NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Joe Biden has won the endorsement of Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking black member of Congress and the kingmaker of South Carolina’s Democratic political orbit. The House majority whip’s backing could provide a much-needed boost for the Democratic presidential candidate before South Carolina’s primary on Saturday. Clyburn says he can think of no one “more committed to the fundamental principles that make this country what it is” than his “good friend” Biden. Biden appeared with Clyburn on Wednesday in North Charleston and thanked him. The former vice president notes Clyburn’s role in securing the Democratic votes for the 2010 health insurance overhaul that ranks as President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement.

UNDATED (AP) — The new virus is taking a broader toll on airline travel. Most airlines have already stopped flying to China, and now Delta Air Lines is sharply cutting back on flights between the U.S. and Seoul, South Korea, because of the outbreak. Delta said Wednesday it will suspend flights between Minneapolis and Seoul beginning this weekend and lasting until at least April 30. The airline will also reduce the number of flights from Korea to Atlanta, Detroit and Seattle. Delta, United and American have already suspended all flights to and from mainland China and Hong Kong for several more weeks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is pushing back against criticism that his administration isn’t doing enough to meet the coronavirus threat. Trump plans to hold a news conference late Wednesday to talk about what the U.S. is doing to prepare for the virus. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are calling for much more money than the $2.5 billion the White House has requested. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has asked for $8.5 billion. Trump’s 6 p.m. news conference will be at the White House with experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Seminole High School head baseball coach who was fired after a video surfaced of him cursing during a celebratory speech after the team won a state championship for the first time in decades… has gotten his job back. A petition on Change.org received more than 15,000 signatures in support of Kenne Brown being reinstated as the school’s baseball coach. The petition, created by Seminole High alumna Viola Posley, said “25 seconds, 42 words and seven f-bombs” cost Brown his coaching job. Brown says that he was surprised about the school’s change of heart but is humbled by the support he has received.

The Hopewell Commissioners have hired a new police officer. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The biggest crowd of 2020 appeared at the Commissioners’ weekly work session on February 26th at the Courthouse in Beaver. The majority of them were there in support of Heart & Soul, a community-improvement group associated with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.  PHC Senior Director of Content & Management Dawn Frisby Beyers made the announcement about their newest foray into selected Beaver County Communities:

 

This is the sixth project that Heart & Soul has taken on since 2015.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Jack Manning announced the merger of two groups focused on the hiking and scenic trails in Western Pennsylvania, and he used that announcement to showcase a goal he’d like to see soon:

 

The Commissioners will have a public meeting on Thursday, February 27 at 10:00 AM.

Long-time Robert Morris University Groundskeeper John Tucci – also known locally as “Flagman” – was recently named “President For A Day”. RMU issued a challenge: If the university’s alumni, faculty, staff, and students could help reach a goal of 1,001 donors in a single day, the legendary groundskeeper would be named “President for a Day.” They well-exceeded their goal. 1,159 people made a donation to the university, exceeding their 2018 total by over 300 donors. As a result, Tucci, who has been a groundskeeper at RMU since 1993, was named President on February 20th. “President Tucci” was sworn in in the President’s Conference Room, signed a “Declaration of Kindness,” and visited the Robert Morris Ice Hockey Team at RMU Sports Island. Tucci tells Beaver County Radio newsman that it was the experience of a lifetime…

 

Tucci says that it was a special day he’ll never forget…

Tucci says it was a very busy day…

…and Tucci says it was an honor to receive such recognition…

Tucci has been known to sing the national anthem – not only at various RMU athletic events –  but also at Beaver County Radio pep rallies, and has been a fixture in the Beaver County community.

UNDATED (AP) — A Philadelphia nonprofit group says it will open the nation’s first supervised injection site to combat overdose deaths next week after a federal judge rejected Justice Department efforts to block it. U.S. District Judge Gerald McHugh in a final ruling Tuesday says the Safehouse group’s plan doesn’t violate federal drug laws. He says the intent is to save lives, not encourage drug use, as the city struggles with about 1,100 annual overdose deaths per year. U.S. Attorney William McSwain calls the plan “a radical experiment” and vows to appeal. Safehouse board member Ronda Goldfein says she’s grateful the court again found that “saving lives is not a crime.”

Alligators have been found roaming Pittsburgh on several occasions in the last year, and there is now a push to ban the sale and ownership of reptiles in the city. City Councilman Bruce Kraus introduced a bill on Tuesday. It would ban businesses and residents from selling, owning, adopting or exchanging turtles, alligators and crocodiles. Snakes would still be allowed. If caught violating the ban, people would be fined $1,000 for each reptile and could face jail time. Kraus’ proposed legislation would repeal an ordinance passed by city council last year that permitted the ownership of crocodiles, alligators and snakes, with restrictions such as having to keep them in containers or boxes at all times. But Kraus and animal rights groups said the prior ordinance was inhumane.

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Westmoreland County man has been sentenced to 30-years-to-life terms in the slayings of his mother and younger brother when he was 14 years old. The Tribune Review reports that now-18-year-old Jacob Remaley of Greensburg apologized Tuesday in Westmoreland County Court as he pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the charges. Prosecutors said Remaley shot and killed 46-year-old Dana Remaley and her 8-year-old son Caleb in New Stanton in November 2016. The defense says Remaley has multiple personality disorder. The defendant alleges that one violent personality he called “Wrath” told him to commit the murders.