The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a

.WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE
SATURDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 5 and
  7 inches possible.

* WHERE...Portions of east central Ohio. Portions of northwest,
  southwest, and western Pennsylvania. Portions of northern and the
  northern panhandle of West Virginia.

* WHEN...From late Friday night through late Saturday night.

* IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and
  blowing snow. The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs
  may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages.
  Whiteout conditions are possible and may make travel treacherous.
  Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

US inflation soared 7.9% in past year, a fresh 40-year high
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Propelled by surging costs for gas, food and housing, consumer inflation jumped 7.9% over the past year, the sharpest spike since 1982 and likely only a harbinger of even higher prices to come. The increase reported by the Labor Department reflected the 12 months ending in February and didn’t include most of the oil and gas price increases that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Even before the war further accelerated price increases, robust consumer spending, solid pay raises and persistent supply shortages had sent U.S. consumer inflation to its highest level in four decades.

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(Muddy Creek Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Butler are reporting that they have arrested Cecil James Shuck of Portersville with 36 counts of possession of child pornography.
Troopers said via release that the investigation began when State Troopers seized a USB Thumb Drive that was left behind at Shuck’s residence which was found to contain at least 36 images of nude children and approximately 730 images of pre-puberty modeling.
Shuck was taken into custody in Muddy Creek Township Wednesday, March 10, 2022, and arraigned in district court.

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(AMBRIDGE, Pa.) Beaver County veterans will benefit from new job training thanks to nearly $200,000 in state funding, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the grant to NuPaths LLC – awarded through the state Department of Labor and Industry – will fund practical training to help veterans transition to civilian IT jobs.

“Military members transitioning to the civilian workforce have strong skills to offer, and our workforce needs talented workers more than ever as we build back from the pandemic,” Matzie said. “Securing this grant will allow NuPaths to train 24 veterans in Beaver County and surrounding areas for network technician and IT security analyst jobs.

“That’s a win-win because it helps strengthen our economy while giving those who served a promising path to a productive civilian life.”

Funding for the grant comes from Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Industry Partnership and Reemployment funds. More information about the funding is available at this link: https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/governor-wolf-announces-800000-in-grant-funding-for-veteran-employment-support-after-service/.

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(Rochester Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) The Rochester Twp. Police Department announced on their Facebook Page on Tuesday, March 8, 2022,  that the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from the Rochester Twp. Police, The Beaver County Emergency Services Unit and the new Brighton Police executed a narcotics search warrant, on March 8, 2022, at 741 Fox Ave. in Rochester Township. The post said they found crack cocaine, marijuana and large sum of money. Police arrested the target of the investigation William McGraw and he was placed in the Beaver County Jail for possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine. No other information was available as Police are continuing the investigation.

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(AMBRIDGE, Pa.)  The Laughlin Memorial Library in Ambridge will be receiving a roof replacement and other needed upgrades, thanks to $227,336 in newly awarded funding, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the grant from the state Department of Education, awarded under the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, will help finance critical repairs to the nearly 100-year-old building.

“The library, which first opened in 1929, has served our community for nearly a century, providing rich resources and lending special character to our landscape – but updates are desperately needed,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding is going to help finance replacing the roof, which has been leaking; upgrading outdoor security lighting and cameras; cleaning the exterior; and new accent lighting to highlight the library’s unique architecture.”

Matzie said grant will fund half the total project cost of $454,600.

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) voted to pass H.R. 2471, bipartisan legislation that provides $1.5 trillion in discretionary funding across the government to help lower expenses for working families, create American jobs, strengthen national security and support Ukraine.

“This legislation invests in our infrastructure, helps working families facing rising costs, protects our national security and supports Ukraine in their fight against Putin’s unlawful attack,” said Lamb.

 In addition to the FY 2022 appropriations bills, the legislation contains a supplemental funding package which provides $13.6 billion to support Ukrainian security and humanitarian needs.  Lamb also voted today to pass H.R. 6968, bipartisan legislation to ban the import of Russian oil and energy products into the United States.  This will cut off a major source of revenue for Putin and the Russian economy.  The bill also reauthorizes and strengthens the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to impose further sanctions on Russia.

The FY 2022 Appropriations bill also includes $4,258,262 for nine Community Project Funding requests that Lamb secured for PA-17.  These include:

• $550,000 for Body-Worn Camera and Technology Project (Allegheny Police Chiefs, Inc.)
• $224,000 for Communication System Improvement Project (South Beaver Township Police Department)
• $894,941 for RiverWise Franklin Avenue Park (Beaver County Regional Council of Governments)
• $375,000 for Coraopolis Train Station Project (Coraopolis Community Development Corporation)
• $584,322 for Millvale Ecodistrict Clean Energy Initiative (The New Sun Rising)
• $150,000 for The Cornerstone of Beaver County Men’s Shelter Rehabilitation (The Cornerstone of Beaver County)
• $80,000 for Water Treatment Plant Improvements (Municipal Authority Borough of Midland)
• $999,999 for Center Grange Road Waterline Replacement (Center Township Water Authority)
• $400,000 for Filter Media Material Upgrades (Creswell Heights Joint Authority)

H.R. 2471 moves to the Senate for consideration before it will be signed into law by President Biden.  A detailed summary of the bill is available here.

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Story by Frank Sparks, News/Program Director
(Glasgow Borough, Beaver County, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were dispatched to the Ohio River near Glasgow Borough yesterday afternoon around 3:45 PM for a male subject that was found in the Ohio River near the Pennsylvania/Ohio State Line.
Troopers said via release that the white male appears to be in his 20’s or 30’s and is described as having a medium build with black hair. He was also wearing jeans with a black belt, no shirt, Tommy Hilfiger shoes, black socks, and a silver diamond tennis necklace.
Troopers said that preliminary indications are that he may have been in the water for a substantial amount of time, however the investigation is currently on-going.
Troopers are encouraging anyone with information to contact the Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver at 724-773-7400