(New Brighton, PA) PennDOT District 11 has postponed overnight construction operations on State Route 65 in New Brighton Borough and Daugherty Township. Additional information will be provided once a new schedule in announced.
FILE – Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Baltimore. Coming off a breakout season, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith has signed a new contract that will keep him with the Steelers for the next five seasons. The two sides announced the deal on Wednesday, July 19, a week before the Steelers reported to training camp.(AP Photo/Terrance Williams, File)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Coming off a breakout season, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith has signed a new contract that will keep him with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the next five seasons.
The two sides announced the deal on Wednesday, a week before the Steelers reported to training camp. The 25-year-old Highsmith was in the final year of his rookie contract, and this will extend it through 2027.
“This means everything,” Highsmith said in a statement provided by the team after the signing. “I know I am a Pittsburgh Steeler through and through, and just to be a part of this amazing organization for four more years means the world to me, to my wife, to my whole family. This is where I want to be. This is where I want to play ball.”
A third-round pick in the 2020 draft, Highsmith has played in 49 career games, starting 38. He has 179 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 22 1/2 sacks, 41 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, two passes defensed and one interception.
Highsmith ranks first in the NFL for the most strip sacks (five) and forced fumbles (six) and is tied for second most in sacks (17.5) in his last 20 games, dating to Week 16 of the 2021 season. He also has recorded seven multiple sack games in his career.
Highsmith led the team with a career-high 14.5 sacks last season. The total was tied for sixth-most in the league, and fifth-most in Steelers history for a single season.
“It was a good year, but I’m far from satisfied,” said Highsmith in the offseason. “I never get complacent or comfortable, but I am grateful for a better year and being injury free for a year. I never want to get complacent, but I always want to be grateful.”
In addition, Highsmith’s team-high five forced fumbles were also tied for most in the NFL last year. He finished the season with 63 tackles, 20 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss and one pass defensed.
“It gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “In 2021, I didn’t have a good start to my year dealing with injuries. I ended up finishing the year strong. This past year, I just wanted to start fast and continue it throughout the year. I felt like I was playing with more consistency and more confidence because I know the type of player that I can be. I just want to continue to get better every year.”
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FILE – Minnesota Vikings first-round draft pick Jordan Addison speaks to the media during an NFL football press conference in Eagan, Minn., Friday, April 28, 2023. Addison was cited early Thursday, July 20, for speeding and reckless driving, after a state trooper clocked him at 140 mph in his sports car in a 55 mph zone. The Minnesota State Patrol said Addison was pulled over without resistance in a Lamborghini Urus at 3:07 a.m. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings first-round draft pick Jordan Addison told the state trooper who clocked him going 140 mph in a 55 mph zone last week that he was speeding because of an emergency involving his dog.
The Associated Press on Monday obtained an updated copy of the citation issued to Addison and filed with the St. Paul city attorney.
The Minnesota State Patrol said Addison was pulled over without resistance in a Lamborghini Urus at 3:07 a.m. Thursday by a trooper who was also traveling eastbound on Interstate 94 in St. Paul about a mile outside of downtown.
According to the citation, Addison said he was speeding because his dog was having an emergency at his residence. The nature of the emergency was not disclosed.
Addison said in a statement he made a mistake and used poor judgment. “I recognize and own that,” he said. “I am going to learn from this and not repeat the behavior. I am truly sorry.”
Addison was selected out of Southern California with the 23rd overall pick in the NFL draft, following the cost-cutting move to release veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen.
The 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner for the nation’s top wide receiver at Pittsburgh, Addison transferred to USC for his final college season. He had 59 catches for 875 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022 for the Trojans. In two years with the Panthers, Addison had 2,259 receiving yards.
ESPN first reported Addison’s stated reason for speeding.
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AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell contributed to this report.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Lawyers for the school districts that sued in Pennsylvania say they want action now that Republican lawmakers aren’t appealing a judge’s ruling on funding. The judge had ruled that the state’s system of funding public schools violates the constitutional rights of students in poorer districts. The lawyers said Monday that the deadline to appeal the February decision came over the weekend. Top House and Senate Republicans in Pennsylvania had opposed the lawsuit but hadn’t said whether they’d appeal. The plaintiffs’ lawyers said the decision is now final. The judge didn’t direct the Legislature on how much state aid to distribute or how. Lawmakers haven’t assembled a plan to address the court’s findings.
FILE – Yardley Makefield Marine Rescue leaves the Yardley boat ramp heading down the Delaware River on July 17, 2023, in Yardley, Pa. The family of a 2-year-old girl swept away along with another child by a flash flood that engulfed their vehicle on a Pennsylvania road is expressing gratitude at the discovery of a body believed to be hers. The body was found early Friday, July 22, in the Delaware River near a Philadelphia wastewater treatment plant about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from where Matilda Sheils was carried away, authorities said Friday night. (Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, File)
WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP) — Search teams in Pennsylvania were focusing on one underwater area Sunday as they try to find a 9-month-old boy swept away in a flash flood. That follows confirmation from authorities that the body of his 2-year-old sister was recovered from the Delaware River. Upper Makefield Township police said Sunday that although 2-year-old Matilda Sheils was recovered Friday, they are “devastated that we have not yet been able to reunite Conrad with his sister and family.” Police said hundreds of people have been searching but right now, it “will be dependent upon the conditions of the river.”
A view of a lap top and monitors showing the Twitter signing in page displaying the new logo, in Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, July 24, 2023. Elon Musk has unveiled a new black and white “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he follows through with a major rebranding of the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. The X started appearing on the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday, but the bird was still dominant across the phone app. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk has unveiled a new black and white “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he follows through with a major rebranding of the the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. Musk replaced his own Twitter icon with a white X on a black background and posted a picture on Monday of the design projected on Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters. The X started appearing on the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday, but the bird was still dominant across the phone app. In response to questions about what tweets would be called when the rebranding is done, Musk said they would be called Xs.
Photo above shows the Mobile Health Center that was stationed in the Darlington Municipal Building following the February train derailment (Curtis Walsh)
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Norfolk Southern Corporation, at his request, sent $1 million directly to communities in Western Pennsylvania to assist with community relief following the company’s February train derailment. This comes as a key part of the multi-million dollar commitment Governor Shapiro secured from Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, including the first $1 million the company already repaid to Pennsylvania fire departments and first responders.
Darlington Township has received $660,000 and Lawrence County has received $340,000 to use for community relief. Local leaders in Darlington Township and Lawrence County will determine how this funding will be directed to benefit their respective communities.
“Every step of the way, my Administration has made clear that we are focused on delivering the help our communities need and holding Norfolk Southern accountable,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “We will continue to follow through on our promises and support the people and communities that have been impacted. This critical funding will help Darlington Township and Lawrence County build back better than before, and my Administration will continue to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for any and all impacts on our Commonwealth.”
This funding from Norfolk Southern is part of the commitment Governor Shapiro secured from the company to pay for millions in damages to Pennsylvania and impacted residents. Governor Shapiro continues to deliver on his promise to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for any and all impacts to the Commonwealth, as well as support Western PA communities in their ongoing recovery.
“At the direction of Governor Shapiro’s office, Norfolk Southern has issued a payment of $660,000 to Darlington Township. We will be depositing these funds into an account to help us walk down the roads of recovery and prevention,” said Darlington Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Carreon. “To the residents of Darlington Township, know this is not a settlement, but a small step forward. We continue in discussions with Norfolk Southern in an effort to address both our short- and long-term concerns. We would like to thank all federal, state, and local officials who continue to support us as we move forward.”
In addition to securing critical funding for Darlington Township and Lawrence County, Governor Shapiro has led the way to ensure that Pennsylvanians are receiving reimbursements for losses they incurred as a result of Norfolk Southern’s train derailment. In March, Governor Shapiro announced that Norfolk Southern had completed $1 million in reimbursements to replace damaged equipment for first responders and Pennsylvania fire departments who responded to the derailment.
Individuals who were impacted by the derailment and want to apply for reimbursements should visit this link to learn how to apply as the Shapiro Administration continues working to hold Norfolk Southern accountable and secure funding for all damages to our Commonwealth.
“The Lawrence County Commissioners appreciate receiving these funds and thank the Governor and the company for their efforts,” said Lawrence County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dan Vogler. “We will be earmarking these dollars for the municipalities in our county who were in the closest proximity to the derailment along with an agency that can assist other businesses and residents throughout the county who may have been impacted.”
The Shapiro Administration is committed to delivering help for Western Pennsylvanians and ensuring communities and businesses have the resources they need to rebuild. Recently, Governor Shapiro, PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Rich Negrin, and PA Department of Agriculture (PDA) Secretary Russell Redding visited the Shapiro Administration’s small business resource fair in Darlington Township and met with small business owners, farmers, and residents who have been impacted by the derailment.
The Shapiro Administration continues to conduct environmental testing in the area impacted by the train derailment to ensure the safety of the people, plants, and animals in the region. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced two weeks ago that samples from crops in Beaver and Washington Counties show no contamination stemming from the train derailment. Area producers requested testing of plant tissue to understand the full impact of the derailment on their agricultural products. Complete plant tissue test results appear along with final sample results from DEP’s soil and water testing on the interactive map launched in April on DEP’s website. Pennsylvania agencies continue to see no contamination in Western PA related to the February Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine.
Visit the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s (PEMA) dashboard for more information about resources available to Pennsylvania residents.
After a summer of declining donations, the American Red Cross needs the public’s help to prevent a blood shortage. When a donor makes and keeps an appointment to give blood or platelets in the weeks ahead, they can help ensure trauma patients, those undergoing cancer treatment, and people with lifelong blood disorders can get the blood they count on.
Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive and type B negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors. Donors of all blood types can schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Red Cross is teaming up with Warner Bros. for the theatrical release of Meg 2: The Trench to celebrate a summer of sharks and help stave off a summer blood and platelet shortage. All who come to give through Aug. 12 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a three-night New York getaway for two with a private shark dive adventure at Long Island Aquarium. Those who come to give throughout the month of August will also get a $10 e-gift card to a movie merchant of their choice. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Movie.
How to donate blood
To make an appointment, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Amplify your impact − volunteer!
A stable blood and platelet supply is critical to national preparedness. Additionally, as we approach the beginning of what is expected to be another active hurricane season, the Red Cross urges everyone to get ready now and consider becoming a volunteer to help people affected by the growing number of climate-driven disasters.
Support impacted communities by assisting at Red Cross shelters, using your professional skills as a licensed health care provider or becoming a member of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team. To learn more, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.
Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published July 24, 2023 12:39 P.M.
(Homewood Borough, PA) Checkpoint statistics were released from a Traffic Safety Initiative on Big Beaver Boulevard, Homewood Borough on the night on June 30. The checkpoint resulted in 4 DUI arrests, 20 Traffic Citations, 8 Warnings, and 2 Misdemeanor Drug Arrests. The report was issued on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published July 24, 2023 12:36 P.M.
(Aliquippa, PA) The TAN was approved in the event the state budget is not passed in time to cover the district’s 2023-24 expenses.