Postmaster to testify in Senate on mail, Mnuchin denies role
By LISA MASCARO and ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing public backlash, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is set to testify Friday about disruptions in mail delivery. A Senate committee is expected to dig into changes made ahead of the November election, just as millions of Americans are expected to vote by mail. Democrats warn DeJoy’s cost-cutting initiatives are causing an upheaval that threatens voting. President Donald Trump raised the stakes by saying he wants to block funds. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says he had no role in DeJoy’s selection. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security committee, is expected to dismiss the “false political narrative” that DeJoy is trying to “sabotage” the election, according to prepared remarks.

CORAOPOLIS – As parents of students with special needs look to their schools for help with the unprecedented school year that lays ahead, state Rep. Anita Kulik, D-Allegheny, today announced that $102,053 in COVID-19 relief funding has been awarded to local schools to assist students with special needs.

“Our special needs students are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19-prompted changes our school leaders had to put into effect this year,” Kulik said. “This money will help to make sure they continue to have access to the services and support that is critical for them to have a successful year. I am confident that our educators, with the help of this money, can give their students and their families the instruction they need during the challenges ahead.”

Grants awarded to school districts with schools in the 45th Legislative District are:

• Carlynton School District: $16,576.
• Chartiers Valley School District: $23,850.
• Cornell School District: $10,852.
• Montour School District: $19,217.
• Sto-Rox School District: $21,122.
• Avonworth School District: $$5,434.
• Propel Charter Schools – Montour: $5,000.

The Special Education COVID-19 Impact Mitigation Grant will provide $15 million statewide in financial support to local education agencies to:

• Provide enhanced real-time instruction to bolster remote services and supports for students with complex needs.
• Provide services and supports to students with disabilities who experienced a loss in skills and behavior and/or a lack of progress due to the mandatory school closures.

Funding from the program comes from federal coronavirus relief money, which states can allocate to meet local needs.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell  Twp.,  Pa.)Hopewell Township  Police and  the Hopewell Township Volunteer Fire Department and several  other departments responded to a house fire at 1500 Wimpole St. at approximately 2:48 a.m. this morning.

Entries for the Congressional App Challenge must be submitted online by Monday, October 19–

 (PITTSBURGH, PA) – Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) launched the annual Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students living or attending school in Pennsylvania’s 17^th Congressional District.  Sponsored by the Internet Education Foundation, this nationwide competition recognizes and encourages the programming and app design skills of young constituents and is a great opportunity to showcase programming skills.

 “We have strong STEM programs in schools across the 17^th District that are helping students become creative problem solvers,” said Lamb.  “The Congressional App Challenge is a great opportunity for students to bring their ideas to life, and I encourage students of all coding levels to participate.”

Students can register individually or in teams of up to four individuals, but please note that students may only register in one congressional district.  Students can visit the House of Representatives website to confirm a congressional district address.

One winning individual or team selected from PA-17 will be announced in December.  The winning app is eligible to be displayed in the United States Capitol Building and featured on House.gov, the official website for the United States House of Representatives.

All entries are accepted by registering and submitting the app online by 12:00 p.m. EST on Monday, October 19, 2020.  Students should visit the Congressional App Challenge website to submit a registration form.

Click here for more information about the 2020 Congressional App Challenge

AMBRIDGE, Aug. 20 – Grant funding of $124,872 to eight area school districts and schools will help ensure Beaver County students with special needs do not fall behind because of the pandemic, announced state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny.

“Suspended classroom learning during the pandemic has been difficult for all students, but students with special needs – who benefit greatly from in-person learning – are particularly vulnerable to losing skills,” Matzie said. “This funding is going to help level the playing field by giving teachers resources to provide real-time learning and other supports to keep these students learning and thriving.”

Matzie said the districts will receive the following funding:

• Aliquippa School District – $14,211
• Ambridge Area School District – $36,011
• Baden Academy Charter School – $5,000
• Central Valley School District – $14,139
• Freedom Area School District – $14,146
• Hopewell Area School District – $17,087
• Quaker Valley School District – $19,278
• Rochester Area School District – $5,000

The funding is part of a package of $20 million to 678 local school districts and other local education agencies. The sources include $15 million in Governor’s Emergency Education Relief funding and $5 million from the Department of Education’s federal funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

HARRISBURG – With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting countless individuals and industries across the Commonwealth, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced that he is co-sponsoring legislation introduced by Rep. Matt Dowling (R-Fayette/Somerset) to help companies in the event industry from being forced to close and allow them to operate safely at 50% capacity.

“Companies that plan and organize a wide range of events are vital for Pennsylvania’s economy and employ thousands of Pennsylvanians, so our support is essential,” said Bernstine, noting that most are small businesses that patronize other local small businesses. “Under Gov. Tom Wolf’s new restrictions, event venues that were built to hold hundreds are now limited to only 25 persons. Thank you to Rep. Dowling for introducing this legislation.”

In July, the governor limited indoor events and gatherings to 25 persons – regardless of the venue’s capacity – and outdoor events and gatherings to 250 people. He also included staff in the maximum occupancy limit. For example, a social hall that could hold 1,000 people is now limited to 25. This has impacted community fundraisers, weddings, family celebrations, scouting ceremonies, among countless others.

The legislation, which includes venues, caterers and other businesses, would still require the businesses to adhere to social distancing standards per the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“I will continue to fight to help save the event industry and the thousands of indirect businesses that are supported by it,” said Bernstine. “The governor’s unrealistic capacity restrictions will no doubt force countless businesses to permanently close. By failing to work with local officials and lawmakers on a viable solution, the governor has essentially placed millions of Pennsylvanians workers on unemployment.”

For the latest legislative updates and upcoming district event information, visit RepBernstine.com or Facebook.com/RepBernstine.

Story, Photos and Video by Mark Peterson

(Beaver Falls, PA)  A beautiful late summer morning without a cloud in the sky, and comfortable temperatures in Beaver Falls was rudely interrupted by  dozens of firetrucks and sirens at around eleven A.M. on Thursday.  Crews from Beaver Falls, New Brighton, Rochester and Harmony township, among others battled a fire at The Beaver Falls Plaza Apartment Building. The Eleven story structure appeared to sustain little damage on the outside, as the fire was contained to the apartment where it started, though several windows were opened on the 7th Avenue side of the structure, presumably to let smoke out.

Reports indicated that three residents of the building were given treatment at the scene, but there no serious issues and by afternoon, people were heading back in to their residences.

Beaver County Emergency Management services provided water for residents and firefighters, who were still on site dealing with the fire almost two hours after it began.

The Beaver Falls Plaza Apartment building was built in 1978 and features one hundred twenty units.

Pitt and Drexel change plans for in-person classes
By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The University of Pittsburgh is adjusting its coronavirus strategy, and delaying the start of in-person instruction to Sept. 14. The school’s decision Wednesday came as a top university official admonished students in a stark warning about partying and ignoring social distancing. In-person instruction was to start Monday. Across the state, Drexel University canceled in-person instruction for undergraduates for the fall quarter, with university officials saying they changed their minds after watching the difficulties at other large universities that have brought undergraduates back to campus. Meanwhile, the chairman of the state Senate Education Committee asked state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine to reverse the requirement that schoolchildren wear masks.

Trump eager to troll Biden outside his Scranton birthplace
By JONATHAN LEMIRE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — On Joe Biden’s big day, President Donald Trump is planning to show up in his rival’s old backyard. On Thursday afternoon Trump is set to hold an event just outside the former vice president’s birthplace in Scranton, Pennsylvania. That’s just hours before Biden formally accepts the Democratic nomination for president. The Trump campaign says the president’s speech will cover “a half-century of Joe Biden failing America.”