Pennsylvania eyes $500M from feds for environmental program
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state Senate committee in Pennsylvania is approving legislation to use federal coronavirus relief aid to revive a program designed to help clean up waterways, improve outdoor recreation and preserve open space. The bill, approved 10-1, on Tuesday, would inject the Growing Greener program with $500 million from the American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joe Biden in March. The bill still requires approval from the full Senate and House before it could go to Gov. Tom Wolf. The money likely would have to come out of the $2.4 billion left over from the American Rescue Plan Act. That had been set aside to balance next year’s budget.

Mask opt-out bill for students clears Senate committee
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
A bill that would allow parents in Pennsylvania to exempt their children from wearing a mask at school has cleared a state Senate committee as Republican lawmakers work to counter the governor’s statewide mask mandate. The legislation would hand the ultimate decision on masking at school to parents and guardians. It would allow them to overrule any face-covering mandate imposed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, a local health department or a school board. The Senate Education Committee approved the bill on a party-line vote. It would have to pass the full Senate and the House before going to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who would almost certainly veto it.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Beaver Falls, PA)  “This is the biggest thing to happen in Beaver Falls since the mills shut down”. Those were the words of Mayor Quay after City Council approved a 41.25 million dollar asset purchase agreement with Aqua Pennsylvania at Tuesday nights council meeting.  Discussions of selling the Beaver Falls Sanitary Sewer system began in early 2020 when the city took part in the Commonwealth Strategic Management Planning Program to assess current and future financial sustainability.  The city was faced with the inevitable fact that sooner or later they would have to sell the sewer system, and they determined that it would be better to sell it now, before they are forced to.  “We own a valuable asset that we cant make money on” Kevin Kunselman said.  It is expected that over half of the sale proceeds will go into an interest-bearing trust that will generate annual revenue and a portion will be used as a rainy day fund.  The city is estimating that they will bring in $1,120,000 in annual positive cash flow as a result of the deal.  Aqua will also contribute $1,250,000 to various charitable activities within the city for things like a new firetruck and improvements to the Carnegie Library.  Beaver Falls will begin a new plan called Beaver Falls Revive as well, which will fund blight removal and improve recreation, playgrounds, and the downtown streetscape.  The city is also slated to decrease property taxes by 5 mills.  The current monthly sewage rate of of 38.34 is expected to remain the same through 2025.  Their best case scenario estimates it will be at $58.18 in 2025, and the worst case scenario puts it at $83.12.   It was also noted that the Beaver Falls Water System itself is not being sold.  All 7 Sewer System employees will be retained, as part of the contract.  Other actions that took place at the meeting were the hiring of new accountant Sandra Wilkins, a Department of Public Works budget transfer of $7,090.93, and the paying of general fund expenditures at a total of $131,094.76.

Aqua Pennsylvania currently operates in 33 counties, serving 1.4 million.

(Photos used with permission from New Brighton Area Volunteer Fire Department)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Bridgewater, Pa.) Bridgewater Police Chief Paul Smith reported to Beaver County Radio that a fully loaded cement truck  that was traveling down  Beaner Hollow Road over turned  onto Sharon Road  in Bridgewater Monday morning at 7:30 AM. The driver was trapped in the vehicle. Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department were assisted on the scene by New Brighton Volunteer Fire Department Rescue 84 and Engine 84. They were the first arriving rescue and engine on the scene and starting stabilization and extrication of the victim. New Brighton Fire Department reported on their Facebook Page that “thanks to a team effort between all departments, the patient was extricated from the vehicle in 9 minutes”. The Driver sustained unknown injuries and was air-lifted to Allegheny   General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Chief Smith said the accident’s cause is still under investigation.

(File Photo)

(Chippewa Twp, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were dispatched to the scene of a two vehicle accident involving a Chippewa Township Police Cruiser around 6:56 PM yesterday.
Upon arriving on the scene and investigating Troopers said via release that 30-year-old Chippewa Township Police Officer Jacob Delmonico was responding to a call at the Chippewa Wal-mart in one of the Township’s Cruisers. While leaving the police station via Adams Street and entering onto Darlington Road Delmonico collided with a 2012 Ford Escape that was being driven west on Darlington Road by 65-year-old Michael Isaac. The force of the collision caused Isaac’s vehicle to strike a utility pole before coming to a final rest in the grass. Isaac was air lifted to UPMC Presbyterian for suspected serious injuries. Delmonico was driven to Heritage Valley Beaver for minor injuries to his left hand. Troopers did state in the release that Isaac was not wearing a seatbelt. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

(Shenango Twp., Pa.) Shenango Township Police were dispatched to the scene of a possible assault a little after 1 p.m. yesterday in 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in the township.
When police arrived and investigated they found that two 38 years old men had been assaulted with blunt objects and edged weapons.

One of the victims was flown to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown in critical condition.

The other victim sought treatment at UPMC Jameson Hospital in New Castle.

Charges are pending against two unnamed suspects. No other details have been released as police continue to investigate.