HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Anti-gun violence advocates will rally for tighter gun control in Pennsylvania, where a politically divided government has fought firearms policy to a virtual standstill for decades. Thursday’s March For Our Lives rally marks its fifth anniversary since its inception after a 2018 mass shooting at a Florida high school. Hundreds are expected at Thursday’s rally in Harrisburg, which coincides with rallies this week in Florida, Michigan, California and Texas. Pennsylvania’s Legislature hasn’t seriously entertained any new gun restrictions for yars. But this year a one-seat Democratic majority has taken over the House and will kick off this session’s debate over gun violence with a committee hearing Thursday.

HARRISBURG – House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) hosted a hearing titled “Obstacles to Opportunity: Pennsylvania’s Permitting Process” to hear the challenges of the Commonwealth’s permitting process and explore possible solutions.

 

“I firmly believe that we need to have the ability and fortitude to challenge the status quo,” said Kail. “We cannot simply say that we want opportunity and transformation and then do nothing about details like the permitting process. We have to be willing to challenge what’s there and disrupt the status quo.”

 

Kevin Sunday, director of government affairs at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, noted some remedies that would lead to further investment include going beyond a “money-back guarantee” for permits; establishing timelines for the authorization of key projects; and providing agencies resources to efficiently review permits.

 

“The state lost out on a major petrochemical expansion in the southeast due to a lack of infrastructure and an associated protracted permitting process,” said Sunday. “We were not in the running for a semiconductor manufacturer because of site availability. Other manufacturers that produce life-sustaining medicine and consumer goods have reported that our state’s process to permitting significantly lowers the likelihood of new investment coming to Pennsylvania as they deliberate internally.”

 

David Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, detailed a list of approaches needing to be taken to fix this issue. This includes involving the General Assembly regarding regulations that impose a significant economic cost to Pennsylvanians; ensuring state regulations are not stricter than those of the federal government; and requiring state regulatory agencies to be partners in compliance.

 

“When it comes to the larger issue of regulatory reform, let me be clear that no one is saying there shouldn’t be rules; of course, there should be,” said Taylor. “However, those rules should be based on sound science and should be subjected to a meaningful and independent cost/benefit analysis. In environmental compliance, the continuous ratcheting of standards to capture the last molecule of emissions pushes us past the point of diminishing returns. Under that dynamic, costs soar ever higher as any potential benefit grows ever smaller. This approach is wasteful, counterproductive and contrary to good sense.”

 

Michael Ford, secretary-treasurer for the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, mentioned we are at a historic time because of bipartisan support.

 

“We have everything in Pennsylvania,” said Ford. “We have all the logistics we need, we have a skilled and qualified workforce, and we have energy like nobody’s business. We can really take it to the next level, but we have to work together to get that done.”

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. News on the Federal Reserve interest rate hike appears on a monitor in the background. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are veering between gains and losses and Treasury yields are falling after the Federal Reserve announced its latest increase to interest rates in its campaign to drive down inflation. The move was exactly in line with Wall Street’s expectations. The S&P 500 was 0.2% higher Wednesday afternoon. The Dow and the Nasdaq also rose. Indexes had been little changed ahead of the Fed’s decision. The Fed raised its key overnight rate by a quarter of a percentage point, the same size as its last hike. The Fed gave a hint that it may not tighten the screws much more on the economy.

President Joe Biden presents the 2021 National Medal of the Arts to Bruce Springsteen at White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden welcomed a high-wattage collection of singers, authors, artists and humanitarians to the White House on Tuesday to present them with medals — and then stole the show himself with a quip about seeking reelection. Bruce Springsteen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mindy Kaling and Gladys Knight were among the 22 people and organizations being honored. When author Colson Whitehead’s award was announced, Biden noted the novelist had already won back-to-back Pulitzer Prizes. The president, who is expected to announce for reelection this spring, quickly picked up on that and joked that he was looking “for a back-to-back myself.”

Christopher Lynch, music historian with the Center for American Music at the University of Pittsburgh, holds a piece of sheet music written by Charles Henry Pace, on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at the University of Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh. Lynch and the university are coordinating a project to recognize the pivotal role Pace played in gospel music as an early pioneer of the genre. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — For over 20 years, the work of gospel music composer Charles Henry Pace sat in 14 unorganized crates, dirty and decomposing. This was until a music historian at the University of Pittsburgh was inspired to uncover the true history behind the photo negatives, printing plates and pieces of sheet music the university acquired in 1999. As a result, they’ve discovered that Pace was an early pioneer of gospel music whose independently owned publishing company helped elevate and expand the genre. This week the community will honor Pace and his wife Frankie with a free concert in the historic Hill District of Pittsburgh, showcasing some of his work.

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve extended its year-long fight against high inflation by raising its key interest rate a quarter-point despite concerns that higher borrowing rates could worsen the turmoil that has gripped the banking system. “The U.S. banking system is sound and resilient,” the Fed said in a written statement. At the same time, the Fed warned that the financial upheaval stemming from the collapse of two major banks is “likely to result in tighter credit conditions” and “weigh on economic activity, hiring and inflation.” The Fed also signaled that it’s likely nearing the end of its aggressive series of rate hikes.

FILE – This scanning electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rod-shaped Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. U.S. officials are reporting two more deaths and additional cases of vision loss linked to eyedrops tainted with the drug-resistant bacteria. The eyedrops from EzriCare and Delsam Phama were recalled in February 2023 and health authorities are continuing to track infections as they investigate the outbreak. (Janice Haney Carr/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials are reporting two more deaths and additional cases of blindness linked to eyedrops tainted with a drug-resistant bacteria. The eyedrops from were recalled in February and health authorities are tracking infections from the outbreak. In the latest tally, 68 people had infections, which has caused a total of three deaths and eight cases of people losing their vision. That’s according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak is considered particularly worrisome because the bacteria driving it is resistant to standard antibiotics. The recalled drops were manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare in India.

FILE – The TikTok logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen which displays the TikTok home screen, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Boston. TikTok’s CEO plans to tell Congress that the video-sharing app is committed to user safety, data protection and security, and keeping the platform free from Chinese government influence.(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

TikTok’s CEO plans to tell Congress that the video-sharing app is committed to user safety, data protection and security, and keeping the platform free from Chinese government influence. Shou Zi Chew is due to answer questions Thursday from U.S. lawmakers concerned about the social media platform’s effects on its young user base and possible national security risks posed by the app. In prepared remarks released ahead of his appearance, Chew says TikTok’s efforts to ensure the security of its user data go “above and beyond” what any of its rivals are doing. He’s urging officials against pursuing an all-out ban on the TikTok app or for the company to be sold off.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is teaming up with the New Sewickley Police Department to urge safety when traveling through the Freedom Road/Route 989 roundabout in New Sewickley Borough, Beaver County.

Last fall, the roundabout at Freedom Road and Route 989 opened to traffic as part of the $21.7 million Freedom Road Upgrade project. While work on the project is still underway, the overall construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.

“Roundabouts are a great solution to reducing traffic congestion and speeding, and we are glad to have one at this intersection,” said New Sewickley Police Chief Greg Carney. “Now that the roundabout is open, we’re happy to be partnering with PennDOT to educate motorists on how to properly navigate through it, for everyone’s safety.”

To help motorists navigate the newly constructed roundabout, PennDOT recommends viewing their informational video, “How to Navigate Pennsylvania’s Roundabouts.” Drivers can also stop into the New Sewickley Police Department to pick up a free copy of PennDOT’s Single-Lane Roundabout brochure.

Roundabouts are frequently installed to address intersections with safety issues but may also be installed to improve traffic flow as well as other reasons such as traffic calming, and to facilitate pedestrian mobility. Roundabouts offer improved safety over other at-grade intersection forms primarily because there are fewer conflict points, slower speeds, and easier decision-making.

Geometrically designed to reduce vehicle speeds to generally 25 mph or less, roundabouts only consist of right turns. This significantly reduces the severity of crashes over those at traditional intersections. Crashes that do occur are typically low-speed, sideswipe crashes rather than high-speed T-bone collisions that can occur at traditional intersections, especially with left-turn movements. Roundabouts also improve pedestrian safety due to the slow speeds and by providing a median refuse area. This allows for two simple crossings of one-way traffic.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District11.

Information about infrastructure in District 11, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D11Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

For more information, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.

PennDOT’s media center offers resources for safety organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders. Social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving and distracted driving can be found online at www.PennDOT.gov in the “Media Center” under the “About Us” footer.

For regional updates, follow PennDOT on Twitter and join the Greater Pittsburgh Area PennDOT Facebook group.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 22, 2023 11:11 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police responded to a home in the Plan 12 section of the city on Tuesday morning for a male found deceased in a bathroom.  He had a snake bite.  Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer said on Wednesday morning it will take 6-8 weeks for the autopsy report. While there, police discovered almost 200 various species of snakes, lizards and a Caiman alligator in the basement.  Police Chief John Lane said there were 2 dogs in a crate, and one in the kitchen. Code and zoning officer James Bologna said the pets were removed from the home and sent to the exotic pet store in Ambridge by the Beaver County Humane Society. The owners of the pets could face a fine of $1,000 each for the number of venomous snakes. Child Protective Services were called to the home to investigate, and the child was allowed to remain in the home.