This image taken from video shows Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh and Board President Dana Hunter preside over a Central Bucks School District meeting in Doylestown Pa., Nov. 15, 2022. Democrats who swept out a Moms for Liberty majority on the board are challenging Lucabaugh’s last-minute $700,000 exit package. (AP Photo)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Pennsylvania school board that’s banned books, Pride flags and transgender athletes has awarded their superintendent a $700,000 severance package before power changes hands next month. But Democrats taking over the Central Bucks School District from the conservative Moms For Liberty slate hope to block the unusual payout. Their lawyer calls the deal egregious _ and illegal under Pennsylvania law. Outgoing superintendent Abram Lucabaugh did not return a call seeking comment from The Associated Press. Central Bucks East senior Lily Freeman says the money could be better spent on other needs, like better WiFi at her school.

In this image taken from security video, a light colored vehicle, top center, flies over a fence into the Rainbow Bridge customs plaza, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Niagara Falls, N.Y. A vehicle exploded at a checkpoint on the American side of a U.S.-Canada bridge in Niagara Falls Wednesday, leaving two people dead and prompting the closing of four border crossings in the area, authorities said. (Customs Border Protection via AP)

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say there is no indication of a terrorist attack in the vehicle crash and explosion that left two people dead at a checkpoint on the American side of a U.S.-Canada bridge. The vehicle was speeding Wednesday from Niagara Falls, New York, toward the Rainbow Bridge, which connects the two countries across the Niagara River. The crash raised concerns on both sides of the border. But the FBI said its investigation found no explosive materials or “terrorism nexus.” It added that it had turned the matter over to local police “as a traffic investigation.”The incident prompted the closing of the border crossing and three others in the area. The other three later reopened.

FILE – A Southwest Airlines jet arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport, Dec. 28, 2022, in Phoenix.  (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Holiday travelers are starting their final sprint. About 2.7 million people were expected to board flights on Wednesday, and Sunday is expected to set an all-time record of 2.9 million. Many millions of other Americans will drive to Thanksgiving celebrations. Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration say they are prepared for the onslaught. But airport security lines could be long. Delta is telling passengers to arrive at the airport at least two or three hours before their flight. On the positive side, the government says airfares are lower than they were last year, and gasoline prices are down too.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania law that delivers automatic pay raises for state officials will pay dividends next year. The law will give more than 1,300 officials a pay raise of 3.5% in 2024. That includes Gov. Josh Shapiro, 253 lawmakers and seven state Supreme Court justices. A 1995 law ties wage hikes to year-over-year increases in consumer prices for mid-Atlantic urban areas, as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s on pace to amount to a bigger increase than the increase in private sector wages. The new, higher salaries are effective Jan. 1 for the executive and judicial branches, and Dec. 1 for lawmakers.

AMBRIDGE, Nov. 21 – New tax credits totaling nearly $255,000 will support revitalization projects in Aliquippa and Monaca, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver, said the tax credits – awarded through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program – will leverage investments in key projects to transform the landscape.

“Tax credits spur investments that can breathe new life into distressed areas,” Matzie said. “The newly awarded credits will help us build on revitalization efforts underway in Aliquippa and Monaca by supporting renovation projects that will add jobs, expand affordable housing and draw new commercial tenants.”

Matzie said the funding includes:

• $132,572 in tax credits to BIL Holdings LLC to support a project to rehabilitate a Monaca building into a mixed-used space including two fully renovated apartments with separate entrances and a refurbished façade. The project will include new wiring, lighting, HVAC systems, installing windows and other work.
• $122,279 in tax credits to Getblok.io Holdings LLC to support a project to renovate a building that has been vacant for 13 years. The work will include installing a new roof, solar panels, HVAC infrastructure and new windows, as well as exterior work and fencing.

In addition to the tax credits supporting the Aliquippa and Monaca projects, more than $1.3 million in tax credits was awarded to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, which distributes food to residents in Beaver County and 10 other counties.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published November 22, 2023 1:26 P.M.

(South Heights, Pa) State Police in Beaver issued a report on a reported two vehicle crash they responded to in South Heights last Tuesday at Laurel Road and Jordan Street.
The operator of one vehicle told police he thought he might have been in an accident while turning onto Laurel Avenue, although the trooper did not observe any damage to the vehicle. The operator told the Trooper, that the other driver stopped and stated they didn’t see any damage. The other driver was located by the Trooper later on and stated that they didn’t remember getting into an accident.
The report states that the Trooper was unable to observe any physical evidence that a crash occurred and a notice of accident investigation was issued.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro smiles during an appearance at the Pennsylvania Press Club, Nov. 20, 2023, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says his list of unfinished business for the state Legislature includes passing a private school voucher program, increasing the minimum wage and approving bills to curb gun violence. Shapiro also said Monday he wants lawmakers to lift limits that prevent adult victims of childhood sexual assault from suing their assailants and institutions. Looking forward to next year, the governor says he wants to address a court ruling that found Pennsylvania unconstitutionally discriminates against its poorest school districts. Speaking at a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon, Shapiro acknowledged that the politically divided Legislature is a challenge to his agenda.

Photo: Dayton 24/7 Now; No Access Dayton market

BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (AP) — Police in Ohio say a shooter opened fire at a Walmart, wounding four people before apparently killing himself. The attack took place Monday night at a Walmart in Beavercreek, in the Dayton metropolitan area. Police didn’t immediately release the name of the shooter, a possible motive for the attack or other details. There also wasn’t any immediate word on the conditions of the victims, who were taken to hospitals. In a statement, Walmart says the company is “heartbroken” over the shootings.

FILE – Owners bring their dogs to a park in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. Veterinary laboratories in several states, including Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire, are investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs that causes lasting illness and doesn’t respond to antibiotics. The Oregon Department of Agriculture, which is working with state researchers and the U.S. Deparment of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory to find out what is causing the illnesses, has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

Veterinary laboratories in several states are investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs. Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire are among the states that have seen cases of the illness. It does not respond to antibiotics. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge and lethargy. Veterinarians are encouraging pet owners to basic precautions like not having as much contact with other dogs and making sure the pets are up to date on their vaccinations. Labs across the country have been sharing their findings as they try to pinpoint the culprit.