Pennsylvania’s Firearm Background Check System Experiences Record Volume for Third Consecutive Quarter

The Pennsylvania State Police announced that the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) set a record for activity in the first quarter of 2021. It was the third straight quarter to experience record-breaking volume. The department also released the number of firearms purchase denials, subsequent investigations, and arrests resulting from such investigations for the period of January 1 through March 31, 2021.
Established in 1998, PICS is used by county sheriffs, chiefs of police of cities of the first class, and licensed firearms dealers in Pennsylvania to determine an individual’s legal ability to acquire a license to carry firearms or obtain a firearm through a purchase or transfer. In the first quarter of 2021, PICS completed 427,450 background checks.
Statistics for the first quarter of 2020 are included for comparison.
First Quarter PICS Statistics
2020
2021
Total number of PICS checks conducted
304,876
427,450
     Number of persons denied
4,866
6,444
Total number of denials referred to law enforcement agencies
1,226
1,325
     Referred to Pennsylvania State Police
357
296
     Referred to Local Law Enforcement
859
1,001
     Referred to ATF
10
28
Number of individuals arrested for a warrant at point of purchase
59
52
The previous records for PICS activity were 420,581 background checks, set in the fourth quarter of 2020; and 406,151 background checks, set in the third quarter of 2020.

US Rep Conor Lamb Announces 2021 Congressional Art Competition for High School Students

(PITTSBURGH, PA) – Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) is now accepting submissions for the 2021 Congressional Art Competition.  Open to all high school students in grades 9-12 living in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, the annual nationwide competition which is sponsored by the Congressional Institute and recognizes young artists across the nation.  All submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2021 via e-mail to PA17ArtComp@mail.house.gov.

“This past year has presented our students with many challenges, but I’ve heard that creating and interacting with art has provided a great escape for many to express their thoughts and feelings,” said Lamb.  “I encourage interested students to participate, and I look forward to recognizing the incredible talents of our region’s young artists.”

The top PA-17 winner’s artwork will be displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.  Students should submit their artwork as a JPEG clearly showing the entire work of art.  Entries must be e-mailed to PA17ArtComp@mail.house.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2021.  The email should also include a copy of the Student Information and Release Form, which should be signed by the student, an art teacher and/or a parent/guardian as designated.

Artwork submitted for consideration in the contest must be two-dimensional and may be up to 26 inches (high) by 26 inches (wide) by up to 4 inches (deep), and cannot weigh more than 15 pounds, including the frame.  Accepted mediums are as follows:

  • Paintings: including oil, acrylics, and watercolor;
  • Drawings: including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers;
  • Collages: must be two dimensional;
  • Prints: including lithographs, silk screen, and block prints;
  • Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil ink, watercolor, etc.;
  • Computer Generated Art; and
  • Photography.

The 2020 Congressional Art Competition winner from PA-17 was Hampton Area High School graduate Katelyn Januck for her pencil drawing “Class of…”.  which is currently on display in the U.S. Capitol along with more than 400 other winning works from every congressional district in the country.

For more information about the competition, please visit Lamb’s website or send an email to PA17ArtComp@mail.house.gov.

Tiger Woods was driving more than 80 mph when he crashed SUV

Tiger Woods was driving more than 80 mph when he crashed SUV
By STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tiger Woods was going more than 80 mph — nearly twice the posted speed limit — on a downhill stretch of road when he lost control of an SUV outside Los Angeles. That’s the conclusion of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which announced the findings of its investigation on Wednesday. The Feb. 23 wreck left the golf superstar seriously injured. Sheriff Alex Villanueva blamed the crash solely on excessive speed and Woods’ loss of control behind the wheel. Authorities say Woods was driving 84 to 87 mph (135 to 140 kph) in an area that had a speed limit of 45 mph (72 kph).

Ex-church official who stole $1.2M sentenced on tax counts

Ex-church official who stole $1.2M sentenced on tax counts
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A former western Pennsylvania church administrator who is serving a state prison term for stealing $1.2 million has now been sentenced to a federal prison term on tax charges related to the embezzlement. David Reiter was sentenced Tuesday to more than two years and must also pay more than $1.4 million in restitution to the IRS. He had pleaded guilty to 16 federal counts last December. The federal prison term will run concurrently with the five to 10-year sentence he received for the state charges. Prosecutors say the money was stolen over the course of about 17 years from the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair, where Reiter had been administrator since 2001.

Pa. State House advances 2-year child sex abuse lawsuit window

State House advances 2-year child sex abuse lawsuit window
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania House has given its approval to a bill to establish a two-year window for civil claims over childhood sexual abuse. The vote on Wednesday is part of a belt-and-suspenders approach that also includes a potential constitutional amendment. The bill was sent to the state Senate by a vote of 149 to 52. Just two weeks ago, both chambers finished the first round of approvals for the constitutional amendment. Supporters say the proposed legislation and amendment are a way to get justice for victims who lost the right to sue when they turned 18 or were young adults, depending on Pennsylvania state law at the time.

Gov. Wolf: Vaccine ‘winning’ against virus despite state surge

Wolf: Vaccine ‘winning’ against virus despite state surge
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
Pennsylvania’s governor says the state’s accelerating vaccine rollout is “winning” the race to contain a spike in cases and hospitalizations. State officials are pushing people to get inoculated against COVID-19 as soon as possible, saying vaccines will be what end the pandemic. The state has shown little appetite for new mitigation measures to address the latest surge in infections and hospitalizations. Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday that an increasing vaccine supply has put Pennsylvania in a much different position than it was in November, when the state and the rest of the country were heading into the pandemic’s darkest period.

Hawaii vacation of three friends, two from Pittsburgh, ended in death

Hawaii vacation of 3 friends from East Coast ended in death
By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) — A New Jersey man says a Hawaii vacation with his two friends from Pittsburgh ended in death after one of them became “psychotically” drunk. Alexander Germany-Wald of Montclair, New Jersey, testified at a preliminary hearing for his college buddy, Benjamin Fleming, who is charged with murder in the strangulation of their friend, Abhishek Gupta. Germany-Wald says he and Gupta got into a fistfight at their Big Island vacation rental after Gupta was asked to leave a bar. Germany-Wald says Fleming intervened and restrained Gupta, who later stopped breathing. Germany-Wald and Fleming were arrested. Germany-Wald was later released, and Fleming was charged with murder.

A Jam Packed Thursday Teleforum

On the Teleforum program Thursday it is full blown wall to wall with activities; at 9a Eddy Crow will be Rappin’ with the Reps, at 10a Eddy will talk with Anthony Ellis-the man responsible for some local billboards that have definitely caught peoples’ attention; at 11a Mike Romigh holds forth with The Best of Beaver County, and at 11:30 Eddy welcomes Beaver County Times entertainment editor Scott Tady. to the show. Teleforum starts at 9 and goes till noon every weekday on am1230, am1460, and fm99.3 presented by St. Barnabas.

Center Twp. Bar Cited for COVID-19 Violation

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Pa. State Police Bureau of Liquor Enforcement Pittsburgh District Office #4 Announced that they received 318 Complaints of non-compliance for establishments in Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties.  During the Month of March as a result of those complaints Troopers issued 36 violation of liquor laws letters, 86 warning of violation letters, and 32 establishments were issued Administrative Citations. In Beaver County the only establishment that was cited was Brewski’s Pub on Old Broadhead Road in Center Twp.. The release stated that Café’ Franco Inc., which was confirmed by Troopers to be operating as Brewski’s Pub, did not provide face masks for employees to wear at work and did not require employees to wear face masks at all times while at the establishment. The release did state that Brewski’s did require all customers entering, exiting, or otherwise traveling through the facility to wear a face mask. No other info about the citation was provided by Troopers in the release.

Camper Becomes Dislodged from Truck on I- 376 in Hopewell Twp.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) PA State Police in Beaver are reporting that a camper trailer came dislodged from a truck while travelling on I-376 in Hopewell Township Tuesday night around  6:30 p.m. . When Troopers arrived on the scene the vehicle was  blocking the road , Troopers closed the section of road and provided traffic control while the  roadway was cleared. No injuries were reported