GOP to block Democrat from state Senate in mail ballot fight
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A day before Pennsylvania state lawmakers will be sworn in for a new two-year session, state Senate Democrats accused Republicans of trying to “steal” an election by objecting to letting one of their members take his seat. The dispute revolves around the election of Sen. Jim Brewster of Allegheny County. Republicans say they won’t swear in Brewster during Tuesday’s ceremony while they consider a complaint filed Friday by Republican challenger Nicole Ziccarelli. Brewster beat Ziccarelli by 69 votes, according to state-certified returns. Ziccarelli also is suing in federal court to overturn that result. The contest hinged on court decisions that allowed counties to count mail-in ballots that lacked a handwritten date on the ballot envelope.

Amazon’s Bezos tops list of richest charitable gifts in 2020
By The Associated Press undefined
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — The world’s richest person made the single largest charitable contribution in 2020, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual list of top donations, a $10 billion gift that is intended to help fight climate change. Amazon’s founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, whose “real-time” worth Forbes magazine estimates at roughly $188 billion, used his contribution to launch his Bezos Earth Fund. The fund has paid out $790 million so far, according to the Chronicle. Setting aside Bezos’ whopping gift, though, the sum of the top 10 donations last year — $2.6 billion — was the lowest since 2011, even as many billionaires vastly increased their wealth in the stock market rally that catapulted technology shares last year.

In farewell, DeVos urges Congress to reject Biden’s policies
By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer
In a farewell letter to Congress, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos urged lawmakers to reject policies supported by President-elect Joe Biden, and to protect Trump administration policies that Biden has promised to eliminate. Monday’s letter does not explicitly acknowledge President Donald Trump’s election defeat nor does it refer to Biden by name. Instead, it gives lawmakers “some encouragement and closing thoughts” as DeVos prepares to exit the Education Department. DeVos’ letter offers an unemotional farewell to a Congress that had a chilly relationship with her from the start. Her 2017 Senate confirmation required a tiebreaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence.

Truck sought after blasts damage parked car, shake homes
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Police in Pittsburgh are searching for a white pickup truck after explosions in two neighborhoods that shook homes and damaged a parked car. Police said an incendiary device was thrown from a moving vehicle in the Lawrenceville neighborhood just after 9 p.m. Sunday. They said another explosion was reported just after 10:30 p.m. Sunday in the Hill district, with residents “feeling their homes shake and some type of odor in the air,” police said. A bomb squad with explosive detection dogs responded, but police said no evidence had been recovered. A pickup truck is being sought in the first blast, which damaged the parked car. No injuries were reported.

(Photos taken by Beaver County Radio Staff Member Matt Drzik)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Freedom, Pa.) Firefighters from the Borough of Freedom and several other local fire departments  responded to a house fire at 1050 8th Avenue around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, January 2, 2021. According to Freedom Borough Fire Chief Mark Forrest there was extensive damage to the 2 story frame home, and the homeowner was able to escape without injury.

(Monaca Pa.) On Sunday night the 117^th Congress of the United States started the term by holding an election for the Speaker of the House. Nancy Pelosi a California Democrat is the only women speaker in US history. This election was set to be possibly be the closest challenge to date of her three other terms as Speaker of the House. With the Democrats having a slim majority and the COVID-19 Pandemic effecting Congress members who could and couldn’t vote.  In the end Pelosi was selected to her fourth term with the gavel.

Pelosi won with 216 votes to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy‘s 209. Not a single Republican defected from McCarthy, compared to six in 2019.

But Pelosi’s appointment wasn’t agreeable by five Democratic members of Congress including local Congressman from the 17^th District Conor Lamb. Rep. Lamb voted for House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries a New York Democrat, who is considered a rising star in the caucus ranks. Back in 2019 Lamb also went against the majority of Democrats and cast his vote for Speaker  for former Rep. Joe Kennedy. Beaver County Radio reached out to Rep. Lamb’s team to find out why he voted the way he did and via e-mail statement the Congress man said ““When I first ran for Congress three years ago, my constituents told me they wanted new leadership across the board, and I promised to vote for new leadership even in my own party.  That’s what I did again yesterday.”

As for the other four Congressman that voted for someone other than Pelosi  Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) cast his Speaker vote for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a former House member turned senator who was considered a potential running mate for President-elect Joe Biden last year and the other three voted “present”: Reps. Mikie Sherrill (N.J.), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Abigail Spanberger (Va.).

NEW BRIGHTON – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Lawrence/Butler) today announced that New Brighton Borough will receive $15,610 in funding from a federal program that offers grants to purchase camera systems, data storage and other costs relating to implementation or expansion of body-worn camera (BWC) systems for law enforcement and corrections institutions in Pennsylvania.

The BWC Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies program supports agencies seeking to establish or expand BWC programs and have specified plans to implement this technology in a manner that maximizes the benefits of BWCs.

“I’m pleased we are able to bring home the funds necessary to create a safer living environment to the district,” said Bernstine. “The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police existence, actions, behavior and the ability of the police to secure and maintain public respect. BWCs have been viewed as one way to address these challenges and improve law enforcement practice more generally while protecting our police officers.”

“BWCs are useful for documenting evidence; officer training; preventing and resolving complaints by members of the public; and strengthening police transparency, performance and accountability,” said Tom Albanese, borough manager for New Brighton. “This technology is a key to ensuring the public outcry for justice and accountability for our police is met.”

Bernstine noted studies have shown that BWCs have resulted in more positive interactions between officers and citizens and have made people feel safer. In addition, reductions in citizen complaints were noted, as were similar reductions in crime. The studies also found that the use of BWCs led to increases in arrests, prosecutions and guilty pleas.

Grant award recipients are required to work with the Bureau of Justice Assistance-funded BWC training and technical assistance (TTA) provider as part of the policy development process. Agencies must demonstrate appropriate policy development and internal law enforcement adoption prior to BWC procurement and implementation. There is a dollar-for-dollar, non-federal cash or in-kind match requirement for grant qualification.

Pittsburgh, PA – As the region has experienced winter storms earlier this season, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) highlights safe driving tips in conjunction with Winter Driving Awareness Week, which runs through January 10.

PennDOT advises drivers to stay in during inclement weather unless it’s necessary to be out. However, if motorists do need to travel, they are urged to practice the following winter driving tips:

• Use low beams in snowy weather;
• Keep the gas tank at least half full;
• Slow down your speed;
• Increase the following distance from the vehicle in front of you;
• Use extra caution on bridges and ramps, where ice can form without warning.

To maintain visibility, Pennsylvania law states motorists must properly clear their vehicles from snow and ice before getting on the road, especially from the mirrors, roof, trunk and hood. Drivers can be cited $200 to $1,000 for not clearing their vehicle if snow and ice are dislodged and strike another, causing a crash.

To help make decisions regarding winter travel, motorists are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” by checking 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. Users can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the “Check My Route” tool.

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.

Drivers should be extra cautious around operating snow-removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should:

• Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck;
• When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, as snow can obscure the actual snow plow width;
• Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a “plow train;”
• Never drive next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can’t see;
• Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle.

Additionally, motorists should prepare their vehicles for the winter by checking fluid levels, lights, defrosters and windshield wiper blades, in addition to ensuring proper tire air pressure and adequate tread depth. If maintaining the vehicle is a challenge for the owner, these minor checks can be conducted by any auto care professional.

Emergency kits should be replenished to keep families safe in the event they are stuck in the vehicle. Supplies may include non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Kits can be tailored to the specific needs of the individuals in the vehicle, with items such as baby supplies, extra medication, pet supplies or even children’s games.

For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video, visit PennDOT.gov/winter. Additional winter driving and other highway safety information is available at PennDOT.gov/safety.

For more PennDOT information, visit www.PennDot.gov/winter.

For regional twitter updates, visit www.511PAPittsburgh.