A prayer rally is  scheduled tomorrow at 8 a.m.  in Aliquippa’s municipal parking lot.The event is sponsored by A BETTER TOMORROW,, and all churches, pastors, parents, students community leaders, business owners, teachers, administrators and city officials, and also residents  are invited.  Andrenna Williams, is one of the events coordinators. This event is being held in light of the violence that occurred in the last week in the city.

State Rep Jim Christiana , a Republican,  faced off in a debate last night with  his Democratic challenger Mike Rossi at Penn State Beaver. Christiana is running for a new 2 year term, he’s been in office 8 years.  This is Rossi’s first run for the office. Rossi was president of Center Area School District’s school board when they merged with Monaca, and lost the  next election .  He’s a retired steelworker,  was a union  man, and said he’s spent  his whole life fighting for the middle class.” Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano was at the debate last night and reports that Christiana wants to eliminate property taxes . He said, “I hate what it does to families”; every time the subject comes up I support any replacement over the tax”. His challenger, Rossi said I’m all for eliminating  the tax, too, but you have to have a backup plan”.  Rossi said  there has to be a reliable plan, and both men agreed there has to be transparency.  The democrat brought up the issue of charter schools , and that there has to be regulations , and the money has to be put back in public education.  He said there are millions unaccounted for. Christiana said there’s been  $1 billion in cuts over the years.

Congressman Keith Rothfus,  the Republican incumbent in the 12 th District from Sewickley  and Erin McClelland of Harrison Township, his Democratic challenger , who was very exuberant  when it was her turn faced off in a debate at Penn State’s Beaver campus last night.  Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano was at the event, which was hosted by the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce. Rothfus, who won over McClelland in 2014  said he’s glad women are running for office, put the right women on the ballot..  McClelland  also said that more women need to be on the ballot, she said there are no women in statewide positions currently. Both candidates talked about the worst opiod epidemic in the country facing the population.  McClelland said she’d write a plan if elected  to bring all addicts in .  She said Johnstown has the highest overdose rate in the state. Rothfus said that the government shuts down early , there are people that won’t fight and  they give up!! He added that there is a better way to teach kids , teach them life skills.  He added, IPADS  are replacing jobs!!   McClelland said I want to fix the problem right here, she told panelist Rebecca Matsco, I love to argue!! Congressman Rotfus  said Aliquippa and Beaver reeling over a drug deal gone bad, teens are trapped in this horrific situation, we have to work on cultural issues Rothfus said all hands are on deck to concerning the OPIOD  epidemic. The 2 debated about waterways bills and gas pipelines, and McClelland  told the crowd about a study Rothfus buried  a study to export natural gas by pipeline to Europe. The two are exact opposites, Rothfus , very calm, and McClelland very  assertive when at the microphone. She said she likes to argue. The debate can be heard in its entirety on Friday at 2pm on Beaver County Radio, 1230 WBVP and 1460 WMBA.

Aliquippa council chambers were packed to capacity last night  and Mayor Dwan Walker addressed residents about the killing of 2 teens last night. According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Walker said that the teens came to the city looking for trouble, and now six families are affected by the  fatal shootings  last week. He added, “We all have to step up”  , “Parents have to parent their children.””This city has much to offer”. Council approved the hiring of Michael lee Tucker , based on Street Dept. Superintendent Sam Cooper. The Fire Department   received approval to hire a temporary full time firefighter.  Nathan Abbott will fill that position. Police Chief Don Couch commended the fire department and DA’s office for processing the crime scene last Thursday evening , and he said” the young people are  fed up with the violence in this town. A 13 year old, he said, and others stepped forward to solve the case. City Administrator Sam Gill  said, “we appreciate Chief Couch and his department.”  Residents applauded Couch after gill’s and Mayor Dwan Walker’s  praise for the chief who has been serving Aliquippa for 20 years. Public safety chairman Art Piroli, Jr. said there were 4 overdoses in the city yesterday, and 2 on Tuesday.. A grant from the DA’ s office has made Narcan available to the city as of midnight.

The Beaver County Commissioners fired Chief of Staff Joe Weidner yesterday afternoon by two of the three commissioners. Beaver County Radio’s Greg Benedetti says that commisioners Sandie Egley and Tony Amadio made the joint decision to fire Weidner for financial reasons. He says that commissioner Dan Camp was against the move, but the firing only takes two votes to pass. The commissioners cancelled their monthly appearance on Beaver County Radio’s Ask The Commissioners segment just moments before air time this morning on 1230 WBVP and 1460 WMBA.