(Butler County, Pa.) A crash that occurred on Interstate 79 around 5:30 a.m. has the Interstate closed in both directions between the Zelienople and Portersville exits.
It’s being reported that a car crossed the center median and struck a tractor trailer and that there are serious injuries.
Route 19 can be used as an alternate route.
Aliquippa Council met last night and adopted a resolution to have anyone purchasing properties out of the county repository to only pay the current years taxes and the 2 prior years .
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests positive ahead of Trump visit
By FARNOUSH AMIRI and DAN SEWELL Report for America/Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s governor has tested positive for the coronavirus just ahead of a planned meeting with President Donald Trump. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s office said Thursday he took the test as part of standard protocol before meeting Trump at an airport in Cleveland. He had planned to join the president on a visit to the Whirlpool Corp. plant in northwest Ohio. His office said DeWine has no symptoms, but was returning to Columbus before Trump landed. His office said he and his wife, Fran DeWine, will both be tested there. DeWine then plans to quarantine at his home in Cedarville for 14 days. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted tested negative.
(Harrisburg, Pa.) During a news conference today to highlight increased efforts to Expand COVID-19 testing availability in Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine was asked during the question and answer session at the end if there were any updated guidelines in regards to the PIAA and guidelines regarding fans at the games. Dr. Levine deferred to Gov. Wolf who then said “The guidance is that we ought to avoid any congregate settings . And that means anything that brings people together is going to help that virus get us and we ought to do everything we can to defeat that virus. So any time we get together for any reason, that’s a problem because it makes it easier for that virus to spread.” As the Governor prepared to leave the podium he said “the recommendation is that we don’t do any sports until January 1st.”
Now this is not an order at this time but could be a sign of things to come in the near future. Stay tuned as Beaver County Radio continues to work on this developing story.
You can hear the Governor’s comments by pressing the play button below:
(Photo courtesy City of Beaver Falls Fire Department)
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Beaver Falls Fire Department was called Thursday afternoon, August 5, 2020, to the scene of a dog being trapped underground near the foundation of a house in the city.
Chief Mark Stowe said initially they did not understand what was going on but after investigation they found out that a small dog was chasing a racoon and there was a small hole near the foundation that the dog went into. The hole which was about 3 feet underground was under a sidewalk. The chief said the rescue required the removal of the sidewalk and part of the wood foundation of the home. Stowe said there was a good amount of earth that had to be moved. They used a camera once they could get down closer to the hole. Stowe said once the hole was wide enough, they had the home owner come in the hole and they were able to coax the dog out of the smaller hole using dog treats.
You can hear our interview with Beaver Falls Fire Chief Mark Stowe by pressing the play button below:
Check out the photos of the rescue below.
(Photos courtesy of the City of Beaver Falls Fire Department)
NEW KENSINGTON, PA. (AP) — The father of the man sentenced to death for the murder of New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw was convicted Wednesday for the intimidation and retaliation of a potential witness at his son’s trial last year. Gregory Baucum was convicted on two misdemeanor counts Wednesday but acquitted of a felony charge. The former Arnold resident faces up to four years in state prison when he’s sentenced later this year. Authorities have said Baucum threatened the witness on social media, labeled her a snitch and published details online of her cooperation with law enforcement.
1.2 million seek jobless aid after $600 federal check ends
By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 1.2 million laid-off Americans applied for state unemployment benefits last week, evidence that the coronavirus keeps forcing companies to slash jobs just as a critical $600 weekly federal jobless payment has expired. The government’s report did offer a smidgen of hopeful news: The number of jobless claims declined by 249,000 from the previous week, after rising for two straight weeks, and it was the lowest total since mid-March. Still, the pace remains at alarmingly high levels: It is the 20th straight week that at least 1 million people have sought jobless aid. Before the pandemic hit hard, the number of Americans seeking unemployment checks had never surpassed 700,000 in a week.
(File Photo)
(Potter Twp., Pa.) There has been a recent uptick of positive cases of the COVID-19 at the Shell Cracker Plant in Potter Twp. Shell said in a statement that there are 14 confirmed active cases among the workforce at the Potter Township construction site. Shell says in the statement that 21 workers are confirmed to have recovered from the COVID-19 and have been cleared to return to work.
Shell states that they currently have around 4,000 workers on site and continue to add workers at a measured pace with decisions made on a weekly basis of adding employees.
Shell has a testing lab on site and said as they add additional workers, the site’s testing lab is providing site leaders with a valuable tool that is helping the site to protect worker safety and manage COVID-19 challenges. All workers newly joining or rejoining the work force undergo reorientation training that includes an onsite COVID-19 test required to gain badge access to site. To date, the site’s testing lab has conducted more than 1,000 COVID-19 tests, with an approximate positivity rating of 1 percent.
Shell said in the statement that site safety is a priority and they continue to follow and enforce COVID-19 guidelines as provided by the Center for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Those include social distancing, mandatory masks, sanitizing stations, temperature screening, and lunchroom protocols that use tables with plexi-glass dividers with only two workers per table.
Shell states they may adapt their practices as conditions and corresponding guidelines change.
Biden campaign announces $280 million ad buy through fall
By ALEXANDRA JAFFE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden’s Democratic presidential campaign is reserving $280 million in digital and television ads through the fall. It’s nearly twice the amount President Donald Trump’s team has reserved. The Biden campaign announced in a Wednesday memo it’s reserving $220 million in television airtime and $60 million in digital ads. A review of Kantar/CMAG data by The Associated Press finds that’s in contrast to the $147 million Trump’s campaign has reserved. Biden’s campaign also plans to launch what it calls an “unprecedented” paid media campaign to educate people on voting options during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump’s campaign has tried to frame Biden’s expanding footprint as a sign Biden’s challenge is in peril.
Dobnak shines in homecoming, Twins top reeling Pirates 5-2
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Minnesota’s Randy Dobnak dominated in his homecoming, allowing three hits in six innings as the streaking Twins topped the reeling Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. Dobnak, who grew up a half-hour south of PNC Park in the Pittsburgh suburb of South Park, didn’t walk a batter and struck out just one. The 25-year-old relied on a heavy fastball the Pirates pounded into the ground. Pittsburgh managed just four balls out of the infield against Dobnak, who dropped his ERA to 0.60. Marwin Gonzalez went 2 for 4 with two RBIs for the Twins. Max Kepler gave Minnesota some breathing room in the ninth with a three-run home run off Pirates’ reliever Dovydas Neverauskas.