(Pittsburgh, PA) Highmark’s Fifth Avenue Place headquarters in Downtown Pittsburgh will glow purple on August 31 to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day. International Overdose Awareness Day is an annual, global event to end overdoses, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind.

The commemorative light-up of Fifth Avenue Place is one component of Highmark’s broader recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, and its comprehensive approach to combat substance use disorder that focuses on primary prevention, safe prescribing, high-quality treatment, community supports and combating stigma.

Through these efforts, Highmark has reduced opioid-related overdoses among its commercial risk, Medicare Advantage and Affordable Care Act members in Pennsylvania by about 20 percent over the past three years.

“The COVID-19 pandemic’s financial, social and healthcare access challenges have hit families across the communities that we serve and across the nation—which is reflected in the record number of overdose-related deaths recorded in the U.S. in 2020,” says Dr. Caesar DeLeo, vice president and executive medical director of strategic initiatives for Highmark. “We remain highly committed to preventing the harms caused by substance abuse and promoting recovery along with our many partners in health care, government, education, business, and social services.”

Harnessing the power of its own team members, Highmark has established a grass-roots organization known as LEARN. LEARN is comprised of more than 600 Highmark, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and other Highmark companies’ team members who come together to Learn more about substance use disorders; Educate others; Advocate for reforms and effective treatment, and support Recovery and Network amongst themselves, within their communities and organizations to dispel stigma and promote harm reduction.

In addition to driving the Fifth Avenue Place light-up commemoration for International Overdose Awareness Day, LEARN hosted a webinar for Highmark and AHN team members

about substance use disorders and coping with grief and loss, and created a video to pay tribute to loved ones and friends that they have lost.

“In 2021, LEARN has also created a more recovery-friendly workplace, spotlighted the dangers of synthetic opioids, explored the science of addiction, combated stigma, and celebrated professionals in recovery,” says Ashley Potts, a co-founder of LEARN and substance use disorder program manager for Highmark. “We have so many team members who want to be a positive force at work, at home and in the community, and LEARN provides those opportunities through education and advocacy.”

Highmark has also reduced by 23 percent the number of Pennsylvania members who are newly prescribed opioids over the past three years, and increased by 20 percent the number of members who receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT) after being diagnosed with opioid use disorder or after being brought into treatment for opioid use disorder. MAT is high-quality, evidenced-based treatment that supports patients with a multi-disciplinary care team and medications that allow individuals to stop abusing opioids without experiencing powerful drug cravings or severe withdrawal symptoms.

Highmark supports community organizations and programs fighting the opioid epidemic in its core markets. Highmark’s Financial Investigations and Provider Review (FIPR) Team has also engaged more than 10,000 students, parents and educators in western Pennsylvania through its Opioid Epidemic Education Program. The program empowers people with knowledge and resources to respond to opioid dependence in their communities.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Hopewell Township Fire Chief  Mike Wasik reported Sunday night that two fires were caused by lightning Sunday afternoon. The homes were on Sweet Briar Drive and Ivy Court. No other fires were reported in the area according to Beaver County 9-1-1. No one was injured in either fire, the chief reported.

He thanked the mutual aid departments that assisted at  the fire scenes. They were:, Aliquippa, , Monaca, Crescent and Raccoon Townships

(Big Beaver Boro, Pa.) Pa State Police in Gibsonia are reporting that they were called to the scene of a two vehicle accident along the Pa Turnpike east at exit 13 in Big Beaver Boro last Thursday evening around 6:55 PM
Troopers report via release that a 2019 Ford Focus that was being driven by 26-year-old Emily Shafer of Wampum was attempting to merge onto the turnpike when she failed to yield to a 2019 Peterbuilt truck being driven by 21-year-old Lloyd Shipman of Wabash Indiana.

As Shafer merged the truck being driven by Shipman struck the left rear of her vehicle with the right front of the truck.
No one was injured in the accident and Shafer was issued a written warning for not yielding properly when merging into traffic from an entrance ramp.

(Cranberry Twp., Pa.) No one was injured following a large fire that left a house damaged on Jefferson Lane in Cranberry Township Sunday evening

The fire was reported to 911 from an automatic fire alarm within the house security system. While crews were enroute to the home, neighbors called 911 to report the house was on fire.
Six or Seven fire companies assisted at the scene.
New Brighton Fire Department reported via their Facebook page that they were dispatched to Cranberry to assist in fire service for the remainder of Cranberry while crews batted the fire.

No injuries were reported and the family and their pets were not home at the time of the fire.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Chippewa Township, PA) On Friday August 27th, the Blackhawk School District announced via their website that they are requiring universal masking for all students and staff for indoor activities and transportation.  They state that the change comes from the fact that Beaver County is reported to be a high transmission area and they are following their health and safety plan accordingly.  The district originally planned to start the school year with masks being optional. Their school year started on the 24th. They are slated to issue an update on September 3rd.

The district Health and Safety Plan follows a guideline of requiring masks when the county is considered to have high transmission levels.  If the county drops to substantial transmission levels, masks will be optional. They are determining the requirement of masks on a week to week basis.  A copy of the plan can be found on the district website.

(Plum Borough, Pa.) Pa Sate Police in Gibsonia have released the identity of the person who was killed in a deadly accident on the Pa turnpike in Plum Borough on Wednesday.
It was originally reported that the driver of the tractor trailer died when in fact the passenger of the truck is who died.
Troopers reported via release that as Shawn McGregor of Brownfield Pa was operating a semi-truck carrying liquid nitrogen east bound at mile marker 54.4 on the Pa turnpike the truck blew a front right tire causing him to lose control of the truck. The truck then struck a guard rail, went through the guard rail and over and embankment bursting into flames. McGregor was able to extricate himself from the vehicle but his passenger David Paull of Uniontown was not able to get out of the vehicle and died on the scene of the accident.
There’s no word on Mc Gregor’s condition at this time as police continue to investigate the accident.

(New Castle, Pa.) When police in New Castle went to the home Stephen Karenbauer in New Castle to arrest him for raping at least one child under the age of 12 yesterday he shot himself in the face with a shotgun.
Karnbauer survived the blast and there is no word on his condition as Police continue investigating to see if there are other victims.

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today strongly encouraged consumers and small businesses who may still be experiencing financial difficulty to #CallUtilitiesNow to discuss the options to remain connected to vital utility services before some extended payment plan options expire at the end of September.

The PUC emphasized that direct conversations between customers and utilities are the best “first step” for any Pennsylvania household or business struggling to #KeepUtilitiesOn, whether those financial difficulties are related to the COVID pandemic, the ongoing state and national recovery, or other challenging circumstances.
In a statement at today’s PUC public meeting, Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille noted
that there are many options available to address past-due balances and continue service,
but the deadline to apply for some of those programs is quickly approaching.
Extended Payment Plans & Flexible Income Verification Available Through Sept. 30

Earlier this year, the PUC required all Commission-regulated electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications, and steam utilities to provide additional extended payment plan options for residential and small business customers.

Residential customers qualify for extended payment arrangements to gradually pay down their previous balances over an extended period – with a minimum length of one to five years, depending on their income level (lower income levels qualify for longer payment periods) – and small business customers qualify for payment arrangements for a minimum of 18 months.

Additionally, utilities and the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services may continue to use flexible means for income verification and business status information – such as over-the-phone or via electronic mail, for the purpose of qualifying customers for payment arrangements and/or universal service programs.
These policy modifications will end after September 30, 2021, so consumers and small businesses should #CallUtilitiesNow to discuss extended payment plans before that deadline.

At-Risk Consumers in Pennsylvania Gradually Declining

The number of utility accounts at-risk of termination has continued to gradually decline, as has the total dollar amount owed, but a substantial number of households remain at-risk of utility shut-offs as we move into the fall season.

According to the most recent utility reports submitted to the PUC, approximately 750,000 residential accounts are currently at-risk of termination – down from an Oct. 2020 peak of almost 1.1 million residential accounts. The past-due balance for those residential accounts is approximately $664 million, compared to more than $856 million earlier this year.

Additionally, nearly 68,000 small businesses across the state are at-risk of termination (down from almost 90,000 past-due accounts in Oct. 2020).  The past-due balance for those commercial accounts is $90 million, compared to more than $126 million earlier this year.
Other Assistance Options Available for Consumers

In addition to extended payment plans, the PUC noted that millions of dollars in financial assistance is currently available from utilities and various supplemental programs, and the Commission encouraged every eligible individual and household to make use of those funds to address their balances and #KeepUtilitiesOn.

The households of greatest concern include:

• Utility customers experiencing financial difficulty for the first time and unaware of the resources available or the process for requesting assistance.
• Households that did not qualify for assistance in the past, because of higher incomes, but may now be eligible because of the financial impact of the pandemic.
• CAP customers who have not renewed their assistance plan enrollment – risking removal from those programs.
• Individuals who may qualify for “rent and utility assistance” available through counties across Pennsylvania.
• Households who qualify for LIHEAP financial assistance but did not apply for seasonal or supplemental aid.

#CallUtilitiesNow is the best way to identify what help may be available to you, your family
and your business. Also, be sure to call all your utilities: electric, natural gas, water/wastewater
and telecommunications because each may have different programs or resources available.

Utilities understand the assistance programs available in their communities for income-qualified consumers – including utility-run Customer Assistance Programs (CAP), national programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and various hardship fund programs operated by utilities and non-profit organizations to #KeepUtilitiesOn. Utilities also can help enroll consumers in assistance programs, guide them to other available resources and discuss new payment plan options to address overdue balances and help consumers move forward.

Consumers may also contact Pennsylvania’s “211” system (Dial 211 or visit www.pa211.org) for information and resources in their communities to help with