Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 21, 2023 7:41 A.M.

(Center Township, PA) Central Valley eighth graders are going on the Gettysburg field trip on May 18 and returning after the overnight stay on May 19, 2023. Final approval was granted by the school board. It’s an annual trip for 8th  graders.

A sign is seen, Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in front of the house where 84-year-old Andrew Lester shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl a week earlier in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

In suburban Detroit, it was a lost 14-year-old looking for directions. In Kansas City, it was a 16-year-old who went to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers. There was the 12-year-old rummaging around in a yard in small-town Alabama, the 20-year-old woman who found herself in the wrong driveway in upstate New York and the cheerleaders who got into the wrong car in Texas. All of them, and dozens more across America, were met by gunfire. In the United States, strangers are often seen as threats and fear has been politicized. And now simple acts like ringing the wrong doorbell can seem like a fateful question of trust.

Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Neuro-diagnostic company Oculogica today announced the launch of OcuPro, the fastest roadside cannabis test with immediate results, along with pilots planned with several police departments across the U.S. Officers administer the 45-second long test and receive an immediate indication of recent cannabis use and impairment. The technology is based on studies of several hundred cannabis users which are in submission for publications.

Current tests for cannabis rely on a urine, saliva or blood sample from the subject, and provide a measureof tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis. THC can remain in the body for months, long after the user is no longer impaired. OcuPro differentiates between recent use within 60-90 minutes vs. use over several hours ago. Oculogica CEO, Dr. Rosina Samadani, noted, “Cannabis presence in the body does not equal impairment. Use is not illegal in many states. Driving while impaired, however, is. OcuPro addresses a huge unmet need for a scientifically and clinically validated test for impairment due to recent cannabis use.”

The device can be used in manufacturing facilities and workplaces, but law enforcement has the most immediate need. Data from the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center shows a 10% increase in impaired driving crashes the year after cannabis was legalized, according to Marisa Auguste, Research Assistant with the organization. Maryland Officer Jayme Derbyshire says, “With cannabis legalization becoming more commonplace throughout the nation, it is important that communities take action to ensure that traffic safety isn’t overlooked.With the potential for more impaired drivers, law enforcement needs to continue to improve roadside testing practices and roadside technology in order to keep roadways safe and to best determine the extent of driver impairment.”

Pilot sites include police districts in Missouri. Several jurisdictions, such as Seattle, WA, are in discussion. Columbia, MO, Officer Ryan Hutton, says, “As cannabis legalization continues, the concern with driving while high continues to grow.Law enforcement officers are looking for help with detecting when consumersare impaired.Detecting these drivers are a toppriority as it will help reduce serious injuries and deaths on our roadways.”

Kansas City, MO, Sgt. Blake Brownlee, says, “In a legalized cannabis environment, we are in real need of a device that detects recent usage of cannabis, and impairment assessment would be ideal.” Oculogica’s data scientist Dr. Darryl Mayeaux says, “An assessment of impairment requires a carefully and rigorously established definition of impairment that will not inappropriately define unimpaired people as impaired.”

The OcuPro device looks like futuristic binoculars. Notably, the color is bright green, in part so the device is distinct from other equipment police officers are carrying. The device will be available beyond the pilot sites in late 2023.

Oculogica, founded by a neurosurgeon, develops and manufactures products with eye-tracking-based algorithms. OcuPro builds on technology used in Oculogica’s EyeBOX, the first FDA-cleared concussion diagnostic that does not require a pre-injury baseline.

A man shops at a supermarket on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Police say an underage employee of a Pennsylvania supermarket will be charged in connection with sewing needles found in bagged vegetables and Tastykake packages customers returned after buying. Pennsylvania State Police recommended Thursday that customers check their groceries for tampering if they bought them from a Giant supermarket in suburban Allentown between April 13 and Wednesday, when troopers were alerted. Troopers didn’t say what led them to blame an employee of the supermarket. The suspect is a minor and wasn’t named. Police also didn’t say if anyone reported being injured by one of the sewing needles.

Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Rodolfo Castro hit a 458-foot homer and drove in four runs, leading Pittsburgh over the Colorado Rockies 14-3 to complete the Pirates’ first three-game sweep at Denver since 2019. Colorado has lost eight straight games, its longest skid since nine in a row last Aug. 27 to Sept. 4. The Rockies are a National League-worst 5-14 and the game drew 18,511, the smallest crowd for a Coors Field game with unrestricted ticket sales since 18,341 on April 18, 2013. Andrew McCutchen put the Pirates ahead in the first with an RBI double off and homered in the second.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing ramp improvement work at the I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) Monaca/Shippingport Route 18 interchange in Potter Township, Beaver County will begin Monday, April 24 weather permitting.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, the ramp from northbound Route 18 to eastbound I-376 at the I-376 Monaca/Shippingport (Exit 39) interchange will close to traffic continuously through the evening of Saturday, April 29 for improvement work.

Ramp traffic will be detoured to allow crews from Lindy Paving to conduct milling and paving operations, inlet adjustments, signage improvements, and pavement marking installation.

Posted Detour

Northbound Route 18 to eastbound I-376

• Continue on northbound Route 18 past the closed ramp
• Take the ramp for West I-376 toward New Castle
• From westbound I-376, take the ramp for West 68 toward Midland (Exit 38A)
• Merge onto westbound Route 68
• Take the ramp for East I-376 toward Pittsburgh
• Follow eastbound I-376 back to the Monaca/Shippingport interchange
• End detour

PennDOT is not involved in this work and is providing this information as a public service announcement only. For additional information contact Eric Yauger at 724-208-9474.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

WASHINGTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted 1,508 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first quarter of 2023, which ended March 31, averaging 16.8 firearms caught per day. More than 93% of the firearms were loaded.

The number of firearm catches during the first quarter represents a 10.3% increase over the same period in 2022; however, the number of passengers from 2022 to 2023 has also increased. In the first quarter of 2022, TSA officers stopped 1,367 firearms at airport security checkpoints, which averaged 15.2 firearm catches per day. More than 86% of those firearms were loaded.

During the first quarter of 2023, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) screened over 191 million passengers, compared to about 158 million passengers in the first quarter of 2022, representing an increase of 20.4%. The rate of passengers with firearms during the most recent quarter was 7.9 firearms per one million passengers, decreasing slightly from the same period in 2022, when the rate of discovery was 8.6 firearms per one million passengers.

“Firearms at TSA security checkpoints present an unacceptable safety and security risk to other passengers and I am deeply concerned that the majority of these firearms our TSOs catch are loaded,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “If you carry a firearm to the checkpoint, our TSOs will see it and there will be significant penalties, to include federal penalties and additional screening, which may prolong the security screening process. You may still travel with a firearm – it just must be properly packed in your checked baggage and you must declare it to the airline.”

Firearm possession laws vary by state and local government, but firearms are prohibited in carry-on bags, at TSA security checkpoints and on board aircraft, even if a passenger has a concealed carry permit.

When passengers bring firearms to the TSA security checkpoint, TSA suspends their TSA PreCheck^® eligibility for five years, which includes current TSA PreCheck members. Additionally, TSA may conduct additional screening for those passengers to ensure no other threats are present. Late last year, TSA increased the maximum civil penalty for a firearms violation to $14,950. Passengers with firearms found in a carry-on bag at a TSA checkpoint are also subject to applicable city or state laws at that airport that may include citation or arrest.

Passengers may travel with a firearm if they properly pack the firearm in checked baggage and declare it with the airline at check-in. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition, so travelers must also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies prior to arriving at the airport.

To view the complete list of penalties, go to TSA.gov.

Snow coats the trees and cars in Edwards, Colo., Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The new snow was wet and heavy. (Chris Dillmann/Vail Daily via AP)

DETROIT (AP) — Michelin is recalling more than 542,000 light truck tires in the U.S. because they don’t have enough traction to work in all snowy conditions. The recall covers certain Agilis CrossClimate C-Metric tires that Michelin says don’t meet U.S. snow tire safety standards. The tire maker says in documents posted Thursday by safety regulators that tires without sufficient traction can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the tires at no cost to owners. Owners will get interim notification letters starting June 12. They’ll get another letter once the replacements are available.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that overnight closures of the outbound (westbound) Fort Pitt Bridge (I-376) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur Friday and Saturday night, April 21-22 weather permitting.

Crews will conduct the removal of existing pavement markings and installation of new durable pavement markings on the outbound (westbound) lower deck of the I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. each night.  To allow this work to occur, the outbound Fort Pitt Bridge and Fort Pitt Tunnel will close to traffic. Additionally, the ramp from the Fort Pitt Bridge to Route 837 (West Carson Street) will close.  Motorists will be detoured.

Posted Detours

I-376 (Parkway East) to the Fort Pitt Tunnel, Bridge

• From inbound I-376 Parkway East, motorists will take the I-279 Fort Duquesne Bridge/North Shore (Exit 70C) off-ramp
• Cross the Fort Duquesne Bridge
• Take the ramp toward Route 19/65 Ohio River Boulevard
• From Route 65, take the ramp to South 19 to 51 West End Bridge/Chateau Street/Western Avenue
• Turn left at the traffic light toward South 19 to I-376/51 West End Bridge
• Cross the West End Bridge
• Continue straight onto Route 51/19 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard)
• Take the ramp to West 376/South 19 toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport
• Take the ramp to West I-376 toward Carnegie/Airport
• End detour

I-376 (Parkway East) to Route 837 (West Carson Street)

• From inbound I-376 Parkway East, motorist will take the I-279 Fort Duquesne Bridge/North Shore (Exit 70C) off-ramp
• Cross the Fort Duquesne Bridge
• Take the ramp toward Route 19/65 Ohio River Boulevard
• From Route 65, take the ramp to South 19 to 51 West End Bridge/Chateau Street/Western Avenue
• Turn left at the traffic light toward South 19 to I-376/51 West End Bridge
• Cross the West End Bridge to West Carson Street
• End detour

Southbound I-279 (Parkway North) to I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge

• From southbound I-279 (Parkway North), take the North 65 Ohio River Boulevard (Exit 1C) off-ramp
• From Route 65, take the ramp to South 19 to 51 West End Bridge/Chateau Street/Western Avenue
• Turn left at the traffic light toward South 19 to I-376/51 West End Bridge
• Cross the West End Bridge
• Continue straight onto Route 51/19 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard)
• Take the ramp to West 376/South 19 toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport
• Take the ramp to West I-376 toward Carnegie/Airport
• End detour

From the Liberty Avenue Ramp to the Fort Pitt Bridge

• From Liberty Avenue, turn left onto Commonwealth Place
• Bear right onto the ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge
• Cross the Fort Duquesne Bridge
• Take the ramp toward Route 19/65 Ohio River Boulevard
• From Route 65, take the ramp to South 19 to 51 West End Bridge/Chateau Street/Western Avenue
• Turn left at the traffic light toward South 19 to I-376/51 West End Bridge
• Cross the West End Bridge
• Continue straight onto Route 51/19 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard)
• Take the ramp to West 376/South 19 toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport
• Take the ramp to West I-376 toward Carnegie/Airport
• End detour

Weather impacts may require work to occur from 9 p.m. Sunday evening to 5 a.m. Monday morning with a closure of the Fort Pitt Tunnel, Fort Pitt Bridge, and the associated ramp.  Information will be provided in advance of a closure Sunday evening.

Additional weekend work with closures will occur on the Fort Duquesne Bridge.  Information will be provided prior to any closures.

FILE – President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden leave Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Johns Island, S.C., after attending a Mass on Aug. 13, 2022. Biden is in Kiawah Island with his family on vacation. An IRS special agent is seeking whistleblower protection to disclose information regarding what the agent contends is mishandling of an investigation into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. That is according to a letter to Congress obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — An IRS special agent is seeking whistleblower protection to disclose information regarding what the agent contends is mishandling of an investigation into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. That is according to a letter to Congress obtained by The Associated Press. The attorney for the whistleblower Mark Lytle wrote to lawmakers Wednesday that his client has information about a “failure to mitigate clear conflicts of interest in the ultimate disposition,” of the criminal investigation related to the younger Biden’s taxes and foreign business work. Hunter Biden has been under federal investigation by a federal grand jury in Delaware since at least 2018. So far no charges have been filed.