Boeing bids farewell to an icon, delivers last 747 jumbo jet

The final Boeing 747 lands at Paine Field following a test flight, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Everett, Wash. Boeing bids farewell to an icon on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, when it delivers the jumbo jet to cargo carrier Atlas Air. Since it debuted in 1969, the 747 has served as a cargo plane, a commercial aircraft capable of carrying nearly 500 passengers, and the Air Force One presidential aircraft, but it has been rendered obsolete by more profitable and fuel-efficient models. (Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times via AP)

SEATTLE (AP) — Boeing bids farewell to an icon on Tuesday: It’s delivering its final 747 jumbo jet. Since it debuted in 1969, the 747 has served as a cargo plane, a commercial aircraft capable of carrying nearly 500 passengers, and the Air Force One presidential aircraft. It revolutionized international travel. But over about the past 15 years, Boeing and its European rival Airbus have introduced more profitable and fuel efficient wide-body planes, with two engines instead of the 747’s four. The final plane is the 1,574th built by Boeing in the Puget Sound region of Washington state. It’s being delivered to cargo carrier Atlas Air.

Child welfare algorithm faces Justice Department scrutiny

FILE – Case work supervisor Jessie Schemm looks over the first screen of software used by workers who field calls at an intake call screening center for the Allegheny County Children and Youth Services, in Penn Hills, Pa. The Justice Department has been scrutinizing a controversial artificial intelligence tool used by a Pittsburgh-area child protective services agency following concerns that it could result in discrimination against families with disabilities, The Associated Press has learned. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Justice Department has been scrutinizing a controversial artificial intelligence tool used by a Pittsburgh-area child protective services agency following concerns that it could result in discrimination against families with disabilities, The Associated Press has learned. The interest from federal civil rights attorneys comes after an AP investigation revealed potential bias and transparency issues about the opaque algorithm. The Allegheny Family Screening Tool is designed to assess a family’s risk level when they are reported for child welfare concerns. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment. An Allegheny County Department of Human Services spokesman said the agency had not heard from the Justice Department.

Trial ordered in slaying of man who tried to stop robber

WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — A man has been ordered to stand trial in the slaying of a bystander killed while trying to stop a bank robber in western Pennsylvania almost a decade ago. The (Washington) Observer-Reporter reports that a Washington County judge ruled Friday that prosecutors had enough evidence to try 39-year-old Keith Wilk on charges including homicide and robbery. Forty-six-year-old Vincent Kelley was killed after chasing the robber of a supermarket bank branch in South Strabane Township in 2013. An ex-girlfriend testified that Wilk had told her that he was responsible, and prosecutors said his DNA matched a sample from the robbery. An email was sent to a public defender representing him.

‘Father of Peeps’ marshmallow candies Bob Born dies at 98

This photo provided by Just Born shows Ira “Bob” Born. Born, a candy company executive known as the “Father of Peeps” for mechanizing the process to make marshmallow chicks, died peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. He was 98. (Just Born via AP)

Ira “Bob” Born, a candy company executive known as the “Father of Peeps” for mechanizing the process to make the marshmallow chicks, has died. He was 98. Born’s father, Sam Born, was a Russian immigrant who founded Just Born Quality Confections, a small candy company, in 1923. The family later moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Bob Born served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before joining the family business. In the early 1950s, he came up with a machine that mechanized the process for making marshmallow chicks, reducing the time to make them from 27 hours to six minutes.

February Consumer Financial Protection Events Announced

Harrisburg, PA – Education and outreach staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) will be hosting and participating in numerous presentations for groups of senior citizens, service providers and the public throughout the month of February to promote financial capability and provide investor education.

February outreach events will be held in person and virtually in partnership with the listed organizations. The events are open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Events For General Audiences

Popular Scams and How to Avoid Them – a presentation discussing common scams and steps consumers can take to protect themselves – will be presented virtually at Bosler Memorial Library (Cumberland County) on February 2 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. For additional information and registration, contact Natalie Kaplan at 717-243-4642, ext. 2226.

Investing 101 (Part 2 of 3) – a presentation that takes a deeper look at investing concepts with overviews of the types of investment accounts and other attributes. It will be presented virtually on February 8 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Schlow Centre Region Library (Centre County). For additional information, contact Cheryl Yablon at 717-236-9555, ext. 3115.

Events For Senior Citizens

Popular Scams and How to Avoid Them will be offered in-person at the following:

  • Montco SAAC-Norristown at 536 George Street in Norristown (Montgomery County) on February 7 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. For additional information, contact Marcia Brown at 610-275-1960. Open to Members.
  • Montco SAAC-Ambler at 45 Forest Avenue in Ambler (Montgomery County) on February 7 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. For additional information, contact Aimee Connor at 215-619-8863. Open to Members.

Fraud Bingo – a fun and interactive game that teaches consumers how to protect themselves from investment fraud by playing BINGO – will be offered in-person at the following:

  • Southern Blair Senior Center at 15229 Dunnings Highway in East Freedom (Blair County) on February 7 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. For additional information contact, Karen Kelley, Coordinator, at 814-317-5181. Open to Members.
  • Philadelphia Senior Center Avenue of the Arts at 509 S Broad Street in Philadelphia (Philadelphia County) on February 15 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. For additional information contact, Edwina Griggs, Activities Coordinator, at 215-546-5879, ext. 229.

Banking Basics – an overview of some of the terms, concepts, and fundamentals with retail banking and investing products and services – will be offered virtually to residents at the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) at 713 N 13th Street in Allentown (Lehigh County) on February 10 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. For information, contact Catherine Bogdanski, Statewide Coalition Project Coordinator, at 610-770-9781, ext. 172.

Cybersecurity – a presentation looking at ways to stay safe online and avoid falling victim to various scams including investment scams, impersonator scams, and other types – will be virtually presented at the Wayne Senior Center at 108 Station Road in Wayne (Delaware County) on February 16 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. For additional information contact, Margo Fine-Gabbay, Program Director, at 610-688-6246.

Spending Plans: A Roadmap for Success – a presentation discussing building a spending plan and taking steps to secure your retirement – will be presented at Plains AAC at 50 2nd Street in Plains (Luzerne County) on February 23 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For additional information, contact Alice Bohunko, Director, at 570-824-5542.

Virtual Events for Organizations and Service Providers

Working with DoBS – an overview of the agency, businesses we regulate, how individuals can work with our outreach staff, as well as our consumer services team – will be presented to Golden Connections Community Center at 20 Gotham Place in Red Lion (York County) on February 9 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For additional information, contact Kasie Ream, Director of Social Services, at 717-244-7229.

Investing in Women – which focuses on the unique financial challenges women face in banking and budgeting, credit, and investments – will be presented by DoBS staff to Women’s Way on February 10 via Zoom from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. For additional information, contact intern1@womensway.org or 215-985-3322.

In partnership with the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, the following presentations will be available via Microsoft Teams for Girl Scouts to earn financial literacy badges:

  • My Financial Planner will be presented to Ambassador-level Girl Scouts on February 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Contact Becky MacDicken at 717-214-4755 or bmacdicken@pa.gov for more information.

Additional information about the partnership is available at media.pa.gov.

Avoiding Scams for Small Business Owners – a presentation providing an overview of scams targeting small business owners and entrepreneurs and steps to take to protect yourself and your enterprise – will be virtually presented to SCORE Bucks County (Bucks County) on February 21 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. For more information about the webinar or to register, please visit www.score.org/buckscounty.

 Elder Investment Fraud Prevention – a presentation to members of the Sheriff’s Association – will be held on February 24 at 9:00 AM at the Holiday Inn, Grantville (Dauphin County). Open to attendees.

 Senior$afe: Preventing Elder Financial Abuse – a presentation on the warning signs of Elder Financial Abuse and how to help protect your clients from it – will be presented on February 27 from 5:15 PM to 7:30 PM to the Chester County Estate Planning Council at the West Chester Golf Club in West Chester (Chester County).

Banking Basics will be presented at the following:

  • PA Office of Administration, Bureau of Employee Benefits – a virtual webinar for state employees – on February 13 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. To register, visit the “Financial Wellness” tab under the Employee Resource Center.
  • PA Career Link of Lancaster County at 1046 Manheim Pike on February 27 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. For additional information, contact: Nicole Deeley at 717-509-5613, ext. 600. Open to Members.

DoBS Investor Education and Consumer Outreach staff work with state and local government agencies, service providers, community and trade organizations, the General Assembly, the military community, schools, and other partners to help Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth become well-informed about the financial marketplace.

Fire at an Aliquippa home

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published January 31, 2023 10:45 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Firefighters were called to 215 Baker Street for an electrical fire in the occupied that went through the basement walls. A fire department spokesman said there were no injuries, and no estimate of damage was available.

Accident on Aliquippa/Ambridge Bridge Tuesday Morning

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published January 31, 2023 10:38 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police responded to an accident just after 7 a.m. Tuesday morning. There is no report of injuries. The bridge was closed in both directions. The cause of the accident  wasn’t available, and the bridge reopened to traffic at 8:30 a.m., according to 9-1-1.

Baden Sheetz to close for months for remodel

Sheetz logo. (PRNewsFoto/SHEETZ, INC.)
Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff, published January 31, 2023 8:05 A.M.

(Baden, PA) The sheetz on Route 65 in Baden will close this spring to undergo a major remodel, Scott Tady of the Beaver County Times reports. The location will be closed for months in order to offer a restaurant style experience with self service kiosks, as well as additional seating. The new store is slated to include 12 fuel dispensers and be 6,100 square feet. The store plans to reopen in the fall.

One dead and one seriously injured in Ellwood City Shooting

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published January 31, 2023 7:20 A.M.

(Ellwood City, PA) A mother was killed and her daughter was seriously injured following a shooting in Ellwood City. The shooting was reported to happen Monday evening on 1st Street in an apartment. Both were reportedly shot in the head and the gunman was allegedly the the boyfriend of the daughter. No charges have yet to be filed, although it has been reported that the shooter was arrested at the scene.