Wolf pushes to end gun-show exception to background checks
By MARC LEVY, Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday asked the Legislature to pass a measure expanding background checks on firearms in Pennsylvania and end an exception for shotguns, sporting rifles and semi-automatic rifles that are sold at gun shows.
The Democratic governor appeared at a news conference in his Capitol office with officials from the Pennsylvania State Police supporting his call for action as lawmakers consider firearms-related measures in the wake of February’s Parkland, Florida, high school shooting that killed 17 people.
In a news conference with Pennsylvania State Police officials, Wolf called for the passage of “commonsense” gun safety laws “so that we can give back the fundamental expectation of safety, a fundamental right to all Pennsylvanians so we can prevent further needless violence.”
The Republican-controlled Legislature has long resisted gun-control measures and appears unlikely to expand background checks or ban certain devices, such as assault-style weapons or bump stocks, despite the governor’s support.
Those bills have languished in committee without action, despite bipartisan support.
“Universal background checks are one of the best ways we can keep weapons out of the hands of threatening individuals,” Wolf said.
Currently, background checks cover all sales of handguns, except for transfers within families.
The Senate last month unanimously passed a bill to force people with a domestic violence ruling against them to more quickly forfeit their firearms. Gun-rights groups dropped their opposition after negotiating last-minute changes to the bill, and Wolf on Monday renewed his call for the House to pass it and send it to his desk.
“I’m ready to sign this bill,” Wolf said. “I’m ready to do my part in ensuring that we are doing all we can to close dangerous loopholes and protect victims of domestic abuse.”
The House is eyeing similar measures, including one that would create an “extreme risk protection order” that allows a law enforcement officer, a family member or a household member to petition a judge to order the immediate, if temporary seizure of someone’s firearms.
The petition would have to be accompanied by allegations that the person represents a danger of suicide or “extreme bodily injury” to another person.
Under the Senate’s domestic violence bill, defendants in final protection-from-abuse cases would have to hand over their guns in 24 hours. Current law leaves forfeiture to a judge’s discretion, and the bill’s backers say judges order the forfeiture of firearms in 14 percent of protection-from-abuse cases.
In addition, people convicted of a domestic violence crime would have 48 hours to give up their firearms.
Under current law, people convicted of domestic violence have 60 days, although a person charged with a domestic violence crime typically loses their firearms well before a conviction, either as a condition of bail or of a temporary restraining order, defense lawyers say.
Another provision would narrow the definition of who may keep the firearms of someone who is convicted of a domestic violence crime or who is the subject of a restraining order.
Under current law, that person can give their guns to a relative, friend or neighbor, as long as they don’t live in the same home. The bill would remove that provision and limit custodians to a law enforcement agency, a federally licensed firearms dealer or a lawyer.

Canada police say driver that hit pedestrians in custody
By CHARMAINE NORONHA, Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) — A van apparently jumped a curb Monday in a busy intersection in Toronto and struck eight to 10 people and fled the scene before it was found and the driver was taken into custody, Canadian police said.
It was not immediately clear what caused the van to strike the pedestrians in a busy intersection in the north-central part of the city. Police did not immediately identify the driver.
“At this point it’s too early to tell what if any motive there was. We are also unable right now to tell the extent or the number of persons injured,” Toronto police spokeswoman Meaghan Gray said.
A witness,” Phil Zullo, told Canadian Press that he saw police arresting a man who had been driving a Ryder rental truck and saw people “strewn all over the road” where the incident occurred.
“It must have seen about five, six people being resuscitated by bystanders and by ambulance drivers,” Zullo said. “It was awful. Brutal.”
Toronto paramedic spokeswoman Kim McKinnon said first responders were on scene treating multiple patients, but wouldn’t confirm the number or severity of injuries.
Police shut down the Yonge and Finch intersection following the Monday afternoon incident and Toronto’s transit agency said it has suspended service on the subway line running through the area.
The incident occurred as Cabinet ministers from the major industrial countries were gathered in Canada to discuss a range of international issues in the run-up to the G7 meeting near Quebec City in June.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his sympathies for those involved. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected,” Trudeau said in Ottawa. “We are going to have more to learn and more to say in the coming hours.”

The boundary line between Center and Potter Township has been a topic of concern for supervisors and citizens alike since the arrival of the new Shell plant. On April 23, representatives from both townships gathered at the Potter Township Municipal Building for a discussion over the temporary plan put in place, known as AJMJ.

Potter Township chairwoman Rebecca Matsco led the meeting, and she discussed the reason that Potter Township engineers came up with the temporary AJMJ plan:

 

Matsco also mentioned that the issues surrounding AJMJ are steering towards an outcome that it was intended to avoid:

Center Township supervisor Rich George was very vocal about his concerns  surrounding AJMJ and the township borders, and particularly about the communication between sides. This led to a confrontation with Potter Vice Chairman Earl Shamp:

 

Despite such tensions, all parties agreed to meet again in the near future to discuss further about the issues at hand. When and where that meeting will take place has not been disclosed. The Potter Township officials gathered for a closed executive session immediately following the public meeting held Monday morning.

THE JURY HAS REACHED A VERDICT IN AN ALIQUIPPA DOUBLE HOMICIDE TRIAL. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE TRIAL AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE SINCE THE BEGINNING. CLICK ON ‘PLAY’ TO HEAR SANDY’S REPORT…

 

Also attached is the Associated Press Story.

Man convicted of 1st-degree murder in drug-deal robbery case
BEAVER, Pa. (AP) — Jurors in western Pennsylvania who earlier reported a deadlock have convicted a man of first- and second-degree murder and robbery in what prosecutors call a drug deal robbery that claimed two lives.
The panel reached a verdict after resuming deliberations Monday in the trial of 19-year-old Lawrence Reddick Jr. in the 2016 deaths of 18-year-old Dane Mathesius and 16-year-old William Booher in Aliquippa.
Jurors reported an 11-to-1 deadlock Friday, saying one juror was “not following the definition of reasonable doubt,” but resumed deliberations after the definition was read to them.
The cases of two defendants have been adjudicated. Nineteen-year-old Ronald Foster was convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to 34 to 70 years. Nineteen-year-old Deontae Jones said during testimony that he awaits sentencing on a juvenile court robbery conspiracy plea.

Jurors who have said they are deadlocked will try again today to reach a verdict in the homicide trial of a man charged in what prosecutors call a drug deal robbery that claimed two lives. The Beaver County panel on Friday reported an “impasse” in the trial of 19-year-old Lawrence Reddick Jr. in the 2016 deaths of 18-year-old Dane Mathesius and 16-year-old William Booher. The cases of two co-defendants have been adjudicated and one was sentenced to 34 to 70 years.

THE POTTER TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING LATER THIS MORNING TO RESOLVE A BOUNDARY ISSUE WITH CENTER TOWNSHIP. THE LINE IN QUESTION CROSSES AN AREA OF LAND NEAR THE BEAVER VALLEY MALL AND WAGNER ROAD. THE ISSUE FIRST CAME TO LIGHT MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN OFFICIALS WITH BOTH MUNICIPALITIES REALIZED THAT DIFFERENT MAPS LISTED INCONSISTENT BOUNDARIES. THIS MORNING’S MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 10:30 AT THE POTTER TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON MOWRY ROAD. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO’S MATT DRZIK WILL BE THERE AND WILL HAVE A FULL REPORT DURING THE AFTERNOON NEWS TODAY.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR MONDAY, APRIL 23RD, 2018

TODAY – PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH NEAR 70.

TONIGHT – OVERCAST WITH RAIN SHOWERS AT TIMES.
LOW – 47.

TUESDAY – CLOUDY WITH OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWERS.
HIGH – 54.