Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 15, 2024 3:26 P.M.

(Rochester, Pa) At 7:30am Rochester Police responded to 2 accidents, one on the Rochester-Monaca Bridge, and one on the East Rochester-Monaca Bridge.  A police spokesman said the drivers will possibly receive citations due to the rainy conditions and driver error. Both bridges were reopened after the accidents were cleared.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane restrictions in the Fort Pitt Tunnel (I-376) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur Sunday and Monday nights, March 17-18.

A single-lane restriction will occur in the Fort Pitt Tunnel from 9:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. each night according to the following schedule:

• Sunday night, March 17 – Inbound (eastbound)
• Monday night, March 18 – Outbound (westbound)

PennDOT crews will conduct lighting repair work.

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.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania National Guard and Pennsylvania American Legion, has begun accepting applications for its annual youth camp. The Elmer Hafer-American Legion-State Police-National Guard Youth Camp will be held June 9-15, 2024, at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County.

The six-day summer leadership camp is for teenagers, ages 15 to 17, interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or the military. The camp, formerly known as State Police Youth Week, works to improve the relationship between Pennsylvania’s youth and the law enforcement community. This year marks the 52nd camp held since its inception in 1970.

“This camp and others like it, including our Camp Cadet programs, offer young people a chance to build confidence and enhance leadership skills.” said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “Attendees will make memories that will last a lifetime while getting a chance to see firsthand what a career in law enforcement or the military can offer.”

Members of the PSP, the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and the American Legion staff the week-long camp. Cadets work on team-building exercises, physical fitness training, classroom activities involving police and military careers, and a marksmanship course. Cadets also visit the State Police Academy in Hershey and Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center in Lebanon County. The camp offers three $1,000 scholarship awards at the conclusion of the week.

“Considering a career of service to our commonwealth or nation is a big choice for teens and their families,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “Programs like this allow teens to explore their interest and provide a closer look at what a future with the PSP or the PANG might look like. We are thrilled to continue this partnership and opportunity for young Pennsylvanians.”

Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 17 prior to entering the camp and not reach age 18 during the camp. Cadets who previously attended the camp are not eligible to apply again. Applicants should be physically fit, in good health, and have a good academic record. There is no cost to participants, as their local American Legion post sponsors their attendance.

Interested applicants can read more about the camp by visiting pa-legion.com. Applications are available on the legion’s application page.

Additionally, State Police personnel host regional camp cadet programs. The week-long camp cadet programs are for Pennsylvanians ages 11-15. To inquire about availability of a camp cadet near you, contact your local Troop Community Services Officer.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 15, 2024 3:23 P.M.

(Monaca, Pa) Monaca Borough Council accepted a bid for its streetscape project at their meeting this week. Bronder Technical Service, inc’s bid is for $6,668,510.83.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) recognized the impact of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to help make internet more affordable and available to his constituents in Western Pennsylvania. The program is set to end by May 2024 unless Congress replenishes the appropriate funding.

“From programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program to fighting corporate rip-off junk fees, I’m fighting in Congress to lower costs for the American people,” said Rep. Deluzio. “Since the Affordable Connectivity Program began, it has helped more than 29,800 of my constituents save up to $30 a month on their internet bills. However, the program will soon run out of funding unless Congress acts. I call on congressional leadership to pass the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act and invest to make internet affordable for all Americans—no matter where they live or how much money they make.”

“Over the past three years, more than 8,800 low-income households in Beaver County have subscribed to a federal government program (ACP) that helps them pay for reliable home internet access,” said Lance Grable, Director of the Beaver County Office of Planning and Redevelopment. “Thanks to ACP-funded connectivity, these households can go to school online when needed, can access vital information about their health care and jobs, and get assistance with food and heating bills. The internet connects them to essential government services and to information about what’s going on in our County.”

According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 1 in 5 U.S. households are not connected to the internet. Moreover, 44% of households earning less than $30,000 each year do not have broadband, according to the White House. As of February 2024, 29,826 households in Pennsylvania’s 17^th Congressional District enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, and the district received a total of $14,976,583 from the program.

The American Rescue Plan initially created the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which expanded into the Affordable Connectivity Program under President Biden’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and offered discounted or free internet broadband to low-income households. Without additional funding, April 2024 will be the last fully funded month for the ACP discount and the Federal Communications Commission has stopped accepting new ACP applications and enrollments. Households that were approved and enrolled with an internet provider will continue to receive their ACP discounts during the wind-down period until the ACP ends.

Congressman Deluzio is a cosponsor of the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 that would fund the ACP with $7 billion and continue the payments for eligible households. The legislation is supported by both Democrats and Republicans, led by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY-06) in the House and by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), JD Vance (R-OH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in the Senate.

AMBRIDGE, March 14 – A $148,500 grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development will assist the city of Aliquippa as it emerges from Act 47 status and works to achieve long-term sustainability, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, announced today.

“It took decades of work and collaboration and faith in our city, but together with support from the commonwealth and city leadership led by Mayor Dwan Walker, we had the resolve to do it, and we built back,” Matzie said. “The city strengthened infrastructure, paid off debt and shored up finances to get to a position where they can chart their own future.

“The project funding from DCED will help us develop long-range plans for the future and keep the city moving on a new, independent path.”

(File Photo)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Seventeen individuals from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; and  Youngstown, Ohio, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for violating federal  narcotics, firearms, and racketeering laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.  The defendants were charged in two Indictments that were unsealed today and allege that, between  September 2022 and March 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine throughout Western  Pennsylvania, specifically in the New Castle area, as well as in Youngstown, Ohio.  

 As alleged in the Indictments, members of the two charged groups would transport, either by  person or mail, drugs from Puerto Rico to Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and elsewhere to distribute those drugs as part of an ongoing illicit business enterprise. Two of the defendants, Daniel Feliciano  and Markus Hobel, allegedly possessed firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking. Another  defendant, Jamie Klinesmith, allegedly possessed with intent to distribute a significant quantity of  methamphetamine. 

A complete list of the defendants, charges, and maximum penalties is included at the bottom  of this release. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based  upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of each defendant. 

“Today’s indictments represent an important step toward dismantling a multi-state drug  trafficking operation that brought significant quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Western  Pennsylvania and our neighbors in Ohio,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Together with our federal,  state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to work collaboratively to keep our  communities safe from drug traffickers and, in particular, those who choose to carry firearms in  connection with their drug dealing.”  

“Joint investigations that involve federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working  together as part of the HIDTA and OCDETF programs are what lead to successful cases and  significant indictments, as is the case here,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the  Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “These individuals are  accused of trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and firearms from outside the continental United  States, specifically Puerto Rico, to right here in Western Pennsylvania. I commend the efforts of all  the agencies involved.”  

Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler is prosecuting this case on behalf of the  United States. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Lawrence County High Intensity Drug Trafficking  Area (HIDTA) Drug Task Force, and United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation  resulting in the Indictments in this case, with significant assistance from the New Castle Police  Department, Ellwood City Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue  Service – Criminal Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State  Police, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and United States Department of Agriculture.  

Lawrence County is one of six Western Pennsylvania counties officially designated as a High  Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. The  county received its HIDTA designation in July 2022, allowing it to receive dedicated federal  resources to coordinate federal, state, and local governments in fighting drug trafficking and abuse.  

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)  investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money  launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using  a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal,  state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. 

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  

List of Defendants 

Feliciano Indictment: 

Tulla Torres Indictment:  

### 

FILE – A sign on the sidewalk outside an antique store in Spartansburg, Pa., on Feb. 29, 2024. Shawn C. Cranston, accused of killing a pregnant Amish woman in her rural home last month was expected to be in a courtroom on Friday, March 14, where a Pennsylvania judge will consider whether investigators have sufficient evidence to advance the charges toward trial. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, file)

MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A truck driver accused of killing a pregnant Amish woman in her rural home is headed to a Pennsylvania courthouse for a preliminary hearing. A Pennsylvania judge on Friday will consider whether investigators have sufficient evidence against 52-year-old Shawn Cranston to advance the charges toward trial. He is accused of killing 23-year-old Rebekah Byler and her unborn child inside the Byler home near Spartansburg in February. The hearing in the Crawford County Courthouse is to determine if there is enough evidence to support those charges, as well as accusations of burglary and trespassing. Cranston’s lawyer has not responded to messages and the chief prosecutor has declined to discuss the case.

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates after his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks in Pittsburgh, Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — John Ludvig and Rickard Rakell scored two minutes apart in the third period and the Pittsburgh Penguins pulled away from the San Jose Sharks for a 6-3 win. Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Jeff Carter Noel Acciari also scored for Pittsburgh, which won for the first time since dealing star winger Jake Guentzel to the Hurricanes at the trade deadline last week. Tristan Jarry made 30 saves for the Penguins, who were outscored 17-2 during their losing streak. Fabian Zetterlund, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Klim Kostin scored for San Jose, which lost for the 11th time in 12 games. Magnus Chrona stopped 25 shots.

FILE – Former President Donald Trump speaks at the National Rifle Association Convention in Indianapolis, on April 14, 2023.(AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump listened in court as his lawyers urged a federal judge to dismiss the criminal case accusing the former president of illegally retaining classified documents after he left the White House. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon heard arguments Thursday over whether a law that underpins the bulk of the charges is too vaguely worded to enforce against a former president. Cannon asked probing questions of both sides and didn’t immediately rule on Trump’s bid to throw out the case before ever reaching a jury. More arguments are expected later Thursday.