HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania state courts agency’s website was hit by a cyberattack that did not appear to compromise any data, but left some online systems disabled, officials said Sunday night.

The federal government’s lead cybersecurity agency, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the F.B.I. were investigating the attack, Chief Justice Debra Todd said in a statement.

She called it a “denial of service” cyberattack, using the federal government’s description for when attackers “flood the targeted host or network with traffic until the target cannot respond or simply crashes, preventing access for legitimate users.”

The courts agency, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, did not immediately identify the attackers or a motive. The agency also didn’t say whether its cybersecurity measures worked as designed or whether the attackers demanded money or a ransom.

Among the disabled online systems were use of use of online docket sheets and an electronic case document filing portal.

The state’s courts remained open, Todd said.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Another shoplifter was caught by State Police trying to steal groceries from the Franklin Township Giant Eagle on Friday.

According to the police report, the store manager called officers because he had noticed that a man had placed items in his jacket without paying for them and attempted to leave the store. Police arrived on the scene and identified the male suspect, who had admitted to trying to steal the groceries valued at $27.22.

This is the second such recent incident of shoplifting at the Giant Eagle located at 289 Route 288 in Franklin Township, following an arrest in late January on the attempted theft of two energy drinks.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Taylor Swift won album of the year at the Grammy Awards for “Midnights,” breaking the record for most wins in the category with four.

She began her speech by thanking her producer and friend Jack Antonoff and added, “I would love to tell you this is the happiest moment of my life,” she told the crowd, but said she feels this happy when she creates music and plays shows.

Earlier in the night, Taylor Swift used her 13th Grammy win on Sunday to announce her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” will arrive April 19.

“I know that the way that the Recording Academy voted is a direct reflection of the passion of the fans,” she said while accepting the best pop vocal album award. “So, I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the last two years.”

One of the night’s biggest awards, record of the year, went to Miley Cyrus for “Flowers,” her second-ever Grammy and second of the night.

“This award is amazing. But I really hope that it doesn’t change anything because my life was beautiful yesterday,” she said in her speech.

Victoria Monét won best new artist. “Thank you to the champagne-servers tonight,” Monét began her acceptance speech. “Thanks to my mom, a single mom raising this really bad girl.” Then she started to cry, telling the room that this award was “15 years in the making.”

Billie Eilish won song of the year for writing the “Barbie” hit, “What Was I Made For?” She thanked director Greta Gerwig for “making the best movie of the year.”

It was just one of several standout moments from Sunday’s show, hosted by Trevor Noah and broadcast live from Cypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.

Karol G made Grammy history Sunday by becoming the first female performer to win best música urbana album for her blockbuster “Mañana Será Bonito” record.

“This is my first time at the Grammys,” she told the audience in English. “And this is my first time holding my own Grammy.”

Performances were many. Olivia Rodrigo brought her bloodsucking ballad “vampire” – or in this case, bloodletting, as red liquid dripped from the walls behind her. Joni Mitchell, 80, made Grammy history by performing “Both Sides Now” from her 1969 album “Clouds”; Travis Scott did a medley of “My Eyes,” “I Know?,” and “Fein.” Burna Boy was joined by Brandy and 21 Savage and did “On Form,” “City Boys,” and “Sittin’ on Top of the World.”

A long and touching In Memoriam segment celebrated many of the musical greats lost last year. Stevie Wonder performed “For Once in My Life” and “The Best Is Yet To Come” in honor of Tony Bennett; Annie Lennox delivered “Nothing Compares 2 U” for Sinéad O’Connor. “Artists for ceasefire, peace in the world,” Lennox said at the end of the song, her fist extended in the air.

Jon Batiste did a medley of “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean On Me,” and finally “Optimistic” with Ann Nesby for the late great music exec Clarence Avant. Oprah introduced a fiery Tina Turner tribute of “Proud Mary” by Fantasia Barrino and Adam Blackstone.

SZA also took the stage – performing a medley of her larger-than-life hits “Snooze” and “Kill Bill,” joined by dancers wielding katanas. Later, she’d take home the trophy for best R&B song — for “Snooze,” handed to her by Lizzo. SZA ran to the stage and gave a charming, out of breath speech because she was “changing, and then I took a shot.”

Luke Combs’ delivered a heartfelt rendition of “Fast Car” with Tracy Chapman – his cover of the Chapman classic has dominated country radio and won him song of the year at the 2023 CMAs. In 1989 the song won Chapman best female pop vocal performance.

Dua Lipa opened the show with a high-octane medley: first, a tease of her forthcoming single, “Training Season,” then, her most recent single, “Houdini,” and finally, her disco-pop “Barbie” hit “Dance the Night.”

Eilish and Finneas also brought “Barbie” to the Grammys stage with live string accompaniment. They were followed by Cyrus, who performed “Flowers” for the first time live on television.

“Why are you acting like you don’t know this song?” she teased the crowd — John Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen were among those in the audience who got up to dance — and later cheered mid-song, “I just won my first Grammy!”

Best country album went to Lainey Wilson for “Bell Bottom Country,” — her very first Grammy — as presented by Kacey Musgraves. “I’m a fifth-generation farmer’s daughter,” she told the crowd, adding that she’s a “songwriting farmer,” and that’s where the musical magic came from.

Jay-Z was awarded the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award and used his speech to talk about the hip-hop greats that came before him – and heavily suggesting at the Grammys history of placing rap on the backburner – or at the very least, not in the televised version of the show. (This year, there were no rap categories on the telecast, but two pop, one Latin, one country and one R&B.)

“We want you all to get it right,” he said. “At least get it close to right,” before switching focus to Beyoncé. “Most Grammys, never won album of the year. How does that work?”

Bridgers took an early lead at the Grammys, quickly winning four trophies ahead of the main telecast, with her and her boygenius bandmates bringing an infectious energy to the pre-telecast Premiere Ceremony.

Jack Antonoff took home producer of the year, non-classical for a third year in a row, tying Babyface as the only other producer to do so consecutively. “You need the door kicked open for you,” he said in his acceptance speech. “Taylor Swift kicked that (expletive) door open for me,” he said.

The first of three new categories in 2024, best pop dance recording, went to Kylie Minogue for “Padam Padam” — her first win in 18 years.

About 80 Grammys were handed out pre-broadcast. Regional Mexican star Peso Pluma won his first Grammy for his first and only nomination, for best música Mexicana album for his “Genesis.”

Best African music performance, a new category which aims to highlight regional musical traditions and recognizing “recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent,” went to South African singer Tyla for her ubiquitous hit, “Water.”

“I never thought I’d say I won a Grammy at 21 years old,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Last year God decided to change my whole life.”

Killer Mike won three awards in quick succession Sunday night, but ended up in police custody before the main Grammys ceremony began because of an altercation, police spokesperson Officer Mike Lopez said.

The rapper won his first first Grammy in 21 years, for best rap performance for “Scientists & Engineers,” which featured André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane. Soon afterward, they won for “best rap song.” Killer Mike also took home best rap album for “Michael,” cheering, “It is a sweep! It is a sweep!”

Billy Joel was both the penultimate and final performance of the night. First, he brought his new track “Turn the Lights Back on” — his first new music in decades — live to the Grammy stage. Then, after album of the year was announced, he returned to the stage for his 1980 classic, “You May Be Right.”

A welcome surprised was the inclusion of Celine Dion, who handed Swift her record-breaking trophy. “When I say I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart,” she told the audience. In 2022, Dion revealed she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome, which causes spasms that affect her ability to walk and sing.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro is set to deliver a second budget proposal to Pennsylvania lawmakers on Tuesday with a firmer grasp on how he wants to pursue several top priorities, his state in a relatively strong fiscal position and lessons learned from last year’s ugly budget fight.

Most details of the Democratic governor’s budget plan for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which starts July 1, remain under wraps. But Shapiro has made it clear he will seek more money for higher education and public transit agencies and possibly underfunded public schools.

He also wants to spend more money to attract major companies and seems ready to revisit the controversial item that helped sow a protracted budget fight last year: creating a new private school voucher program.

Shapiro’s first budget proposal disappointed many allies who felt it wasn’t bold enough. This year, he’s returning with bigger proposals based on recommendations from his task forces or appointees.

Shapiro faces a number of cost pressures, too, from health care for the poor to county-run mental health services.

One other difference this year is that Shapiro is expected to deliver his budget address to a joint session of the House and Senate in the Capitol Rotunda. Governors historically deliver the speech in the House chamber, but workers have put up scaffolding there to repair damage from a water leak a year ago.

Whatever Shapiro proposes will require passage from the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and the Republican-controlled Senate. Appropriations Committee hearings start Feb. 20.

Here’s what to watch for Tuesday:

THE BUDGET BASICS

Shapiro will almost certainly propose an operating budget that spends above this year’s $45 billion approved plan.

That’s partly because an extra federal pandemic-era Medicaid subsidy, worth about $1 billion a year, is ending and Shapiro has said he wants to spend more money on several priorities.

Those include nearly $300 million more for public transit agencies, a roughly 25% increase, and a substantial, but undisclosed, increase for state-owned universities.

Shapiro also wants to spend big to attract large industrial facilities, such as a microchip factory, by getting large tracts of land permitted and prepared for construction.

“We need to invest if we want to compete nationally and internationally,” Shapiro said last month.

Also, pressure is on Shapiro to respond more fully to last year’s court decision that found Pennsylvania’s system of funding public schools violates the constitutional rights of students in poorer districts.

Last month, Shapiro’s appointees backed a non-binding recommendation to send $1.3 billion more next year to public schools, including subsidies for high-tax districts and school construction. He hasn’t said whether his budget proposal will reflect that recommendation.

THE FISCAL SITUATION

Tax collections are meeting expectations and Shapiro has a strong cash cushion, for now.

The state expects to have $13 billion in cash when the fiscal year ends June 30, thanks to federal COVID-19 aid over the past four years and inflation-juiced tax collections that filled up the state’s treasury.

Meanwhile, a credit rating upgrade in November was Pennsylvania’s first since it drew six downgrades between 2012 and 2017, including two by each of the big three rating agencies, while grappling with entrenched post-recession deficits.

Still, Pennsylvania is running deficits again, using $1 billion in surplus cash to prop up this year’s spending.

The state also is saddled with a slow-growing economy and grim demographic trends showing a shrinking working-age population and a fast-growing retirement-age population that pays less in taxes and costs more to care for.

SHAPIRO’S PRIORITIES

Shapiro has made a list of items that he considers to be unfinished business.

That includes raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, which Republicans have blocked in the Senate, and creating a new $100 million private school voucher program that Democrats in the House have blocked.

The voucher program is particularly radioactive for Democrats and Shapiro’s support for it sets him apart from other Democratic governors around the country.

Like 19 other states, Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is at the federal minimum of $7.25.

TAXES

Shapiro has said he will propose a budget that cuts taxes, without offering further details.

Shapiro and lawmakers in December approved an increase in the monthly fee on phone bills, from $1.65 to $1.95, to raise another $60 million for county 911 emergency response services.

OTHER COST PRESSURES

School boards say they are paying too much to charter schools and Democratic lawmakers are pushing to restart a dormant program subsidizing school construction projects.

Meanwhile, providers of services for the intellectually disabled and autistic say the system is beset by underfunding and staffing shortages.

Counties say the safety-net mental health services they manage are in dire need of more money to create more beds and attract more counselors for waiting lists of people who need help.

(Sandy Giordano/Beaver County Radio)

The Beaver Valley Mall was closed yesterday due to a water main break that occurred in the early morning hours on Sunday. 

The Center Township Water Authority had shut off the water service at 7:30 AM, and the mall offices closed soon thereafter, according to Water Authority manager Bill DiCiccio, Jr.

No details on the cause of the water line break is available at this time; however Beaver County Radio has learned that the Center At The Mall is closed today due to the water issues.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published February 3, 2024 6:07 P.M.

(East Palestine, OH) A year after a Norfolk Southern train hauling hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, the town and nearby communities are still feeling the effects. On an unseasonably warm Saturday, residents gathered for a commemoration and commitment ceremony hosted by activist group We Refuse To Die.

The event featured music, prayer, and a ritual of remembrance to the derailment and was officiated by Marcia Dinkins of the Black Appalachian Coalition of Ohio and Beka Economopoulos of The Natural History Museum in Washington. Community members from Ohio and Pennsylvania gave testimonies of their experiences, in addition to testimonies from other frontline community members where disasters have occurred including California, Missouri, Louisiana and West Virginia.

Following the ceremony, a monument was installed outside of a local family home. A procession of a masked group carried a carved post of a deer head into the yard of Daren and Stella Grimble, mounting it to face the site of the derailment.

Following the event, Beaver County Radio had the opportunity to speak with a Beaver County resident who says she doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to return home.

Hilary Flint of Enon Valley has been living in western New York since shortly after the derailment, and she says she experienced effects to her health. Flint says her home became overtaken by a strong smell after the controlled explosion of tankers. She says because she lived farther out than the one by two-mile radius, no one was willing to help including the EPA. A month after the derailment, she was able to get independent testing done by Wayne State University, who found evidence of vinyl chloride and other chemicals the train was hauling on her property. She noted that her water was fine, but dioxins were found in her soil and ethylhexyl acrylate was detected in an air purifier inside her home.

She said “The EPA has seen the data, I’ve taken it to Senators Fetterman, Casey, Representatives”, “I went to Columbus, Harrisburg to DC, everyone’s seen it.” She says they all tell her the levels aren’t considered high enough to be a harm to health.

Flint had to take a new job and she is currently renting her home in New York. She states that anytime she returns to her home in Enon Valley, she experiences nose bleeds within a day or two. She says Norfolk Southern reimbursed her for some time in a hotel but otherwise isn’t a part of their relocation program. She thinks Pennsylvania and Beaver County were behind on being prepared for a situation like this, noting an example that emergency alerts weren’t sent to residents. Flint is a part of and helps lead multiple local organization efforts in response to the derailment.

She would like to see a disaster declaration declared, citing more recourses such as health care could be provided if President Joe Biden would sign a declaration into order. Under the affordable care act, communities that have experienced toxic harm can receive Medicare for life.

Beaver County Radio visited a stream on the outskirts of East Palestine and saw a clearly visible sheen of chemical matter in the water. Clean up and restoration efforts are still underway at the derailment site. The site is heavily guarded by security and Beaver County Radio was stopped when making an attempt to photograph the area, being told by security that no photography of the site is allowed.

Efforts are still ongoing by elected officials for rail safety reform and various issues amongst the cloud of events that took place in East Palestine. President Joe Biden says he is going to visit the town in February but has not yet confirmed when. Norfolk Southern has made promises to “make things right” in the community, and in 2023 they funded things such as a carnival as well as a fireworks display.

During Beaver County Radio’s anniversary visit to East Palestine, one Norfolk Southern train was seen roaring through town.

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