Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf ordered the commonwealth flag on all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds to fly at half-staff to honor former Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Stephen Zappala Sr., who passed away Friday, May 21, 2021.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to Justice Zappala’s family,” said Gov. Wolf. “He lived a life of service to his community and his commonwealth and will be deeply missed.”

The Commonwealth flag has flown at half-staff since Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in honor of the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and should continue to fly at half-staff until further notice.  The United States flag is to remain at full staff through this tribute.

All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky sheriff’s office says a suspicious package sent to the home of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul appears to contain a non-toxic substance. The Kentucky Republican tweeted that he takes any such “threats immensely seriously.” The FBI says it’s providing forensic and technical assistance in the investigation. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office says it was contacted by Capitol Police on Monday regarding a suspicious package delivered to Paul’s home in Bowling Green. The sheriff’s office says the package was taken to the local fire department, and a preliminary analysis identified the substance as non-toxic.

JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has vowed to “rally international support” to aid Gaza during a visit to Israel at the start of a regional tour to shore up last week’s cease-fire. He said Tuesday the U.S. would work to address the “grave humanitarian situation” in the coastal territory but would also ensure that Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers do not benefit from reconstruction assistance. The 11-day war between Israel and Hamas killed more than 250 people, mostly Palestinians, and caused widespread destruction in Gaza. The truce that came into effect Friday has so far held, but it did not address any of the underlying issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

Hopewell Township Commissioners announced at Monday  night’s meeting Donald Sedlacek, Independence Township  will be the new police chief effective Saturday, June 5, 2021.  Police Chief Brian Uhrmacher  will retire on June 4 after serving 5 years with the township.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Republican floor leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives want to keep in place some parts of the state’s coronavirus disaster declaration until October but end fast-track contracting rules and other provisions much sooner. Republican Leader Kerry Benninghoff of Centre County introduced a concurrent resolution Monday that aims to halt the use of no-bid contracts, force those getting jobless benefits to look for work and end social distancing mitigation orders. Mitigation orders are currently being phased out, and on Monday Wolf’s acting labor secretary outlined a schedule for resumption of job search requirements. Wolf’s office offered no immediate comment.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A western Pennsylvania man accused of helping to set fire to a Pittsburgh police car during last year’s protests in Pittsburgh over the death of George Floyd has pleaded guilty to federal charges. Twenty-six-year-old Christopher West pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to set fire to property of an organization that receives federal funding and unlawful interference with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder in the May 30 events. He objected Monday to a reference to an alleged assault on a television station camera operator for which he faces charges in county court.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania will resume work search requirements in July for hundreds of thousands of people receiving unemployment compensation. Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration said Monday that the requirement will resume July 18. That means that people claiming jobless benefits will have to search for work during the previous week. A work registration requirement will resume in September. The requirements have been waived by Wolf under his emergency disaster authority invoked during COVID-19 pandemic. Some 750,000 people in Pennsylvania have been receiving jobless benefits either through a state or federal program were also receiving the extra $300 a week.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans in Pennsylvania’s state Senate are advancing legislation to prohibit governments and school districts from requiring a COVID-19 vaccination. The Republican-penned bill passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Monday along party lines, 6-4, with Democrats opposing it. The prohibition on so-called vaccine passports applies to state agencies, counties, municipalities and school districts, and bars them from requiring a proof of vaccination to use services, enter buildings or engage in activities. The bill doesn’t apply to private businesses or organizations. Democratic Sen. Art Haywood of Montgomery County says school districts already require vaccines, and may need the authority to require a COVID-19 vaccine for community safety.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

A weather alert for areas of patchy fog is in effect until 7:30 this morning for all of Beaver County.  From the Pittsburgh National Weather Service: Patchy dense fog will reduce visibility to a quarter mile or less at times early this morning. Use caution if traveling. Visibility should gradually improve after sunrise as the fog begins to dissipate.

This photo shows the fog currently in our area, completely masking the visibility of the WBVP tower: