By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MIKE STOBBE Associated Press
U.S. health officials say most Americans should get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead of the Johnson & Johnson shot. Thursday’s decision came after government advisers reviewed new safety data about rare but potentially life-threatening blood clots linked to J&J’s shot. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines don’t come with this risk and are widely available. Of the 200 million fully vaccinated Americans, only a small fraction — about 16 million — got the J&J option. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accepted the panel’s unusual recommendation.

Panel gives state House, Senate district maps preliminary OK
By MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Legislative Reapportionment Commission is advancing new preliminary Pennsylvania state House and Senate maps over objections from the state House’s Republican leader. The Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 5-0 for the Senate map and 3-2 for the House map on Thursday. A vote on the final maps is likely a month or more away. The approval on Thursday is a key step in the once-in-a-decade process that will reverberate politically for years to come. There are about two months left before candidates are scheduled to begin circulating nominating petitions to get on the May 17 primary ballot.

Panel to make key vote on state House, Senate district lines
By MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Some of Pennsylvania’s most powerful elected officials are poised to vote on the first draft of new district maps for the state House and Senate. The vote Thursday in Harrisburg by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission is a key step in the once-in-a-decade process that will reverberate politically for years to come. The commission is expected to vote on preliminary district maps for 203 House seats and 50 in the Senate. There are about two months left before candidates are scheduled to begin circulating nominating petitions to get on the primary ballot. The primary is May 17.

5th person dies in related wrecks on Pennsylvania interstate
HAMBURG, Pa. (AP) — A fifth person has died from his injuries in a series of related crashes on an eastern Pennsylvania interstate. Berks County’s coroner identified the latest victim as a 21-year-old Reading man. State police are still investigating the twin crashes on Interstate 78 in Berks County. Police say the first crash happened Tuesday night when the driver of an empty school bus failed to stop in a construction zone and slammed into two vehicles. Two people were killed. Police say a truck driver then failed to slow down for traffic stopped as a result of the earlier crash, causing a fatal chain-reaction crash that killed three.

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Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 1:55 PM
(Center Twp, Beaver County, Pa.) The Center Township Board of Supervisors met Monday night, December 13, 2021 and approved their 2022 budget of $8.9 million dollars.  Tax  Millage is increased by 2 mills to 12.5 mills, The supervisors will  hold reorganization on  January 3, 2022 at 7 p.m.

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Story By Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News Correspondent
Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 1:52 PM
(Ambridge, Pa.) Ambridge Council adopted its 2022 budget earlier this week and there will not be a tax increase, according to Borough Manager Mario N. Leone.  Revenues expected are $5,105,930, and millage will remain at 34.5. mills. Leone said  non-union personnel will receive  a 3% increase in wages..

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Story by Frank Sparks, News/Program Director
Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 7:47 AM
(Greene Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police are reporting via release that they were called to the scene of a three vehicle accident yesterday morning around 8:40 AM on Pa State Route 168 in front of Jack’s Diner in Greene Twp., Beaver County
Troopers said upon arriving and investigating it was discovered that 84-year-old David Anderson of Georgetown, Pa. was attempting to turn his 2011 Buick Regal left into the parking lot of the diner when his vehicle was struck by a 2019 International Harvester being driven by 56-year-old Kimberley Smithberger of Woodsfield OH. The impact of the crash caused Anderson’s vehicle to then crash into a 2008 Chevrolet Impala being driven by 73-year-old Donald Rawlings of Wellsville Ohio.
Troopers stated in the release that Anderson and his 82-year-old wife Esther Anderson suffered serious injuries and were transported to Allegheny General Hospital. The family told Troopers that both Anderson’s are currently in stable condition and are expected to fully recover .
Smithberger and Rawlings were not injured. Two of three passengers in Rawlings vehicle suffered minor injuries but refused to be transported to the hospital. David Anderson was charged by State Police with not properly yielding while turning left.

(Beaver,Pa) Krisinda Bright has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison without possibility of parole in the deaths of her two children earlier this year in Ambridge. The Fifty-eight-year-old pleaded guilty on Tuesday to first-degree murder charges as part of a plea agreement that spared her a possible death penalty. Authorities said Bright called police to her Ambridge home Feb. 22, and officers found 16-year-old Jeffrey Bright and 22-year-old Jasmine Cannady dead of shotgun blasts to the head. The youngest victim was a student at Ambridge High School.