(File Photo of Federal Courthouse in Pittsburgh)

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.)  A former resident of Clinton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Roderick T. Long, 59, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge J.
Nicholas Ranjan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on March 9, 2020, Long,
who had previously served a 121-month federal sentence of imprisonment for receiving material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, was found in possession of more than 500 videos and still images in computer graphics and digital files depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, many of whom had not attained the age of 12 years. The Pennsylvania State Police had obtained a search warrant for Long’s home, where they found the sexually exploitive material saved in his laptop
computer and cellular telephone.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Court ordered that Long remain in custody.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Long.

(Photos taken by Eddy Crow) 

(AMBRIDGE, Pa.) Firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire in Ambridge early Friday evening.
Multiple crews were called to the scene on Laughlin Street, just off Route 65. The fire also caused for northbound Rt. 65 to be closed starting at Merchant Street.
It’s not known if anyone was injured in the fire.
Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio for updates as they develop.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane shifts on the Rochester-Monaca Bridge, which carries Route 18 over the Ohio River, in Rochester and Monaca boroughs, Beaver County will begin on Monday, April 29 weather permitting.

PITTSBURGH (April 24, 2024) – Russell Traister, MD, pediatric allergist at Allegheny Health Network’s Pediatric Institute, is providing helpful guidance for parents and caregivers this allergy season, as a mild winter now gives way to an early spring.

“Outdoor tree pollen has not yet reached its peak, but it’s beginning to appear, and we’re already seeing patients with persistent seasonal allergies,” said Dr. Traister, who is based at AHN West Penn Hospital in Bloomfield. “Over recent decades, we’ve seen progressively warmer climate, resulting in trees producing more pollen and negatively affecting allergic reactions in both children and adults.”

According to a 2024 report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, pollen seasons now start 20 days earlier and last 10 days longer, compared to 30 years ago. In addition, the amount of pollen released by trees appears to be higher and its allergenicity is stronger than in years past.

“As a result of these trends, many parents and children who may have not had seasonal allergies in the past, are now suffering and may be unsure on what the best course of symptom management is for them,” continued Dr. Traister.

Dr. Traister offers the following guidelines to help families and children through this allergy season:

• Minimize kids’ exposure: For seasonal allergies, sometimes the best course of action is to stay indoors and minimize exposure to outdoor allergens; simple things like keeping windows closed at home or in the car can make a noticeable difference. If a child’s allergies are severe and it’s not too bothersome, a mask when outdoors can also be helpful.
• Wipe off before coming back indoors: After children are finished playing outdoors, have them change their clothes and wipe down their faces, hands and legs to minimize outdoor pollen making its way inside the home. This also goes for pets that track in pollens and mold spores.
• Over-the-counter medications: The first line of allergy management is over-the-counter antihistamines, which can be taken once per day for moderate symptoms and twice per day for more severe symptoms, all in consultation with your pediatrician. Non-drowsy antihistamines like Claritin or Zyrtec can be recommended safely for children, in addition to a nasal spray like Flonase.
• Specialist visit: If it’s unclear whether a child truly has allergies, or if the child’s symptoms persist despite medication, a visit to a pediatric allergist may be warranted. The allergist may consider immunotherapy – allergy shots – to reduce symptoms and decrease the need for daily medication.

Dr. Traister is one of the only pediatric allergists in western Pennsylvania who utilizes “rush” immunotherapy regimen which allows qualifying children to reach their maintenance dose of immunotherapy in as little as 2.5 months, as opposed to a normal span of 6 months, making it easier and more convenient for the entire family.

“On behalf of the entire AHN Pediatric Institute, we always encourage children to go outdoors when the temperatures warm and spend active, engaging time with their families, friends and loved ones,” Dr. Traister said. “That’s why we’re also here to support and care for any of our younger patients when allergies could hinder their cherished time at the park, pool or in the backyard with friends.”

Dr. Traister sees both adults and pediatric patients for seasonal allergies. To make an appointment with Dr. Traister or another AHN allergist, call 412-DOCTORS.

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 24, 2024) — Annually, about 219,000 units of blood and platelets are needed for women’s health emergencies, including those necessary for 1 in every 83 births. As Trauma Awareness Month and Mother’s Day approach in May, nonprofit Vitalant highlights this essential need by thanking donors who give blood between April 21 and May 23 with a chance to win one of 83, $83 gift cards when they opt-in to the Vitalant Donor Rewards program.

Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are crucial to maintaining a robust blood supply for emergencies and ongoing medical treatments. Anne, a nurse practitioner and rare disease researcher from UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, faced a life-threatening situation due to a rare artery condition after collapsing at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport. Her ordeal highlights the critical importance of swift medical intervention and community support.

Despite severe complications including multiorgan failure and a subsequent coma, Anne’s life was saved thanks to the prompt actions of a fellow nurse and the support of blood donations.

“I will forever be grateful for strangers in Sweden and the US who donated blood that saved my life and helped my body to heal,” Anne explains.

Anne’s story is a poignant reminder of the lifesaving impact of trauma care and the vital role of blood donations. Her journey from the brink of death to recovery highlights the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit and the profound gratitude she holds towards the healthcare professionals and blood donors in Sweden and the US who contributed to her survival and rehabilitation. Anne’s experience serves as a powerful testament to the importance of preparedness and empathy in trauma response.

Learn all the ways you can get involved and make an appointment to donate at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

Upcoming Blood Drives

Monaca

Friday, May 17

Families Matter Food Pantry

186 Wagner Rd.

1 PM – 5:30 PM

New Castle

Thursday, May 2

Mohawk High School

385 Mohawk School Rd.

8 AM -1 PM

Monday, May 13

New Covenant Church

1911 Harlansburg Rd.

12 PM – 5 PM

Friday, May 17

Don Services Inc.

831 Harrison St.

10 AM – 3 PM

Friday, May 24

St. Mary’s Church – Parish Center

117 N. Beaver St.

11 AM – 4 PM

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 25, 2024 1:24 P.M.

(Beaver, Pa) Beaver County Judge James Ross heard more testimony from the Aliquippa School District’s Superintendent Dr. Phillip K. Woods and  Dr. Jennifer Damico concerning the PIAA’s decision to move the school’s football team to 5A. PIAA  Executive Director Robert Lombardi also spoke on the PIAA’s decision.

PITTSBURGH — Duquesne Light Company (DLC) has begun its 2024 season of clearing overgrown trees, shrubs and brush — the leading cause of power outages. This year, approximately 45,000 trees along 1,300 miles of power lines in Allegheny and Beaver counties will be maintained, including areas within the city of Pittsburgh. As an electric utility that consistently provides class-leading reliability in Pennsylvania, DLC continually invests in and works to enhance its vegetation management efforts to keep providing customers with safe and reliable service while also protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring public safety.

DLC applies best practices and advanced technologies from both the arboricultural and utility vegetation management industries in meeting all state and federal regulations. Various techniques are used to safely manage vegetation, including manual removal or pruning, brush clearing and selective herbicide applications. Prior to performing work, the company notifies all impacted customers and property owners via phone and door hangers. In alignment with the utility industry’s standard vegetation management practices, DLC chips and hauls away branches and limbs and leaves the remaining wood stacked in manageable pieces. Many customers use this resource as firewood for their homes or share it with their communities; others choose to contact local landscapers for removal assistance. While DLC maintains the service wire that flows to a home, the customer is responsible for pruning or removing any vines or tree branches from the service-wire area that may interfere with electric service. DLC is also not responsible for maintaining vegetation that interferes with communication lines and poles.

“Vegetation management goes beyond removing and pruning potentially harmful vegetation; it’s also about educating our customers and communities on why these practices matter,” said Brian Bieber, DLC’s senior manager of vegetation management. “Planting the right trees in the right places is key to preventing power outages, ensuring the continuation of high-quality service and keeping the public and our workers safe.”

While tree removals may be necessary to keep the electrical grid safe and reliable, DLC offers vouchers for utility-compatible trees to impacted property owners. These vouchers can be redeemed at select local nurseries and are good for trees, brush and shrubs that do not grow high enough to affect the poles and wires that form the grid..

Commitment to Community and Environmental Stewardship

DLC has been nationally recognized for 25 consecutive years with the Tree Line USA award by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, which recognize public and private utilities for pursuing best practices to protect and cultivate America’s urban tree canopy.

This award specifically recognizes efforts in:

• Promoting utility vegetation management best practices.
• Training qualified tree professionals in line clearance.
• Engaging in tree plantings and public education.
• Participating in Arbor Day celebrations.

“We recognize and share our customers’ appreciation for healthy and beautiful trees in southwestern Pennsylvania. That’s why, in addition to conducting continuous outreach and education about vegetation species that are compatible with the grid, we partner with numerous community organizations to advance environmental stewardship through volunteerism and advocacy. From parks and green spaces to tree plantings and urban gardens, DLC has invested millions of dollars over the years to protect our region’s biodiversity and natural environment,” said Christine Waller, DLC’s vice president of communications and corporate responsibility.

In 2023, DLC partnered with South Side Parks, Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh and the Borough of Carnegie to plant 31 utility-compatible trees in several local communities. The company also planted an additional 15 compatible trees last Arbor Day in the Larimer neighborhood, including varieties of red baron, royal raindrops crabapples and the American hophornbeam.

Recently, volunteers from the company participated in a tree-planting event at a Pittsburgh-area elementary school to educate students on trees and the local ecosystem. DLC’s Vegetation Management team will also partner with the city of Pittsburgh on Arbor Day, April 26, to plant 12 trees near Allegheny Commons Park. The company plans to engage in more tree plantings and other environmental stewardship efforts throughout the year.

For more information about DLC’s vegetation management program, including educational resources, visit the company’s website.