Central Valley -Jayvin Thompson
Ambridge – Damon Astorino
Category: News
Central Valley defeats Ambridge 51-43!!!
Ambridge put up a good fight but Central Valley came out of it with the win in tonight’s game. In the first period the Warriors were up big against the Bridgers 16-7. In the second period the Bridgers started to fight back bringing the score at the half to 22 Warriors 17 Bridgers. From the third into the fourth Ambridge kept it close with Central Valley, early in the fourth period they tied it up at 36. Ultimately Central Valley would prevail and defeat Ambridge with a final score of 51-43.
Gov. Wolf to Nominate Alison Beam as Secretary of Health, Names Dr. Wendy Braund as Interim Acting Physician General
Harrisburg, Pa. – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced his intention to nominate Alison Beam to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and named Dr. Wendy Braund Interim Acting Physician General.
“Alison Beam is a talented public servant who brings years of experience in health care policy and implementation to this position,” said Gov. Wolf. “Alison knows that a strong, widely available, and successful vaccination strategy is the path out of the pains of this pandemic. Her foremost and immediate focus will be on the strategic distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, making sure Pennsylvania receives as many doses as possible from the federal government, and that the Pennsylvania Department of Health coordinates with hospitals, health centers, county and local governments, and pharmacy partners to make this vaccine as widely available as possible to Pennsylvanians everywhere.”
Beam currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Tom Wolf, coordinating initiatives and resources across Pennsylvania’s departments of Health, Human Services, Drug & Alcohol Programs, Aging and Insurance, as well as the Office of Advocacy and Reform. She has helped coordinate the administration’s COVID-19 pandemic response; the rollout of Pennie, Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace; the Reach Out PA campaign; and the Wolf Administration’s health care reform plan. Prior to transitioning to the Governor’s Office, Beam served as Chief of Staff to the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner. She previously served as Director of Public Policy and Associate Counsel for Independence Health Group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Beam graduated from Drexel University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Policy and Administration from the Pennsylvania State University.
Beam will replace outgoing Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, who has been nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Health in the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Beam will assume the role of Acting Secretary effective January 23, 2021.
The governor has also named Dr. Wendy Braund as Interim Acting Physician General, replacing Dr. Rachel Levine in that role.
“Wendy brings years of public health expertise and a commitment to improving public health practice in Pennsylvania to the role of Interim Acting Physician General,” said Gov. Wolf. “Wendy has been an integral part of our COVID-19 pandemic response efforts, and that experience will be an asset in this role.”
Braund, MD, MPH, MSEd, FACPM, currently serves as the COVID-19 Response Director for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Previously, she was the Director of the Center for Public Health Practice, Associate Dean for Practice, and a Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Prior to her time in academia, she served as the Wyoming State Health Officer and Public Health Division Administrator for the Wyoming Department of Health. Before working at the state level, Dr. Braund was employed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, first in the Office of the Assistant Secretary, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and then at the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions.
Dr. Braund has a BA from Duke University, MSEd from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and MD from the Penn State College of Medicine. She is a 2007 graduate of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Preventive Medicine Residency Program and is board certified in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine.
Dr. Braund will assume the role of Interim Acting Physician General effective January 23, 2021.
Hank Aaron, baseball’s one-time home run king, dies at 86
Hank Aaron, baseball’s one-time home run king, dies at 86
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP National Writer
ATLANTA (AP) — The baseball great and one-time home run king Hank Aaron has died. The Atlanta Braves said he died peacefully in his sleep early Friday. No cause was given. Aaron endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era. “Hammerin’ Hank” set a wide array of records during a 23-year career spent mostly with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, including RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases. But the Hall of Famer will be remembered for one swing above all others, the one that made him baseball’s home-run king., died early Friday. Hank Aaron was 86.
Former President Trump impeachment to go to Senate Monday, launching trial
Trump impeachment to go to Senate Monday, launching trial
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and LISA MASCARO Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will send the article of impeachment against Donald Trump to the Senate on Monday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer made the announcement on Friday. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell wants to postpone the impeachment trial until February to give the former president time to prepare his case. The House impeached Trump on a single charge of incitement of insurrection for the deadly attack on the Capitol that unfolded on Jan. 6. Pelosi said the trial has to happen even though Trump has left office so that there is accountability.
Aliquippa School Board approves Football Coach Mike Warfield’s Contract
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa High School Football Coach Mike Warfield was awarded a 3 year contract extending from March 22, 2021 to March 21, 2024 Lorie Willis was hired as a volunteer girls basketball coach.
The board accepted the resignation of Lakesha Cobb, elementary school administrative assistant effective December 23, 2020.
Friday, February 12 will be an in-service day instead of a regular school day. Monday, February 15 will be a regular school day, not an in-service day.
The district has been awarded $4,032,121.00 in CARES ACT funding from the state. The funding was allocated to support ongoing learning in school districts in the 16th legislative district.
The funding is part of $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds to k-12 school districts and charter schools affected by the pandemic
US CONGRESSMAN CONOR LAMB SECURES $22 MILION FOR UPPER OHIO NAVIGATION PROJECT
(PITTSBURGH, PA) – Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17), a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced today that the Upper Ohio Navigation Project was granted a $22 million Construction New Start award from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This $22 million award will enable the Army Corps to finish the pre-construction engineering and design phase and begin construction work on the Montgomery Locks and Dam.
Located in Allegheny and Beaver Counties, the Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery locks, which are included in the Upper Ohio Navigation Project, are the oldest locks on the Ohio River system. All three locks are more than 70 years old and at serious risk of failure. A major failure would effectively close the entire Port of Pittsburgh, negatively impacting both industries that are essential to the region, as well as thousands of local jobs. The $1.8 billion Upper Ohio Navigation Project is expected to take another seven years to complete.
“The potential shutdown of our inland waterways system because of a failure of our aging system of locks and dams is very real and would be catastrophic,” said Lamb. “It is critical that we invest in infrastructure projects to protect our economy and create good jobs. This award is an important first step, and I will continue to work in Washington to ensure that the funding is in place to complete this project.”
“This is awesome news. Our Pittsburgh team is postured and ready to aggressively move forward with the design and construction at Montgomery Locks and Dam. Investment in this critical infrastructure will ensure this region remains a vital part of our country’s inland navigation system for decades to come,” said Andrew J. “Coby” Short, Pittsburgh District Commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“The Ohio River is a major part of our nation’s inland waterways’ navigation system and all three locks in the Pittsburgh District on the Ohio are old and need to be rebuilt,” said Mary Ann Bucci, Executive Director for the Port of Pittsburgh Commission. “To get this new start classification and initial funds dedicated for the Montgomery Lock near Beaver, PA is a big deal, especially to the more than 76,000 jobs in the region that are dependent on a reliable and efficient inland waterways system, and we are very appreciative to Congressman Lamb for lining up this project and making it happen.”
Earlier this month, Lamb was joined by Representatives Mike Doyle (PA-18), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Bill Johnson (OH-6) and David McKinley (WV-1) in a bipartisan letter to the Corps advocating that the Upper Ohio Navigation Project receive priority budget consideration.
The passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020) in December of 2020, which included multiple provisions by Lamb, further underscored Congress’ commitment to the nation’s inland waterways, as the federal cost share for inland navigation projects was raised from 50 percent to 65 percent. In addition to WRDA 2020, H.R. 133 also provided appropriations for FY2021, including a New Start for an inland navigation project like the Upper Ohio Navigation Project.
Visit Lamb’s website to review the full letter to the Corps.
Steelers TE Vance McDonald Retiring After 8 Seasons
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Vance McDonald is retiring. The 30-year-old announced the decision less than two weeks after his eighth season came to an end when the AFC North champion Steelers were upset by Cleveland in the opening round of the playoffs. McDonald spent four seasons each with San Francisco and Pittsburgh. He caught just 15 passes in 2020 and saw his playing time decrease as the Steelers moved toward a more pass-heavy attack.
AHN Receives $350,000 from CDC to Study Use of Reusable P100 Respirators to Protect Frontline Healthcare Workers Amid Global Pandemics
(Photo Courtesy of AHN)
Pittsburgh, Pa – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has awarded Allegheny Health Network (AHN) a $350,000 contract to further evaluate and assess the use of reusable elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMR) in the healthcare field and their sustainability during global public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Led by AHN chief medical operations officer, Sricharan Chalikonda, MD, the project titled “Best Practices and Preferred Uses of Reusable Elastomeric Half Mask Respirators in Healthcare,” will formally survey clinical populations at AHN, evaluate and aggregate that data to propose respective guidelines for putting EHMR into practice during times of global PPE shortages.
As the national supply of N95 respirators dwindled during the early stages of the COVID19 pandemic, AHN was one of the first health systems in the country to pilot the use of EHMRs by frontline caregivers. The Network partnered with Pittsburgh-based MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) to secure the respirators for its caregivers. EHMRs are often used in the construction industry and closely resemble gas masks that cover both the nose and mouth. They feature P-100 rated cartridge filters, meaning they filter out at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles.
“The MSA Advantage® 200LS EHMRs with P100 filters fit roughly 94 percent of the 2,000 clinicians who received them, and of that population, not one caregiver chose to return to using disposable N95s. They are extremely cost-effective, able to withstand rigorous cleanings and overall have been very well-received,” said Dr. Chalikonda, principal investigator of the CDC/NIOSH funded project.
AHN published its initial observations and findings about the use of the MSA EHMRs in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons in June. The authors of the study, led by Dr. Chalikonda, stated that these long-lasting respirators cost at least 10 times less per month than disinfecting and reusing N95s intended for single-use.
The current AHN research initiative will be conducted through NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Lab (NPPTL), based in Pittsburgh, which is the lead federal laboratory responsible for approving all respirators used in workplaces across the country and conducting research and evaluations of PPE such as respirators, gloves, surgical gowns and more. AHN hopes its findings will further educate industry peers about the efficacy of EHMRs with P100 filters in the setting of a pandemic and establish industry implementation guidelines.
“Since we’re one of the first early-adopters of reusable EHMRs, we have a unique opportunity to serve as a model for the industry, by engaging with our clinicians and leveraging their feedback and experiences to further develop effective PPE strategies,” continued Dr. Chalikonda. “To that end, we’ve designed a comprehensive survey and intend to collect responses from up to 1,000 frontline employees who used the masks during the initial pilot phase.”
A sampling of survey topics include mask discomfort, communication challenges, training, disinfecting methods and ease of frequent use, among others.
In addition to Dr. Chalikonda, other AHN leaders participating in the study include Hope Waltenbaugh, vice president of surgical services; Sara Angelilli, director, perioperative education; Meghan Napoli, quality process engineer; and Brian Blend, project manager.
“We’re beyond grateful to the CDC’s NIOSH organizations for recognizing the ingenuity of the clinical teams across Allegheny Health Network,” said Dr. Chalikonda. “We’re confident that our experience can ultimately help guide other health institutions on establishing effective PPE strategies that enable them to maximize the safety of their caregivers and patients.
Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Rate Declines to 6.7 Percent in December
Unemployment Rate Declines for Eighth Consecutive Month
Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) released its employment situation report for December 2020.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down 0.1 percentage points over the month to 6.7 percent in December, the eighth consecutive monthly decline. The U.S. rate remained unchanged from November at 6.7 percent. The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was 2.1 percentage points above its December 2019 level while the national rate was up 3.1 points over the year.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – decreased 15,000 over the month due to declines in both employment and unemployment.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were down 37,600 over the month to 5,606,000 in December. The December decline followed seven consecutive monthly gains. Jobs decreased in 7 of the 11 industry supersectors, but the largest contributor was leisure & hospitality (-36,900). The largest gain was in trade, transportation, and utilities, up 18,700 jobs due to increases in all component sectors – wholesale trade, retail trade and transportation, warehousing & utilities.
Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.