Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 6:41 AM
COGAN STATION, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say two women have been arrested in connection with the discovery of the bodies of two young girls missing for years who were buried in the backyard of a central Pennsylvania home. The (Williamsport) Sun-Gazette reports that the mother of the girls, 32-year-old Marie Snyder, and 26-year-old Echo Butler have been arrested on Lycoming County charges of child endangerment and obstruction. Authorities said the bodies of 6-year-old Nicole Snyder and 4-year-old Jasmine Snyder were found buried at the Hepburn Township residence. Authorities allege that the older girl was buried in 2016 and the younger one was buried in 2017. Court documents don’t list attorneys for the defendants.

Keystone State News Connection
Emily Scott

ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Several environmental organizations are appealing a decision made last month by Allegheny County to approve an air permit for a large gas-fired power plant which could pose environmental and public health risks.

Invenergy’s proposed Allegheny Energy Center would be a 639-megawatt plant located in Elizabeth Township, south of Pittsburgh.

A coalition of four environmental groups said under the permit, Invenergy would be able to turn the plant on and off frequently, which could lead to unlawful spikes in air pollution.

Alex Bomstein, senior litigation attorney for the Clean Air Council, a member of the coalition, said the regional pollution caused by this type of facility would exacerbate asthma and cause heart health problems over time.

“Southwestern Pennsylvania has some of the worst air in the country,” Bomstein asserted. “We’re all trying to fix that. And this takes us exactly in the wrong direction. And those types of pollutants, they generally stress a person’s system, and people who are already vulnerable, are put in a lot worse of a situation.”

The Environmental Integrity Project, representing Clean Air Council, PennFuture, and Mountain Watershed Association, filed an appeal to the Allegheny County Health Department last week. A health department spokesperson declined to comment due to ongoing legal matters.

The proposed plant is next to two communities in neighboring Westmoreland County with environmental justice concerns: low-income communities that often bear the brunt of pollution.

A virtual public hearing in June drew more than 200 people, many of whom were worried about its potential public health impacts.

Lisa Graves-Marcucci, Pennsylvania coordinator for community outreach at the Environmental Integrity Project, said a new gas-fired power plant puts Pennsylvania in misalignment with world climate action goals.

“Is this type of energy really what we need, or can we create those good-paying, family-supporting wages by doing renewable energy sources?” Graves-Marcucci questioned. “It’s just puzzling to us as to why the county and the state would rally behind this type of operation.”

Coalition members added they hope to see the air permit rescinded entirely.

The featured image above is the entrance to the Beaver Falls city building.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh, Published November 9, 2021 at 8:49 P.M. 

(Beaver Falls, PA) Beaver Falls City Council met Tuesday night.  Bethany Williams made an announcement that Beaver Falls is seeing population growth for the first time in a while reaching a total of 9,005 people, which is close to a 700 person increase over recent years according to census results. Mayor Quay noted that he believes this is the biggest growth the city has seen since the 50s.  Council reappointed Brenda Mullen and Jeff Bauman, and appointed Jason Bishop and Mathew Mellon to serve in the Business District Authority with terms ending in 2024.  A recreation board resignation from Terry Podbeilski was also accepted. Podbeilski stated that his reason for resigning is that it is time for him to focus on other endeavors and his family.  The fire department reported 134 calls in October, 11 of which were structure fires.  The police department reported 1, 514 calls with 255 citations issued in October.  Council also approved to pay the general fund bills at a total of $43, 710.96.

(Photo of Monday evenings fire taken by Curtis Walsh)
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
Tuesday November 9, 2021 at 11:56 PM
(Fallston, Pa.) New Brighton Area Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Erick Bock reported that at 6:30 p.m. Monday night, November 8, 2021, his  department was dispatched to 193 Beaver St. in Fallston for an electrical fire. There was very little damage as a result of the fire and crews had the fire under control quickly.  Bock said the second fire was at  4 a.m. Tuesday morning, November 9, 2021. Firefighters were dispatched to 185 Beaver Street. Crews were able to contain the fire to One bedroom, There was water damage on the second floor of the home.  Bock said the cause is under investigation.

(File Photo)
Tuesday, October 9, 2021 at 7:43 AM
(Monaca, Pa.) A Texas man was arrested for attempted murder after an incident that took place in the parking lot of P-dubs Sports Bar and Grille in Monaca on Friday night, November 5, 2021.
28-year-old Bayron Paz was arrested after video surveillance showed Paz shoot a man twice in the legs in the parking lot after the two were involved in an argument. No other injuries were reported as police continue to investigate.

School districts’ lawsuit over state funding heads to trial
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A lawsuit that could result in drastic changes to how Pennsylvania funds public education goes to trial Friday in a Harrisburg courtroom. It’s been seven years since a handful of the state’s districts first went to court to challenge a system they consider unfair. The case centers on spending disparities among Pennsylvania’s 500 districts and the comparatively low percentage of K-12 education that is paid for by state government. The plaintiffs argue that the reliance on property taxes results in “a system of haves and have nots.” But Republican legislative leaders, defendants in the case, say Pennsylvania’s educational spending compares favorably to other states and that student achievement backs them up.

(Photo of Andy Grandinetti, Operations Manager; Meghan Sweeney, Owner/Operator;
Jo Galvan, Restaurant Manager; Paul Sweeney, Owner/Operator provided by Mc Donald’s)
November 9, 2021 at 6:47 AM
(Monaca, Pa.) Jo Galvan, Manager of the McDonald’s Restaurant in Monaca, has won a Ray Kroc Award, an accolade that recognizes the top performing McDonald’s Restaurant Managers globally.
Galvan is one of just 390 McDonald’s Restaurant Managers around the world (representing the top 1% percent of restaurant managers) to receive the honor, which includes a cash prize and a trophy.
Galvan, who has worked for McDonald’s for 23 years, was presented with her award during a recent celebration hosted by Tri-County Management. Owned by Paul Sweeney and his daughter Meghan, the company is a three-generation family business and McDonald’s franchise organization for more than 55 years. Based in Cranberry Township, the company owns and operates 19 local McDonald’s restaurants. Each location employs more than 50 local residents.