Ohio has filed a lawsuit against railroad Norfolk Southern to make sure it pays for the cleanup and environmental damage caused by a fiery train derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border last month. The state’s attorney general said Tuesday that the federal lawsuit also seeks to force the company to pay for groundwater and soil monitoring in the years ahead and economic losses in the village of East Palestine and surrounding areas. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says the fallout from the Feb. 3 derailment will reverberate for many years. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw has apologized for the impact the derailment has had on East Palestine.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Trial has begun in western Pennsylvania in the death of an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer shot and killed in a street confrontation more than 3 1/2 years ago. Thirty-four-year-old Christian Bey is charged in Allegheny County with homicide in the July 2019 shooting that killed 36-year-old Officer Calvin Hall after an apparent dispute at a Homewood block party. The Tribune-Review reports that Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Ramaley told jurors in her opening statement Tuesday that DNA on the murder weapon matched that of the defendant. Defense attorney Carmen Robinson said the case was about “a rush to judgment and a biased investigation.”

PITTSBURGH (AP) — As part of a yearlong investigation, The Associated Press obtained the data points underpinning several algorithms deployed by child welfare agencies to understand how they predict which children could be at risk of harm. They offer rare insight into the mechanics driving these emerging technologies. Among the factors they use to measure a family’s risk, whether outright or by proxy: race, poverty rates, disability status and family size. The tool’s developers say their work is transparent and that they make their models public. The AP has learned that the U.S. Justice Department is investigating one Pennsylvania county’s child welfare system to determine whether its use of an algorithm discriminates against people with disabilities or other protected groups.

PITTSBURGH (March 15, 2023) – The AHN Bariatric and Metabolic Institute announced today its bariatric program at AHN Wexford Hospital has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

MBSAQIP works to advance safe, high-quality care for bariatric surgical patients through the accreditation of bariatric surgery centers. AHN Wexford Hospital joins AHN West Penn Hospital and over 900 bariatric surgery centers across the U.S. and Canada with the designation. Each has undergone an independent, voluntary, and rigorous peer evaluation in accordance with nationally recognized bariatric surgical quality standards.

Based at West Penn Hospital, the AHN Bariatric and Metabolic Institute extended its program to patients at AHN’s newest full-service hospital last spring. Since then, patients living in communities north of Pittsburgh have had convenient access at AHN Wexford to one of the region’s most experienced clinical teams providing a range of advanced medical and surgical weight loss solutions.

“This achievement is a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to providing the most advanced, highest quality care available,” said George Eid, MD, chair, AHN Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. “Their commitment has immeasurable impacts on our patients, many of whom are in need of and very much deserve lifesaving care that affords them the opportunity to live healthier, happier lives.”

Some innovative, minimally invasive surgical solutions for obesity and other metabolic diseases offered at AHN Wexford include laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic-sleeve gastrectomy. Certain patients may be candidates for an endoscopic bariatric procedure in which a small, flexible scope is inserted through the patient’s mouth and no incision is made. The endoscopic procedure aims to significantly reduce a patient’s stomach volume and/or alter other parts of the digestive tract.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 93 million adults in the U.S. are affected by obesity. Obesity is linked to more than 40 other diseases including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, orthopedic injuries and infertility.

FILE –  (AP Photo/Alberto Mariani, File)  

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today announced that since its implementation, the Free School Breakfast Program has served more than 23 million breakfasts to students across the Commonwealth.

 

“Research shows that when students get proper nutrition, they are both physically and mentally prepared to learn and therefore, perform better in school,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “By continuing to offer free breakfast to all students, we are fueling healthy minds and bodies while reducing stigma related to food insecurity in our schools.”

 

Last week in his budget address, Governor Josh Shapiro highlighted the importance of the program and proposed $38.5 million in funding to continue providing universal free breakfast through the 2023-24 school year. Rather than a one-time influx, Governor Shapiro’s proposal provides ongoing, sustainable state funding for free breakfast in the years to come, because students learn and grow better on a full stomach. The Governor’s budget proposal would also allow students who qualify for reduced meals to receive lunch at no cost.

 

Under the program, PDE will use the existing meal reimbursement program to pay schools for the difference between the free federal reimbursement and paid or reduced-price meal reimbursement so that no student has an out-of-pocket cost for a reimbursable breakfast and students eligible for reduced lunch can receive a school lunch at no cost to their families. Reimbursement applies only to standard breakfast and lunch served at schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

 

Interested schools that do not currently participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs can find information for applying on PDE’s website.

 

The Free School Breakfast Program ensures that all students have access to a healthy, nutritious meal to start the school day and eliminates the stigma associated with free and reduced-price breakfast that may deter eligible students from participating.

 

On average, more than 455,000 free breakfasts are served each day in Pennsylvania schools. There are 3,129 schools that participate in the program, serving more than 1.6 million students. Since the program began, school breakfast participation is up overall, with participation doubling among students who would usually have to pay full price.

 

According to the School Nutrition Association, students who eat breakfast are more likely to reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math, score higher on standardized tests, have better concentration and memory, and be more alert and maintain a healthy weight.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 15, 2023 10:43 A.M.  

(Hopewell Township, PA) The teachers contract was  set to expire on June 30, 2022, but no agreement has been reached, and teachers are working under the old contract, according to Solicitor John Salopek. Mr. Salopek’s statement came after a few residents said they heard the teachers were working with no contract. He told the residents, “Be cautious of rumors.” He said progress is being made in the talks to reach a new contract. He told those present that 3 board members are also involved in the ongoing negotiations. If the teachers were to strike they would give Superintendent Dr. Jeff Beltz 48 hours notice and he would notify the proper district officials about the operation of classes in the district’s buildings. The next negotiations are on Monday, March 20, 2023.

The image above shows a long table filled with approximately 25% of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Story and photos by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published March 15, 2023 7:26 A.M. 

(Darlington Township, PA) State Representatives from across the state met yesterday at the Darlington Township Volunteer Fire Department for a hearing featuring state and local leaders. Approximately 25% of PA’s House of Representatives were in attendance, as well as a large group of community members. State department leaders stated that there are still questions to be answered regarding the derailment. They reported that less people have been contacting them for their services, a number that is now in the teens after being in the hundreds.
Results were given for an ACE Survey completed by 143 residents, and the most common answer was 68% said they wanted to know if it was safe to plant a garden. State Rep. Jim Marshall asked if there has been any diagnosis for people health symptoms, Dr. Debra Bogen of the Department of Health said its too early to say if people health symptoms are connected to the derailment or not. When asked about long term health effects, the Department of Health said they are taking priority to monitor and conduct health assessment surveys rather than analyzing anybody’s actual health. 87 first responders were also given the survey, with around half reporting ear/nose/throat symptoms.
Whether or not Norfolk Southern is still being relied on for any information, Rich Negrin of the DEP replied “zero percent” of their information is being trusted, noting that they are still receiving their information to compare alongside alternate reports. When asked where waste soil from the site is being taken, there was a brief pause before it said that the EPA knows where it is going and it is being worked out, with no further details other than they were pretty sure none of it was coming to Pennsylvania.
Local leaders Rep. Josh Kail, Rep. Rob Matzie, Rep. Jim Marshal led the hearing. Darlington Township leaders and County Commissioner Dan Camp participated in the local panel, speaking on behalf the County Commissioners although Jack Manning and Tony Amadio were in attendance. Norfolk Southern was contacted but did not attend the meeting.
Photos from the hearing: