New infrastructure deal must focus on climate, activists say

WASHINGTON (AP) — Climate activists and their Democratic allies in Congress are pressing with renewed urgency for huge investments to slow global warming after a bipartisan infrastructure plan cut out some of President Joe Biden’s key climate initiatives. Supporters say a larger, Democratic-only package now being developed in Congress must meet Biden’s commitments to move the country toward carbon-free electricity, make America a global leader in electric vehicles and create millions of jobs in solar, wind and other clean-energy industries. But passage of a larger, multitrillion-dollar bill faces significant hurdles, even if Democrats use a procedural method that requires only a simple majority.

Conservative Talk . . . . (Very) Liberal Coverage. Promote Your Business Here!

Beaver County Radio airs three of our nation’s most popular syndicated talk show hosts every weekday afternoon. 

The Dennis Prager Show – Weekdays 12:30 to 3 P.M. “When Dennis Prager Speaks, America Listens.”  Dennis is the author of nine New York Times best selling books and is heard on over 400 radio stations.

America First with Sebastian Gorka – Weekdays 3 to 6 P.M.  Dr. Sebastian Gorka is a former advisor to President Trump who knows all too well about the struggle for and the value of Freedom. Gorka’s father and mother escaped communist tyranny in Hungary in the 1950’s.

 

The Larry Elder Show – Weekdays 6 to 9 P.M. “The Sage From South Central” , Larry Elder,  gained fame as a radio talk show host in Los Angeles before becoming part of the Salem Radio Network. Known as “America’s Truth Detector”, Larry Elder is unafraid to take on liberals with common sense.

Running commercials during these popular weekday afternoon shows is the “right” thing to do.   Each week, your business will receive strategically placed, thirty second commercials to rotate evenly between 12:30 P.M. and 9 P.M. Monday through Friday on WBVP, WMBA, 99.3 F.M. and BCR Audio Stream

Available plans based on a 26 week schedule include (select one):

☐ 30x per week:  $270/week.
☐ 15x per week:  $180/week.
☐ 8x per week:  $128/week.

Interested?  Call Beaver County Radio at 724-846-4100 or email bcr@beavercountyradio.com for more information.

The parties to this advertising agreement affirm that nothing in this agreement, or any of the actions, benefits and obligations relating to it, discriminate in any way on the basis of race and ethnicity.”

 

 

Shooting at Brightwood Manor in New Brighton

(Story and photos by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(New Brighton, PA) Police remain on scene at Brightwood Manor in New Brighton where a shooting took place earlier this morning. Responders found a woman with a gunshot wound, who was transported to a hospital. The area remains taped off as police continue to investigate. No other information is available at this time.

 

U.S. hiring accelerated last month as workers see pay gains

U.S. hiring accelerated last month as workers see pay gains
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added 850,000 jobs in June, well above the average of the previous three months and a sign that companies may be having an easier time finding enough workers to fill open jobs. Friday’s report from the Labor Department was the latest sign that the reopening of the economy is propelling a powerful rebound from the pandemic recession. Restaurant traffic across the country is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, and more people are shopping, traveling and attending sports and entertainment events. The number of people flying each day has regained about 80% of its pre-COVID-19 levels.

Wolf Administration Highlights Responsible Celebration Ahead of Independence Day Holiday Weekend

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner held a media event yesterday at the Fort Hunter boat launch urging safe and responsible celebration ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.

PennDOT is working closely with safety partners and law enforcement to reduce impaired driving through the Independence Day holiday weekend with impaired driving education and enforcement running through July 4.

“Safety is PennDOT’s most important priority, which is why we work closely with our partners and law enforcement to reduce impaired driving,” said PennDOT Acting Executive Deputy Secretary Melissa J. Batula. “We urge motorists to plan ahead this holiday weekend, and always, by either designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation.”

According to PennDOT data, in 2020 there were 112 alcohol-related crashes from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, resulting in five fatalities. Also, during the holiday period last year, there were 48 drug-related crashes, resulting in five fatalities.

Data from the Fish and Boat Commission shows that there were 60 boating-under-the-influence arrests in 2020, an increase from 45 in 2019.

Pennsylvania is a boating destination state, and boaters drive to and from their boating location. When an impaired boat operator gets behind the wheel to drive home, a BUI becomes a DUI.

“Alcohol impairs judgment and reaction time on the water no differently than if you were driving a car, with the additional risk of drowning,” said PA Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer. “Boating under the influence puts everyone at risk, including passengers and others enjoying the water.”

“Our goal is for boaters to begin each trip with a knowledge and appreciation of basic safe boating practices that includes wearing a life jacket and not drinking while boating,” he added.

Over this holiday period, the Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement will conduct checkpoints and roving patrols. This effort is funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution of more than $4.7 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement.

“The Pennsylvania State Police has a zero-tolerance approach toward driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Lieutenant Colonel Scott Price, deputy commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police. “Consistent with our highway safety mission, Troopers are trained to look for impaired, distracted, and aggressive driving behaviors; and remain especially cognizant during holiday periods. Travelers can do their part to keep themselves and their loved ones safe by remembering to slow down, buckle up, and don’t drive impaired or distracted.”

For Pennsylvanians celebrating at home this weekend, State Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego recommended the following precautions for handling fireworks to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:

  • Never allow children to play with fireworks, even sparklers, which can burn at temperatures of at least 1200 degrees.
  • Only allow adults to light fireworks one at a time, then quickly back away.
  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  • Keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of a fire.
  • Never pick up or try to relight fireworks that have not fully ignited.
  • After the fireworks have burned, fully douse them with water before picking them up or disposing to prevent trash fires.
  • Never use fireworks after consuming alcohol, or other medications or substances that can impair judgment or the ability to react quickly to an emergency.

“We say it every year because it’s true; fireworks are not toys,” said Trego. “Fireworks are capable of causing serious injury or death and must be treated with care. We also need to realize that as important as it is to protect ourselves during their use, it’s just as important to have a care for those around you. Neighbors who happen to be veterans as well as those with animals often have noise sensitives that we should consider.”

If you have plans for travel this holiday weekend, “Know Before You Go” by checking the “Holiday Travel Restrictions” page at www.511PA.com. While PennDOT will remove lane restrictions and suspend construction projects wherever possible, the “Holiday Travel Restrictions” page allows the public to view interstate restrictions that will be in place during the holiday travel period.

The public can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles in Pennsylvania by visiting www.511PA.com. The service, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. Motorists can also see active construction projects at www.511PA.com.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

The public can join the conversation on social media by using #DriveSober and #NoDUIJuly.

To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or other safety initiatives, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety.

For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, visit www.fishandboat.com.

For more information on the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, visit osfc.pa.gov.

Route 51 Improvements Begin Tuesday in Allegheny County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing roadway improvement work on Route 51 in Kennedy, Stowe, Robinson, and Moon townships, Allegheny County will begin Tuesday, July 6 weather permitting.

Improvement work will occur on Route 51 in the following locations:

  • Fleming Avenue in Stowe Township to I-79 in Robinson Township (southern section)
  • Thorn Run Road to Flaugherty Run Road in Moon Township (northern section)

Improvement work includes milling and paving, shoulder and base repair, drainage upgrades, guide rail improvements, signage, line painting, and other various construction related activities.

Construction activities requiring lane restrictions will occur weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the southern section and weeknights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the northern section. Weekend work will occur on the project. Motorists will see single-lane closures in three and four lane sections, and single-lane alternating traffic in two lane areas.

Work will begin in the southern section starting on Tuesday, July 6. Work in the northern section will begin in August.

Additionally, work on this project will be coordinated with other construction activities in the area including the I-79 Neville Island Bridge project.

The project is part of a $5.48 million group paving job.  Lindy Paving is the prime contractor.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Route 65 Ohio River Boulevard Overnight Work Begins Next Week in Allegheny County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing overnight roadway improvement work on Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in Sewickley, Glen Osborne, Haysville and Glenfield boroughs, Allegheny County will begin Tuesday night, July 6 weather permitting.

Single-lane restrictions will occur in both directions of Route 65 between the Neville Island Bridge in Glenfield Borough and Walnut Street in Sewickley Borough from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday nights through June of 2022. Additionally, daylight work may occur as needed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. The contractor is permitted to work anytime during weekends. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained during construction.

Work on this $3.03 million project includes milling and paving, guide rail and drainage upgrades, inlet adjustments, base repairs and ADA curb ramps improvements, signal updates, and other miscellaneous construction. Work on this project will be coordinated with other construction activities in the area including the I-79 Neville Island Bridge project.

Lindy Paving is the prime contractor.

Please use caution when traveling through the project corridor.  Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Pension contribution rates Rise for 94K School Employees

Pension contribution rates rise for 94K school employees
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pension contribution rates for tens of thousands of public school employees in Pennsylvania are rising, amid a federal investigation into some pension system actions and calls for resignations. The increases took effect Thursday for about 94,000 school employees, all hired in 2011 or after. Most will see their contribution rate rise by 0.5% of their salary, while a smaller number of them will see their contribution rate rise by 0.75% of their salary. The board of the $64 billion Public School Employees’ Retirement System voted in April to increase the contribution rates, after it had originally certified them at lower rates in December.

Dogs on display: Museum fetes 200 years of cartoon canines

Dogs on display: Museum fetes 200 years of cartoon canines
By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The world’s largest cartoon museum is commemorating 200 years of dogs in comic strips, editorial cartoons, comic books and animation. “The Dog Show: Two Centuries of Canine Cartoons” is on display at Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum through October. The exhibit includes more than 100 canine characters, from Little Orphan Annie’s dog Sandy to Scooby-Doo to Santa’s Little Helper from The Simpsons. The genesis for the exhibit came when the late Brad Anderson, the creator of Marmaduke, donated his collection in 2018. Cartoonist and cartoon historian Brian Walker is exhibit curator. He says dogs’ eagerness and aim-to-please personalities make them good cartoon characters.