(File Photo)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A statewide court that declared that Pennsylvania’s expansive 2-year-old mail-in voting law violates the state constitution is following that up by saying its ruling can take effect in mid-March. That’s a week after the state Supreme Court hears arguments on the appeal. Commonwealth Court Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt, in siding again with Republican officeholders who challenged the law, said Wednesday they are likely to prevail at the state Supreme Court. The case is throwing Pennsylvania’s voting laws into doubt as the presidential battleground state’s voters prepare to elect a new governor and a new U.S. senator in 2022. The state Supreme Court scheduled the case for oral arguments on March 8.

(Center Twp., Pa.) The Community College of Beaver County’s e-sports team is competing in the NJCAAE Match of the Week tonight at 6 p.m. ET

CCBC’s e-sports team is NJCAA-sanctioned and the largest sports team on campus with over 40 students! It will be streamed live here: https://www.twitch.tv/njcaae

(Story & photo by Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“All I know is that I don’t believe we’re providing equitable education opportunities across the entire county.”

Those words came from Commissioner Jack Manning at the February 16 work session at the Beaver County Courthouse, one day after the Beaver County Partnership released a study done by Johns Hopkins University in regards to education and educational opportunities in Beaver County. Manning, who himself has been working with the BCP on this process, feels that there are greater opportunities for students to have.

“I’m not a fan of mergers, and this isn’t about mergers in my mind,” Manning stated, “but there are plenty of examples where 9 through 12th graders–when they really start to identify with their career paths and could have opportunities to go to centers for excellence that meet their and their families needs for them to be successful in life, and I think some of the smaller school districts struggle with that–with resources and capability.”

The study made mention of Beaver County’s declining population coinciding with increasing numbers in “wealthier neighboring counties”, and Manning hopes that certain improvements in attainable and affordable options within the county can reverse that trend and keep families here.

“It’s not about bigger being better,” Manning added, “it’s about equitable opportunities that will really prepare kids for life and the career path that’s right for them and their families…and I think we can do better.”

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) The Beaver County Partnership along with John Hopkins University and the Community Catalyst Partners partnered for a study conducted by John Hopkins University that looked at what education will look like in Beaver County in 2030. The Beaver County Partnership, which was formed in 2016, started the research in 2018 and in 2020 they handed the study over to the researchers at John Hopkins University. Those results were released yesterday.

The study focused on 5 factors: Economic and job growth, desirable housing, quality of place, good government, and quality Education.

Skip Homan, Vice Chair, Board of Directors Beaver County Partnership, Sarah Dettinger, Blackhawk High School Student, and Dr. Rob Postupac Superintendent for Western Beaver and Blackhawk School and part of the Beaver County Partnership joined Eddy Crow on Teleforum this morning  to talk about the results of the study.

You can watch the interview as it streamed live on our Facebook Page at 10:00 AM this morning.

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) The Diocese of Pittsburgh is easing its COVID-19 restrictions for churches and schools on Saturday February 26, 2022
Priests, deacons, ushers, and others will no longer be required to wear masks at mass.
Parishioners can once again share the sign of peace. Also, parish events outside of mass will be allowed to be held in-person.
For schools, masks will not be required inside elementary or high schools. However, students must continue to wear them on school buses per federal law.
Anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 will not only have to quarantine at home for five days but will also have to wear a mask for five days after they return to school.

(File Photo)
Story by Frank Sparks, News/Program Director
(Beaver County, Pa.) The Beaver County Partnership along with John Hopkins University and the Community Catalyst Partners partnered for a study conducted by John Hopkins University that looked at what education will look like in Beaver County in 2030. The Beaver County Partnership, which was formed in 2016, started the research in 2018 and in 2020 they handed the study over to the researchers at John Hopkins University. Those results were released yesterday.

The study focused on 5 factors: Economic and job growth, desirable housing, quality of place, good government, and quality Education.

Steven Ross, Director of the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University headed up the study.
The results of the study showed that
• Enrollments in nearly all of the 14 school districts have declined; overall county population has declined over the past decade.
• Compared to the “benchmarking” communities examined, Beaver County had the lowest ratio of local to total funding.
• Compared to the four other PA districts, Beaver County also had the lowest proportion of total spending for instruction.
• Revenues increased less than expenditures for six districts.
• Clear inequities exist across districts in financial health.

The Community Perceptions about Beaver County said that
• Positive about the community as a safe and pleasant place to live.
• Citizens polled were Concerned about:
• The capacity of small school districts to provide cutting-edge and comprehensive programming.
• Inequities in educational opportunities across districts.
• Ability of BC to attract and keep younger families relative to wealthier neighboring counties.
• (From students) Insular environments at small schools, over-emphasis on athletics (football), lack of opportunity in BC.

Major Findings that could help the school districts now and in 2030.
• Strengthening School Districts by sharing resources. AKA Mergers
• Enhancing County Education
• Engaging the Community

The Beaver County Partnership will be holding 5 town hall meetings
The first in person town hall will be this Saturday at the Community College of Beaver County starting at 10:00 AM
The second is on Saturday 2/26/22 at the Beaver County YMCA in Rochester Twp. at 2 PM
Three zoom sessions will also be held on Thursday 2/17/22, Monday 2/21/22, and Wednesday 2/23/22 all at 6 PM .
You can view the full report as well as get a link for the Zoom meetings on the Beaver County Partnership Page. https://beavercountypartnership.com/

(Photo Courtesy of Ambridge Borough)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent

(Ambridge, Pa.) Ambridge Council recently issued a proclamation to the owners of Orbit inn, a restaurant located next to Harmony House in the  historic district. Borough Manager Mario Leone said the restaurant has served customers for over 50 years.

Legislative maps draw legal challenge over county’s division
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A new legal filing claims redrawn district maps for the state House of Representatives improperly carved up a western Pennsylvania county. The lawsuit docketed on Tuesday focuses on changes made to Butler County in district lines approved by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission earlier this month. People have more than two weeks left to take their objections to the General Assembly maps to the state Supreme Court. Additional challenges are expected, likely including from state House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, a Centre County Republican. Benninghoff cast the lone “no” vote when the Legislative Reapportionment Commission approved the revised maps by a 4-1 vote.

(File Photo)
By MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state senator who was in regular communication with then-President Donald Trump as he sought to reverse his re-election loss and was outside the U.S. Capitol the afternoon of the Jan. 6 rioting is among those getting subpoenas from congressional investigators. The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack issued the subpoena to state Sen. Doug Mastriano on Tuesday.  Mastriano is currently seeking Pennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial nomination in the May primary. He’ s being asked  for documents and information about efforts to name a slate of alternate Electoral College electors for Trump, among other things. Mastriano didn’t respond to requests for comment.