By KEN MORITSUGU Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that anyone who tries to bully China “will face broken heads and bloodshed.” That came Thursday in a defiant speech hailing the country’s rise that elicited loud cheers from a carefully chosen crowd at a celebration of the centenary of the founding of the ruling Communist Party. Xi appeared to be hitting back at the U.S. and others that have criticized the rising power’s trade and technology polices, military expansion and human rights record. The unusually forceful language also seemed aimed at revving up and playing to a domestic audience. The rally in some ways recalled the mass events held by Mao Zedong, communist China’s founding leader.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A man who pleaded guilty in the deaths of two men has been sentenced to 26 to 52 years in prison. The bodies were found after a fire in western Pennsylvania more than three years ago. Sixty-one-year-old Vincent Smith was sentenced Wednesday in Allegheny County Court on earlier guilty pleas to voluntary manslaughter and arson endangering persons in the February 2018 blaze in Pittsburgh’s Point Breeze neighborhood. Authorities alleged that Smith was fighting with 71-year-old homeowner Steven Pariser and 54-year-old John Robert Van Dyke over marijuana when he beat them and threw them down the basement steps, hiding their bodies with trash bags and clothes before starting the fire.

Story by Beaver County Radio Correspondent, Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, PA) – Qualified police officers have until Friday, July 9, 2021 at 4 p.m. to apply for full time police officer positions in the City of Aliquippa. Minorities and females are urged to apply.

Story by Beaver County Radio Correspondent, Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, PA) – Aliquippa City Council approved a motion to hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 4 at 7 p.m. to receive public comment on a proposed comprehensive revision to the city’s zoning ordinance and the zoning district map of the city’s code of ordinances. Council approved a recommendation by the city planning commission for a proposed subdivision submitted by the Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development for property on Woodlawn Road.

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) It’s your chance to ask the Beaver County Commissioners any questions you have. You can call 724-774-1888 if you have a question for the Commissioners.

“Ask the Commissioners” is brought to you by Beaver Valley Auto Mall and Laughlin Insurance.

Wolf vetoes GOP bill with voter ID, other elections changes
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor has vetoed a Republican-crafted elections bill that would have mandated voter identification in all elections and made a host of other changes to election law. Gov. Tom Wolf said outside his Capitol offices Wednesday that he considers it a voter suppression measure. Wolf also used his line-item veto authority to eliminate $3.1 million in funding in separate budget legislation after Republican lawmakers claimed that it had been earmarked to create an election-auditing bureau under the independently elected auditor general. Wolf had said there was no such agreement to use the money for an election-auditing bureau.

Wolf signs off on revisions to Pennsylvania medical pot law
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Medical marijuana patients can continue to get a three month’s supply at a time under revisions to the Pennsylvania program. Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday signed into law a bill that makes it easier for producers to remove contaminants such as yeast and mold from medical marijuana A proposal to allow patients to grow their own marijuana was defeated. Other changes include permanently allowing curbside dispensing. The new law adds to the list of serious medical conditions for which medical marijuana can be dispensed to include cancer remission therapy and neuropathies of the central nervous system.

As the Titanic decays, expedition will monitor deterioration
By BEN FINLEY Associated Press
An undersea exploration company plans to dive to the sunken Titanic to begin what’s expected to be an annual chronicling of the shipwreck’s deterioration. The 109-year-old wreck is being battered by deep-sea currents and metal-eating bacteria. OceanGate Expeditions president Stockton Rush says it’s important to document the wreck before it disappears or becomes unrecognizable. The first dive could be as early as this week. OceanGate also plans to document the site’s sea life and explore its debris field. The expedition includes archaeologists and marine biologists. But the firm is also bringing roughly 40 people who paid up to $150,000 to come along. They’re helping to fund the expedition.

(Beaver County, Pa.) Beaver County Treasurer Sandy Egley sent out a press release stating that her office received a letter from the Pa Game Commission notifying her office that there will be an increase in transaction fees for all hunting licenses this year.

The cost for a Pa resident antlerless deer license will increase from $6.90 to $6.97. Non-resident antlerless deer license will increase from $26.90 to $26.97.

The County Treasurer’s office will begin accepting Pa resident antlerless deer license applications by mail on July 12, 2021. The Treasurer’s office is recommending that you don’t mail your application before July 9, 2021.

Treasurer Egley said in the statement that per Game Commission rules any applications received before July 12, 2021 will not be processed and will be returned.

Treasurer Egley also stated in the release that previously a hunter could hold 3 Antlerless Deer applications for the entire state, with the exception of special regulation areas around Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Starting this year, a hunter can hold 6 active antlerless deer licenses in the state at one time. Once you report your harvest and it is confirmed by the Game Commission you  can apply for another one but can only have 6 active at one time.

If you need more information you can call the Treasurer’s office at 724-770-4540 of the Game Commission Customer Support line at 1-800-838-4431.