It’ll be another Free-For-All Friday as the phone lines open on A.M. Beaver County at 6:30. The numbers to call are (724) 843-1888 and (724) 774-1888.
Plus, Greg Brown will have another Spring Training Report from Bradenton at 7:40.
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa City Council approved motions at last nights council meeting via zoom. Some motions approved were to apply for funds Beaver County’s Community Block Grant applications for 2021 are due March 31, 2021. and council approved motions to apply for a $100, 000 grant for the Third Avenue playground project, and a $75,000 grant for road pavement projects, and $75,000 for storm water drains. The meeting was held last night via ZOOM.
Mayor Dwan B. Walker announced that on Friday, March 19 a food drive will be held at Mt. Carmel Church on Brodhead Road from noon to 2 p.m.
Councilman Donald Walker reported than an Easter Egg Hunt will be held in the city and they are partnering with Franklin Center on April 3., A meeting will be held today to finalize plans for the event
Keystone State News Connection
| March 4, 2021 |
Andrea Sears
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The union representing more than 170,000 school employees is praising a new vaccination plan that will make returning to in-person instruction safer for school staff, students and communities.
Pennsylvania’s bipartisan COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force has approved a plan designating more than 94,000 doses of the new Johnson and Johnson vaccine for school staff members.
Rich Askey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), said it will be a big boost for the entire state’s recovery from the pandemic.
“Making the vaccine available to school staff is a key step to getting more students back in the classroom, more parents back to work without worry, and our economy back on track,” Askey stated.
The plan will make the vaccine available not only to teachers but to everyone working in the school system including secretaries, maintenance staff and school bus drivers.
Askey noted the initial designation of 94,600 doses of the vaccine isn’t quite enough to do the whole job. But he pointed out the rapid expansion of vaccine supply means more shots will be coming in the next few weeks.
“So I think the governor’s goal to get all public-school and private-school employees vaccinated by the first week of April, that’s a doable plan,” Askey agreed.
With intermediate vaccination units being set up across the state, he believes school employees could start getting their shots in about a week.
Deciding to get vaccinated is an individual choice, and Askey encouraged those who are concerned about its safety to speak with their doctors. But he added an overwhelming number of PSEA members have been asking for access to the vaccines.
“Our members know the importance of safety, know the importance that a vaccination makes in making our schools safer, so I’m happy to encourage everyone to go get their shot because I sure plan on doing that,” Askey stressed.
He credited Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers on the Joint Task Force for taking swift action to support education in Pennsylvania by making schools and their staff safer.
(Hopewell Twp.) Hopewell Elementary School Principal Korri Kane said yesterday students in Hopewell, Independence and Margaret Ross Elementary Schools are celebrating Read Across America Week with a variety of fun activities. Some even made themselves into the CAT in the HAT, Dr. Seuss story. She said many spent time focusing on specific genres of children’s books each day. The students listened to, read and discussed biographies, poetry, humor, realistic fiction and mystery selections. In the classrooms, activities also included visiting readers from the district, creating book reports, various art projects, and google slides from their favorite books and authors.
Keystone State News Connection
| March 4, 2021 |
Andrea Sears
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new report showed raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 an hour would give workers an additional $6 billion and help the economy recover from the pandemic.
Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour this year, then an additional 50 cents an hour every year through 2027.
Claire Kovach, senior research analyst at Keystone Research Center and co-author of the report, said data from the Economic Policy Institute showed the increase would put the state on a path to creating a high-wage, high-productivity economy that helps all working Pennsylvanians.
“This proposal, if enacted in Pennsylvania, will lift many low-wage workers out of poverty and off of assistance programs, and even begin to reduce the racial pay disparities,” Kovach contended.
Critics claim many low-wage workers are teenagers working for pocket change, but the report shows more than 80% are older workers, including many essential workers.
Kovach noted the proposal would have the biggest impact on those who have been most affected by the pandemic, including retail, health care and restaurant workers.
“Three industries that have been really, really slammed by COVID-19 as the economic effects rippled through the economy,” Kovach asserted. “These are people who need this boost more than ever.”
While two-thirds of the workers who would get increases are white, 40% of Black and Hispanic workers would get higher wages.
Kovach pointed out the initial increase to $12 an hour in July would raise wages for 1.4 million Pennsylvanians, and up to 1.6 million by 2027 when it reaches $15 an hour.
“These are folks earning up to 115% of the new $15 minimum wage and expect to see their pay increase as pay scales shift,” Kovach explained.
She added the benefits would be accelerated if the Biden administration plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025 gets through Congress.
The CCBC Players of the Game for Avonworth vs Freedom Girls on Wednesday, March 3nd, 2021. From Avonworth High School, Grace O’Bien, and from Freedom High School, Shaye Bailey. The game was heard live on Beaver County Radio 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, 99.3 FM and beavercountyradio.com
You can see all of the past CCBC Players of the Game for High School Sports by clicking on the CCBC Logo Below:
The Freedom Lady Bulldogs defeated Avonworth Lady Antelopes 40-22, to advance in the WPIAL Playoffs. The game started out real slow as both teams could not score going over 4 minutes with making a field goal. The Bulldogs did enough to take an early lead going into the half, as they were leading 18-11. But, in the second the Lady Bulldogs heated up and started making shot. Stretching their lead to 22 at the end of the third quarter. The Lady Bulldogs kept up the pressure all the way until the final buzzer. The Bulldogs outscore the the Antelopes 31-12 the last 2 quarters.
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Despite their first loss of the season, the Pirates had many fans, mostly starters…and a little rest after all.
The Bucs lost to the Tigers after only 5 innings, and Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined Matt Drzik to talk about it on A.M. Beaver County from Bradenton. Brown also talked about how the Pirates have several battles within the field of play, and that the team will be playing longer games heading into the meat of March.
To listen to the Spring Training Report, click on the player below!
Pennsylvania teachers, school staff to get 1-dose vaccine
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With growing emphasis on getting students back in schools, teachers and school staff will receive the first doses delivered to Pennsylvania of the newly approved one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. That’s according to Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan being released Wednesday. State officials expect 94,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to arrive this week. Wolf’s office says giving the vaccine to teachers and other school staff will “help protect school communities and get more students back into classrooms.” The state is still in Phase 1A of its vaccine plan. That’s health care workers, people age 65 and over and younger people with high-risk medical conditions.
