Harrisburg, PA – PEMA Director Randy Padfieldreleased the following update on the East Palestine train derailment:
“The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency continues to closely monitor the situation in Eastern Ohio and its effects on Southwestern Pennsylvania. As continues to be the case, no concerning air quality readings have been detected. For now, out of an abundance of caution, Pennsylvanians who were evacuated from their homes should continue to stay away from the site. We know how difficult it is to leave your home and thank Pennsylvanians for their continued cooperation. We are working with working with Norfolk Southern and our partners in Ohio to get people back in their homes as soon as it is safe to do so.
“Pennsylvanians who live within 2 miles of East Palestine where this derailment occurred should continue to shelter in place and keep their windows and doors closed. Pennsylvanians’ health and safety are our top priority. We will continue to update the public as information becomes available.”

FILE – President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, March 1, 2022, in Washington. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool via AP, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is ready to offer a reassuring assessment of the nation’s condition rather than roll out flashy policy proposals as he delivers his second State of the Union address. He’ll also be trying Tuesday night to overcome pessimism in the country and concerns about his own leadership. His speech before a politically divided Congress comes as the nation struggles with economic uncertainty, a wearying war in Ukraine and growing tensions with China. It’s Biden’s first speech to Congress since Republicans took control of the House in the midterm elections.

Frank Caltagirone, a sports book employee at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., counts money from his drawer Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. On Feb. 7, 2023, the gambling industry’s national trade group, the American Gaming Association, predicted that over 50 million American adults will bet a total of $16 billion on this year’s Super Bowl, including legal bets with sports books, illegal ones with bookies, and casual bets among friends or relatives. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The gambling industry’s national trade group predicts that 1 in 5 American adults will make a bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The American Gaming Association says over 50 million U.S. adults plan to bet on the game, wagering a total of $16 billion. But most of that will happen off the books — whether it’s people placing a bet with an illegal bookie, or filling out squares in an office. Sports betting is legal in 33 states plus Washington, D.C., this year, up from 30 states last year. Experts in addiction say aggressive advertising is contributing to a rise in problem gambling.

FILE – Bono speaks with Cathedral Canon historian Jon Meacham at the Washington National Cathedral on Dec. 5, 2022, in Washington. The Irish lead singer of U2 will be among the featured guests sitting alongside first lady Jill Biden at President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night, Feb. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File)

Rock star Bono, the 26-year-old who disarmed a gunman in last month’s Monterey Park, California, shooting, and the family of Tyre Nichols will be among the featured guests sitting with first lady Jill Biden at Tuesday’s State of the Union address. The White House says the guests were invited because they personify issues or themes President Joe Biden will address in the speech, or they embody policies that are working for the American people. Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., is a guest, as she was last year. Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, has invited Ruth Cohen, a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor from the Washington area as his guest.

MCKEESPORT, Pa. (AP) — A man has been charged with homicide in the shooting and killing one police officer, and wounding a second officer after they responded to a domestic disturbance call in western Pennsylvania. Thirty-one-year-old Johnathan Jermia Morris is charged in Allegheny County with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and attempted murder, and assault of a law enforcement officer in the shooting Monday afternoon in McKeesport. Authorities allege that he fired at officers responding to a domestic call, killing 32-year-old officer Sean Sluganski and wounding a second officer. Morris was shot in an exchange of gunfire with a third officer; court documents don’t list a defense attorney.

Representative Robert Matzie speaks with the press. Governor Tom Wolf joined by students, educators and elected officials in the Aliquippa School District in Beaver County to celebrate the administration’s historic $3.7 billion investment in public education. SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 – ALIQUIPPA, PA

AMBRIDGE, Feb. 6 – New grant funding of $178,300 will help fire companies in the 16^th Legislative District replenish resources and meet operating expenses, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver, said 12 fire companies will receive funding under the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.

“Fire and EMT companies are still feeling the impact of the pandemic as they struggle to deal with rising equipment costs and other operational expenses on extremely tight budgets,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help departments replace worn-out equipment, train crews, make needed building repairs and keep operations running.”

Matzie said the following grants were awarded:

 

Ambridge Borough Fire Department – Fire Company, $13,335.

Ambridge Volunteer Fire Department – Fire Company, $14,563.

Baden Volunteer Fire Department – Fire Company, $15,000.
Center Township Fire House No. 2 – Fire Company, $13,335.
Center Township Volunteer Fire Department Co. No. 1 – Fire Company, $13,826.
Center Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 3 – Fire Company, $12,598.City of Aliquippa DBA Aliquippa Bureau of Fire – Fire Company, $14,563.Conway Volunteer Fire Department – Fire Company, $14,317.

Freedom Volunteer Fire Department — Fire Company, $12,352.

Harmony Township Volunteer Firemen Inc. – Fire Company, $15,000.

Hopewell Township Volunteer Fire Department – Fire Company, $12,843.
Rochester Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 – Fire Company, $26,554.

The Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program is administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. Funding may be used for facility upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training and certification, education and public outreach, and recruitment and retention efforts. Fire companies were also permitted to apply for savings accounts for new facility construction.

HARRISBURG– Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry today announced the filing of criminal charges against five individuals from Pennsylvania: Marc Brown, of Allegheny County; Raymond Shultz, of Beaver County; Abimael Valentin-Matos, of Lancaster County; Kevin Isovitsch, of Butler County; and Norman Aviles, also of Lancaster County, for the sexual assault and exploitation of children. In each case, all of the defendants and their victims were members of Jehovah’s Witness congregations. These arrests follow charges filed against four other members of Jehovah’s Witness congregations in October 2022.

“The details of these crimes are sad and disturbing, facts which are made even more abhorrent because the defendants used their faith communities or their own families to gain access to victims,” said Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry. “Our office will never stop working to seek justice for those who have been victimized, and we will continue to investigate and prosecute anyone who harms the most vulnerable in our society.”

The charges stem from the 49th Investigating Grand Jury and are charged by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Through the investigation, it was revealed that these men sexually abused and exploited minors with whom they had close contact, in some cases members of their own family.

The defendants are being prosecuted by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for the following offenses:

• Marc Brown, 65, of Allegheny County, is alleged to have sexually abused two young sisters who were between the ages of ten and 13, and for whom he was the legal guardian. Brown has been charged with Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
• Raymond Shultz, 74, of Beaver County, is alleged to have sexually abused his granddaughters when they were between the ages of five and ten years-old. Shultz has been charged with Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
• Abimael Valentin-Matos, 42, of Lancaster County, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 15 year-old girl, who he was supposedly “courting” to eventually marry even though he was twice her age. Matos has been charged with Indecent Assault, Indecent Exposure, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
• Kevin Isovitsch, 51, of Butler County, is alleged to have sexually assaulted his niece, who was nine years-old.  Isovitsch has been charged with Rape, Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.
• Norman Aviles, 44, of Lancaster County, is alleged to have molested at least three young children between the ages of five and ten. Aviles was an elder in his congregation, which helped him gain the trust of many parents and afforded him access to their children. Aviles has been charged with Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Children, and Corruption of Minors.

The charges in these cases have been filed in the corresponding counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Lancaster, and Butler. Brown, Shultz, Matos, and Isovitsch have all been arrested and detained, Aviles is still at large.

Anyone with information regarding child sexual abuse should make a report to ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313, and anyone with additional information regarding these cases should make a report to the Office of Attorney General’s hotline at 888-538-8541. These cases are being prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones. All charges are allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The photo above shows the County Commissioners on stage

(Beaver Falls, PA) Hundreds gathered at Alexander Hall on the campus of Geneva College Tuesday for the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce “State of the County”. The event started with a breakfast before county commissioners Dan Camp, Jack Manning, and Tony Amadio held down the stage answering questions, giving insights, and overall addressing residents with an update on the status of the county.  Notable guests in attendance included Sheriff Tony Guy and District Attorney David Lozier, among many others. Beaver County Radio was live at the event on air and on digital platforms featuring a broadcast with Mike Romigh.
You can view photos and coverage of the event below:


 

 

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh-area voters will fill three vacancies Tuesday in the state House of Representatives and the results may resolve a stalemate over majority contro l that has left the chamber in limbo for the past month.

If Democrats sweep all three districts, which they also won in November, it will give them a 102-101 majority and will be the first time in 12 years that Republicans have not been able to determine what gets voted on.

Republicans had a 113-90 majority last year, but once-a-decade redistricting and strong performance in statewide races helped Democrats flip just enough seats in the fall election to control the House.

However, three of those seats became vacant after one lawmaker died and two others resigned after winning higher office.

One reelected House Democrat, Rep. Tony DeLuca, died of cancer in October. Another, Rep. Summer Lee, resigned after also winning a congressional election. And Rep. Austin Davis quit before being sworn in as lieutenant governor.

DeLuca beat a Green Party candidate by 72 points, Davis won against a Republican by 32 points and Lee did not have a fall opponent.

Democratic campaign strategists say they are optimistic about the three special elections because past voting results from the three districts have been favorable to their party and because more of their voters were returning mail-in ballots ahead of election day.

In DeLuca’s former district, Democrat Joe McAndrew, 32, a business owner, former state House Democratic staffer and the former executive director of Allegheny County’s Democratic committee, is facing off against pastor and Army veteran Clay Walker, 59, a Republican who works as a health care customer service manager.

The candidates for Lee’s seat are Abigail Salisbury, 40, a lawyer and Democratic member of the Swissvale Borough Council, and Republican Robert Pagane, 57, a security guard and former police officer.

Hoping to succeed Davis are Matthew Gergely, a Democrat who works for the McKeesport city government, and Republican Don Nevills, a Navy veteran and businessman who lives in Clairton. Nevills lost to Davis in November.

The House’s Republican floor leader, Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County, lost a key ruling in a lawsuit he filed that sought to prevent his Democratic counterpart, Rep. Joanna McClinton, from scheduling the Lee and Davis vacancies for February special elections. The two sides agreed that the election for DeLuca’s seat should be on Tuesday, and a court ruled that the other two also take place on the same day.

Once the three Allegheny County vacancies are filled, the House may still be one member short of its full complement. Republicans say Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-Northumberland, won a special election late last month to fill a vacant state Senate seat.