(Harrisburg, Pa.) Senator Elder Vogel is highlighting the importance of voters knowing “what a YES vote means” for the May 18 ballot questions. Senator Vogel stressed the need for all Pennsylvanians to learn about the three proposed Constitutional amendments up for consideration during the primary election and how a YES at the ballot box means voters favor:

• Protecting the education of our children;
• Supporting small employers in our local communities;
• Prohibiting discrimination; and
• Providing funding for all fire companies.

Senator Vogel voted to approve the three potential amendments to the Constitution, which will appear on the ballot for voters in the spring primary, including one question to prohibit discrimination based on race or ethnicity and two questions designed to improve the way the state responds to future emergencies.

The Department of State is responsible for drafting the questions in a way that is fair and easy to understand. However, the Wolf Administration has been widely criticized for wording the emergency response questions in a way that is deeply confusing and prejudicial.

Rather than taking the issue to court and delaying potential enactment of the amendments, lawmakers have placed their faith in the people of Pennsylvania to make the right decision at the polls for the spring primary.

The fourth ballot question asks voters to decide if the Commonwealth should expand its loan program for volunteer fire and emergency medical services companies to provide municipal departments with loans for facilities, equipment, etc. The question was among several steps authorized by the legislature to aid first responders.

More information about the ballot questions is available at https://issue.pasenategop.com/ballot-question/

Pittsburgh man may leave Hawaii before manslaughter trial
By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) — A judge is allowing a Pittsburgh man charged with manslaughter in the death of the friend he was vacationing with to return to the U.S. mainland before his trial. The judge says Benjamin Fleming must return to the Big Island for hearings in June and two weeks before his August trial. Fleming and two friends he’s known since college at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh were staying at a Kailua-Kona Airbnb. Abhishek Gupta, also of Pittsburgh, died after a fistfight. An autopsy determined he was strangled. The judge is denying Fleming’s request to reduce his $250,000 bail.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Chippewa Twp.) At the Chippewa Township Board of Supervisors meeting tonight, Ordinance 261 was once again discussed and final changes have begun.  The language of the ordinance is being altered to include all forms of Marijuana.  Police Chief Hermick wants Ordinance 261 to cover anything that is THC based in addition to the actual marijuana flower , including hash and vape cartridges, as well as certain hemp products that sometimes test positive on police testing kits due to their THC content.  He also asked that changes be made to ensure that the ordinance is effective in both public places and private residences. The ordinance language originally stated that it was only in effect in public places. They have revised it to allow the same conditions to apply in cases where police enter a home for other reasons and find marijuana in plain view.  Ordinance 261 has been in the works for the past few months and will decriminalize the penalty of simple marijuana possession to a fine without a criminal charge or arrest within the limits of Chippewa Township.  The ordinance is expected to be completed and in effect soon.

Hear some of the discussion here:

 

 

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Chippewa Twp.) The Chippewa Township Board of Supervisors met tonight for their April Regular Meeting.  Police Chief Eric Hermick gave an update on crime rates in the township and confirmed that the police have had an increase in arrests during recent months, mainly for drug possession and driving under the influence.  The police department handled 397 complaints in March, with 206 calls received.  The managers report included an update on a new playground being built in the township at Veterans Field.  Township Manager Mark Taylor stated that the poles are in the ground, work has begun and everything is shaping up nicely.  The board also approved a letter of intent to the Department of Community and Economic Development to have the state step in and do a study on local fire and emergency services. In addition, the board went over revisions to be made to Ordinance 261 for marijuana possession, which can also be found here on beavercountyradio.com, in a separate article.

Chief Hermick on Crime:

Mark Taylor Playground Update:

DCED Intent Letter:

 

 

Dems push $25B for electric school buses, a Biden priority
By HOPE YEN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic lawmakers have unveiled legislation that would invest $25 billion to convert the nation’s fleet of gasoline- and diesel-powered school buses to electric vehicles. It’s a component of President Joe Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan geared toward improving children’s health. The legislation unveiled Wednesday would authorize federal money over 10 years to cover the expense of purchasing electric school buses, building charging stations and providing workforce training. School buses make up 90% of the nation’s bus fleet and typically carry 25 million children each day. Emissions from diesel engines may contribute to respiratory illnesses in children and have been linked to poor academic performance.

McCloskeys want grand jury to take a new look at their case
By JIM SALTER Associated Press
A St. Louis husband and wife facing criminal charges for waving guns at racial injustice protesters last summer are asking a judge to send their case back to the grand jury, citing concerns about Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s handling of it. Attorney Joel Schwartz, in an email Wednesday, says that “bias” from Gardner’s office tainted the grand jury process.” A hearing on the motion to remand is scheduled for April 30. Mark and Patricia McCloskey emerged as celebrities in conservative circles after the charges were filed and even spoke on video at the Republican National Convention last year.

Records: Superintendent lied to jury investigating massacre
By TERRY SPENCER Associated Press
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The superintendent of the Florida school district where 17 students and staff died in a 2018 high school massacre has been arrested on a charge that he lied to a grand jury. Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie was arrested Wednesday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. An indictment says Runcie lied while testifying three weeks ago before a grand jury investigating circumstances surrounding the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Runcie was released on his own recognizance. It’s not known if he has an attorney. He did not respond to a message left with a family member. The school district didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Lawmakers move closer to letting child sex abuse victims sue
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — For the first time, prominent Republican state senators are putting their support behind legislation in Pennsylvania to change the law to allow now-adult victims of child sexual abuse to sue their perpetrators or institutions that didn’t prevent it. Wednesday’s vote, 11-3, in the Senate Judiciary Committee comes after years of damning investigations into child sexual abuse by clergy in Pennsylvania’s Roman Catholic dioceses. It also signals that the legislation may have enough Republican support to pass the full state Senate. Similar legislation passed the House earlier this month. Many childhood victims of sexual assault lost the right to sue in Pennsylvania when they turned 18 or were young adults.