Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., walks on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has voted to reverse an informal guidance issued by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer last week that senators could wear what they want when voting or speaking in the chamber. The resolution passed Wednesday night by voice vote with no objections. It requires that ”business attire be worn on the floor of the Senate, which for men shall include a coat, tie, and slacks or other long pants.” It did not specify what women should wear. The bipartisan resolution by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, comes after backlash to Schumer’s announcement that the Sergeant-at-Arms would no longer enforce a dress code on the floor.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today that a total of 1,217 applicants have applied for the Academy since college credit requirements for the position of trooper were removed one month ago. In comparison, 1,745 applications were received during the previous hiring cycle, which was open for a full six months.

Of those 1,217 applications, 524 were from applicants who hold a high school diploma or equivalency and previously would not have been eligible.

“We’re empowering Pennsylvanians who want to serve their community, and I’m proud of the individuals who have applied to become troopers following our announcement dropping the college credit requirement,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Policing is a noble profession, and the Pennsylvania State Police is the finest law enforcement agency in the nation. Our State Police Academy trains highly capable public servants who work hard to make our communities safer. For those who want to serve, this door of opportunity is open – and we want you on our team.”

“We’re pleased to see this jump in applications,” said Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “It’s my hope that even more of the brightest and most hard-working women and men from Pennsylvania and the surrounding area will see themselves in a rewarding a career with the PSP.”

Cadet applicants must possess a high school diploma or GED certificate and a valid driver’s license from any state. Applicants must be at least 20 years old at the time of application, and they must be at least 21 years old and cannot have reached age 40 upon entry into the training academy. Cadets must be a Pennsylvania resident and possess a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license at the time of graduation.

Applicants who meet all eligibility requirements move on to a qualifying written examination. Applicants who pass the qualifying exam must have a polygraph examination, background investigation, physical readiness test, medical screening, and psychological screening before training at the academy.

Cadet training lasts approximately 28 weeks and is paramilitary in nature. The training includes coursework in Pennsylvania’s crimes and vehicle codes, law enforcement principles and practices, firearms and special equipment training, and physical fitness activities.

Upon completion of the training academy, cadets are promoted to trooper and receive an increase in salary, currently set at $66,911 annually.

Governor Josh Shapiro, on his first full day in office, announced that 92 percent of state government jobs – about 65,000 positions – do not require a four-year college degree. Governor Shapiro also ordered all state agencies under his jurisdiction to take steps to emphasize work experience in their hiring.

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona leaves Progressive Field in Cleveland on his scooter on the scheduled day of the Indians’ home opening baseball game on March 26, 2020. Slowed by major health issues in recent years, the personable, popular Francona may be stepping away, but not before leaving a lasting imprint as a manager and as one of the game’s most beloved figures. (John Kuntz/Cleveland.com via AP)
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published September 28, 2023 10:36 A.M.

(Cleveland, Ohio) New Brighton native Terry Francona has been known for riding his scooter to and from Progressive Field while managing the Cleveland Guardians. According to the Associated Press, the scooter was stolen for the second time Wednesday just hours before his last home game. Francona told the AP the two-wheeled vehicle was stripped and defaced. Francona has been with Cleveland for 11 seasons, and has the most wins as a manager in club history. The AP states that he didn’t want a ceremony for his final home game, but was relented by the team handing out 20,000 “Thank You Tito” T-shirts. He won two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox before going to Cleveland.

James Tobin and Dewey and the Decimators performing Live at Wooley Bully’s in New Brighton.

(New Brighton, Pa) On October 12, 2023 at the Merrick Art Gallery ( 1100 5th Avenue, New Brighton), Beaver Valley Artists will host Digital artist James Tobin. He will
explain and demonstrate his Digital Painting techniques at 7:00 p.m. The demonstration is free and open to the public.
James is not only an award winning Digital painter, he is a well known and accomplished musician.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 27, 2023 12:52 P.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) On Saturday, September, 30, 2023 the Hopewell High School baseball team members will receive their WPIAL  championship rings during halftime at the soccer game. The announcement was made at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 27, 2023 12:49 P.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) Motorists travelling to the Sweet Briar housing development are advised 1035-1041 Tee Line Drive will be closed on Saturday, September 30, 2023 between 3-9 p.m. This is due to a block party being held.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper extended his arms as wide as they could stretch and waited for his jubilant Phillies teammates to sock him in the midsection with bottles of bubbly that had been turned into super soakers.

J.T. Realmuto used his teeth to gnaw off plastic that enveloped a box of cigars, ready to light the official accessory of any good clubhouse bash. Garrett Stubbs stripped one strap down on his Phillies overalls and danced a few songs away with Brandon Marsh and Nick Castellanos.

There is no wrong way to celebrate a clinch, of course, and the Phillies had plenty of practice with postseason parties after enjoying three of them last year on the way to the World Series.

But perhaps the most delightful look belonged to 68-year-old team owner John Middleton. He stood on the soggy carpet in a drenched Phillies hat, T-shirt and shorts. And in his bare feet, the owner who once vowed he would spend “stupid money” to make the Phillies winners again had something else he wanted to say:

“I think we’re a better team this year than we were last year,” he said.

The Phillies put the National League on notice they are ready for another run at the World Series after a 10-inning, 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

The Phillies also clinched the top wild-card seed and will host all games in the second year of the NL wild-card series. Game 1 is Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park.

“We have such a great team and a great group,” Harper said. “We couldn’t do this without every single guy in this clubhouse.”

That includes outfielder Johan Rojas and reliever Jeff Hoffman, two players who weren’t even on the opening day roster. Rojas won the center-field job and won the game with an RBI single that scored pinch-runner Christian Pache. Hoffman has turned himself into a trusted late-inning reliever and earned the win with a scoreless 10th.

Rojas’ single off reliever David Bednar (3-3) set off a wild celebration that quickly carried into the clubhouse. “Phillies CLINCHED Wild Card” flashed on the scoreboard and the team’s official postseason song “Dancing On My Own” was cranked to full volume.

“I think the memories created with the song on the run we had has real,” Castellanos said. “I also think the city being able to be in on the song was also real. To be able to clinch and put it back on and have the city get just as excited as us means it’s real. And real is beautiful.”

The Phillies were poised for another wild clubhouse bash after clinching series victories in the NL Division Series and NLCS at home last season. They lost the World Series to Houston in six games last year and carried the weight of unfinished business into this year.

They just had to wait.

Brandon Marsh homered for the Phillies and Harper added a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead in the sixth.

Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds hit a solo shot in the seventh off Phillies starter Aaron Nola and Henry Davis hit one off All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel that tied the game at 2 in the eighth.

Rojas bailed them out for the Phillies first clinching win on a walk-off since 1920.

The Phillies celebrated their first clinch of a postseason spot at Citizens Bank Park since Sept. 18, 2011, when they won their fifth straight NL East title.

A decade of lean years followed, but Harper’s celebrated arrival in 2019 helped usher in excitement, enthusiasm for the future and eventually the postseason. The Phillies added free-agent shortstop Trea Turner this season and his second-half surge propelled the Phillies to the wild card.

No doubt, the ballpark will again rock as it did last October. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said a rival coach told him during the playoffs that a game in Philly was “four hours of hell.” The Phillies won their first six home playoff games last season, setting the tone for what they called Red October.

Thomson earned laughs in the aftermath of last season’s wild-card clinch. Thomson went to take a swig out of his bottle of bubbly and — doink! Much to the delight of fans who saw the video on social media, the cork was still inside.

“I didn’t know that anybody knew until I got back in my office and my daughter texted me,” he said ahead of Tuesday’s game.

Thomson joked he learned his lesson and was ready to uncork before he took a swig.

His bottle was open Tuesday when he addressed the team in the clubhouse before the real celebration began.

“This is just the start,” Thomson said. “This team is built for where we’re going. Getting there is the tough part. Now we’ve got to finish this thing off.”

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Democratic Pennsylvania state lawmaker announced Tuesday that he will run for treasurer in 2024, positioning himself as an ideological opposite to the Republican incumbent regarding abortion access and the 2020 election.

Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, 37, announced his party primary candidacy for the seat held by incumbent Stacy Garrity, a Republican, who has said she plans to run for a second term.

The Erie representative couched the campaign as a “battle to stop the spread of extremism here in Pennsylvania,” saying Garrity has used “Harrisburg as a platform, spreading lies and promoting extreme agendas.”

“I’m running for State Treasurer to protect taxpayer assets, protect pensions, and to protect you from Stacy Garrity,” Bizzarro said in his campaign announcement video.

He targeted Garrity’s anti-abortion stance in the wake of last year’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Democrats have tapped abortion access as a top issue for voters heading toward the polls. It was a focal point in the 2022 national elections but has also played a significant role in Pennsylvania state elections, where Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the House, which they have said gives them leverage to protect access.

Bizzarro also tied Garrity to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, noting that she and other GOP politicians in the state rallied in Harrisburg the previous day, protesting the 2020 election results.

“As State Treasurer, I’ll strengthen programs that protect seniors, help families save for college, provide low-interest loans for our farmers, non-profits, cities and towns,” Bizzarro said in a news release.

Garrity campaign adviser Dennis Roddy, a senior adviser at ColdSpark consulting firm, said that Garrity has been a guardian of taxpayer dollars in her first term and Bizzarro is talking about everything but what a treasurer actually does. He called Bizzarro “a so-called leader in the laziest, least accomplished state Legislature in recent memory.”

“All he is attempting to do is to nationalize an election that has nothing to do with the issues he’s raising,” Roddy said.

Bizzarro, an Erie County native, was first sworn in to the Legislature in 2013. Before his tenure in the Capitol, Bizzarro worked as a victim/witness coordinator and advocate for the Office of the Erie County District Attorney and the Crime Victim Center. He’s policy chairman for the House Democrats, a caucus leadership spot.

Garrity, a retired U.S. Army Reserves colonel who served as vice president of a tungsten smelting plant, ousted a Democratic incumbent when she was elected in 2020. She said her major goal was to use the Treasury Department’s leverage to push lawmakers and the governor to limit state government spending to money that has been formally appropriated by the Legislature.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Groups of teenagers swarmed into stores in several areas of Philadelphia, stuffing plastic bags with merchandise and fleeing, and police arrested 15 to 20 people, authorities said.

The flash mob-style ransacking Tuesday night at stores, including Foot Locker, Lululemon and Apple in Center City, followed an earlier peaceful protest over a judge’s decision to dismiss murder and other charges against a Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a driver, Eddie Irizarry, through a rolled-up window.

However, the ransacking was not connected to the protest, Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford said at a news conference.

“What we had tonight was a bunch of criminal opportunists take advantage of a situation and make an attempt to destroy our city,” he said.

The thefts and unrest stretched from Center City to Northeast and West Philadelphia.

Stanford said that people appeared to have organized efforts on social media. He said police are investigating “that there was possibly a caravan of a number of different vehicles that were going from location to location” and that a couple of people in that group were in custody.

Police said there was an increased presence of juveniles in the Center City business corridor shortly before 8 p.m. and that some officers stopped a group of males “dressed in black attire and wearing masks,” according to a police department news release.

At that time, reports and 911 calls were coming in about the Foot Locker store. When police arrived, they found it had been “ransacked in a coordinated attack,” the news release said. The juveniles fled and at least one adult as arrested.

By 8:12 p.m., police responded to similar calls at Lululemon, where multiple people were arrested. Shortly after that, calls directed police to the Apple Store. No arrests were made there, but the store lost phones and tablets, although many of those items have since been recovered, the news release said.

Video posted on social media showed masked people in hoodies running out of Lululemon with merchandise and police officers grabbing several and tackling them to the sidewalk.

No injuries were immediately reported, but CBS Philadelphia said a security guard was assaulted at the Foot Locker.

The thefts also occurred on the same day that Target announced it will close nine stores in four states, including one in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood, and three in the San Francisco Bay Area, saying that theft and organized retail crime have threatened the safety of its workers and customers.