Pennsylvania’s two statewide teachers unions are urging K-12 schools to require masks in school buildings, a measure that state officials have been encouraging but have not mandated. The Pennsylvania State Education Association and AFT Pennsylvania cite the threat of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus. Infections and hospitalizations are spiking across the state and nationally, including among children. PSEA President Rich Askey said Wednesday that “masking up is essential to keeping in-person learning going all year.” The state Health Department is urging school districts to follow federal guidance and require masks for all students, teachers and staff, but says a statewide mandate is not under discussion.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania officials have held out the potential for taxpayer-paid subsidies to help entice the U.S. Golf Association to bring more Opens and elite amateur events to two courses in the state. The USGA last week announced that it will bring nine more Opens for men and women to Oakmont and Merion over the next three decades. Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration officials are describing the USGA’s announcement as a “partnership.” Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman told PennLive that the state’s financial commitment “is more of a handshake right now” and that state officials will assess how the state can help with funding when the USGA requests financial assistance.

From Senator Elder Vogel’s Office:

Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Elder Vogel (R-47) participated today in a ceremony marking the enactment of his legislation updating “sell by” and “best by” date labeling for pasteurized milk.

Prior to enactment of  Senate Bill 434 now (Act 62 of 2021), Pennsylvania required milk to be labeled for sale within 17 days of pasteurization.  Only two other states have similar “fixed code” dates for milk regulations, thus putting Pennsylvania-produced milk at a competitive disadvantage in the retail sale of milk.

Act 62 allows milk processors to apply for Department of Agriculture approval to exceed the 17-day limitation by moving to a science-based “open code” format.  The new law sets testing requirements and standards, including dairy laboratory criteria, bacterial testing of samples and continued periodic testing, which must be met for milk processors to receive Department approval.

“Act 62 levels the playing field and will enable Pennsylvania dairy farmers to be more competitive with those of other states. The 17-day requirement in Pennsylvania is not realistic when it comes to milk’s actual shelf life,” said Senator Vogel. “In addition, most consumers rank freshness, as determined by the date code indicated, as the most important attribute when purchasing milk.”

Despite major concerns from regulators, voters, and legislators, Gov. Wolf is trying to impose a carbon tax on electricity production via the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Yesterday, the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee voted to ask the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) to reject the governor’s unilateral effort to push the commonwealth into RGGI.

Commonwealth Foundation agrees with the committee’s stance. Below are facts based on data gathered by DR. David Stevenson of the Ceasar Rodney Institute, the Congressional Research Institute, and the IRRC.

Economic consequences of RGGI:

• It will cost energy consumers (from small businesses to average residents) approximately $2 Billion over a 9 year period.
• It will cost kill approximately 22,000 jobs by hampering Pennsylvania’s robust electricity exports to other states and increasing energy costs.
• It will cost the state government approximately $282 million in tax receipts due to economic roadblocks caused by the accord, outweighing projected carbon tax revenue.
• It will reduce total economic output in Pennsylvania by an estimated $7.7 billion.

The real impact of RGGI on the environment:

• Between 2007 and 2019, Pennsylvania reduced emissions by 40% without being a part of RGGI while states that were a part of the initiative reduced carbon emissions by 37%. In other words, Pennsylvania’s transition into a natural gas producing powerhouse did more to reduce emissions than RGGI did in the states that joined it.
• A low-end estimate of the emissions shifted to other states if Pennsylvania joins RGGI is 11 Million Metric tons.

Michael Torres
Director of Media
Commonwealth Foundation
850-619-2737 (cell)
CommonwealthFoundation.org

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA)  Aliquippa  School District Athletic Director Brandon LeDonne secured a $10,000.00 grant for the athletic  department from the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation. The grant is to support k-12 sports, according to Superintendent Dr. Phillip K. Woods.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

(Aliquippa, PA)   Staff and students in the Aliquippa School District are required to  wear masks in school and on the buses regardless of vaccination status during the high and substantial categories, according to Superintendent Dr. Phillip K. Woods.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)

Brodhead Road runs from the Moon Township line in Allegheny County to Route 18 in Monaca and a ZOOM meeting that was open to the public for comment was held Wednesday night.  The road is an 11 mile stretch that runs through Hopewell  Township and planners are looking  at commercial and residential growth in the next 20-30 years and discussed ways to make the road safer. Two of the problem areas are Five Points where  traffic travels from 4 directions, and Pleasant Drive in Center Township. where traffic enters and  exits onto Brodhead Road. There is no funded transportation project on the corridor, officials said. The meeting was the second of a series in order to draft a plan for safety, growth and development in the area.

The Hopewell Police Department, along with Beaver County District Attorney, David J. Lozier, released a statement on the fatal shooting that occurred on Sunday morning in Hopewell Township.

Hopewell Township Police responded to a domestic disturbance along Brodhead Road Sunday morning August 15, 2021. A male individual was found shot in the torso. He was transported by ambulance but expired before being treated. The Beaver County Coroner identified the deceased as 33-year old Logan Ayres and the cause of death being homicide. The case is being investigated jointly by the Hopewell Township Police and the Beaver County Detective Bureau. No charges have been filed as of this time. The female who was on the scene is currently being treated as a victim and not a defendant but that status could change as the investigation progresses. She will not be identified by law enforcement unless charges are filed.

Nothing further will be released by law enforcement because this is an ongoing investigation.