Author: Beaver County Radio

PA Gaming Control Board Enhances Self-Exclusion Tools to Assist Individuals with a Gambling Disorder

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (“Board”) today announced it has launched a more user-friendly online system that enables individuals with a gambling disorder to self-exclude from participating in any gambling activity regulated by the Board.

 

The Self-Exclusion Program began in 2006 to permit individuals to ban themselves from entering and gambling at Pennsylvania casinos.  The program was expanded after the passage in 2017 of the Gaming Expansion Act. Three additional self-exclusion programs are now available for iGaming (including online sports wagering), Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) at truck stops, and online Fantasy Sports.

 

While a person is self-excluded, gaming facilities and operators in the Commonwealth must refuse wagers from and deny any gaming privileges to that person. If an individual on a list is found to be participating in gaming activities in Pennsylvania, they may be charged with criminal trespass and any gambling winnings are confiscated.

 

Individuals who wish to enroll online for a self-exclusion program can now simply complete the enrollment online by going to https://responsibleplay.pa.gov. At that site, individuals can:

 

  • enroll in one, several, or all self-exclusion programs;
  • request removal from the casino self-exclusion program;
  • extend the period of their self-exclusion ban period;
  • view their self-exclusion documents and status in real-time;
  • update their personal information (i.e. name change/address change); and,
  • access links to gambling disorder information and the helpline.

 

For identity verification purposes and to ensure confidentiality, individuals enrolling in a self-exclusion program must upload a “selfie” picture, a picture of their photo ID, and must receive Lexis Nexis verification during the enrollment process.

The Self-Exclusion programs are just one of the ways in which the Board’s Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling (“OCPG”) is making sure that gaming is fair and safe. The Director of the OCPG also ensures that the casinos and the online gaming operators have an approved compulsive and problem gambling plan. Each plan details:

 

  • the training of casino and online operator employees on the signs and symptoms of gambling disorder and responsible gaming programs;
  • policies and procedures on identifying those with potential harmful behavior and the identification and removal of underage, self-excluded, and excluded individuals who have engaged in gaming activities;
  • responsible advertising policies;
  • the casino and online operator’s participation in outreach programs.

 

In addition, all online games (casino-type, sports wagering and fantasy) have options on their sites that would enable the player to place self-imposed limits on deposits, wagers, spend and play time.

 

The OCPG has also worked with the PGCB’s Office of Communications to develop the public health educational campaigns, “What’s Really at Stake” and “Don’t Gamble with Kids”.

CCBC Announces New 2023-24 Board of Trustees Chair Harry Kunselman to Step into Leadership Role

(Monaca, PA) – The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is pleased to announce Harry Kunselman as the new Board of Trustees Chair for 2023-24 as voted on at the June public meeting.  

The Board’s Nominating Committee presents the slate of officers to serve one-year terms starting July 1.  Kunselman previously served on the CCBC Foundation Board of Directors. 

“I am excited to collaborate with Harry this year as he chairs the Board of Trustees and as we participate  in shared governance,” stated CCBC President Dr. Roger W. Davis. He will undoubtedly provide valuable  insight and leadership as both the college and the board move in diverse directions and develop new  strategic visions.” 

The Board of Trustees consists of eleven persons appointed by the County Commissioners to help  govern the college by maintaining a focus on advancement and stewardship of the institution, hiring,  and evaluating the president, upholding the public trust, and ensuring the overall wellbeing and integrity  of the college.  

As chairperson of the Board of Trustees at CCBC, Mr. Kunselman will lead the Executive Committee,  preside over all meetings of the Board, attend Commencement, appoint all committees, and vote on all  matters.  

“I wish to thank Immediate Past Chair Dr. Zachary Saunders and the executive committee for their  strong leadership,” stated Kunselman. “I am eager to work with my fellow trustees, with Dr. Davis, and with the College’s leadership teams to advance CCBC’s mission and vision.” 

Harry Kunselman is an experienced litigator with Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky, author, and  Beaver County native. He is a member of a variety of local organizations including the Rotary Club of  Beaver and serves on various boards including Beemac, Inc. Board of Directors. His professional  affiliations include the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, Beaver County Bar Association,  Allegheny County Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. 

Beaver County Chamber’s Monday Memo: 07/10/23
Week of July 10, 2023
2023 Legislative Cruise on the Gateway Clipper
Date: July 26, 2023
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Join us for an evening aboard the Gateway Clipper right here in Beaver County! Set sail with your local and state officials! This is an opportunity to network with legislators and fellow Chamber members. We will be departing from the Rochester Boat Ramp.
Sponsorship Opportunities available, contact Molly Suehr at msuehr@bcchamber.com.
Limited spots remain to apply!
Final deadline for applications is July 24 | Click here for FAQs
Submit your member news to msuehr@bcchamber.com
The Allegheny County Airport Authority is hosting a free reception, 3 to 5 p.m. August 10, 2023, to learn about upcoming opportunities for contractors to join the Terminal Modernization Program at Pittsburgh International Airport. Location: Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Building, 650 Ridge Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.
RSVP or questions: Email TMPinfo@Flypittsburgh.com. Learn more at www.PITTransformed.com.
United Way of Beaver County: 2023 Golf Outing
Support the United Way of Beaver County by participating in their 2023 Golf Outing. Completed forms & payment are due by July 14, 2023.
Date: Saturday, July 29, 2023
Time:
Checkin: 8 am |Shotgun: 9 am
Location: Beaver Valley Golf Club
725 Sixth Ave Patterson Heights Beaver Falls PA 15010
Questions:
Contact: Stephanie Wilfong
Phone: 724.770.2323 Email
United Way of Beaver County: A Very Special Purse Bingo
Date: Sunday, August 6, 2023
Location: Monaca Turners
Admission:
$40 General (1pm)
$55 VIP (12:30pm) – includes early admission, special raffle, easy parking. Only 100 tickets will be sold.
Now Hiring! Want to see a list of job postings from members? Don’t forget to add your own posting to the job postings portal on our website.
In need of a product or service?
Head to our full membership directory available on our website, where you will find a trusted partner to do business with today.
Beaver County Chamber of Commerce
724.775.3944
525 3rd Street, 2nd Floor
Beaver, PA 15009

Ambridge Police Chief says shootings weren’t related

The photo above shows officers with guns drawn during a police scene in Ambridge following the shooting in Ambridge. (Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio)  
Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published July 12, 2023 6:49 A.M.

(Ambridge, PA) Chief Deluca commended all 15 of his officers,  and the fire department, who in the pouring down rain tried to preserve blood and evidence from the murder scene on Olive lane last Sunday night.

He said 2 assistant DA’s, 4 county detectives and other police departments who assisted his department. He reported it was a joint effort by everyone involved in assisting at the scene.
He told council the Aliquippa homicide Saturday night and Sunday homicide in Ambridge aren’t related. A second suspect is being sought in the murder of Ashaun Moreland, 15, who has residences in Aliquippa and Ambridge.
The coroner reported he died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The second suspect hasn’t been apprehended yet.

Ambridge Council welcomes new councilman

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published July 12, 2023 6:47 A.M.

(Ambridge, PA) The first order of business on  Ambridge’s lengthly agenda was the  swearing in of Councilman Russell Basalyga who replaces mayor Tina Iorfido-Miller  who is now the mayor.  Both will run for their seats in November .

Council accepted Basalyga’s resignation from the planning commission along with that of Ryan Cecil.
Council is to advertise for replacements.
Council approved action to sign the Police Mutual Aid Agreement between the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department and the Ambridge Police Department. Council approved the hiring of part time police officer Nathan Sciaretta upon completion of his  necessary requirements for the position.
Mayor Miller  commented on the professionalism  of Police Chief John Deluca in light of the homicide that occurred on Sunday evening in the borough
Two part time /temporary seasonal . employees were hired  in Public Wokrs they are Kevin buzek and Terrance Thornton . They will be paid $17 an hour upon background checks, physicals, and drug testing.
Ambridge mayor tina Iorfido-Miller presided over the swearing in of new councilman Russell Basalyga.

Suspect in Ambridge homicide jailed

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published July 12, 2023 6:45 P.M.
(Ambridge, PA) On Monday, July 9, 2023 at approximately 6:40 pm police were dispatched for a male shot in the area of 1100 Church Street in the borough. Upon arrival, officers located  Asaun Moreland 15 year- old black male,  deceased in the roadway. Nasean Malik Hunt, 18  is in the Beaver County Jail on homicide and related charges in connection with the homicide. Moreland was shot execution style Hunt and his accomplice had been stalking him, and a standoff lasted several hours a second suspect is not in custody..

Officers spoke to witnesses  who reported  Moreland was running into the roadway, the witness heard several shots. A witness saw 2 black males in dark clothes fleeing east behind Laughlin Memorial Library. Both males concealed firearms within their midsections. A second witness reported  hearing the gunshots then observed 2 black males  in dark clothing shoot Moreland, he staggered and fell to the ground, while the 2 black males fled eat, a third witness followed the 2 black males as they were fleeing, they travelled together east onto the 300 block of Wagner Street. A fourth witness who arrived in a truck travelled with the third one, observing the black males at Duss Avenue and 8th Street. Moments later, they directed police to 601 Olive Lane. The county’s ESU Unit was called in and set up a perimeter around the building . ESU  officers Trello and Gaskins made contact with Apartment 3F,  they spoke to Elise Gaskins who said that there was an unknown male inside the residence, they detained Nasean Malik Hunt He provided police with a fictitious name. A search warrant was executed by police of the res a Glock 17 9mm was found in the common area of the building. Wet black clothing and a Glock extended magazine just outside to Apartment 3F. Footage showed Hunt and another black male removing and discarding clothing on the west side of the building, the clothing  matched  what witnesses observed and the video surveillance. DA  David J. Lozier and Police Chief John Deluca held a press conference in the community building Tuesday morning. Chief Deluca said everyone needs to know where their children are, and they should lock their doors. The DA said young male juveniles are being killed by young male juveniles.

Nasean Malik Hunt, 18, of Ambridge is lodged in the Beaver County Jail in connection to the homicide that occurred on Sunday, July 9 in Ambridge. He is  charged with 1 count of criminal homicide, 1 count of firearms not to be carried without a license, both felonies, and evading arrest or detention on foot, tamper with/fabricate physical evidence, and false identification  to a law enforcement officer, all misdemeanors, all charges are in connection to homicide  death of 15 year-old Asaun Moreland. A second suspect in the case is not in custody.

Bridge Street Properties In Beaver Falls Have New Owners

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

After a lengthy process, the properties on Bridge Street in Beaver Falls have a secure future.

At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, the council approved the bid results for the sale of nine different property lots along Bridge Street to Himlooking, LLC. The Aliquippa-based non-commercial entity is set to purchase each lot at $500, for a total of $4,500 for the properties.

Himlooking representatives Robert Moore and George Dudley were in attendance for the official announcement, which received considerable praise from city council members. “We’re excited,” Dudley stated. “We want to bring work to Beaver County, because there are deficiencies here, there are things that need to be protected, and we want to work towards that.”

The council also approved general fund expenditures totaling $526,287.90 over the period of June 28 through July 10 of 2023. City treasurer Sandy Wilkins stated that the fund numbers were in conjunction with the repaying of several ARPA measures that were taken care of during that period. Also approved was the subdivision of the parking lot located at 234 9th Avenue in the city to be completed by the Barron Agency.

The next Beaver Falls City Council meeting is scheduled for July 25 at 7:00 PM.

US probes complaints that Ford Escape doors can open while SUVs are being driven

FILE – In this Oct. 20, 2019 file photo, the company logo shines off the grille of an unsold vehicle at a Ford dealership in Littleton, Colo. U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints that the doors on some Ford Escapes can open while the SUVs are being driven. The investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers 346,000 Escapes from the 2020 and 2021 model years. The agency says in documents posted Tuesday, July 11, 2023 on its website that it has 118 complaints that spot welds in a door assembly bracket can fail. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints that the doors on some Ford Escapes can open while the SUVs are being driven. The investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers 346,000 Escapes from the 2020 and 2021 model years. The agency says in documents posted Tuesday on its website that it has 118 complaints that spot welds in a door assembly bracket can fail. Investigators contacted some of the owners and found 25 reports of minor injuries. The agency says continued use could dislodge the door, and it could fail to latch when closed. Ford says it’s working with the agency to support the investigation.

Court sides with Amish families in case that pits septic tank rules against religious beliefs

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state appeals court says members of a deeply conservative Amish community in Minnesota don’t need to install septic systems to dispose of their “gray water.” The ruling came Monday from the state Court of Appeals in a long-running religious freedom case that went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. A three-judge panel ruled that the government “failed to demonstrate a compelling state interest” to justify overriding the religious freedom of the Amish families. They sued the state over regulations governing the disposal of gray water, which is water that’s been used for dishwashing, laundry, bathing, and other tasks not involving toilet waste.

Hopewell’s Annual Park Fest draws large crowd

Photos by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. 

(Hopewell Township, PA) Games for kids and bands playing music for attendees listening pleasure were a couple of highlights from the Hopewell Annual Park Fest. There were also 13 food venues to choose from at the event that took place Saturday.