CHICAGO (AP) — Growing numbers of Americans say state and federal governments are starting to trample civil rights in the name of public health during the coronavirus outbreak. Those already making that case include a church-goer in New Hampshire who filed a lawsuit arguing that prohibitions against large gatherings violate her religious rights. Most civil libertarians are concerned but aren’t yet sounding alarm bells. Public health lawyer Larry Gostin says measures to date aren’t draconian. But he says he fears leaders could resort to increasingly harsh methods that cross constitutional bounds if the crisis drags on.

Conservation groups are warning about the federal government’s proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposal would severely limit environmental review and public input on timber, oil and gas and other extractive industry projects. Andrea Sears reports…

The deadline to file for a property tax or rent rebate in Pennsylvania has been extended…as we hear in this report from Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

To keep residents and borough employees safe, and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Ambridge Borough Council is putting measures into place that will go into effect in the weeks to come. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has details…

State officials have announced that there’s a new financial assistance program available for small businesses that are struggling with COVID-19. State Representative Josh Kail talked about the program on Teleforum with Frank Sparks earlier this morning…

Kail admits that it’s a complicated program…but his office there to help:

The number again for Rep. Kail’s office is (724) 728-7655.

The Mayor of Monaca has issued a proclamation of disaster emergency. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano reports. Click on play to hear Sandy’s report…

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

After a two-week period of no announcements or updates, the Beaver County Commissioners held their first public meeting to go over updates–albeit without the public. Rather they livestreamed the meeting to the county website and YouTube, as they are urging the citizens to stay home amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put cancellation or postponement on several events and business plans in Beaver County, and as Garen Fedeles stated at the meeting, the eventual property reassessment isn’t immune either:

 

Fedeles was there along with all three county commissioners, which some might see as a surprise since Commissioner Jack Manning released a statement last week saying that he was going to quarantine himself at his home. Manning spoke in response to a citizen’s submitted question in regards to that, and he clarified his recent actions:

 

The other two Commissioners spoke about the continued impact of the coronavirus in Beaver County, both reiterating the importance of self-quarantine and following CDC guidelines. Chairman Dan Camp specifically spoke about the reality that more cases in Beaver County will be realized:

 

The Commissioners’ next meeting will be on April 9 at 10 AM.

Beaver County officials are reminding residents that they should only call 9-1-1 to report an emergency. Beaver County Emergency Services Director Eric Brewer tells Beaver County Radio News that the county received dozens of calls to 911 reporting businesses on the first couple days of Governor Tom Wolf’s order to close all non-life-threatening businesses. Brewer says complaint calls have dropped since then…

Brewer says since that time, not only have the number of complaint calls dropped, but also the number of calls, overall, has dropped during this pandemic as well…

Brewer says the reason for the drop in emergency calls is probably due to the fact that everyone is staying at home, thereby lessening the chance for an emergency…

So Brewer is trying to get out the message of what to do and what not to do when reporting non-compliant businesses…

The non-emergency number for Beaver County 911 is (724) 775-0880.

The union representing Beaver County employees is at odds with county officials over how the commissioners are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Representatives with S-E-I-U Local 668 criticized the commissioners in a statement this week for the actions they’ve taken to protect county employees. Union officials say they are receiving several calls daily from employees who are concerned about working in close quarters with other people. The county’s solicitor says the board feels as if it has gone above and beyond in their response.