Shania T. Walker, a 2016 graduate as its new softball coach

(Photo Courtesy of Coach Walker)

Story by Beaver county Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Last night Aliquippa School Board  approved the  hybrid model for instructing elementary school students beginning on Monday, March 1, 2021.   The junior/senior high school will begin the hybrid instruction on March 15, 2021. The plan is subject to review and change if needed.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Center Twp., Pa.) Center Township Police Department moved to its temporary headquarters at  the fire department’s social hall  located at 3385  Brodhead Road on Tuesday.  A new police  headquarters will be constructed at the Chapel Road site .

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver, Pa.) COVID-19 has  caused severe financial and emotional stress for many citizens, especially older people  who have less in person visits and family support during the  COVID-19 Older residents are increasingly reaching out to strangers for information or help. Isolated seniors  are answering their phones when strangers call. Too many callers are scam artists  that pose as government representatives. They also pose as helpers for respected medical, insurance or financial companies. They want you to  give them  your personal information  such as your full name, date of birth, social security number, Medicare number or account number.

Pittsburgh, PA – Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region.

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:

Allegheny County

1. Interstates 79, 376 (Parkways East and West), 279 (Parkway North), and 579
2. State Route 28

Beaver County

• Interstate 376 (Beaver Valley Expressway)

Lawrence County

• Interstates 79 and 376
• State Route 422

Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

The department also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.

PennDOT reminds motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles. A basic kit should include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit, motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.

PennDOT also reminds citizens that downloadable materials, including home and car emergency kit checklists and emergency plan templates, are available at www.Ready.PA.gov or by downloading the free ReadyPA app for Apple or Android devices. Citizens can also find information about getting involved in local emergency response efforts and other volunteer opportunities through the ReadyPA website.

For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh

Keystone State News Connection

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new report highlights the advantages of kinship care for children in contact with Pennsylvania’s child-welfare system, and the need for increased equity in child placements.

Placement in foster care is traumatic for children and their families.

Studies show compared with children placed with non-relatives, kids placed with relatives or other adults with existing relationships experience better educational outcomes and maintain stronger family and community ties.

Rachael Miller, policy director for Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said in 2019 fewer than 40% of Pennsylvania children in foster care were placed with kin, and the rates for permanent placements were even lower.

“Only 13% of children adopted from foster care were adopted by relatives and another 13% exited to guardianship with formal kin,” Miller outlined.

She pointed out Black and Hispanic children were less likely than Caucasian children to be permanently placed with kin.

Miller noted part of the problem is a lack of consistency in placement procedures across the state, and added each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties have independent child-welfare agencies, each with their own policies and practices for child placement.

“The first recommendation that we have is to update policies, regulatory practices and bulletins to eliminate those unnecessary barriers to identifying, locating and licensing kin as caregivers through the child-welfare system,” Miller explained.

She emphasized kinship placement is often denied for reasons related to poverty, not child safety, and those experiences are more like to impact communities of color.

Miller hopes the report will highlight the need to take a close look at laws and regulations governing child placement, the need for an unbiased process for kinship caregivers to appeal when disqualified for placement, and the need for increased data collection.

“We need to understand why kin are being denied, what services are being offered to support them, and how to increase the outcomes for children being connected to and supported by their family,” Miller contended.

She stressed it will be most important to guide reforms through the lived experiences of those kinship caregivers who have dealt with the child welfare system.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Corespondent Curtis Walsh)

Chippewa Township council discussed a proposed ordinance to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and drug paraphernalia during their monthly meeting last night. The proposed Ordinance 261 would cause people caught in possession of smaller quantities of marijuana or paraphernalia to be fined rather than charged with a misdemeanor offense. Chippewa Township police chief, Eric Hermick, spoke about the ordinance stating that  the usual routine of marijuana possession cases result in misdemeanor charges, that are later dropped to summary offenses, such as disorderly conduct, and the department only receives about $25 after all is done. Police officers are often paid overtime for attending court hearings which are an unnecessary cost that could be eliminated by the ordinance. Hermick also commented on the effect minor marijuana charges can have on young adults, stating that 18 year olds are charged with a criminal misdemeanor, pleaded down to a summary offense, and have to go through a costly process to get the criminal charge expunged from their records. Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier is also reportedly supportive of the ordinance. Ordinance 261 would make Chippewa Township the first second class township in the state to decriminalize marijuana. Audio of the discussion can be heard below.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

Chippewa Township council met tonight and discussed multiple topics.  One of the first items of discussion was for the land development of a gym that would act as a private basketball training facility. The Council then discussed funding for police dash cams and body cameras with police Chief Hermick as well as a new ordinance that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana possession within the township.  The ordinance would change possession penalties from a misdemeanor charge to a fine, similar to cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Other topics of discussion were for the hiring of a new social media specialist and a new recreation director for the township.  Audio from the meeting can be heard below.

Basketball Facility:

Police body and Dash Cameras:

Marijuana decriminalization:

With frigid temperatures and snow falling recently, AAA East Central reminds motorists that it is never safe to start or leave a vehicle running in an enclosed space, such as a garage. Vehicle exhaust contains poisonous carbon monoxide gas and can cause severe injury and even death if inhaled.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires, more than 50,000 people visit emergency rooms, and more than 4,000 others are hospitalized.

“Contrary to popular belief, cars are designed to operate as soon as you turn them on and buckle your seatbelt in the winter,” says Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central. “If you want to warm your car’s interior cabin, or take time to brush off ice and snow, be sure that the vehicle isn’t in an enclosed space.”

During a winter blast, AAA East Central recommends motorists:

• Never start or operate a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice, or mud, which could cause carbon monoxide to leak into the vehicle.
• Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
• Have a mechanic check the exhaust system of your car or truck every year. A small leak can lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide in your vehicle.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up during the winter months.
• Unplug phone chargers and USB cables for digital devices as soon as you turn off your engine.

AAA East Central recommends homeowners and renters:

• Never use a gas range or oven to heat a home.
• Never run a generator, or any gasoline-powered engine inside an enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open, unless the equipment is professionally installed and vented.
• Never use a charcoal grill, lantern, or portable camping stove inside your home.
• If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, consult a health care professional immediately or dial 911.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 73 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

(Slippery Rock Twp., Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police-Butler is charging  20 year old Trevonn Carter of Moon Twp. with cruelty to animals stemming from an incident on South Rock Drive in Slippery Rock Twp. State Police via press release say that Carter is seen on video kicking a dog.

No other information was provided about the incident.