Category: News

Prosecutor’s Reelection Pits Reform Against Rising Gun Crime

By CLAUDIA LAUER undefined
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Voters in Pennsylvania will cast ballots Tuesday in the Democratic Primary for Philadelphia District Attorney that pits reform-minded incumbent Larry Krasner against veteran homicide prosecutor Carlos Vega. The race likely will decide the future of the office in the overwhelmingly Democratic city. But Philadelphians will also be casting votes in what many pundits nationally say is the first referendum on whether a wave of prosecutors elected on promises of criminal justice reforms can survive a rising tide of gun violence and homicides across the country that opponents are seeking to frame as their fault.

Beaver County Resident Taken Into Custody For Arrest Warrant

PA State Police have reported via release that on May 11th, 2021 at approximately 11:34 p.m. PSP – New Castle stopped to check on a disabled motorist operating a 2015 Ram 2500 on Pa-376 East at the 11.4 mile marker near Neshannock Township. Upon further investigation, the front right passenger of the vehicle, Female, Alison Marie Falba, was discovered to have a warrant for her arrest of drug paraphernalia originating from the Beaver County Sheriff’s office. Falba was placed into custody and incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail.

New Castle Man Found Shot To Death in SUV in Muddy Creek Twp.

(Muddy Creek Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police have released the identity of the person that Pennsylvania State Police reported was killed along East Portersville Road in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County on Monday evening . David Hines, 38, of New Castle was fond shot to death around 8 PM in an SUV that was over an embankment.  The vehicle was near the entrance to a mining facility.

The incident is being investigated as a homicide.

Anyone with information is asked to call PSP Butler at 724-284-8100.

Aliquippa School Board Member and Son Charged With Fraud by Pa. Attorney General

(Photo courtesy of Sandy Giordano)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa School Board Member Catherine Colalella, 44 of Aliquippa, and her son TJ Shaw  were arrested by  agents from the  PA Attorney General’s office  in mid-March and are accused of  insurance fraud 1 count, 1 count of insurance fraud/conspiracy, criminal conspiracy/theft by deception.. The report states that an auto accident with Shaw driving  occurred  on November 7, 2020 The accident occurred in Aliquippa on that date at approximately 8:05 a.m.. Ms. Colalella’s auto insurance policy with Progressive was cancelled August 14, 2020 for non-payment.. Karen Junak of Junak’s Towing  said   the 2018 Chevy Traverse was towed to her shop, and Shaw told her the vehicle wasn’t insurance lapsed because his mother was in the hospital and the premium wasn’t paid.

Ms. Colalella and Shaw appeared for a preliminary hearing in Beaver County Court  on the charges. All charges are headed for trial  on  Monday, August 30, 2021.

The Blockbuster Movie Makes A Comeback This Summer

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer
After more than a year of benching its biggest spectacles, Hollywood is ready to dazzle again. From “F9” and “In the Heights” to “The Suicide Squad” and “Black Widow,” for the first time since last March, there will be a steady stream of blockbusters populating multiplexes across the country. For streaming-weary audiences, the promise of air conditioning, popcorn, soda fountains, 60-foot screens and state-of-the-art sound could be a welcome respite from the living room and virtual watch parties. Not to mention the ever-romantic concept of the shared experience. For beleaguered movie theaters, it hasn’t come a moment too soon.

WPIAL Softball Playoff Schedule: May 18, 2021

Today begins the 2021 WPIAL Softball Playoffs. Local teams are marked in bold.

Class 5A
2:00 pm Fox Chapel vs. Plum at Gateway
2:00 pm South Fayette vs. Armstrong at Valley HS
2:00 pm Franklin Regional vs. West Allegheny at North Allegheny HS
4:00 pm Hampton vs. Penn-Trafford at Gateway
4:00 pm Indiana vs. Latrobe at Valley HS
4:00 pm Connellsville vs. Shaler at Norwin
5:00 pm Trinity vs. North Hills at Montour
6:00 pm Thomas Jefferson vs. Chartiers Valley at North Allegheny HS
Class 3A
2:00 pm Derry Area vs. South Park at Norwin
3:00 pm Ellwood City vs. Deer Lakes at Montour
4:00 pm Keystone Oaks vs. Southmoreland at West Mifflin
4:00 pm Valley vs. South Allegheny at Fox Chapel
Class 1A
2:00 pm Ellis School vs. Greensburg Central Catholic at Fox Chapel
2:00 pm St. Joseph vs. Mapletown at West Mifflin
4:00 pm Rochester vs. Springdale at North Allegheny HS
4:00 pm Bishop Canevin vs. Jefferson-Morgan at Waynesburg University

Changed By Pandemic, Many Workers Won’t Return To Old Jobs

By DEE-ANN DURBIN and STEPHEN GROVES AP Business Writers
Many workers emerging from the pandemic don’t want to return to the jobs they once had. Layoffs and lockdowns combined with enhanced unemployment benefits and stimulus checks gave many Americans the time and the financial cushion to rethink their careers. Some employers and business groups are calling for an end to the $300-per-week federal unemployment supplement, saying it’s giving recipients less incentive to look for work.  But a senior economist with the Economic Policy Institute, says health concerns and child care responsibilities are the main reasons holding workers back.

Pa. Dept. L&I Transitioning to New Unemployment Compensation System June 8

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier today reminded everyone that the Unemployment Compensation (UC) program and its extensions, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and the Extended Benefits programs, will transition to a new system on June 8, 2021.
The department has taken steps to minimize the amount of time the UC system will be offline as it prepares for next month’s transition from an outdated, 40-year-old system to a modern software solution. Once the transition is complete, the new system will enable quicker and easier filing of UC claims.
The current system is scheduled to go offline to users on May 30 through June 7, 2021 to allow for data migration from the old system to the new one, the most complex part of any system upgrade. The new system is anticipated to be “live” June 8, 2021.

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The transfer of an enormous magnitude of information between the systems can happen only when the UC database is taken offline to ensure that every claimant’s information is up-to-date and correct during the transition. Allowing changes to claims and other information while data migration is taking place would increase the risk of issues as this updated information is vital to the new UC system functioning correctly.
No claims processing will take place during the offline period. The system will be offline for everyone, including L&I staff. However, the UC Service Center will keep the phones and email open. They will still take new inquiries from claimants and place them in the queue for when the system comes online. They will also be able to assist individuals who are experiencing issues and will be able to answer questions about the offline period and the new UC system generally.
The new UC system will be much easier to use, provide faster access to relevant information and streamline the unemployment claim filing process for workers, employers, unemployment program staff, as well as the third-party administrators who will be able to easily access and update more of their information. It will offer a more modern interface for users with formatting similar to user-friendly websites most people use every day. The system will be mobile and tablet-friendly and will enable faster communications between users and L&I staff.
 
New UC System Instructional Workshops and Other Resources
L&I is offering a series of 24 workshops and other easy-to-use tools and helpful resources for users, including the legislative, advocate, and employer communities, to guide them through the transition to the new system.
This Week’s Workshop Dates and Links
Scheduled workshops will be offered in English and Spanish on a variety of days and times, including evenings and weekends. A full list of scheduled workshops and links to connect to them are here. Recordings of each workshop will be uploaded to this page on www.uc.pa.gov.
Questions about the new UC system should be submitted here. L&I will address the most frequently asked questions in future workshops.
Helpful Resources
Claimant User Guides:
Employer User Guides:
Claimant and Employer User Guides:
For more information and updates on unemployment benefits programs, visit www.uc.pa.gov or follow L&I on Facebook or Twitter.

ABC’s New ‘Women of the Movement’ About Emmett Till’s Mother

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — ABC will air a limited series, ‘Women of the Movement,’ about Mamie Till-Mobley, whose son Emmett Till became an icon of the civil rights movement after he was lynched in Mississippi in 1955. Actor Will Smith and rapper Jay-Z are among the production team behind the new series, which will air in the middle of the next television season. ABC became the latest broadcast network to introduce a new lineup to advertisers on Tuesday. The network is also reviving ‘The Wonder Years,’ this time with a Black family from Montgomery, Alabama. Original series star Fred Savage directed the pilot episode.

Vehicle Break-Ins Reported in Center Twp.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Center Twp., Pa.) Vehicle break-ins have been reported to Center Township Police. The vehicles have  been in front of  or in close proximity to the homes. Police are asking that residents report any suspicious  activity in their neighborhood.

Police Chief Barry Kramer advised “THE  NUMBER 1 DETERRENT  IS LOCK YOUR VEHICLES!!