Congressman Chris Deluzio cosponsoring two dental care bills for veterans

(FIle Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Beaver County, PA) Congressman Chris Deluzio is cosponsoring two new bills for veterans this week. According to a report from Deluzio in a letter for veterans, The Dental Care for Veterans Act will expand eligibility for 1.4 million veterans eligible for comprehensive dental care. Deluzio commented in that same letter that the Medicare Dental, Vision and Hearing Benefit Act ensures access to dental care for both seniors and those with disabilities. 

Flight to LaGuardia Airport from Indianapolis detoured to Pittsburgh because of mechanical issue with plane

(File Photo of the American Airlines Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) On Monday, a flight on an American Airlines plane took a detour to the Pittsburgh International Airport. According to airport officials, a flight that was headed to LaGuardia Airport from Indianapolis changed course to Pittsburgh because of a mechanical issue. The plane has safely landed and another plane took the passengers to their desired airport arrival. The inspection continues on the plane that had a mechanical issue.  

More than 18,000 Costco workers are planning a strike because of wages and benefits

(File Photo: Source for Photo: A sign displays the price for shirts as a shopper peruses the offerings at a Costco warehouse on Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Lone Tree, Colo. American consumers faced a third straight monthly surge in princes in June, the latest sign that a rapid reopening of the economy is fueling a pent-up demand for goods and services that in many cases remain in short supply. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) According to the Teamsters union, over 18,000 Costco workers are planning to go on strike on January 31st if an argument over benefits and wages is not settled. In an announcement on Sunday, the Teamsters Union confirmed that a vote of over 85% of people wanted to go on strike. It is not determined at this time what the Teamsters Union will give as benefits to the workers of Costco. Costco also did not quickly respond for comment about the situation. 

Fire that occurred in Coraopolis building still being investigated

(File Photo of Police Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Coraopolis, PA) On Monday night, a fire occurred in a building in Coraopolis. A twelve-unit building on 6th Avenue caught on fire in the first floor of an apartment. According to officers, there were no injuries and ten people escaped the building. It is undetermined what caused the fire and how many people had to leave because of the fire. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.

Proposed Medicaid cuts threaten rural Pennsylvania residents and hospitals

File Photo: Caption for Photo: Medicaid Waiver written on the keyboard button

(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

(Harrisburg, PA) Federal safety-net programs face major potential cuts as the Trump administration pursues budget reductions, with a House GOP proposal suggesting two-point-five trillion fewer dollars for Medicaid. Three million Pennsylvanians are insured through Medicaid, and a Georgetown University report shows rural residents rely on Medicaid more than people in metro areas. Becky Ludwick of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children says Medicaid is vital in providing health care for the state, which ranks fifth in the nation for its rural population. The report shows over one-point-seven million people live in rural Pennsylvania, and Ludwick says rural adults rely on Medicaid at a higher rate than their urban counterparts. The report says cuts would also affect the economies of rural communities, where hospitals are often a major employer.

Second inaugural address of President Donald Trump brings promises and calls out past leaders

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Attendees cheer as President Donald Trump speaks after taking the oath of office during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s second inaugural address sounded a lot like his first, with a sweeping indictment of the country he inherits and grand promises to fix its problems.

Eight years ago, Trump described “American carnage” and promised to end it immediately. On Monday, he declared that the country’s “decline” will end immediately, ushering in “the golden age of America.”

Trump added a long list of policies that sounded more at home in a State of the Union speech than an Inauguration Day address. But the broad themes were fundamentally Trumpian, setting himself up as a national savior.

Breaking tradition, the Republican president delivered his remarks from inside the Capitol Rotunda due to the bitter cold outside. He spoke to several hundred elected officials and pro-Trump VIPs, tech titan Elon Musk among them.

Here are some takeaways from the speech:

A promise of an American ‘golden age’

From the start, Trump’s speech tracked his campaign rally approach: big promises of national success due to his leadership, with plenty of sweeping indictments of the status quo.

“The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump said after ticking through the requisite nods to former presidents and other dignitaries. He added several more promises: The ”start of a thrilling new era.” A nation “greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before.”

“Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced,” he continued. “Our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free.”

The underlying presumption, of course, is that Trump is inheriting what he called throughout the 2024 campaign “a failed nation.”

He vowed to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, boost domestic oil production and impose tariffs to “enrich our citizens.”

Trump calls America’s past leadership corrupt

Trump described America’s leadership over the last four years as incompetent and corrupt, echoing some of the darker rhetoric he used daily on the campaign trail.

He did not mention his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, or any other Democrats by name. But there was no question about whom he was talking.

“We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad,” Trump charged.

He said the current government protects dangerous immigrants instead of law-abiding citizens, protects foreign borders at the expense of American borders and “can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency.”

“All of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly,” he said.

As of Monday, Republicans control all three branches of the federal government.

A perceived triumph over dark forces

Even before Trump began to speak, a religious and political ally, the Rev. Franklin Graham, touched on one of the new president’s most common themes – how he’s been persecuted by unnamed evil forces.

Graham talked of Trump’s “enemies” and the “darkness” of the last four years for Trump personally.

When Trump spoke, he tied attempts to prosecute him for trying to overturn his election loss to Biden into his allegations of “weaponization” of the Justice Department, referencing the federal and state indictments against him. Trump then linked those cases to the attempt to assassinate him in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July.

“The journey to reclaim our republic has not been an easy one, that I can tell you. Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and, indeed, to take my life,” Trump said.

The shooter was an apparently disturbed local 20-year-old man who had no documented ties to the Biden administration, the federal government or any other opponents Trump has criticized.

Trump then used striking language to explain how he survived. “I was saved by God to make America great again,” Trump said to applause.

Lying about wildfires

Trump’s lament about the state of the nation included disbelief that the fires around Los Angeles were still burning “without a token defense.”

That’s false. Firefighters have been battling the blazes since they erupted and have made significant progress. The Eaton fire is 87% contained, and the Palisades fire 59% contained, according to CalFire.

A peacemaker and a conqueror

Trump has vowed to stop foreign wars and celebrated his role in helping implement a ceasefire in Gaza. “A peacemaker and a unifier, that’s what I want to be,” Trump said.

Moments later he was vowing to regain the Panama Canal from Panama. “We’re taking it back!” Trump declared, having previously declined to rule out using military force.

He pledged to pursue policy that “expands our territory” and to put U.S. astronauts on Mars — a promise undoubtedly popular with Musk, a major Trump supporter who has long pursued the same goal.

That cuts to the heart of one of the many contradictions in Trump’s movement. The new president revels in a confrontational, macho approach that revved up his support among young men. His political career has been built on seeking conflict and tearing down rivals. Yet Trump has also positioned himself as someone who’ll end conflicts and usher in peace.

A lineup of tech titans

The audience in the Capitol Rotunda included some of the nation’s most powerful tech titans, who have moved to embrace Trump since his victory.

Alongside Musk were Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook were also in the audience. Musk, tapped along with fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to head the Department of Government Efficiency, had prime seating behind Trump’s children and in front of many of his Cabinet nominees.

While the business leaders were allowed to bring their spouses, members of Congress were not. Thousands of his supporters watched a broadcast of the swearing-in at Capitol One Arena instead.

A range of reactions behind Trump

The Rotunda crowd was heavily tilted in Trump’s favor, most of those in attendance clapping and even roaring during his speech. But one prominent seating section — former presidents, first ladies and vice presidents — was largely muted.

After Trump repeated his vow to take over the Panama Canal, complete with the false claim that China runs the intercontinental channel, Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, among others, sat stone-faced, as did former President Bill Clinton. Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state who lost to Trump in 2016, turned to her left, saying something in former President George W. Bush’s direction. Bush, who was famously reported to have joked that Trump’s first inaugural address was “weird,” was smirking.

Less than two weeks ago, Trump was largely ignored at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Trump chatted with former President Barack Obama, but the rest of the former presidents and their wives bypassed him without a greeting.

A different scene indoors

Inaugural speeches are traditionally delivered on the National Mall in front of tens of thousands of cheering supporters, many of them average voters from across America, who traveled great distance to witness history in person.

Not this one.

Trump delivered his speech in front of a crowd estimated at only around 600 in the Capitol Rotunda, which was limited to members of Congress, Cabinet nominees, Trump’s family, business leaders and political VIPs.

It’s noteworthy that four years ago, violent Trump loyalists stormed the Capitol Rotunda as members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence feared for their lives. Pence attended Monday, though his wife, former second lady Karen Pence, did not.

Speaking to supporters after seeing off Biden outside the Capitol, Trump said he was glad they had moved the ceremony indoors.

“We were freezing,” he told them. “You would have been very unhappy.”

The second second inaugural

The speech had controversial moments, but Trump said afterward that it could have been much more so.

Trump headed from the rotunda to the Capitol Visitor Center to thank supporters who had watched his address on screens. Then he gave a speech that was longer than the inaugural and much more freewheeling.

The new president said he had wanted to talk about supporting the people arrested for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He did not go there, he said, only because first lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance talked him out of the idea.

“They said, ‘Please, sir, it’s such a beautiful, unifying speech. Please, sir, don’t say these things,’” Trump said. “I decided I’m not going to make this speech complicated. I’m going to make it beautiful. I’m going to make it a unifying speech.”

Still, Trump made clear that he is going to help supporters arrested for storming the Capitol — “hostages,” he called them — and said that his actions would speak louder than any words.

More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes in the riot, ranging from misdemeanor offenses like trespassing to felonies like assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.

Trump also criticized Biden’s decision to pardon his family members and members of the Jan. 6 congressional committee. He called out Republican members of that committee — former Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois — by name.

Pennsylvania House tied for control after the death of Representative Matt Gergely

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – The desk of hospitalized Pennsylvania state Rep. Matt Gergely, D-Allegheny, is empty at the start of the state House’s new two-year legislative session, Jan. 7, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Democrat in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives has died, the House Democratic caucus said Sunday night, leaving the chamber deadlocked at a 101-101 partisan divide.

Rep. Matt Gergely, D-Allegheny, died Sunday. He was 45, House Democrats said.

Neither House Democrats or Gergely’s family disclosed a cause, although they said two weeks ago that he had suffered a “medical emergency over the holidays requiring hospitalization” in the days before the chamber convened its two-year session earlier this month.

House Democrats won a one-seat margin in November’s election, the same one-seat margin that Democrats had maintained in the last legislative session. Gergely’s death means the chamber will be tied at 101-101 until a special election is held to fill the seat in the heavily Democratic Pittsburgh-area district.

In the last two-year session, House Democratic majority managed through various vacancies in their ranks, at times bogging down the pace of lawmaking during the two-year legislative session.

In their statement Sunday night, House Democrats said a special election to fill Gergely’s seat will be called by Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, at a later date.

“Matt will be desperately missed in Harrisburg and we know his passing is a tremendous loss to his communities in Western Pennsylvania. Please join us in keeping his wife and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this tragic time,” House Democrats said.

Duqesne Light gives advice for the cold weather ahead

(File Photo of the Duqesne Light logo)

Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) As the cold temperatures continue in Beaver County, Duquesne Light is urging those to take steps to be safe in their homes.

According to a release from Duquesne Light, here are some tips for staying safe, experiencing power outages in the cold and to save electricity when it is cold:

Safety Tips:

  • Charge all important electronic devices.
  • Prepare an emergency kit with non-perishable food, water, medication, first-aid supplies, flashlights and other essentials and storing it in a convenient location.
  • If possible, have an alternate source of heating available, such as a wood-burning stove or fireplace.

Power Outage Tips:

  • Call 9-1-1 for any emergency medical issues.
  • Report it on DLC’s free mobile app or on DuquesneLight.com. Those without internet access can call 888-393-7100.
  • Avoid any downed power lines, give ample space to lineworkers and stay away from objects or puddles in contact with downed power lines.
    • Report downed wires or other hazardous situations to DLC’s emergency number at 888-393-7000.
  • Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer to help preserve food.
  • Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns for emergency lighting. Avoid using candles or other potential fire hazards.
  • Keep generators far from buildings. Refrain from operating them in confined spaces, including garages.
  • Check on elderly and vulnerable family and neighbors who might need additional assistance.

Electricity Saving Tips:

  • Lower the thermostat by a few degrees, if health permits.
  • Limit use of major appliances such as stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers as much as possible.
    • If running the dishwasher or dryer, make sure it’s a full load.
  • Cook efficiently by baking several dishes at once. Keep lids on pots so food cooks faster and uses less energy.
  • When not at home, turn off non-essential lights and appliances.

Snow Watch: Cancellations and Delays 01/21/2025

Snow Watch logo

The following school districts and businesses have either delayed or canceled for today: 01/21/25 (We will continue to update the list throughout the morning)

Adelphoi Education in Rochester: 2 Hour Delay Tuesday Morning 

Aliquippa School District: 2 Hour Delay Tuesday Morning 

Ambridge School District: No Transportation Services Tuesday Morning 

Avonworth School District: Remote Instruction Tuesday 

Baden Academy Charter School: Closed Tuesday 

Beaver County Career and Technical Center: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day, all evening activities are cancelled 

Beaver County Christian School: Closed Tuesday 

Beaver Valley Montessori School: Closed Tuesday 

Bethel Christian School in Raccoon Township: 2 Hour Delay Tuesday 

Big Beaver Falls School District: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day and No After School Program 

Blackhawk School District: Closed Tuesday, Flexible Instruction Day in the Morning and Afternoon, all after school activities canceled, athletic events and special performances 

Butler County Community College (All Locations including Beaver County Location) Opening at 9:30 A.M. Tuesday Morning 

Central Valley School District: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day (Remote Instruction and No Transportation Tuesday Morning) 

Cornell School District (Coraopolis) Remote Learning Day Tuesday 

Community College of Beaver County: Remote Learning Day Tuesday 

Community College of Beaver County Aviation and Sciences Center: Remote Learning Day Tuesday (Closed) 

Education Center at Watson in Sewickley: 2 Hour Delay Tuesday 

Ellwood City Area School District: Closed Tuesday Morning with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Fmailies Matter Food Pantry in Monaca: Closed Tuesday

Freedom Area School District: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Head Start of Beaver County (All Centers): Closed Tuesday 

Hopewell Area School District: Closed Tuesday and No Transportation (After school activities cancelled) 

Life Family Preschool in New Brighton: Closed Tuesday 

Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School: Closed Tuesday Morning with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Midland Borough: Closed Tuesday 

Moon School District: 2 Hour Delay Tuesday Morning 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Daycare and Preschool in Moon Township: 1 Hour Delay Tuesday 

Mother’s Morning Out/ Noah’s Ark Preschool in Sewickley: Opening at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday Morning 

New Brighton Area School District: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

New Horizon School in Beaver: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

North Catholic High School: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Provident Charter School West in Baden: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Quaker Valley School District: 2 Hour Delay Tuesday Morning  

Riverside Beaver School District: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Saint Monica Catholic Academy: Closed Tuesday 

Seneca Valley School District: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Sewickley Academy: 2 Hour Delay Tuesday

South Side Area School District: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy in Zelienople: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Sto-Rox School District: Closed Tuesday 

The Center (Midland): Closed Tuesday 

The Prevention Network and Class Academy in Baden: Closed Tuesday 

West Hills Food Pantry in Moon Township: Closed Tuesday Morning 

West Hills Meals on Wheels in Moon Township: Closed Tuesday Morning 

Western Beaver School District: Closed Tuesday with a Flexible Instruction Day 

Snow watch is sponsored by Munroe Auto Body, the Lisa Lathom Team at EXP Realty, the Cornerstone of Beaver County, and Beaver County Radio. 

Timothy Edward Lentz, Sr. (1961-2025)

Timothy Edward Lentz, Sr., 63, of New Sewickley Township, passed away on January 16th, 2025.
He was born in Rochester on May 2nd, 1961, the son of Jeanne (Petcovic) Lentz and the late Merrill S. Lentz. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his beloved son Cody Lentz and his brother Lawrence (Larry) Lentz. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his children: Tonya Lentz, Tim Lentz, Jr. and his wife Kari, Tayla Jonas and Cole Lentz and his wife Charmayne; his grandchildren: Aleia, Yzzy, Austin, Cameron, Jacob, Isaac, Noah, Lane, and Presley; his brothers, Michael (Mickey) Lentz and his wife Karen and James (Jimmy) Lentz, his sister, Joy Bonzo and her husband Todd and several nephews, nieces, extended family members and friends.
Timothy was a lifelong resident of Freedom area, where he served his community for many years as a dedicated and respected police officer for New Sewickley Township. He invested his whole heart into his career and cared deeply for people, sacrificing his own safety in the line of service. After retiring from formal police work, he continued to pursue his passion to protect and serve the community by opening his own private investigating business alongside his son. Timothy was also passionate about hunting, fishing, and trucking, driving a tri-axle and tractor trailer and even running his own Lentz Trucking company for a time.
Caring for family, friends, and the community came naturally to Timothy. His door was always open, and it wasn’t uncommon for him to offer to give away anything he had on hand to visitors and friends. His favorite place to be was hanging out and catching up with friends on his porch. All his front porch neighborhood monitoring meant he was always in the know, and he affectionately came to be known “the mayor of the neighborhood.” He will be remembered for his heart for people, shown in the way he served and loved his family, friends, and community and the pride he took in his children and grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to The William Murphy Funeral Home, Inc. , 349 Adams Street, Rochester, Pa.