(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Vehicles are speeding, and trying to beat the red lights on Brodhead Rd. and Kennedy Boulevard passing school buses  and is a cause for concern by residents in the area of Admiral and 21st Street in Aliquippa . The residents expressed their concerns and a petition was presented to  Aliquippa City Council at Wednesday night’s meeting.  The city is looking into the situation to see what can be done in the area where there are small children and elderly residents. The residents were thanked for their input and concerns that they presented. One resident said, “We are fed up with the situation .”

(Photo Courtesy of US Army Corps of Engineers)

PITTSBURGH – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District declared a state of emergency due to flooding conditions impacting the Monongahela River and its tributaries, Sept. 1, 2021.

This emergency declaration authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake support emergency response activities caused by the natural disaster.

The Pittsburgh District may provide support to local communities in need, and repair or rehabilitate flood control projects damaged during the state of emergency.

“If communities request support, we can provide assistance under this declaration,” said Al Coglio, the chief of emergency management for the Pittsburgh District.

The act also authorizes the Pittsburgh District to provide resources if requested, which can include technical assistance, sandbags, sandbag machines, water pumps and other flood-fighting supplies or equipment. The act does not include provisions for labor, transportation or fill materials.

All authorized costs associated with the emergency response are funded by the federal government.

The Pittsburgh District’s Emergency Operations Center remains active. To request support, please contact the Pittsburgh District emergency operation center: (412) 395-7150 or celrp-eoc@usace.army.mil.

Parnell gets Trump endorsement in Pennsylvania Senate race
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is endorsing in Pennsylvania’s crowded U.S. Senate field, backing Republican Sean Parnell in what is expected to be one of the nation’s most competitive Senate contests in next year’s election. Parnell, a former Army Ranger who penned a memoir of his service in Afghanistan, was already getting enthusiastic support from Trump’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., before Trump’s Wednesday endorsement. Parnell became politically active in recent years, running unsuccessfully for Congress last year and landing a coveted speaking slot at the 2020 Republican National Convention. The Democratic field includes Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, who narrowly beat Parnell last year.

Pennsylvania’s carbon plan clears last regulatory hurdle
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The centerpiece of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to fight climate change has passed its last regulatory hurdle in a fight pitting Democrats, nuclear power plant owners and the renewable energy sector against Republicans, fossil fuel-plant owners, blue-collar labor unions and heavy industry. The plan to impose a price on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants in Pennsylvania won a 3-2 vote from the Independent Regulatory Review Commission on Wednesday. The jury is out on whether it would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A key feature is that it would generate hundreds of millions of dollars for clean energy and energy efficiency programs.

A deeply divided Supreme Court is allowing a Texas law that bans most abortions to remain in force. The court’s action for now strips most women of the right to an abortion in the nation’s second-largest state. In an unsigned order just before midnight the court voted 5-4 to deny an emergency appeal from abortion providers and others that sought to block enforcement of the law that went into effect Wednesday. The Texas law, signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May, prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually around six weeks and before most women know they’re pregnant.

Pennsylvania’s carbon-pricing plan at last regulatory hurdle
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The centerpiece of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to fight climate change will confront its last regulatory hurdle in a fight pitting Democrats, nuclear power plant owners and the renewable energy sector against Republicans, fossil fuel-plant owners, blue-collar labor unions and heavy industry. The plan to impose a price on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants in Pennsylvania is going before the Independent Regulatory Review Commission on Wednesday. The jury is out on whether it would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A key feature is that it would generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the state, possibly to flush into clean-energy subsidies and energy efficiency programs.

 

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is encouraging motorists to visit the “Historic Holiday Traffic” page at www.511PA.com to plan optimal travel times on major roadways across the state this Labor Day weekend.

“Our goal is to not just minimize congestion, but to also focus on safe travel by providing motorists with as much as information as possible,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “We encourage the public to use 511PA ahead of their trip to plan optimal drive times and to also slow down, drive sober, and always buckle up.

The Labor Day travel tool allows the public to see how traffic speeds on the Friday before and on Labor Day in 2018 and 2019 compare to traffic conditions during a typical, non-holiday week. Users can choose their region and view an hour-by-hour, color-coded representation of traffic speeds to help determine the best times to travel during the holiday. 511PA also offers real-time, traffic speed information for thousands of roadway miles throughout Pennsylvania.

While PennDOT will remove lane restrictions and suspend construction projects wherever possible, the “Historic Holiday Traffic” page also allows the public to view interstate restrictions that will be in place during the holiday travel period.

The public can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles in Pennsylvania by visiting www.511PA.com. The service, 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.

(Photo courtesy of US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District)

PITTSBURGH – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is informing the public that due to recent and anticipated rainfall from Hurricane Ida, water levels along the Cheat, Monongahela, Ohio and Youghiogheny rivers will be higher than normal and are expected to remain so throughout Labor Day weekend.

 

Monongahela riverfront communities, such as Charleroi and Point Marion, may experience localized flooding due to increased water levels in uncontrolled waterways. All residents near small creeks, streams and tributaries should monitor local weather stations for up-to-date information.

 

The Point of Pittsburgh, located at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers, is forecasted to have a high-water event and crest above flood stage on Thursday afternoon. During this high-water event, the Monongahela Wharf, 10^th Street bypass and parkway “bathtub” are anticipated to be out of service from Wednesday through Friday afternoon.

 

The Monongahela River is forecasted to crest above flood stage on Thursday morning. The Braddock, Charleroi, Elizabeth, Grays Landing, Maxwell and Point Marion locks and dams along the lower Monongahela River are expected to be temporarily out of service until water levels recede. The Hildebrand, Morgantown and Opekiska locks and dams will remain in service.

 

Personnel at locks and dams along the Monongahela River are taking precautions associated with high water to mitigate impacts to navigation. The district recognizes there is a potential for uncontrolled flows and is monitoring water levels to ensure the district’s facilities are prepared to react to any possible changes. No facilities along the Allegheny or Ohio rivers are expected to see impacts to navigation

Recreators are encouraged to review river conditions and ensure their safety gear is prepared prior to participating in activities on the water.

 

The corps is performing controlled releases at the Conemaugh, Stonewall Jackson, Tygart and Youghiogheny reservoirs to retain water, reduce downstream water levels, and mitigate potential flooding in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas.

 

The Corps of Engineers is coordinating with the National Weather Service, Coast Guard, navigation industry and other river partners to monitor and respond to increased water levels within the district. The district will keep the public informed of any further changes in weather conditions or water levels.

 

For more information about flood preparedness visit: https://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Management/Flood-Preparedness/.

 

For water management information including daily reservoirs reports and river gage data, please visit: https://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Water-Management/.

 

RESOURCES: For more information, visit; www.lrp.usace.army.mil