Police: Driver hit by train was trying to cross tracks
ROYALTON, Vt. (AP) — Police in Vermont say a driver who died after being hit by an Amtrak train had crossed the tracks, backed into a driveway to turn around, and was attempting to cross back when he was hit. The crash happened at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the town of Royalton as the sports utility vehicle was crossing the tracks at an intersection not marked with gates. The driver, the only occupant of the vehicle, was identified as 23-year-old Thomas Fennell, a Vermont Law School student from Pittsburgh. Anyone with further knowledge of the crash is asked to call Royalton Police.

State officials, lawmakers and judges get big 2022 pay raise
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Inflation will drive a big salary increase for Pennsylvania state lawmakers, judges and top executive branch officials in 2022. For many of the positions, it is the biggest increase in three decades. Salaries will rise 5.6%, a figure tied by state law to the year-over-year change in the consumer price index for the mid-Atlantic region. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says it’s the largest year-over-year increase since 1991. The increase applies to more than 1,000 positions, including governor, Cabinet members, three statewide elected officers, all 253 lawmakers and state and county judges. It takes effect Dec. 1 for lawmakers and Jan. 1 for judicial and executive branch officials.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

With 2021 closing and 2022 on the horizon, one of the biggest moves forward for the County Commissioners is to put a new budget in place. At the November 17 work session, Solicitor Garen Fedeles announced the resolution introducing the proposed budget for the upcoming year, with financial advisor Corey Troutman breaking down the numbers.

“The total general fund will be $82,032,165”, Troutman stated at the work session. “No increase in the tax rates; it’s gonna remain at $25 million for general purpose and $1 million for debt service.”

The commissioners will vote on the resolution tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Fedeles provided an update on the Ambridge-Aliquippa bridge: “I spoke with Tammy Frank this morning…there are 11 spans that need to have work done on them and six of those 11 have been completed. At this point it seems they’re still on time…nothing at this point has happened to delay the anticipated opening of December 3.”

The majority of the meeting however, was dedicated to a conversation held mostly between Commissioner Chairman Dan Camp and RiverWise executive director Dan Rossi-Keen, addressing face-to-face recent allegations.

The 22-minute and 10-second dialogue was at times icy and tense, but never loud or abrasive, as Camp and Rossi-Keen debated over the Blacks Run Bridge project. Rossi-Keen felt that the County Commissioners are unsupportive of the project in its entirety, while Camp felt that RiverWise painting that picture was a falsehood, and that the Commissioners support a trail being built–just not under the current financial and geographic parameters currently in place.

The public meeting will be set for Thursday, November 18 at 10:00 AM.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 7:55 AM
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state judge says an order that requires masks inside K-12 schools and child care facilities to contain the coronavirus should expire Dec. 4, although that’s unlikely to be the final legal development. Tuesday’s ruling by Commonwealth Court Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon comes a week after her court threw out the statewide mask mandate. Her order lifts the automatic suspension of the court’s earlier decision that was granted when Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration appealed to the state Supreme Court. Cannon’s ruling, in theory, gives time for the state Supreme Court to take up the case, or for Wolf’s administration to enact the mask mandate through an emergency regulation.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 7:53 AM
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A bill to allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit has been passed by a divided Pennsylvania House, but faces a veto threat from the governor. The parties were split in the vote Tuesday, as occurred in the state Senate last week, with Republican mostly supporting it and Democrats mostly opposed. Supporters said getting concealed carry permits under current law can be subject to the whims of county sheriffs and that concealed carry permit holders can forget when their licenses expire and therefore unknowingly violate the law. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said he will veto the legislation.

(Photo provided by Pa. Crime Stoppers)
Story by Frank Sparks, News/Program Director
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 7:47 AM
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Pa Crime Stoppers has increased the reward to $10,000.00 for any information leading to an arrest of the individual or individuals who are responsible for the death of 19-year-old Curtis Flowers III in Aliquippa on November 24, 2020.
Aliquippa Police were dispatched to the scene around 4:30 PM that day when they found Flowers suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to Pa State Police, who took over the investigation at Aliquippa’s request, Flowers was walking east on Wykes Street when several shots were fired at him.
The actor or actors fled the area using Scott Street, onto Todd Street, and then onto Cooper Street. The suspects are believed to be two black males in their early 20‘s and are possibly from the Aliquippa area.
Any persons with information on this incident are asked to anonymously contact Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or online at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=107 All callers to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH REWARD for information that leads to an arrest, the solving of a crime/cold case or the location of a wanted person/fugitive or missing persons.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 7:20 AM

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) If you were planning on going to the Chris Daughtry concert that is supposed to happen at Stage AE this weekend you’ll have to wait a little longer. The show has been postponed due to the sudden death of Daughtry’s daughter Hannah. Hannah’s death is being investigated as a homicide in Tennessee. The show will be rescheduled for early next year.

Story by Frank Sparks News/Program Director
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 7:01 AM
(Mc Kees Rocks, Pa.)  Allegheny County Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with the deadly shooting of 18-year-old Hasson Shacleford a Sto Rox high school senior who was gunned down on November 8, 2021 in Mc Kees Rocks.
Tavarius Lee, who is believed to be responsible for gunning down Shacleford was arrested yesterday afternoon at about 4 p.m. He was charged with criminal homicide and possession of a firearm by a minor. He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

Keystone State News Connection

November 17, 2021

Emily Scott

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – They work with students in the classroom, in the school office or even in the cafeteria – and in celebration of American Education Week, one state organization is honoring a Pennsylvania education support professional for her dedication to students.

Dee Scales has been named the Dolores McCracken Education Support Professional of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Scales, a paraprofessional and union leader in the Woodland Hills School District in Allegheny County, said she’s thankful for the award and for the work support professionals do to keep schools running.

“It means so much to me because it actually highlights all the hard work that not only myself, but other support professionals do throughout the whole United States,” she said. “We have other support staff such as bus drivers. We have our custodians and maintenance workers. There are so many different titles that we support staff carry within the public school system.”

Today also marks Education Support Professionals Day. Scales has been a paraprofessional at Woodland Hills for 26 years, where she currently works with students in an emotional-support classroom.

Outside school, Scales also is heavily involved in her town of Braddock, where she recently was elected council member-at-large. She’s a volunteer with the annual 15104 Clean Up Day, focused on picking up litter in Braddock, and the 412 Food Rescue, which helps feed thousands around Pittsburgh.

Rich Askey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, called Scales “a role model.”

“Dee is making such a tremendous difference in the lives of her students every day,” he said. “She brings with her such knowledge and dedication; that’s what the key to Dee’s success is with children. She also gives so much back to her colleagues, because she’s a powerful advocate for educational support professionals.”

Scales serves as president of PSEA’s Education Support Professionals Western Division and sits on the organization’s Racial Justice and Equity Taskforce, among other committee positions.