BEAVER, PA—Four local school districts are receiving funding to purchase new food service equipment for cafeterias because of grants awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Funding for the grants is made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is awarded to schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program.

Beaver County’s Hopewell Area School District and Western Beaver County School District are receiving $33,500 and $24,185, respectively. Washington County’s Fort Cherry School District and McGuffey School District are receiving $6,764 and $21,819, respectively.

“As a father, I know that children learn best when they are well-nourished. With these grants, our schools can upgrade their cafeteria equipment, such as refrigerators and stoves, and ensure our students are entering the classroom ready to learn without hunger distracting them,” said Rep. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), who represents parts of the four school districts.

HARRISBURG (May 2, 2024) – Comcast announced it has been selected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as part of the Broadband Infrastructure Program funded by the Capital Projects Fund (CPF), to expand its network across 158municipalities. The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority awarded Comcast more than $61 million to bring gigabit plus speeds to homes and businesses that were previously unserved or underserved with high-speed Internet. As service becomes available, residents and businesses will have access to Comcast’s full suite of services, including Xfinity Internet, Xfinity TV & Streaming, and Xfinity Mobile as well as Comcast Business Internet and mobile. Comcast expects these projects will be complete in late 2026.

“We are thrilled to have been selected by the Commonwealth to reach more Pennsylvanians in unserved areas with our superior network while also enabling them to benefit from the power of the Internet and engage in the digital economy,” said Ricky Frazier Jr., Senior Vice President, Comcast’s Keystone Region which is based in Pennsylvania. “The enthusiasm for our company within these communities has been humbling. There is a strong desire for Xfinity and Comcast Business services and we look forward to meeting that need.”

The award, combined with its capital investment, allows Comcast to bring the nation’s largest and most reliable network to more residents and businesses in the following 13 counties:

• Adams County
• Beaver County
• Berks County
• Blair County
• Cambria County
• Chester County
• Cumberland County
• Indiana County
• Lackawanna County
• Luzerne County
• Washington County
• Wyoming County
• York County

In addition to the more than $61 million awarded by the state, Washington County, in Western Pennsylvania, committed matching funding to Comcast to extend Internet service for its county residents and businesses.

“We are excited to work together to further Comcast’s presence in Washington County,” said John Timney, Executive Director, Washington County Authority. “Access to high speed Internet will improve quality of living for our residents, increase property values, and Comcast brings the added benefit of offering Internet Essentials and digital literacy resources for our low income households.”

Once construction for the projects is underway, residents and businesses can visit Xfinity.com/MyTown and enter their addresses for additional details on timing and future service availability.

With deep roots in Pennsylvania, including corporate headquarters in Philadelphia, Comcast’s commitment to the Commonwealth is strong. Over the last several years, Comcast has expanded its network to more than 315,000 additional homes and businesses in Pennsylvania, much of this with its private capital, while also investing nearly $2.4 billion in technology and infrastructure across the state, and offering continued value to customers such as recent increased speeds for millions of customers at no additional cost. Additionally, the company offers more than 156,000 Xfinity WiFi hotspots across Pennsylvania making the network accessible to customers outside of their homes.

Comcast is also deeply committed to advancing digital equity. The company’s community partnerships in Pennsylvania have totaled more than $144 million in cash and in-kind contributions to 646 local non-profits over the last three years. This investment also includes 187 Lift Zones that provide free WiFi service to promote digital learning. Lift Zones are part of Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity through programs and community partnerships that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility, and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators.

Powered by Xfinity

Comcast’s network and Internet experience are powering homes today and into the future.

• Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect more than 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. With the next-generation Xfinity gateways, we deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously.
• Fastest Internet: More than a third of Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products. Recently Comcast connected the first customers in the world to a DOCSIS 4.0 connection, delivering symmetrical gig speeds over existing connections in customers’ homes with plans to continue to rollout these speeds across the country over the coming years.
• Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with a powerful WiFi Boost Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas of the home.
• Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network that passes 62 million homes and businesses and counting. The company launched Storm-Ready WiFi, a new device that comes powered with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out.
• Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity network and the latest Xfinity Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home.

FILE – (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act, led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tim Scott (R-SC). The bill will help address antisemitism on college campuses—which has been rising across the Nation for years and spiked in the wake of Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7, 2023—by requiring the U.S. Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“Amidst the horrific increase in reported antisemitic incidents on college campuses since October 7, we must do everything we can to protect Jewish students,” said Senator Casey. “This is a clarion call for Congress to step up and protect students. The House of Representatives answered that call today, and now it’s time for the Senate to act.”

The Antisemitism Awareness Act would make permanent the Department of Education’s consideration of the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism, which is a vital tool helping to clarify and identify the various manifestations of antisemitism. Since 2018, the Department of Education has used the IHRA definition when investigating violations of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This definition is supported by President Biden’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, was included in President Biden’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, and has been used by the State Department since the Obama Administration.

In addition to Senators Casey and Scott, the Antisemitism Awareness Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), James Lankford (R-OK), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rick Scott (R-FL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Boozman (R-AR), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Barrasso (R-WY), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). The House companion is sponsored by U.S. Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Max Miller (R-OH-07), and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23).

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published May 3, 2024 1:40 P.M.

(Beaver Falls, Pa) Investigators with the City of Beaver Falls Police Department, and the Beaver County Detectives Bureau, took Tyrik Lamar Jones into custody on an arrest warrant for the homicide of Rebecca Miller according to a press release issued Friday afternoon.

Miller was reported missing and was later discovered dead on January 11th. She is said to have suffered from multiple stab wounds to the neck. Jones was charged with criminal homicide, rape, and rape threat of forcible compulsion.

The City of Beaver Falls Police Department, District Attorney Nate Bible and the  Beaver County Detective’s Bureau thank the family of Rebecca Miller, and the City of Beaver Falls Community for their patience and assistance while this incident  was being investigated.   

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published May 3, 2024 11:13 A.M.

(Beaver Falls, Pa) An arrest has been made in the stabbing of 41 year old Rebecca Miller of Beaver Falls. Tyrik Jones was taken into Police custody Friday morning. Miller was reported missing days before being found dead with multiple stab wounds on a walking trail behind Geneva College. We are currently working on gathering more information.

Story by Curtis Walsh with contributions by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published May 2, 2024 3:00 P.M.
Photo of Liz Repic & her children courtesy of Joel Repic

(New Brighton, Pa) A woman was found deceased on April 12th at an apartment complex in New Brighton. Sources say an anonymous caller tipped off police that a body was at Brightwood Manor Apartments. A body, identified as Liz Repic, was discovered in a basement storage unit of Building 2020 during a search. Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer reported Thursday that her death is still under investigation.

New Brighton Police Chief Ron Walton reported Thursday that an arrest was made in connection with the death, relaying that James Livingston of Aliquippa was arrested in connection with Repic’s death and PA State Police are handling the case. Livingston was charged with abuse of a corpse. Sources say he put her body in the basement.

Beaver County Radio spoke to those that were close to Liz, who say they suspect foul play was involved. They were open that Liz had struggles with substance abuse and had served jail time. One of Liz’s friends is the legal guardian of her two children. The last known whereabouts of Liz was when she attended one of her sons soccer games on April 6 before taking her kids to Wal-Mart and dropping the kids back off later that night. After not hearing from her in the following days, her friends and family started checking places to find out where she was.

Liz had a Beaver Falls address but was actively staying in New Brighton. After 4 days, an attempt was made to file a missing persons report with the New Brighton Police Department, who allegedly relayed the report would have to be filed with Beaver Falls. Beaver Falls Police allegedly responded that New Brighton would have to file the report. An anonymous call was then received that her body was at Brightwood Manor and was discovered on April 12th.  Her last phone ping was reportedly in New Brighton at an unspecified location.

People close to Liz say that her phone, purse, money, and clothes that she was in possession of have not been found. They say they have reasons to believe something suspicious happened to her.

Liz was described as “an amazing mother who loved her kids, her faith in God was like no there. She was loving, caring, and tried to help everybody.”  A memorial for Liz was setup outside of Brightwood Manor but was removed Wednesday by an unknown person or group.

Livingston accepted a plea in Beaver County Court on Thursday to serve 3 to 23 months for the charge of abuse of corpse.

The State Police are continuing to investigate the case.

The results are in for the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and for the third year in a row, Kennywood and Phantom’s Revenge secured top ten spots in the country.

Kennywood, one of only two National Historical Landmark amusement parks in the country, has created timeless fun and cherished memories for guests for more than 125 years. The park frequently receives national recognition for its modern thrills and iconic traditions unlike anywhere else. This year, the park has secured the eighth spot on the USA Today 10Best list of Best Theme Parks in the US.

The Phantom’s Revenge landed third on the USA Today 10Best list of Best Roller Coasters in the US. The fan-favorite coaster is consistently named in the Top 10 of this poll year after year. It is one of Kennywood’s most thrilling and revered rides with its 232-foot drop and speed of 85 miles per hour.