BEAVER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, Oct. 2, 2023 – Beaver County, along with hundreds of communities and  organizations nationwide, is celebrating Digital Inclusion Week 2023 (Oct. 2-6) by prioritizing equitable home  Internet access through computer training and support programs. The Connect Beaver County Broadband Program  is working to close the digital divide and address roadblocks citizens may face when accessing the Internet and  computer devices. 

“We recognize that having access to an Internet connection is only the first step to ensure all residents can fully  participate in our digital economy,” said Lance Grable, director of Beaver County’s Office of Planning and  Redevelopment. “The Connect Beaver County Broadband Program also invested in a digital navigator program to  better understand how we can leverage county resources to help aid residents with their digital proficiency.” 

Beaver County residents face several obstacles and barriers to digital inclusion, including issues with transportation  and mobility, limited access to affordable Internet and computing devices, and a need for more awareness  regarding digital inclusion services. Beaver County’s Connect Beaver County broadband initiatives identified these  challenges that impact residents beyond infrastructure alone.  

Digital navigators are available to help users become familiar with available technology and learn how to access  information and opportunities through the Internet. The Beaver County Digital Coach program, also known as the  Digital Coach, helps Beaver County residents who need access to the Internet and the necessary skills to use it  effectively. The program aims to bridge the gap for those left behind in the digital age, providing support with  tasks such as email services, telehealth, job application portals, and basic computing software.  

The efforts throughout 2022-2023 to develop a digital navigator program have worked for the County to understand its many partners who provide digital access and support, identify where more capacity is needed, and  establish a path forward to help connect residents to the skills and technical support they need. In partnership  with Tech2Elevate, Digital Coach Programs aim to provide a physical and accessible community space to conduct  digital literacy training, one-on-one assistance, and a lending library for devices to enhance access to high-speed  Internet for the community. 

Examples of Beaver County’s efforts to increase digital inclusion: 

• In June, the Beaver County Office of Planning and Redevelopment announced that Verizon had  been selected to deploy high-speed fiber-optic broadband service to eligible locations lacking  connection.  
• Two Early Action Projects with Internet service providers Armstrong and Windstream are  underway. Residents are expected to receive new service options as early as 2024. 
• Tech2Elevate has received funding for three AmeriCorps fellows who started in September and  have begun offering digital coaching through tech2elevate.org. The County and its partners continue  to seek long-term funding sources for its digital navigator program. 

• The County developed an Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) tutorial video and a PDF to help  guide residents through the ACP enrollment process. The ACP offers eligible households $30 toward  their monthly Internet bill and up to $100 on the purchase of a computer or Internet-enabled device. 

Learn more about the Digital Navigator Program and more at www.ConnectBeaverCounty.com. 

Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) is an annual event highlighting communities’ work elevating digital inclusion efforts.  DIW seeks to raise awareness of solutions addressing home Internet access, personal devices, and local technology  training and support programs. For more information, visit www.DigitalInclusion.org. 

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is remaining noncommittal on a strategy to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gases after a task force he appointed on climate change policy came to an uncertain conclusion. Shapiro’s administration said Friday that the task force had finished its work. Shapiro appointed the task force to consider former Gov. Tom Wolf’s regulation to make Pennsylvania the first major fossil fuel state to adopt carbon pricing over power plant emissions. However, the 17-member task force could come to no consensus on it. Wolf’s regulation remains hung up in the courts, and Shapiro isn’t saying whether he’d carry out the carbon pricing policy should it survive the legal challenge.

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

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump has Pennsylvania’s voting rules in his sights, and it’s a familiar target. Trump has never stopped attacking mail-in ballot changes made through the courts during the pandemic and he falsely claimed it was one reason for his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the battleground state. Now the former president is seizing on a decision by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro to bypass the Pennsylvania Legislature and start automatic voter registration. Shapiro’s recent executive order has drawn complaints from Republicans. They’re concerned about non-US citizens and minors being able to register. Trump has called the move a “scam.”

Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Connection

As the November 7 municipal elections fast approach, there’s a push for voter education in the Keystone State.

The Commonwealth is home to more than 1.7 million K-12 students in 500 school districts.

Amy McGahran is a volunteer with the League of Women Voters Central Bucks County. She said five seats are open for the school board race, and 10 people are running.

She said the district is facing challenges – based on policies that have been put in place by a majority of the existing school board that don’t fairly represent the community and, as she said, are “discriminatory” and hurtful to the students.

“One of those policies being a library-book restriction policy,” said McGahran, “which is basically a book ban, to remove books from our library that have already been selected and on the shelves by our library staff.”

McGahran pointed out they also have a censorship policy that limits what can be taught in classrooms.

Therefore, she said the League – along with other advocacy groups – are hosting a webinar on censorship in schools and the actions that Pennsylvanians can take in their communities. It’s Tuesday at 7 p.m.

McGahran said they want to bring common sense and compassion back to the school board. She added they are also concerned with what she calls “wasteful spending” by the Central Bucks County school district.

“Based on the book-ban policy, the school district hired a PR firm,” said McGahran, “And also based on the ACLU complaint, there was a Philadelphia lawyer hired, a very expensive Philadelphia law firm that did a report for the school district that cost the taxpayers over $1.4 million.”

She said the Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union – acting on a complaint – has taken legal action, and filed a suit with the Pennsylvania Department of Education against the Central Bucks School District for discrimination and harassment of LGBTQ students.

Elizabeth Downing chairs the educational advocacy committee for the League of Women Voters of Bucks County.

She said recent decisions by the school board have led to the removal of sex-education programs, leaving students without vital information and resources.

She emphasized the importance of civic engagement, stating – “Your vote counts.”

“The super number one thing we are telling everyone is please, please, please vote,” said Downing. “And even more importantly, be an informed voter – go to VOTE411.org and other information sites that will tell you where your candidate stands on these sorts of issues.”

The last day to register to vote in the General Election is October 23.

October 31 is the last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot. These ballots must be received by the county board of elections by 8 p.m. on election day.

As the cold wintry months approach, AAA braces for an increase in Roadside Assistance calls for dead batteries. According to data from 2022, AAA East Central contractors responded to 270,985 battery-related calls and replaced 53,847.To avoid potential breakdowns, especially during the colder months, vehicle owners should consider having their batteries tested sooner rather than later.

“Our number one service call during the winter is assisting members with dead batteries,” says Mike Hoshaw, vice president of automotive services, AAA East Central. “In addition to addressing a car’s fall and winter maintenance needs, we advise motorists to focus on the health of their battery today, not when it’s too late.”

October is AAA Car Care Month, and it’s the perfect time for vehicle owners to ensure their batteries are ready for winter. Batteries often work under huge temperature extremes and stand up to constant shock and vibrations. Intense summer heat can cause corrosion and fluid evaporation, leaving a vehicle’s battery more vulnerable to the rigors of winter. Even the tiny amount of power required to maintain clocks, alarm systems, and computer memories will gradually discharge a battery over time.

AAA East Central advises motorists visit a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility to have their entire charging system and battery tested, especially if the battery is more than three years old. AAA members can request battery service on-the-spot as part of their membership. This includes battery testing and, if need be, replacement with a competitively-priced AAA battery. Service can be requested by calling 800-AAA-HELP.

Other items on AAA’s Car Care Month Checklist include:

• Tire Type and Tread: In areas with heavy winter weather, changing to snow tires on all four wheels will provide the best winter traction. Testing tire’s tread is easy: insert a quarter into a tread groove with the top of George Washington’s head facing down. If you can see the top of Washington’s head, it’s time to start shopping for new tires.
• Tire Pressure: Typically, tire pressure decreases 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit that the temperature drops, putting owners at risk for a flat tire. The proper tire pressure levels can be found on a sticker located on the driver’s side door jamb. (Don’t forget to check the spare!)
• Wiper Blades: Replace blades that leave streaks or miss spots. Consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade in a rubber boot to prevent ice and snow buildup.
• Washer Fluid: Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a cleaning solution that has antifreeze components.
• Coolant Levels: If your engine coolant level is low, add the recommended coolant to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability.  

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lighting operations on I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) in Hopewell and Brighton townships and the City of Aliquippa, Beaver County are underway.

Single lane restrictions will occur on I-376 at the Brighton (Exit 36), Aliquippa (Exit 45), and Hopewell/Route 151 (Exit 48) interchanges weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Friday, October 13 as crews from Duquesne Light install new light fixtures at the interchanges.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 2, 2023 10:35 A.M.

(New York, USA) Eddie Manuel Nunez Santos akak Lucas, 33, has been arrested, and in a complaint unsealed September 29, 2023 in the Southern District of New York, is charged with making hoax bomb threats to more than 150 school districts, synagogues, airports, and locally, the Beaver Valley Mall, between September 15 and 21, 2023. The threats spanned multiple states, including PA, New York, Connecticut, Arizona, and Alaska. His actions resulted in massive disruptions in the targeted communities, including the evacuation of thousands of school children, a hospital lockdown, and flight delays. 24 PA school districts were disrupted by the hoaxes. His message said, “I placed multiple bombs in all of your schools in your school districts. The bombs will blow up in a few hours.”, “I’ll gladly smile when your families are crying because of your deaths.” Santos is also charged with attempting to induce a 15 year old girl to take and send him nude photos and sexually explicit photos, he allegedly sent the bomb threats in retaliation against her and other minors after they refused his requests for child pornography.

(New Brighton, Pa) From the borough of New Brighton: Leaf collection will begin in New Brighton Borough on Monday, October 9, in Daugherty Township on Monday, October 16, and in Pulaski Township on Monday, October 23.   All leaf collection programs will continue through December 1, as weather permits.

Borough and Township residents should place their raked leaves along the edge of the street for collection. Leaves that are bagged or that contain any tree branches, brush, stones, garbage/rubbish, grass clippings, or garden debris will not be collected.

Leaf collection in New Brighton Borough will follow the posted street sweeping schedule.

Leaf collection in Daugherty Township will follow the following schedule:

Mondays: William Penn Way & Crescent Heights Plan, Rt. 65 (from Valley Avenue to Stuber Road), North Avenue, Franklin Plan, and McGuire Street.
Tuesdays: Gulbranson Heights Plan, Daugherty Highlands Plan, and Hillcrest Drive.
Wednesdays: Mercer Heights Plan, Klein Plan, Stuber Road, McCreary Plan, Cardinal Drive, Robin Trail, and Rt. 65 (from Stuber Road to Wises Grove Road).
Thursdays: Allendale Road, Wallace Drive, Harold Street, Inman Drive, Hogue Drive, and John Street.

Call the Daugherty Township Municipal Building at (724) 846-5337 to schedule a collection on state routes not listed above.

Leaf collection in Pulaski Township will follow the following schedule:

Mondays: New England Hill and Blockhouse Run Road area.
Tuesdays: Sunflower Road – North to 36th Street.
Wednesday: West Side of Rochester Road from Sunflower Road to 52nd Street.
Thursdays: East Side of Rochester Road from Sunflower Road to 52nd Street.
Fridays: Tree branches will be collected that have fallen from storms.  Branches must be tied together into manageable bundles and not contain any other type of lawn debris.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published October 2, 2023 7:42 A.M.
Photo taken at groundbreaking in May 2023.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Beaver County Property records show that 72 Steel has closed on their deal with Chuck Betters to purchase land used by the former J&L Steel Mill to build a new steel facility on the property. The Brooklyn, New York based Chinese-American company held a groundbreaking at the site in May, with hopes to have the new steel mill operational by 2025. 72 Steel says they will be investing 218 million dollars into the mill and be able to produce hundreds of thousands of tons of steel per year using the newest and most advanced steel technology and environmentally friendly equipment.