Prosecuting and Defense attorneys wait during the sentencing of the Trump Organization at Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, in New York. (Adam Gray/DailyMail via AP, Pool)

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s company has been fined $1.6 million as punishment for a scheme in which some of his executives dodged personal income taxes on lavish job perks. The fine imposed Friday was the only penalty a judge could impose on the Trump Organization. The company was convicted of 17 tax crimes, including conspiracy and falsifying business records. The amount imposed by Judge Juan Manuel Merchan was equal to double the amount of taxes a small group of executives avoided on benefits including rent-free apartments, luxury cars and private school tuition. Trump himself was not on trial. He denied any knowledge of executives evading taxes illegally.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf answering questions from the press. Governor Tom Wolf remains steadfast in his commitment to protecting Pennsylvanians despite reckless attempts by the Republican-led legislature to undermine the state’s successful response to COVID-19. Ignoring 200,000 pandemic-related deaths in the U.S., some legislators are playing politics with the virus, demonstrating the need to change the culture of Harrisburg. During a press conference today, the governor called on the legislature to stop the games and pass his government reform plan to rein in special interests and hold politicians accountable. Harrisburg, PA – September 24, 2020

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has more than doubled the amount of pardons granted by any governor in the state before him. That’s what his administration announced Thursday, About a quarter of the pardons were for people with non-violent marijuana offenses. The Democrat signed his final 369 pardons this week, for a total of 2,540 since he took office in 2015. He surpasses Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell’s record of 1,122 granted pardons.

File photo of the Chippewa Wine & Spirits

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board implemented a 4% price increase on more than 3,500 items at state stores. The increase went into effect Sunday. Special-order products, seasonal items, and clearance items will not be affected by the increase. The board says the increase is due to inflation. This is the first time since 2019 that the PLCB has has increased prices across the board.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) reminds high school students of the upcoming deadline for the sixth annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers. The Innovations Challenge is open to all students in grades 9-12, regardless of their school’s learning model.

For this year’s challenge, students are asked to develop ideas to help address the shortage of commercial truck parking along major interstate corridors in Pennsylvania. Trucks parking on highway shoulders and ramps is common during overnight hours and presents a significant safety issue.

The challenge asks students to select one of Pennsylvania’s interstate corridors where truck parking is a known issue and develop an innovative approach to increase commercial truck parking availability in that area and offset costs incurred for construction. The solution must consider local ordinances and zoning laws for the area selected, commercial entity interaction in land development, community impact, restroom facilities, and space requirements for commercial trucks that are generally 70-80 feet long.

Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT Secretary and a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide winner. For this year’s challenge, the Transportation Policy and Education Foundation, an educational arm of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC), has donated $2,500 and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC/PA) has donated $1,500 for a combined total award of $4,000 to the statewide winning team.

For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/innovation and click on Innovations Challenge. The submission deadline is Jan. 27, 2023.

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Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published January 16, 2023 9:20 A.M.

(Monaca, PA) Monaca Police were dispatched to a one vehicle rollover accident at Route 51 and Colonia Avenue at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.  According to Beaver County 9-1-1 there was no entrapment, and no injuries were reported. Monaca Police weren’t available for comment on the accident.

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(New Brighton, PA) A portion of Big Rock Park will be closed to vehicular access, from the pavilion to the binocular viewer at the end of the park, until mid-February, to excavate and repair sections of the stormwater sewer system. Pedestrians may access the park beyond the closure but should exercise extreme caution in the construction area.

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Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver Country Radio. Published January 16, 2023 7:00 A.M.

(Industry, PA) Residents of Industry will be meeting with the water authority at its office on Engle Road at 6 p.m. on January 24, 2023. Many issues, including low water pressure, brown water, or no water are among the complaints that include a lack  of communication from the borough to address the issues are ongoing, according to residents.

File Photo of Aliquippa Police Cruiser
Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published January 16, 2023 6:55 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police were dispatched just after 5 a.m. to a home on Mill Street, upon arrival, one man had been shot, another individual injured. Police secured the scene, and the shooting victim, identified as Vincent Cercone 31, was transported to UPMC  Presbyterian Hospital. He died at the hospital, according to  state police, who took over the investigation at the  request of Aliquippa Police. The investigation into the incident is on-going, and will be updated  if new developments are reported.