Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Connection

Pittsburgh is emerging as a leader in innovative solutions like electric vehicles and clean energy to combat the climate crisis. The group Elected Officials to Protect America says in 2022, electric vehicle registrations increased by about 82% from the previous year.

Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny County, envisions Pittsburgh as a future leader in the green economy, bolstered by strong labor unions and academic institutions.

“So whether it’s solar for schools, or capping oil wells or any number of things that move us away from fossil fuels, transitioning over to electric vehicles. Transitioning away from fossil fuels is a huge way that we can make sure that we are protecting our citizens now,” she explained.

The state is using funds from sources like the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes a historic investment of $370 billion to fight climate change over the next decade. Pennsylvania’s goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 is the same target President Joe Biden set for the nation.

Erika Strassburger, Pittsburgh City Council member, said the biggest benefit of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure law – especially in western Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh – is that they’ve been major job creators.

“You don’t have to go too far outside of Pittsburgh, to the Mon Valley, to see 600 new jobs created in a battery manufacturing plant that will help the electrification of our vehicles and of our systems. And those are jobs that wouldn’t have otherwise been created without these federal investments,” she explained.

Strassburger pointed out federal funding will allow Pittsburgh to invest $15 million in electric vehicles for its city fleet, and she added that the transition is expected to save energy, reduce gas consumption, and ultimately save taxpayer dollars in the long run.

“If we can expand that, which is our intention to reduce the energy burden – for starting with 100 City of Pittsburgh residents by the end of this year, and then over the next six years, do so for 10,000 residents across the region – that means that the greatest benefit we’re seeing is people paying less out of their paycheck toward energy” she continued.

Pennsylvania has seen a significant increase in EV purchases. At the start of this year, more than 47,000 electric vehicles were registered in the state.

FILE – The logo of the Samsung Electronics Co. is seen at its office in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Samsung is recalling more than 1.12 million electric ranges used for stovetops after reports of 250 fires and dozens of injuries.

According to a Thursday notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, these slide-in ranges have front-mounted knobs that can be activated by accident if humans or pets unintentionally contact or bump into them. That poses a fire hazard.

To date, Samsung has received more than 300 reports of the knobs activating unintentionally since 2013, the CPSC noted, and the now-recalled ranges have been involved in about 250 fires. At least 18 of those fires caused extensive property damage and seven involved pet deaths, according to the Commission.

In addition, the CPSC added, about 40 injuries have been reported, including eight that required medical attention.

Consumers can identify whether their slide-in electric range is included in this recall by looking at the model number printed on the product. Both Samsung and the CPSC have published a list of affected models online.

The recalled ranges were sold between May 2013 and August 2024 online at Samsung.com as well as in retailers nationwide — including Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot and Lowe’s.

Consumers in possession of a recalled range are urged to contact New Jersey-based Samsung Electronics America for a free set of knob locks or covers compatible for installation with their model. In the meantime, those impacted should take extra caution to keep children and pets away from the knobs, and check their range before leaving the house or going to bed to make sure it’s off, the CPSC said.

As part of general stovetop and oven safety, the Commission added that consumers should “never place, leave, or store anything on the top of your range” when not in use — as such items can ignite if it’s accidentally activated.

To receive a set of free knob locks or covers, depending on their model, customers can visit https://www.samsung.com/us/support/range-knob-kit/, contact Samsung toll-free at 1-833-775-0120 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or by email at rangesupport@sea.samsung.com.

FILE – Attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the New York State Capitol, May 14, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A legal challenge filed Thursday seeks to have third-party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. kept off Pennsylvania’s fall ballot, an effort with ramifications for the hotly contested swing-state battle between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris.

The petition argues the nominating papers filed by Kennedy and his running mate “demonstrate, at best, a fundamental disregard” of state law and the process by which signatures are gathered.

It claims Kennedy’s paperwork includes “numerous ineligible signatures and defects” and that documents are torn, taped over and contain “handwriting patterns and corrections suggestive that the indicated voters did not sign those sheets.”

Kennedy faces legal challenges over ballot access in several states.

Kennedy campaign lawyer Larry Otter said he was confident his client will end up on the Pennsylvania ballot.

The lawyer who filed the legal action, Otter said, “makes specious allegations and is obviously not familiar with the process of amending a circulator’s affidavit, which seems to be the gist of his complaint.”

It is unclear how Kennedy’s independent candidacy might affect the presidential race. He is a member of a renowned Democratic family and has drawn support from conservatives who agree with his positions against vaccination.

Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes and closely divided electorate put it at the center of the Nov. 5 presidential contest, now three months away. In 2016, Trump won Pennsylvania by 44,000 votes over Democrat Hillary Clinton, and four years later President Joe Biden beat Trump by 81,000 votes.

Two separate challenges were also filed in Pennsylvania on Thursday to the nominating papers for the Party for Socialism and Liberation presidential candidate Claudia De la Cruz, and an effort was filed seeking to have Constitution Party presidential candidate James N. Clymer kept of the state’s ballot as well.

One challenge to De la Cruz, her running mate and her party’s electors asks Commonwealth Court to invalidate the nomination papers, arguing that there are seven electors who “failed to disaffiliate” from the Democratic Party, a flaw in the paperwork the objectors say should make them ineligible.

A second challenge also raised that argument as well as claims there are ineligible signatures and other defects that make the nomination papers “fatally defective” and that the party did not submit a sufficient number of qualifying signatures.

Del la Cruz campaign Pennsylvania chairperson Stephanie Pavlick said in an emailed statement that hundreds of people spent months collecting nomination signatures, and the campaign “will be defending the validity of everything we submitted.”

Pavlick said Democrats “are afraid of competing with a socialist campaign that isn’t afraid to call for radical solutions to the dire crises facing working people.”

The challenge to Clymer potentially appearing on the ballot claims he and his running mate should be disqualified because of an alleged failure to include required candidate affidavits. Messages seeking comment were left Thursday for party chairman Bob Goodrich.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing a lane restriction in the outbound (westbound) Fort Pitt Tunnel (I-376) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur Sunday and Monday night, August 11-12 weather permitting.

A single-lane restriction will occur in the outbound Fort Pitt Tunnel from 9:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday and Monday night as crews stage equipment for paving operations.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 9, 2024 3:18 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) The Aliquippa Police helped reunite a non-verbal child to his mom. A seven year-old non-verbal boy was found in the 1700 block of Main Street alone around 10am Thursday morning. According to Aliquippa Police, the mom was found in about an hour and a half, and the child was returned to her.

MONACA, Pa. — A new articulation agreement between Penn State Beaver and Community College of Beaver County will make it easier for students who have earned their associates degree to continue to complete a bachelor’s degree.

“Transfer is always a challenge, not just because of different curriculum but because of how credits transfer in,” Debra Seidenstricker, admissions counselor for adults and transfer students, said. “This articulation will ensure if students are in (specific) programs that at least 60 credits will transfer as an equivalent. Students typically need 120 credits for their bachelor’s degree.”

The agreement applies to other Penn State Commonwealth campuses so if, for example, Penn State Greater Allegheny has a degree program not offered at Beaver, CCBC students can transfer to that campus under the articulation agreement.

“Community College of Beaver County and Penn State Beaver have joined together to create local, affordable, quality educational pathways in areas such as cybersecurity, criminal justice, and business,” said Katie Thomas, dean of the School of Professions and Transfer Studies at CCBC. “We’re excited for the future of this partnership and higher education in Beaver County.”

Students transferring from a community college to a Penn State Commonwealth campus can apply for the RaiseMe transfer scholarship as well. Eligible students can earn up to $7,000 over two years to complete their bachelor’s degree.

There will be an agreement signing at 1 p.m. Aug. 22 at CCBC.

Story by Noah Haswell – Beaver County Radio. Published August 9, 2024 11:56 A.M.

(Chippewa Township, Pa) An 11-year old Beaver County native, Aubrey Bogacki was discharged from the hospital Thursday after being the only survivor of a crash that killed both her father, Nathan, her 13-year-old brother Grant and her 17-year-old sister Emma. She was said to have numerous broken bones and a collapsed lung. She passed her required tests to be discharged Wednesday, nearly 3 weeks since the crash. The community welcomed Aubrey home on Blackhawk Road and fundraisers are in the works, including a GoFundMe for Aubrey and her mother.

Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published August 9, 2024 11:53 A.M.

(Ambridge, Pa) The Knights of Columbus Beaver Valley Chapter has announced that their Anniversary Mass scheduled to take place this evening will be moving indoors to the Good Samaritan Church, 725 Glenwood Ave, Ambridge 15005, instead of outdoors in Ambridge Park. The mass starts at 6pm.