FILE – An electric vehicle charges at an EVgo fast charging station in Detroit on Nov. 16, 2022. The Biden administration is proposing strict new automobile pollution limits that would require as many as two-thirds of new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2032 — a nearly tenfold increase over current EV sales, according to an announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is proposing strict new automobile pollution limits that would require as many as two-thirds of new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2032. That’s a nearly tenfold increase over current electric vehicle sales. The proposed regulation was announced Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The regulation would set tailpipe emissions limits for the 2027 through 2032 model years that call for far more new EVs than the auto industry agreed to sell less than two years ago. If finalized next year, the plan would represent the strongest push yet toward a once almost unthinkable shift from gasoline-powered cars and trucks to battery-powered vehicles.

FILE – Emergency personnel work at the site of a deadly explosion at a chocolate factory in West Reading, Pa., March 25, 2023. According to a lawsuit filed Tuesday, April 11, a Pennsylvania candy-maker ignored warnings of a gas leak at its chocolate factory and bears responsibility for a subsequent explosion that killed seven workers. (Ben Hasty/Reading Eagle via AP, File)

A lawsuit over a deadly explosion at a Pennsylvania chocolate factory says the candy-maker ignored warnings of a natural gas leak. The lawsuit was filed by the family of one of seven workers killed last month. It alleges that R.M. Palmer Co. bears responsibility for the explosion. The family of Judy Lopez-Moran on Tuesday filed the first wrongful-death suit against Palmer. The suit says Palmer was warned about a natural gas leak, but failed to evacuate. A message seeking comment was sent to Palmer. Another defendant, gas utility UGI, declined comment. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the March 24 blast in West Reading.

The Beaver County Educational Trust has announced its inaugural class selection to the Beaver County Education Hall of Fame.  After careful consideration of many nominations from across Beaver County, the following individuals will be inducted into the Education Hall of Fame on Tuesday, May 9 at a dinner gala ceremony at the Willows in Industry, PA.

James “Jim” Johnson was the founding director of the aviation program at the Community College of Beaver County.  An instructor, mentor, and coach, Jim Johnson had impacted more than 3000 aviation alumni from the School of Aviation Sciences named in his honor in 2019 by the CCBC Board of Trustees. Mr. Johnson will be awarded posthumously having passed in 2010.

Paulette Miller is the former Executive Director of Beaver County Rehabilitation Center.   Ms. Miller spent 30 of her 47 years of service with BCRC as Executive Director and guided BCRC, which has state and national recognition, to ensuring all individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health diagnosis have the educational and vocational opportunities to prepare them to thrive both personally and professionally.  Ms. Miller retired in 2022.

Jean Macaluso has impacted education in Beaver County for over 40 years having served as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, director of pupil personnel services, and assistant superintendent. Jean also taught at CCBC and Geneva College.  Jean continues to be involved in various community organizations.

Dr. Dan Matsook has 47 years of education experience in various roles.  Mr. Matsook has served as an English teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. He helped establish the Central Valley School District, which is the first and only voluntary school merger in Pennsylvania.  Mr. Matsook continues to work as an education consultant and as a professional training facilitator for the PA Department of Education.

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, the Beaver County Educational Trust will also recognize its “Teacher of the Year” at the Gala on May 9.  This year’s “Teacher of the Year” is Isaac Dixon of Rochester Area School District.

All friends of the inductees and friends of education in general are encouraged to attend the award ceremonies. Hall of Fame honorees will be recognized at the BCET “Coming Together For Education” gala to be held on May 9 from 6 to 8 PM at the Willows.  Tickets for the gala are available to the public on-line at the BCET website or through BCET Trustees or the Executive Director.

Nominations for The Education Hall of Fame are open to all, and nominations may be made year round through website: www.beavercountyeducationaltrust.org.

For more information contact, Executive Director Jamie Connelly as indicated above.

Secretary of Health Dr. Debra L. Bogen

Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration today announced Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen is being honored as 2023 Pediatrician of the Year by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP). The chapter gives this award annually to recognize a pediatric fellow who exemplifies the ideals of the profession and advocates for children’s health and increased access to health services.

“Congratulations Dr. Bogen for being honored as the 2023 Pediatrician of the Year,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Dr. Bogen has dedicated her career to caring for children and their families, a task she continues to carry on now as Acting Secretary of Health for all Pennsylvanians. She is a shining example of the commitment to excellence I looked for in appointing qualified cabinet members dedicated to serving our residents.”

Before joining the Commonwealth, Dr. Bogen was the Director of the Allegheny County Health Department. Prior to that appointment, she was a member of the Pittsburgh region medical and research community for more than two decades. She held a primary academic appointment as Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, and secondary appointments in psychiatry and clinical and translational science. Dr. Bogen also served as the Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Pediatrics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She was one of the founders of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank and served as the organization’s Volunteer Medical Director until assuming her role at the state.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 12, 2023 9:48 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Beaver County 9-1-1 reported that just after midnight there was a call to the Eleanor Roosevelt Apartments after a body had been found there.  The apartment complex is located off of Sheffield Avenue in the city.

(Patterson Township, PA)  Once a household name known for his family restaurants in the region, Lou Pappan has passed away. According to Scott Tady of the Beaver County Times, Pappan passed away at his home in Patterson Heights, surrounded by family. Many will be able to recall seeing Pappan appearing in his own commercials. After starting his restaurant business in Beaver Falls, he opened the first Pappan’s Family Restaurant in New Brighton in the mid 1960s. Pappan was 92 years old.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The Beaver Falls City Council reunited for their April 11 meeting, and in doing so welcomed some new faces to the city.

One of those faces was Curt Friehs, who was announced as the new director of the Carnegie Free Library on 7th Avenue. Friehs, who most recently was working with a library in Evans City, was formally introduced by previous interim director Ray Gutowski. “He’s also very interested in community activities, and keeping the library involved in all of the activities we have here in town,” Gutowski stated. Friehs himself complimented the city for its “wonderful” people and businesses and “looks forward to working with Beaver Falls.”

Another new face to Beaver Falls is police officer Tyler Ursida, who was unanimously hired by council following submission for approval by Beaver Falls police chief David Johnson. Ursida, a West Mayfield native and graduate of Blackhawk High School, joins the Beaver Falls Department following a stint with the Beaver Borough Police Department. “I’m excited,” Ursida exclaimed; his start date with the Beaver Falls unit will be April 17.

Following a previous hold on the cementing of a new era of government in Beaver Falls, the council finally approved the Administrative Code & Operations for the city as a Home Rule municipality. Though the voters of the city approved the measure during the 2021 election to move to home rule charter, the final approval took place Tuesday night.

“To be quite honest,” spoke Mayor Kenya Johns, “it’s already been in effect for the city for a year and a half now. It’s just officially documented.”

Also officially documented was the approval of general fund expenditures at a total of $670,331.18, the agreement for security services for the Beaver Falls Car Cruise on June 10, and the resignation of Chris Quinn from the city’s Recreation Board–all three of which were unanimously approved by council.

Community Development leader Rochelle Burks spoke about the input of students in the Big Beaver Falls Area School District as to what the new name of Library Park should be. Burks stated that there were stops made at the High School and Central Elementary, and that a future trip to the Middle School is planned. Mayor Johns reiterated that all of the collected data, from students and citizens alike, will be narrowed down to five names as finalists. The citizens will then select the new name of Library Park–set to open in Summer 2023–from the five finalists.

The next scheduled Beaver Falls City Council meeting is scheduled for April 25 at 7:00 PM.

FILE – President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in the State Dining Room of the White House on April 4, 2023, in Washington. The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday, April 10, as Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. On Monday, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring the national emergency to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. The national emergency allowed the government to take sweeping steps to respond to the virus and support the country’s economic, health and welfare systems. Some of the emergency measures have already been successfully wound-down, while others are still being phased out. The public health emergency underpins tough immigration restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, and is set to expire on May 11.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published April 11, 2023 11:47 A.M.

(West Mifflin, PA) Fire crews responded to the abandoned Century III Mall Tuesday Morning.  It has been reported that a fire broke out inside a portion of the building. The cause is not known at this time.  A haze of smoke is said to have been apparent in the surrounding areas. The last remaining store in the mall closed in 2019.