Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Photos by Keith Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published November 5, 2023 10:25 A.M.
(Sewickley, Pa) An accident on Route 65 in Sewickley caused a closure in both directions of the road Sunday evening. At least 2 people were said to be transported to the hospital. No other information is available at this time.
Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published November 3, 2023 4:54 P.M.
(Chippewa Township, Pa) Chippewa Township Fire Department reports they were called to a vehicle fire at the Chippewa Walmart around 10:30am Thursday.
Patterson Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Patterson Township Volunteer Fire Company also assisted. Firefighters found and extinguished an engine compartment fire on a car in the parking lot. The scene was cleared after approximately 30 minutes. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, November 11, 2023, in observance of Veterans Day. The full-service center in Harrisburg and the Pittsburgh Driver License Center location will also close Friday, November 10, 2023.
A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2023 is available online. If you are planning to visit one of PennDOT’s On-Line Messenger Service Centers, please call ahead for hours of operation during holidays.
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane and shoulder restrictions on I-376 in Moon, Findlay, Hopewell, Center, Potter and Vanport townships, Allegheny and Beaver counties will begin Monday, November 6 weather permitting.
Single-lane and shoulder restrictions on I-376 in each direction will occur between the Moon/Business Loop 376 (Exit 57) interchange and the Beaver/Midland exit (Exit 38) as needed, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through late December.
Crews from Bonder Technical Services will conduct construction work for new ITS Dynamic Message Signs.
Please use caution if traveling through the area.
(Brighton Twp., Pa.) Beaver County Radio 1230 WBVP and 99.3 FM is proud to be hosting a Beaver County Commissioners Candidates Debate on Friday, November 3, 2023 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.
The Debate will be broadcast live on WBVP and 99.3 FM as well as streamed on the Beaver County Radio Facebook Page and You Tube Channel.
Beaver County Radio’s Eddy Crow will be the moderator. The panel will consist of Beaver County Radio’s Mike Romigh, Beaver County Chamber President Donna Lee Siple, and from the Franklin Center in Aliquippa, Dr. Cheryl King.
The candidates that are running for the Commissioners are current Beaver County Commissioners Chairman Dan Camp, Current Commissioners Tony Amadio and Jack Manning, and newcomer Julian Taylor.
Candidate Cast will also be presented via Facebook Live on the Beaver County Radio Facebook Page. Just Click the link below at 9:10AM:
If you can’t tune in you can click the link below to listen on-line via beavercountyradio.com:
You can also down load our free apps:
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded Pennsylvanians today that they can get up-to-the-minute, unofficial results of Tuesday’s municipal election on the Department of State’s election night returns website. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely, fairly, and securely – and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard – are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
“After the polls close, voters, candidates, and members of the media will be able to find the most complete picture of how Pennsylvanians voted on our election returns site,” Schmidt said. “We are working with all 67 counties to make sure we get updated, unofficial results posted and available to the public beginning at 8 p.m. on Nov. 7.”
People who visit electionreturns.pa.gov can customize their searches, receive timely updates, view unofficial results on mobile devices, use a location-based service through the “My County” link to instantly bring up their county’s election returns, and connect to each county’s election results website.
Schmidt noted that Pennsylvania’s election laws do not currently allow counties to begin pre-canvassing mail-in and absentee ballots before 7 a.m. on Election Day, so the public must be patient as county elections officials diligently count every eligible vote.
“Giving election workers time to accurately and securely count each vote is our top priority, and so we ask for patience as we await results,” Schmidt added.
To date, 931,145 Pennsylvania voters requested a mail-in ballot, and 95,082 voters requested an absentee ballot ahead of the municipal election.
Other voting reminders
Pennsylvanians voting by mail-in or absentee ballot should return their completed ballot as soon as possible. With Election Day less than a week away, Schmidt highly recommends that voters hand-deliver their mail ballot to their county elections office or a drop box site, if possible. The deadline for county boards of elections to receive completed mail ballots is 8 p.m. on Election Day. Completed mail ballots received after that time do not count, even if they are postmarked before the deadline.
Voters may return only their own mail ballot unless the voter has a disability and designates someone in writing to return it for them using the designation form on the Department of State website, or the voter requires an emergency absentee ballot.
Voters also have the option of voting in person at the polls on Nov. 7. Polling places will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters who received an absentee or mail-in ballot may vote in person on Election Day if they bring their unvoted mail ballot packet, including the outer envelope, with them to be voided. After they surrender their ballot packet and sign a declaration, they can then complete and vote a ballot in person.
Voters who requested a mail ballot and did not receive it or do not have it to surrender may vote by provisional ballot at their polling place on Nov. 7. The provisional ballot will be reviewed by their county board of elections after Election Day to ensure that the voter did not successfully vote another ballot.
Voters appearing at a polling place for the first time will need to show proper identification, which may be either photo or non-photo ID.
For more information on voting and elections, visit vote.pa.gov or call the Department of State’s year-round hotline, 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772), which offers information and interpretation services in more than 200 languages.
Enola, PA – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Stephen DeFrank, Vice Chair Kim Barrow, and Commissioner Kathryn Zerfuss visited Tri County Community Action today to announce the start of the annual Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) application process for the 2023-24 season.
LIHEAP is a federally-funded program administered by DHS that helps with home heating bills so Pennsylvanians with low incomes can stay warm and safe during the winter months. Assistance is available for renters and homeowners. The LIHEAP application period for both cash and crisis grants is open from November 1, 2023, to April 5, 2024.
“Keeping your home warm during the coldest and darkest months of the year is a necessity, not a luxury. Every Pennsylvanian deserves the dignity and peace of mind of knowing that their heat will not be shut off this winter and they can keep themselves and their families safe and warm,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “LIHEAP helps many of our fellow Pennsylvanians make ends meet by providing cash or crisis grants directly to their utility or home heating fuel provider. If you or someone you know needs help or could benefit from this program, I encourage you to apply for LIHEAP today.”
LIHEAP is distributed directly to a household’s utility company or home heating fuel provider in the form of a grant, so the individual or households do not have to repay assistance. While last season’s LIHEAP benefits were supplemented by additional American Rescue Plan dollars, this season’s benefits will return to more traditional amounts. The minimum LIHEAP cash grant is $300, and the maximum cash grant is $1,000.
The LIHEAP crisis grant is for people who meet the income limits and are in jeopardy of having their heating utility service terminated, have a broken heating equipment have already had their heating utility service terminated, or who are out of or have less than two weeks’ worth of deliverable fuel, such as fuel oil, propane, coal, or wood. The minimum LIHEAP crisis grant is $25, and the maximum crisis grant is $1,000.
“Working in combination, the annual winter LIHEAP grants along with various PUC-required utility assistance programs help hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania households stay connected, safe, and warm,” said DeFrank. “We strongly encourage families to apply for LIHEAP and also #CallUtilitiesNow to discuss all the affordability options that are available.”
Tri County Community Action (TCCA) is part of a statewide network of community-based organizations addressing social determinants of health. TCCA works to eradicate poverty by integrating services and programming across entire families through a multi-generation/whole family approach, and to connect community development initiatives to overall individual wellbeing. As children, parents, and families grow and change across their lifespan, TCCA aligns opportunities to help them pursue their goals and thrive, optimizing each person’s potential.
“LIHEAP embodies more than just heating assistance; it serves as a foundational cornerstone for overall well-being,” said Jen Wintermyer, Tri County Community Action Chief Executive Officer. “It’s not only about keeping families warm, but also about maintaining their unity within communities, their involvement in education, and their role as productive citizens. Without this program, thousands would face homelessness, entering a detrimental cycle that would erode family stability, employment, and more, ultimately pushing them further behind. We express immense gratitude for the LIHEAP program, as it truly adopts a proactive approach, preventing further crisis and harm for Pennsylvanians.”
During the 2022-2023 LIHEAP season, 312,169 households statewide received $125,572,518 in LIHEAP cash benefits, and these households received an average season benefit of $402. More than 135,000 households statewide received $98,923,752 in LIHEAP crisis benefits, and these households received an average payment of $688.
The income limit for LIHEAP is 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level; for an individual, that is a gross income of $21,870 per year, and for a family of four, that is a gross income of $45,000 per year.
Pennsylvanians can apply for LIHEAP and other public assistance programs online at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS or by phone at 1-866-550-4355. Pennsylvanians do not need to know their own eligibility to apply for these programs. Those who have applied and were denied previously but have experienced a change in circumstances can reapply.
More information about LIHEAP is available at dhs.pa.gov/liheap.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health is alerting parents and caregivers of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recall and recommendation not to buy or feed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches to children because the product may contain elevated lead levels. This includes all lot codes and expiration dates. The FDA has secured a voluntary recall from the manufacturer.
The fruit puree pouches are primarily white and green in color, with a purple cap, as shown in the picture below:
“Lead can be very harmful if ingested, especially for a young child,” said Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “We want to get the message out to help protect and prevent potential harm to children. Puree pouches are a popular food option for our youngest residents. Parents and caregivers should check their child’s puree pouches and dispose of any of the recalled products.”
All families should have their children tested for lead exposure, per CDC recommendations. Early identification of elevated lead levels can prevent the most serious effects, so all children can reach their full potential.
The Department maintains a toll-free lead information hotline (1-800-440-LEAD) to provide information about lead poisoning prevention, testing, follow-up, and local resources.
More information about lead can also be found on the Department of Health’s website.
The pouches are sold nationally through multiple retailers, including Sam’s Club, Amazon, and Dollar Tree.
Parents and caregivers of children who may have consumed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches should contact their child’s health care provider about getting a blood lead test.
The Department of Health has shared a health alert notice to further communicate this recall among state and local public.
(Beaver Falls, Pa) The City of Beaver Falls Fire Department is set to hold a competitive entry level test for the position of Firefighter/EMT/Code Enforcement Officer. Applications can be obtained now through Wednesday, November 22. The starting salary for 2024 will be $46,367 with a benefits package and pension plan. Applications can be picked up by visiting www.beaverfallspa.org, or on the 2nd floor of the city building at 715 15th Street in Beaver Falls between the 8:30am and 3:30pm, Monday through Friday.
WASHINGTON, DC – Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman secured over $40 million in funding for Pennsylvania after the U.S. Senate passed its first bipartisan FY24 appropriations bill this afternoon. The legislative package includes millions of dollars in funding for Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food and Drug Administration; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. The bills will fund projects in Pennsylvania ranging from agriculture research to homelessness assistance to veterans’ health care.
“I am proud to have secured these critical funds for the people I was elected to represent during my first annual appropriations process. These projects will benefit our rural communities and farmers, our servicemembers and veterans, our unhoused population, and so many other Pennsylvanians,” said Senator Fetterman. “Investing in these communities is critical. I’m particularly proud we were able to get the William Way LGBT Community Center funded after House Republicans stripped it out. They must stop playing partisan games and get to work so we can deliver these investments where they are needed.”
Senator Fetterman has spent his time in the Senate fighting for forgotten communities that are typically left behind by Washington, and he ensured that these communities were not left behind in this appropriations cycle. He worked with his colleagues in the Senate to secure funds that will benefit the entire commonwealth. The Senate’s bipartisan process stands in stark contrast to the House’s partisan approach to funding the government by passing appropriations bills that are littered with extreme social policy riders.
Specific projects in Pennsylvania that Sen. Fetterman pushed for in Congressionally Directed Spending requests include:
In addition, the appropriations bills funded critical programs that will greatly benefit Pennsylvania, including:
Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies