(Harrisburg, Pa.) Pa State Police continue to investigate after State Police Headquarters in Harrisburg was evacuated Monday afternoon after a threat was received. Explosive detection canine teams from PSP and Pa Capital Police completed a thorough search of the department headquarters and no explosive or other dangerous devices were found. Personnel were then able to return to the building late Monday. Pa State Police are continuing to investigate.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) A virtual open house is being hosted by the Southwestern PA   Commission Tuesday, March 2, 2021 from 6 to 8 p.m. according to information received  by Hopewell Township officials.  The  commission is developing corridor plan for Brodhead Road (State Route 3007/Route 18 ) between Old Brodhead Road and the Allegheny County/Beaver County  border. According to the information received  the corridor plan will include, short, medium and long term  recommendations that will improve  transportation and safety for all user, and serve as an investment plan that will guide  planning and programming of transportation projects in the study area.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hanover Twp., Pa.) Paige Marie Bedalota, 23 of  Hopewell Township was charged with harassment/physical contact  by state police following an incident in Hanover Township last night.  State Police arrived on scene  and determined that Evynn Leigh Figas was struck, shoved, kicked or or otherwise subject  to physical contact.  or  threaten to do the same .The actions were performed with intent  to harass, annoy or alarm  Ms. Figas.. It was determined, according to the report,  that  Bedalota did shove Ms. Figas after a brief verbal argument , in violation  of Section 2709 (a) (1) of the PA Crimes Code.

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrest of four individuals for firearm offenses, as well as the seizure of 19 guns, some of which were straw purchased, following a joint surveillance operation with the Monroeville Police Department at the Monroeville Gun Show. The seizures and arrests took place over the weekend of February 6-7, 2021.

“Straw purchases are fueling the gun violence epidemic that takes the lives of Pennsylvanians every single day,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “The Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Section, along with our local law enforcement partners, are working overtime to target these gun traffickers and get illegal guns off our streets.”

David Fields, Tanesha Olverson, Robert Raglin and Elizabeth Rexrode were each arrested at the Monroeville Gun Show for their roles in the illegal straw purchases of firearms. Fields is prohibited from purchasing a firearm, and Raglin, a convicted felon, is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm. Olverson and Rexroad acted as straw purchasers to acquire firearms for people prohibited from having them.

During the Gun Show, agents observed a straw purchaser buy an uzi and long gun for Fields using money that Fields passed to purchaser. As a result of this surveillance operation, agents arrested Fields and obtained a search warrant for his home where they recovered 13 additional guns.

Olverson was seen purchasing an AR-15 rifle while being accompanied by Raglin, who is a known gun trafficker. Following the straw purchase, Olverson was interviewed by agents and a search was conducted on her vehicle, where agents seized a Glock 19 handgun and $6,000 in cash.

Rexrode, a fugitive, received cash and approached a vendor to purchase a firearm for a person not to possess.

The investigation is still ongoing. All charges are accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. The investigation was conducted in partnership with the Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Section, Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the Monroeville Police Department. These cases are being prosecuted by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano 

(Ambridge, Pa.) Krisinda Bright, 42, is charged with two  counts of homicide in the death of her two daughters yesterday afternoon at a home in the 900 block   Maplewood Avenue in Ambridge  According to Beaver County District Attorney David J. Lozier  Bright is being  lodged in the Beaver County Jail without bond.  A forensics unit was searching  the home for evidence yesterday afternoon.

Ambridge Police were dispatched to the residence in the 900 block of Maplewood Avenue  Monday afternoon at 1:33 p.m.  where the double homicide occurred.  The street was closed from 8th to 10th Streets  to allow the investigation to be conducted.  Beaver County District Attorney David J. Lozier, Beaver County Detective Robert Heberle , and Ambridge Interim Police Chief John DeLuca held a press briefing last night outside the police department. Chief DeLuca told reporters it was a gruesome sight inside the home. Krisinda Bright was taken into custody  and charged with two counts of homicide in the death of her two daughters.. She is lodged in the Beaver County Jail without bond.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Corespondent Curtis Walsh)

The New Brighton School Board met last night and took public opinion from parents, staff, and residents on the wearing of masks and following state and CDC guidelines. Dr. Joseph Guarino started with a presentation to show where the New Brighton Area School District is in terms of following guidelines and being safe.  One of his main concerns for New Brighton is the size of the rooms and buildings within the district, in which he explained are not built for the situation we are in today.  Tensions got high when people began voicing their opinions.  Most in attendance were not in favor of the Covid-19 protocols and stressed that they just want kids to be back in school like normal. Many insisted that the disease is a “hoax”.  The school board members were also under fire while people criticized their handling of the virus in the district and voiced their aggravation of virtual learning. Notable people in attendance were Beaver County Commissioner Dan Camp and Jim Marshall who both voiced their opinions on the subject.  Commissioner Camp talked about efforts being made to get teachers vaccinated and also mentioned that schools cannot be “forced to close” for not following all of the recommended guidelines.  Representative Marshall encouraged residents to reach out to him on issues that they believe he may be able to help with regarding their children in school. After public opinions were over, the school board resumed with their normal meeting which consisted of the approval of various bills and reports as well as policy revisions.  Also on the meeting agenda were multiple school property tax exonerations and a few teacher retirement acceptances.  Audio from the meeting can be heard below.

Dr. Joe Guarino Superintendent

Public Opinion Compilation

(File Photo from when Chief Deluca was Beaver Falls Chief)

Ambridge, PA – At approximately 1:30 PM, the Ambridge Police Department responded to a  reported shooting in the 900 block of Maplewood Avenue. Ambridge Police did arrive to find  that two people in the residence were deceased. The scene has been determined to be a crime  scene. The Ambridge Police Department is being assisted by The Beaver County Detectives  Bureau and The Beaver County Coroner’s Office. 

Police Chief John Deluca plans on holding a press conference at approximately 5:00 PM Monday outside  the Ambridge Police Department, 600 11th Street, Ambridge, PA 15003

Pittsburgh, PA – On April 5 – 7, leaders from across disciplines will join together for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ second annual — and first virtual — Nature of Place Symposium. With a theme of Wild Childhood, speakers and attendees will discuss the deep importance of how children significantly benefit from time in nature, but also how some children are deprived of this experience due to a variety of factors such as racial injustice and disability exclusion.

The Nature of Place Symposium centers on the implications of biophilia — the innate human connection to nature — which extend across a vast array of disciplines including design and engineering, nutrition, psychology, public health, education, biology and the humanities. Biophilia is expressed all over the world every day, through complex collaborations such as the design and construction of buildings and landscapes; and intimate, personal encounters including nature hikes and home gardening. Since 2014, Phipps has held a monthly Biophilia: Pittsburgh gathering to bring creative minds together for learning, exploring and strengthening the bonds between people and the natural world. At Phipps’ first Nature of Place Symposium in February 2020, these concepts found a new expression as leaders across disciplines came together to discuss the influence and impact of biophilia on their work and the work of the future.

Each day of the symposium will include three pre-recorded talks, one live daily keynote speaker, and a panel discussion with the keynote and the other three speakers. The pre-recorded talks will all be available to registrants one week before the symposium begins to allow for flexible viewing. A full list of speakers will be added to Phipps’ website soon. Stay tuned to phipps.conservatory.org/NatureofPlace for details. Symposium sessions include:

Session 1: The Physical and Cognitive Value of Time in Nature
This session will discuss the developmental, cognitive and physical benefits of children spending time in nature.

Session 2: Equitable Access to Greenspace — Changing the Outdoor Culture
Although time in nature is beneficial to children, not all children have equitable access to greenspace due to such factors as racism and facilities that are not inclusive of different abilities. This session will explore the existing social, cultural and physical barriers to access to nature and discuss the needed changes.

Session 3: Equitable Access to Greenspace — Changing the Cities
Access to nature can be greatly improved by city infrastructure and planning, such as regulations to add more trees or minimize the distance to parks and green spaces. This session will explore the important role city planning can play in helping to ensure equitable access to nature.

Keynote speakers are educator Kimberly Refosco and Ariam Ford of Grounded Strategies. Session speakers include:

• Dr. Viniece Jennings, Agnes Scott College
• Trevanna Grenfell, Wildwood Path
• Eboni Preston, Greening Youth Foundation
• Britt Patterson Weber, Naples Botanical Garden
• Gabe Tilove, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
• Ujijji Davis Williams, Landscape Architect at SmithGroup

General registration for Nature of Place Symposium: Wild Childhood is $49 and student registration is $15. For more information, visit phipps.conservatory.org/NatureofPlace.