(File Photo)
Tuesday October 26, 2021 at 06:26 AM
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s state House of Representatives is starting to advance a package of bills aimed at lobbyist influence. The bills won passage in the House State Government Committee on Monday and now go to the full House. One bill would bar state officials, including lawmakers, from letting a lobbyist pay for their transportation, lodging, recreation or entertainment. The bill also limits gifts from lobbyists to $250 in value each year. Another is aimed at lobbyists or lobbying firms that double as campaign consultants. A lobbyist would be prohibited from trying to influence a state official after having served the official as a campaign consultant. The prohibition lasts for that elected term.

(AP Photo)
Tuesday October 26, 2021 at 06:23 AM
By ELLEN KNICKMEYER, EMILY SWANSON and NATHAN ELLGREN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Americans regard the deteriorating climate as a problem of high importance to them. That’s the finding of a new poll by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. In all, 59% of Americans said the Earth’s warming was very or extremely important to them as an issue, up from 49% in 2018. Roughly that many also believe the pace of warming is increasing. President Joe Biden is hoping to help negotiate big cuts in climate-wrecking pollution globally at the upcoming climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

(File Photo)
October 26, 2021 at 6:06 AM
(Greene County, Pa.)  49-year-old Chad E. Varner of Spraggs, Pa. ,who is a mail carrier, was hit by a vehicle and killed on Monday afternoon after exiting his vehicle to deliver a package.
Greene County Coroner Gene Rush said the accident happened at 180 Andrews Road in Morris Township, Greene County.
The Coroner said no further information is available pending the results of an autopsy and the investigation by the Greene County Regional Police Department.

The featured photo shows the Rochester Area School District entrance sign. 

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh, published October 25, 2021 at 8:28 P.M.

(Rochester, PA) The Rochester Area School Board met Monday night for a voting session.  The board approved the paying of bills at a cost of $874,725.55 for the general fund and $29,208,13 for the cafeteria fund.  Also approved was a Direct Energy Business Marketing for Natural Gas purchase agreement dated for September 1, 2022 through September 31st, 2025.  Numerous student field trips and events were approved as well.

October 25, 2021 at 11:11 AM
Shining a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety threat that continues to rise. As of Oct. 14, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received 7,186 laser strike reports for 2021, exceeding the 2020 total of 6,852. This marks the highest number or reports since 2016.
Many types of high-powered lasers can completely incapacitate pilots, many of whom are flying airplanes with hundreds of passengers. People who shine lasers at aircraft face FAA fines of up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple laser incidents. The FAA has issued $120,000 in fines for laser strikes during 2021. Violators can also face criminal penalties from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
“Pointing a laser at an aircraft can temporarily blind a pilot and, not only affects the crew, but also endangers passengers,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson.
To identify laser strike trends, the FAA developed a visualization tool, using the Tableau software platform that shows laser strike data from 2010 to 2020 and highlights trends by geographic area, per capita data, time of day and year. The FAA shares the information to draw attention to the dangerously high rate of laser strikes on airplanes. Laser report data by year can be downloaded on the FAA’s website.
The FAA remains vigilant to raise awareness about the dangers of pointing lasers at aircraft and encourages the public to report laser strikes to the FAA and local law enforcement agencies.
Please watch our video about the dangers of lasers, visit our web site and read our fact sheet for more information on laser strikes.

October 25, 2021 at 10:37 AM
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Authorities say a driver lost control during a Texas drag racing event and slammed into a crowd of spectators, killing two children and injuring eight other people. A 6-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy were killed Saturday at an event called “Airport Race Wars 2” at the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport. The organized event was attended by thousands and involved drivers speeding down a runway as they competed for cash. The injured victims were taken to various hospitals, including a 46-year-old woman who was in critical condition. The majority of the other injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Kerville is about 60 miles northwest of San Antonio.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer
October 25, 2021 at 10:30 AM
Moderna says its low-dose COVID-19 vaccine is safe and appears to work in 6- to 11-year-olds. It is the second U.S. vaccine aimed at eventually being offered to children. Already the Food and Drug Administration is considering kid-sized doses of the Pfizer vaccine for elementary school-aged children — and if regulators give the OK, shots could begin early next month. As for Moderna, the company said half-dose shots induced strong levels of virus-fighting antibodies in youngsters, with temporary side effects such as fever and fatigue.