HARRISBURG, April 9 – The House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee on Tuesday approved a package of bills introduced by Majority Chairman Rob Matzie that would add protections for ratepayers when private companies acquire municipal water and wastewater systems.

Matzie, D-Beaver, said the legislation is needed to ensure consumer interests remain front and center.

“When public works like municipal water and wastewater systems are sold to private companies, ratepayers can end up bearing the burden of inflated sales prices through increased rates,” Matzie said. “Our legislation would help prevent that by adding greater transparency to these transactions, ensuring that PUC has sufficient time to review proposed sales, and easing the burden on consumers by limiting the purchase price of healthy systems and spreading out any future rate increases.

“It’s inevitable that these sales are going to happen. When they do, we need the proper safeguards in place to ensure consumer interests remain a central part of the equation.”

The specific bills include:

• H.B. 1862, which could impose enhanced notification requirements for private acquisitions of municipal water/wastewater systems.
• H.B. 1863, which would give the PUC more time to evaluate proposed private acquisitions of municipal water/wastewater systems.
• H.B, 1864, which would ease the immediate impact on ratepayers resulting from private acquisitions of municipal water/wastewater systems.
• H.B. 1865, which would impose a purchase price ceiling on private acquisitions of non-stressed municipal water/wastewater systems.

Matzie introduced the legislation together with state Reps. Lisa Borowski, Carol Kazeem, Leanne Krueger, and Jennifer O’Mara, all D-Delaware; Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery; and Christina Sappey, D-Chester.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published April 10, 2024 11:48 P.M.

(Beaver, Pa) A road closure announced for the Route 51 Rochester-Beaver Bridge had residents questioning the reason for the closure. Beaver Borough Police Department and the Bridgewater Borough both released alerts on Facebook citing a temporary closure will take place on Friday, April 19, 2024, from 7:00 A.M. to 11:30 P.M. Bridgewater stated the closure was for a “special event”.

Beaver County Radio reached out to PennDot to ask about the closure. PennDot initially told Beaver County Radio that they currently did not have knowledge of the closure as of Wednesday morning. PennDot investigated and later relayed that they were not involved in the closure as it was for a filming event.

Alternate routes will be designated during the closure to redirect traffic and appropriate detour signage will be in place to guide motorists. Delays and increased traffic volumes will be expected.

While Beaver County Radio has not gotten an official confirmation, the Paramount+ Series “Mayor of Kingstown” starring Jeremy Renner has been been taking place in the Pittsburgh region. The series takes place in Pittsburgh and the Administration of Governor Josh Shapiro recently stated the production of the show has brought over 90 million dollars into the local economy, along with creating more jobs.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Photo by Frank Sparks. Published April 10, 2024. 11:40 A.M.

(Beaver Falls, Pa) Ross Hill Road, between Beaver Falls and Patterson Township, has been reopened as of Wednesday morning. The road has been closed since November, when the City of Beaver Falls Police said the closure was due to an “increasing number of reportable accidents”. At the time of the closure, it was never stated how long the closure between 16th Avenue and Bridge Street would last,  other than “until further notice”.

Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published April 10, 2024. 9:28 A.M.

(Elizabeth Township, Pa) A missing Brighton Township man’s truck was found in the Monongahela River in Elizabeth Township Tuesday afternoon. 36 year-old Brian Posch was last seen Friday at 11 AM and a search was in place to locate him. The truck was located off the shore not far from the last place his phone GPS had pinged. His remains were in the vehicle. A cause of death has not yet been reported.

[PITTSBURGH, APRIL 10, 2024] — This spring, volunteers and members of the American Red Cross will team up with community partners to install free smoke alarms for local families vulnerable to home fires during Sound the Alarm events in western Pennsylvania. This effort is part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 2,063 lives since launching in October 2014.

“A working smoke alarm can be the difference between survival and tragedy when a home fire strikes,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. “That’s why the Red Cross is teaming up with our community partners to help ensure neighbors have these lifesaving devices.”

Each Sound the Alarm event kicks off with remarks and volunteer training at the meeting location, followed by smoke alarm installations at area homes where volunteer teams will also discuss home fire safety with families.

IF YOU NEED A SMOKE ALARM Residents are encouraged to schedule an appointment for smoke alarm installations by calling the phone number listed for each event (below) or visiting SoundTheAlarm.org/greaterpa. Volunteers will go door-to-door to offer home fire safety visits during each Sound the Alarm event for neighbors who did not make appointments.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Sound the Alarm is a rewarding way to give back and directly help local families. Sign up to volunteer by using the links below or visiting SoundTheAlarm.org/greaterpa. No prior experience is needed — training will be provided for installing smoke alarms and sharing fire safety information. Volunteers under 18 require parental consent.

DONATIONS HELP PROVIDE FREE SERVICES Can’t join an event? Because of generous donations, all services are free and available for people in need. Donate at redcross.org/greaterpa to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires.

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from our regional partners: Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Erie Insurance Group, EQT, FedEx Ground, MSA, National Fuel Gas, Seneca Resources, UGI Utilities, Inc., UPMC and UPMC Health Plan.

Rochester Sound the Alarm:

Saturday, April 27, 2024

9 a.m. (kickoff); smoke alarm installations at area homes to follow until 1 p.m.

Kickoff location: Rochester Fire Department (632 California Ave., Rochester, PA 15074)

Partner: Rochester Fire Department

Request an appointment: 724-480-3170

Register to volunteer: https://rdcrss.org/4aqu0gG

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 10, 2024 9:18 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) At Tuesday night’s brief work session, Hopewell School Board hired Samantha lash as an elementary music teacher.  Her salary was set at $57,025, she begins her duties Wednesday, April 10, 2024.   The board hired 4 assistant soccer coaches, 2 paraprofessionals resigned, and head cheer coach Shelley Syrko resigned effective April 3, 2024.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley celebrates after the Final Four college basketball championship game against Iowa in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. South Carolina won 87-75. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The women’s NCAA championship game drew a bigger television audience than the men’s title game for the first time, with an average of 18.9 million viewers watching undefeated South Carolina beat Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark. The Sunday afternoon game on ABC and ESPN outdrew Monday’s men’s final between UConn and Purdue by four million. The Huskies’ 75-60 victory averaged 14.82 million on TBS and TNT. The women’s final was the second most-watched non-Olympic women’s sporting event on U.S. television, trailing only the 2015 Women’s World Cup final between the United States and Japan.

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar walks to the dugout after being pulled from the team’s baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. The Tigers won 5-3. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pirates two-time All-Star closer David Bednar is off to a rough start. Bednar blew his third save in four opportunities this season in a 5-3 loss to Detroit. The 29-year-old Bednar, a Pittsburgh native, was booed after letting a two-run lead slip away. Pirates first baseman chastised the fans for their behavior, calling it “unacceptable.” Bednar says control issues are his biggest problem at the moment. He added he plans to get with the coaching staff to figure out what the issue is. Even with Bednar struggling, the Pirates are off to a 9-3 start heading into a four-game series at Philadelphia.