Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dies at 88
By ROBERT BURNS AP National Security Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The family of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says he has died. He was 88. Rumsfeld’s family says he died late Tuesday “surrounded by family in his beloved Taos, New Mexico.” The two-time defense secretary and one-time presidential candidate had a reputation as a skilled bureaucrat and visionary of a modern U.S. military, but it was unraveled by the long and costly Iraq war. Regarded by former colleagues as equally smart and combative, patriotic and politically cunning, Rumsfeld had a storied career under four presidents and nearly a quarter century in corporate America.

Bill Cosby’s sex assault conviction overturned by court
By MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania’s highest court has overturned comedian Bill Cosby’s sex assault conviction and opened the way for his immediate release from prison in a stunning reversal of fortune for the comedian once known as “America’s Dad.’ The state Supreme court said Wednesday that an agreement Cosby had with a previous prosecutor prevented him from being charged in the case. The 83-year-old Cosby has served more than two years of a three- to 10-year sentence.

LAMB AND BICE INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN ABANDONED WELL REMEDIATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) was joined by Representative Stephanie Bice (OK-05) in introducing the bipartisan Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act.  Lamb and Bice are both members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.  This legislation would establish an abandoned wells research, development, and demonstration program at the Department of Energy.

Tens of thousands of known abandoned oil and gas wells across the country leak methane into the atmosphere, pose health and safety risks, and can pollute local groundwater.  Many experts estimate there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, more abandoned or orphaned wells across the country.  This legislation will help improve data collection on the location of abandoned wells; advance plugging, remediation, and reclamation efforts; and improve environmental remediation practices.

“This commonsense legislation will create good jobs in the oil and gas sector and improve our environment” said Lamb.  “Pennsylvania’s energy resources have powered our country for over a century.  Now is the time to address this environmental risk and strengthen the energy industry through cutting-edge science and innovation.”

“America’s energy sector has experienced multiple challenges in recent years, including termination of the Keystone Pipeline, lower production and job losses, in addition to the impact of the pandemic,” said Bice.  “As a result, thousands of wells have been shuttered.  My home state of Oklahoma has an incredible program that helps address abandoned well sites, and it’s past time we do something similar on the federal level.  This legislation will help create energy sector jobs for so many that have lost employment, while helping the environment.”

In addition to Lamb and Bice, Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) and Frank Lucas (OK-3), respectively the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, joined as original cosponsors.  The bill authorizes up to $30 million in FY22, increasing to $35 million in FY26.

“I am thrilled to be an original cosponsor of the Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act,” said Johnson.  “This bipartisan bill utilizes the scientific expertise at the Department of Energy to tackle the ever-growing problem of abandoned oil and gas wells in the U.S.  As we transition to a clean energy economy, it is critical that we have sound and proven technologies to mitigate the harmful methane emissions of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of polluting wells in our communities.”

“Locating, closing, or repurposing wells is critical work that can reduce methane emissions and reclaim resources.  But doing this work is difficult and costly,” said Lucas.  “In Oklahoma, we have thousands of abandoned wells with an average cost of $40k to $70k to properly close.  For some sites, the costs could rise to nearly $1 million.  This legislation will help us identify new materials and advanced techniques to find and manage abandoned wells, which will help our environment and our energy sector.”

Visit Lamb’s website to learn more about the Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act.

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Anthony Williams, a Pastor from Chicago, has been walking from his home city, to Washington D.C. in protest to violence across the country. Pastor Williams wants to convince President Biden that violence is a nationwide “health crisis” and should be viewed as such. “Our children need to grow up without fear of losing their lives. Our seniors need to be able to walk comfortably without losing their lives.”, Williams said in an interview with CBSN. He also made it very clear that his message is that violence does not discriminate, but it does divide.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf has signed a roughly $40 billion budget package, before he spoke Wednesday at a Capitol news conference celebrating new funding for public schools. The budget legislation won approval Friday in the Republican-controlled Legislature. The package holds the line on taxes, and puts billions of dollars in federal coronavirus aid into reserve. Wolf is touting $300 million extra for school district operations, including setting aside $100 million of that for the poorest districts. In exchange, Republicans got Wolf to repeal a regulation to expand the ranks of lower-wage salaried workers who qualify for overtime pay. Wolf, though, says more still needs to be done for public schools.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a father killed his two young children and then set fire to their northwestern Pennsylvania house, where he was also found dead. State police said the bodies of 48-year-old Richard Zimmer and the 10-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl were found after the blaze was reported shortly 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Greene Township home in Erie County. Police said concerned family members had gone to the home after Zimmer failed to show up for a custody hearing earlier in the day and arrived to find heavy smoke in the residence.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(West Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa police Chief John Lane reported an update Monday afternoon on the fatal motorcycle accident that claimed the life of Richard C. Nolte, 61 of Coraopolis, PA.. Nolte was found with his motorcycle resting on him at 7:39 PM Sunday night on the railroad tracks near the 600 block of McKee Ave. in West Aliquippa.  Chief Lane said the accident had occurred within 24 hours from the time Nolte’s body was discovered. Nolte had been staying with a friend in West Aliquippa. Beaver County Coroner David Gabauer’s office pronounced Nolte dead at the scene.

Police continue to investigate the cause of the accident.

Wolf vetoes GOP bill with voter ID, other elections changes
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor has vetoed a Republican-crafted elections bill that would have mandated voter identification in all elections and made a host of other changes to election law. Gov. Tom Wolf said outside his Capitol offices Wednesday that he considers it a voter suppression measure. Wolf also used his line-item veto authority to eliminate $3.1 million in funding in separate budget legislation after Republican lawmakers claimed that it had been earmarked to create an election-auditing bureau under the independently elected auditor general. Wolf had said there was no such agreement to use the money for an election-auditing bureau.

Story by Beaver County Radio Correspondent, Sandy Giordano.

(Monaca, PA) – Monaca firefighters were dispatched to a fire at Stoelzel Glass (Anchor Hocking ) at approximately 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Fire Chief Mike Siegel. Chief Siegel said there was an oil leak on the hot line and oil sprayed up into the ventilation fan.

(North Beaver Township, PA) – Pennsylvania State Police have reported via release that on June 29th, 2021, at approximately 10:30 p.m. Jeffrey Myers, a 56 year old male from Beaver, PA, was pulled over for a traffic stop near the 18.9 mile marker in North Beaver Township on I-376 West; he was operating a 2017 Ford Focus. During the traffic stop, Mr. Myers was found to be operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and was subsequently arrested. Myers did submit to alcohol testing.