pennsylvania Game Commission sent letters to random hunters across the state recently asking if they would like to have a sampling kit and to provide feedback on the program. 

According to Jeannine Fleegle, a wildlife biologist with the PGC’s deer and elk section, the progam “will allow hunters to collect the appropriate tissue for testing.”

Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal neurological brain disease that can happen in animals like deer, elk and moose and it was first discovered in the state of Pennsylvania in 2012. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Senator John Fetterman’s Office)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), in collaboration with U.S. Steel and the United Steelworkers, submitted a steel plaque last week on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be included in the America 250 Congressional time capsule.

The inscription, which says: Forged in steel from the birthplace of the United States of America, recognizes the important history of Pennsylvania in the foundation of the greatest country and its countless contributions for 250 years. 

The capsule will be opened during the 500th anniversary of the United States of America on July 4th, 2276.

A letter from the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation was submitted by Senator Fetterman in addition to the plaque.

It was signed by U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA), as well as U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5), Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4).

The Members of Congess wrote: “When this capsule is opened on our nation’s 500th anniversary on July 4, 2276, we hope the history of Pennsylvania and the legacy of its steelworkers serve as a generational reminder of the birthplace of the United States of America and those who helped build it.”

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A 26-year-old woman from Mt. Oliver is facing charges after police said that she threatened a driver with a large knife and demanded that he drive her and her daughter to Pittsburgh International Airport yesterday. 

According to Allegheny County police, an officer patrolling the departure curb at Pittsburgh International Airport was approached by a man who said he was a taxi driver. 

He told the officer that a passenger in his vehicle had threatened him with a knife. 

The victim was able to identify the person to the officer, who confronted them immediately. 

The person was later identified as 26-year-old Mya Owens. 

Police determined that the victim picked Owens and her daughter up at a hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. Owens pulled out a large kitchen knife during the drive and then threatened the victim and demanded that he drive her to the airport. 

Officers were later able to see video from inside the vehicle which displayed the incident. The knife was also recovered from the backseat of the vehicle of the victim.  

Owens faces multiple charges, which include kidnapping, terroristic threats and corruption of minors.  

Owens was taken to the Allegheny County Jail pending arraignment.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices are 25 cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.26 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. 

The national average for a gallon of regular gas went up 13 cents over the past week and is now at $4 per gallon.  

Instability that is along the Strait of Hormuz is contributing to the increased prices at the gas pump and is pushing crude oil prices over $80 per barrel.   

The national average for a gallon of gas stayed in the range of $4 earlier this year during all of April and May and most of June.  

The last time that national average for gas was $4 or above was on June 17th when it was $4.02, and it is five cents more than a month ago and 86 cents more than a year ago.  

The report states that the average price that you can expect for a gallon of regular gas here in Beaver County is $4.24. 

According to a release from AAA East Central and AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, here are the average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline this week in various areas:

$4.270      Altoona
$4.240      Beaver
$4.198      Bradford
$4.140      Brookville
$4.312      Butler
$4.202      Clarion
$4.201      DuBois
$4.254      Erie
$4.264      Greensburg
$4.204      Indiana
$4.299      Jeannette
$4.244      Kittanning
$4.295      Latrobe
$4.285      Meadville
$4.299      Mercer
$4.229      New Castle
$4.251      New Kensington
$4.294      Oil City
$4.289      Pittsburgh
$4.159      Sharon
$4.453      Uniontown
$4.335      Warren
$4.257      Washington