NYC to require vaccines or weekly testing for city workers
By KAREN MATTHEWS and JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City will require all municipal workers to get coronavirus vaccines by mid-September or face weekly COVID-19 testing. The move announced Monday by Mayor Bill de Blasio follows last week’s announcement mandating vaccinations or weekly testing for public health care workers as the city battles a rise in COVID-19 cases fueled by the highly contagious delta variant. The number of vaccine doses being given out daily in the city has dropped to less than 18,000, down from a peak of more than 100,000 in early April. About 65% of adults in the city are fully vaccinated.

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Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Chippewa Twp., Pa.) An Ohio woman struck a horse and buggy Saturday night, in Ohio and fled the scene . After fleeing and heading into Pa. she struck two vehicles  coming onto  Shenango Road from Route 51 in Chippewa Township, according to Police Chief Eric  Hermick. Shelly Joiner, 38, and her passenger fled the scene of the accident on foot  and were apprehended by police. One person was injured and taken to the hospital, four others were treated for their injuries at the scene.  Chief Hermick said she almost struck vehicles coming from the township’s firemen’s carnival.

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Pennsylvania State Senator Wayne Fontana announced a $1,117,000 grant has been awarded to the Coraopolis Water & Sewer Authority (CWSA) from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). The grant will be used to replace approximately 2,200 feet of lead distribution lines and associated valves as well as aged service meters.

“This grant ultimately supports the health of our communities. By replacing these distribution lines, CWSA is eliminating the potential for health concerns and improving the reliability of water distribution in the area. I’m thrilled to see this investment in local infrastructure that will have real benefits for the communities these lines serve,” said Sen. Fontana.

Sen. Fontana’s legislation, passed by the General Assembly in 2017, allows local municipal authorities to access state funding for sewer and waterline repairs.  Act 44 of 2017, which included the language from his Senate Bill 656, provides communities more options and flexibility to fund these kinds of water infrastructure projects, while saving local taxpayer dollars.

In a joint statement with Senator Jay Costa and Senator Lindsey Williams, Sen. Fontana also announced the approval of a $23.9 million PENNVEST loan to support a project led by the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) to rehabilitate and replace wastewater lines in Homewood, Squirrel Hill, Maytide, Marshall-Shadeland, Spring Garden and Highland Park.

PENNVEST serves communities and citizens of Pennsylvania by funding sewer, storm water and drinking water projects. These projects not only contribute to improving Pennsylvania’s environment and the health of its people, but also provide opportunities for economic growth and jobs for Pennsylvania’s workers. More information is available on the PENNVEST website: https://www.pennvest.pa.gov.

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(Pittsburgh,Pa.) A Beaver Falls man is being charged by Pennsylvania State Police at the Rivers Casino for an incident that occurred on July 9, 2021 at the Casino.
Troopers said via release on Sunday that they have charged 21-year-old Denis Bonilla of Beaver Falls for an incident that occurred when a 34-year-old man from Lower Burrell unintentionally left his cell phone at a gaming table and walked away. Troopers say Bonilla took the cell phone and then left the casino.
Bonilla has been charged with theft of property lost, mislaid, or dleivered by mistake and receiving stolen property. The charges were filed via summons at District Court 05-0-03.

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(Plain Grove Twp., Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle are reporting that they arrested a man after he allegedly fired two rounds from a shotgun at a person’s home. Troopers responded to Pollock Store Road in Plain Grove Twp. on Sunday at 9:05 AM for the latest incident in which troopers state via release that this is not the first time that police have been called to 40 -year -old Christopher Rodgers’ home. They have been there four times in the last ten days for shooting off fire works and making loud noises

Police were at his house on Saturday and cited him for summary disorderly conduct and harassment in relation to the prior incidents. They then returned on Sunday for reports of Rodgers’ firing his shot gun at a person’s home. In that incident Troopers charged him with recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct. Rodgers was arrested without incident. He was arraigned before District Justice Jennifer Nicholson and was committed to the Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $5,000 straight cash bond.

(Conneaut ,Ohio) A Pittsburgh Fire fire fighter who was on a weekend vacation with his family in Conneaut Ohio drowned in Lake Erie Saturday. 38 year-old Lee Weber a was trying to get his son to safety when he got got caught along a break wall and went under the water. His body was found in less than an hour by a helicopter about 200 yards from where he was last seen. Weber was city of Pittsburgh firefighter” for the last five years and an Army Veteran. A GoFundMe page that was created to raise money for Weber’s wife and their two sons. Sunday night, there was about $30,000 in donations.

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A petition signed by 19 mayors from across Pennsylvania urges the state’s congressional delegation to pass the Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act.

The bill would provide $500 million in public park investment nationwide and, its backers said, would also help address racial and class inequity in terms of access to public space. The legislation reserves half the funding for low-income populations that historically have not had easy access to neighborhood parks.

Owen Franklin, Pennsylvania director of The Trust for Public Land, the group that organized the petition, said the funding is needed in Pennsylvania, with so many more people spending time outdoors since the pandemic.

“It’s a very intuitive argument to make,” Franklin contended. “To say to leaders of our cities and towns across the Commonwealth that investments in parks and open space are needed from Congress, in order to ensure that the benefits that we’ve all prioritized over the past year and a half more than ever before can endure, and provide for generations.”

Nine in 10 Pennsylvanians said they participated in outdoor activities during the pandemic, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

In Duquesne, in Allegheny County, there are 900 abandoned properties and vacant lots in the city’s 2.5 square miles. It’s considered a financially distressed community under Pennsylvania’s Act 47.

Nickole Nesby, mayor of Duquesne, said investing in parks could benefit the city.

“We are hoping that once this legislation is actually funded, that monies could be used to improve the quality of life,” Nesby explained. “For not only our children, our next generation, but also for our seniors.”

Nesby added the city needs funds to improve playgrounds and for a community space for older residents.

Investing in outdoor space could have important psychological impacts, too.

Steve Stroman, public policy advocate for the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, believes COVID-19 proved parks are essential for public health.

“If you live in a city, and you’re on the 14th floor of an apartment building, you’re home with your kids, those urban parks have been tremendous places, for both your kids and for parents as well,” Stroman asserted.

The Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act was introduced in the U.S. House in March, and the Senate in June.

(Photos taken by David Novak. Used with permission)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.)  A Pennsylvania State Fire Marshal has been called in by Hopewell Fire Department to determine the cause of a house fire that occurred on Davidson Lane at 2:35 p.m.  Wednesday afternoon. The five alarm fire, according to a police spokesman  brought numerous fire departments to the scene,  Firefighters remained on scene until after 6 p.m. . No injuries were reported and the home is a total loss.

Photos of the scene taken by David Novak. Used with permission

(Photos by David Novak. Used with Permission)

(West Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa Fire chief Dave Foringer reported on Friday morning that his department with assistance from 3 other local Fire Departments were called  to the scene of a fire in the 300 block of River Avenue late Wednesday night. The structure was an abandoned wood frame building. No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.

Photos of the scene taken by David Novak. Used with permission.