FirstEnergy had big stake in tainted nuclear plant bailout
By MARK GILLISPIE and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) — Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. has long maintained it had no financial stake in getting out of the business of operating nuclear power plants. But federal authorities say FirstEnergy bankrolled a $60 million bribery scheme aimed at getting the bailout approved in the Ohio Legislature. Critics say the corporation and its leadership team had an intense interest in the bailout that helped smooth the way for FirstEnergy to sever ownership of the plants in federal bankruptcy court. FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones said the company committed no wrongdoing as it faces scrutiny by the FBI, shareholders and independent board members.

Laura blasts Louisiana coast with wind and wall of seawater
By GERALD HERBERT, MELINDA DESLATTE and STACEY PLAISANCE Associated Press
LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Laura has weakened to a tropical storm after blasting the Louisiana coast with high winds and heavy rain for hours. The system that came ashore as a Category 4 hurricane is being blamed for two deaths and widespread damage around Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. It is the most powerful storm to hit the U.S. this year. Laura. Forecasters predicted an unsurvivable storm surge. More than 580,000 people were ordered to evacuate, but at least some stayed behind. Rescuers have to wait for winds to die down before looking for survivors. Laura is now headed toward Arkansas.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) The PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  reported that they are aware  Providence Healthcare in Beaver Falls  has an upswing in COVID-19 cases and is reporting  26 resident cases, 32 employee  cases and 1-4 deaths from COVID-19  . The data available was through Monday  afternoon according to the PA DOH Press office.   Last  weeks’s data reported 7 resident cases, 15 employee cases and no  deaths.  So as of  Monday  19 new resident cases, and 17 employee cases in  the last week.. The DOH press release states that  they are aware of the outbreak at this facility . The DOH   provides  assistance to to every long-term facility that has at least one case of COVID-19

(Rochester Twp., Pa.) Early this morning Emergency crews were called to the scene of a gas leak in the area of the Beaver County YMCA. It’s being  reported that a car hit a gas line along Route 65. Emergency crews were reported to have the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge closed for a period of time overnight. As of 6:30 this morning the bridge and intersection were open and crews were working on a gas main station behind the former Volmer Motors in Rochester Twp.. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano is working on getting an update to the specifics of the accident.

UDATE:

Beaver County 9-1-1 received a call at 1:30 a.m.  that a vehicle struck a gas meter  . This accident occurred in the area of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. New Brighton Police are handling the accident report, and weren’t available for comment.  Rochester Township Police and Fire Departments, along with Medic-Rescue  were  dispatched by 9-1-1 to assist new New Brighton at the scene.   The area in proximity of the YMCA   was to be avoided.  At 8:30 a.m. it was announced that the road was reopened to  traffic.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in the fourth annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers.

“One of the goals of the Innovations Challenge is to open students’ minds to the possibility of a career in transportation, maybe even with PennDOT,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Students working on this project will engage in the very real challenge facing the industry – finding a sustainable solution to transportation  funding challenges.”

This year’s Innovations Challenge asks students to develop an innovative and implementable solution that helps address Pennsylvania’s transportation revenue shortfall by identifying potential new funding streams, aside from additional gas taxes, tolls or mileage-based user fees, to help ensure adequate transportation funding for the future.

The Innovations Challenge is open to all students in grades 9-12, regardless of their school’s learning model. PennDOT is directly responsible for nearly 40,000 miles of highway and roughly 25,000 bridges, roughly equal to the state-maintained road systems of New York, New Jersey, and all the New England states combined. Much of the funding to maintain that system comes from liquid fuels taxes, which are becoming increasingly unsustainable, especially considering additional impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

With vehicles becoming more fuel efficient and electric vehicles becoming more affordable, gasoline-based revenues can no longer generate the funds needed. Other options, including tolling and mileage-based user fees, are being explored. To meet the needs of its aging infrastructure, Pennsylvania needs to establish a funding stream that will inject an additional $5 billion per year into its transportation system.

“We appreciate the unique challenges faced by schools during the pandemic,” Gramian added. “Our educators are to be commended for encouraging the creative thinking needed for the Innovations Challenge.”

Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to compete for the state championship.

The Transportation Policy and Education Foundation, an educational arm of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC), the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA (ACEC/PA) and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) are providing a combined total award of $5,500 to be divided among the first, second and third place statewide winning teams.

For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.gov/innovation. The submission deadline is December 18, 2020

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrest of Father Andrew Kawecki, a Fayette County priest charged with assaulting an 11 year old altar boy multiple times starting in 2004 and lasting until the boy was 14.

Father Kawecki, 65, surrendered to agents from the Office of Attorney General at district court this morning in Fayette County. He was charged with indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. His alleged victim, now in his late 20s, told prosecutors that Father Kawecki had forced sexual encounters with him starting when he was 11 years old. The assaults continued for three years in the back room of St. Cyril and Methodius Church in Fairchance where Father Kawecki prepared for services before mass.

“With the release of our Grand Jury report on abuse two years ago, I promised we would hold anyone who was abusing children accountable, no matter how powerful the institution behind them,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “Survivors experience a lifetime of anguish and trauma trying to overcome the impact of abuse, especially when it is committed by the hands of their own parish priest. No coverup is too long, no institution too powerful to stop us from doing our job. We will not let predators get away with the sexual assault of children.”

Father Kawecki often requested his altar server to work during masses the priest was conducting. All of the assaults occurred in the room where Kawecki prepared for services before or after the morning masses and on Sundays when the boy was dropped off early at church by his parents. These assaults didn’t stop until the alleged victim’s family left the parish in 2007.

Kawecki has been on leave since allegations were made. He most recently served as a trust advisor at Conn-Area Catholic School in Connellsville, and pastor at St. John the Baptist in Scottdale and St. Joseph in Everson. He has served in 15 parishes in the Greensburg Diocese since being ordained in May, 1980.

The release of the Grand Jury Report on Clergy Sexual Abuse in 2018 has generated over 2,000 tips to the Office of Attorney General, including the information that led to this arrest. Anyone with relevant information about Father Andrew Kawecki should contact the Attorney General’s Office using the Clergy Abuse Hotline: 1-888-538-8541.

“Anyone struggling to come forward, know that my office is listening, we are here, and we won’t be afraid to take on tough fights to do what’s right. If you have information, please contact my office at 1-888-538-8541,” added Attorney General Shapiro.

Kawecki was arraigned today and released on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9. He has been ordered to have no contact with minors. He also surrendered his passport.

After being ordained in 1980, Kawecki served in the following assignments:

May 1980 – Associate Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Irwin, PA

May 1981 – Associate Pastor, St. John Baptist, Perryopolis, PA

August 1983 – Associate Pastor, St. Mary of Czestochowa New Kensington, PA

June 1990 – Parochial Vicar, St. Sebastian, Belle Vernon, PA

July 1990 – Chaplain, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Belle Vernon, PA

July 1990 – Chaplain, Knights of Columbus, Belle Vernon, PA

June 1992 – Reverend, St James, Maxwell, PA

June 1992 – Reverend, St Julian, Isabella, PA

June 1995 – Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Leckrone, PA

June 2002 – Pastor, Church of the Resurrection, Clymer, PA

July 2004 – Pastor, St, Cyril and Methodius, Fairchance, PA

July 2007 – Administrator, St. Hubert, Point Marion, PA

June 2013 – Pastor, St. John the Baptist, Scottdale, PA

June 2013 – Administrator, St. Joseph, Everson, PA

May 2016 – Trust Advisor, Conn-Area Catholic School, Connellsville, PA

Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel J. Dye is prosecuting this case. All charges discussed are accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

HARRISBURG, Aug. 26 – Today, state Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler, Summer Lee and Sara Innamorato announced plans to introduce legislation to help keep people in their homes during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Citing concerns over Monday’s expiration of the foreclosure and eviction moratorium, the lawmakers emphasized urgent action to prevent mass evictions and foreclosures across the state.

The legislation would provide Pennsylvania’s governor express powers to place a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in the commonwealth or specific counties during a disaster emergency.

“Everyone deserves a place to call home. This legislation will help keep our communities intact, and make sure our neighbors have more time to apply for financial relief programs, plan for the short- and long-term, and save money. The impact of being pushed out of your home can be traumatic, especially for children, and we need to do everything possible to prevent it from happening, especially during a pandemic.” said Fiedler, D-Phila.

 “The legislature must act now to prevent the man-made disaster that will unfold if the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures is lifted,” Lee, D-Allegheny, said. “Failure to do so will create a humanitarian crisis among the very people who have already been victimized by this crisis, who are asked daily to put their and their families’ health on the line for the rest of society. The legislature’s leadership can take action to stop human suffering, or they can blindly look away as they have many times during this crisis, prioritizing politics over human lives.”
“So many of our neighbors have suffered so much during this pandemic, losing loved ones, jobs, opportunities, or simply the stability of the daily routine that so many of us had taken for granted just a few months ago,” said Innamorato, D-Allegheny. “At a time of historic unemployment and broken safety nets, with a virus that continues to spread across our commonwealth, to allow the moratorium to expire without action is immoral and unconscionable. I call on my fellow legislators to do the right thing – to put aside partisan differences and to help the people the Pennsylvania.”

Their bill was circulated today for co-sponsorship and is part of a comprehensive package of bills by a statewide Housing Emergency and Lessee Protectors work group, House Democrats HELP.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa City Council met for its monthly work session last night  and approved  the purchase of several properties in the city.   that have been in the county repository.  Valerie Hicks purchased a home at 1030 Main Street, Jeffrey Milliner purchased  4 vacant lots at Sutton and Montini Streets. Sean and Virginia Moore  3 vacant properties that are next to each other, and 1 separate  located on 4th and 5th Avenues. Code and zoning officer Jim Bologna said Moore wants to  build low-income housing in the city. He said the homes will be pre-fabs on a cement slab. The new property owners have to pay this year, and 2018 and 2019 taxes on the properties they purchased.