(Photo taken by Frank Sparks)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(New Brighton, Pa.) New Brighton Police Chief  Ron Walton said on Wednesday that his department  will check surveillance cameras in the area of Holy Family parish 521 7th Avenue where  statues  were vandalized and the head removed. The incident occurred Saturday between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m., the chief said.  A $250  reward is being offered  by the police department  to anyone with information to the return of the heads. Police are asking that anyone having information to call them 724-846-2277

Warnock makes history with Senate win as Dems near majority
By STEVE PEOPLES, BILL BARROW and RUSS BYNUM Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Democrat Raphael Warnock has won one of Georgia’s two Senate runoffs, becoming the first Black senator in his state’s history and putting the Senate majority within the party’s reach. Warnock, a pastor who spent the past 15 years leading the Atlanta church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached, defeated Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler. The focus now shifts to the second race between GOPs David Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff. Early Wednesday, Ossoff claimed victory, but the candidates were locked in a tight race and it was too early to call a winner. The races will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter won’t attend Biden’s inauguration
ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter will not attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. It marks the first time the couple, 96 and 93, will have missed the ceremonies since Carter was sworn in as the 39th president in 1977. Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, and his wife have spent the coronavirus pandemic mostly at their home in Plains, Georgia, where both were raised and where they returned after leaving the White House in 1981. A spokesman for former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura says they will attend the inauguration in person.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent  Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Today is Christmas Eve  (Badnjidan) to those  celebrating Serbian Christmas . in Aliquippa, all church services will be livestreamed on Facebook. Diving Liturgy begins at 9:30 q.m. at St. Elijah Church. At 3:45 p.m. a parade to the church’s picnic grounds   located behind the church cemetery will take place. The men of the church will cut down the young oak tree for the Yule Log celebration and the Yule Log  parade will return to the church. Blessing and burning of the Yule Log will take place at 4:30 p.m.. All activities will be held outside. There is no children’s program., according to Father Branislav Golic, church pastor

HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) announced the members of the House Republican Caucus who will serve as chairs of the House standing committees for the 2021-22 Legislative Session.

“Each of these respected and successful lawmakers brings years of experience, expertise and drive to their respective positions,” Cutler said. “Committees are the backbone of our legislative process. This is where the voice of the people is shaped into policy ideas that eventually become law. I look forward to seeing what each of these chairs can accomplish with their committees over the next two years.”

Locally here in Beaver County Pa State Rep. (14^th) Jim Marshall has been named to chair the Consumer Affairs Committee and Pa State Rep. (12^th) Daryl Metcalfe will be chairing the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Marshall served as chair last session of the House Gaming Oversight Committee.

By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Eight Republican members of Congress from Pennsylvania say they’ll oppose the state’s electoral votes being cast for President-elect Joe Biden. Those eight will join dozens of other Republicans around the country who President Donald Trump has enlisted to challenge the Electoral College vote when Congress convenes in a joint session Wednesday to confirm Biden’s 306-232 win. In statements last week, they complained about election-related policies of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration and decisions by the state Supreme Court, generally dealing how mail-in ballots were to be collected and counted. Their complaints, however, are based on outright falsehoods, say state officials, and ignores what courts have repeatedly said, say constitutional law scholars.

Keystone State News Connection

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. – After years of weakening environmental regulations, a new report says there’s hope for restoring Chesapeake Bay but Pennsylvania needs to meet its clean-water commitments.

The 2020 State of the Bay report showed that four of 13 key indicators of bay health have declined, but most water-quality measures showed some improvement.

Of the six watershed states, Pennsylvania still is the largest source of sediment and nutrient pollution flowing to the bay. However, according to Shannon Gority, Pennsylvania executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the federal Environmental Protection Agency approved a state plan that is underfunded by $324 million a year and falls far short of pollution-reduction goals.

“We want to see them step up, helping identify funding,” she said, “but also making sure that it’s a priority for the state to make sure that the administration can implement the watershed improvement plan.”

She said the federal government could help by including money for agricultural and environmental infrastructure in COVID relief plans.

Harry Campbell, the foundation’s policy, science and advocacy director, said addressing farm runoff is the most cost-effective way to reduce water pollution.

“These investments in clean water are not only going to advance soil health, keeping soils and nutrients on the land instead of in the water,” he said, “they also are going to restore local rivers and streams and the Chesapeake Bay.”

He called investments in proven methods to reduce farm runoff into rivers and streams a “win-win-win” for Pennsylvania’s economy, environment and way of life.

Gority noted that Pennsylvania farmers are willing to invest their time, land and effort to protect waterways, but they can’t pay for it on their own. She said the state could help by providing a cost-sharing program.

“That would work with the farmers to support them in implementing some of these best management practices,” she said, “like riparian buffers and various types of regenerative agricultural programs.”

State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock, introduced a cost-sharing bill last year, but it didn’t pass. Gority said she hopes he’ll reintroduce it this year.

  HARRISBURG, Jan. 5 – State Rep. Rob Matzie was sworn in today at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, taking the oath of office to begin his seventh term representing the people of the 16^th Legislative District.

  As he renewed his commitment to the district, Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the health of residents and the local economy are top priorities.

“My top priority in the months ahead will be continuing to address the COVID pandemic and preparing for the recovery, both on the health front and the economic front.

“As always, I will continue to support strong education funding at all levels, as well as job training and economic development opportunities for our communities.

“Finally, I am proud to have been reappointed Democratic chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee. My focus will be on expanding broadband access and to fully – and safely –  develop our state’s natural energy resources.”

Matzie said his office – which is operating remotely during the pandemic – can help with a wide variety of state services, including prescription drug assistance, children’s insurance, unemployment compensation, driver and vehicle services, home heating and property tax/rent rebate applications, veterans’ issues and more. Residents should call the office at 724-266-7774 for assistance.

More information is available by visiting www.pahouse.com/Matzie.

Matzie was first elected in 2008 and took office at the start of the 2009-2010 session.

HARRISBURG – Following a confirmation by the majority of members, Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) was reelected Speaker of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives.

In remarks from the rostrum upon his confirmation vote, Cutler told his fellow members, “Let us never forget that in a Republican form of government, the sovereign are always the citizens of our beloved Commonwealth. Each day we should individually and collectively work to improve their lives, promote opportunities for earned success, manage their resources with fidelity, and be building for the next generation of learners, workers and families.

Cutler was first sworn in to represent the 100^th district in Lancaster County in 2007 and was first elected speaker in June 2020.

“Your duty to meet that noble goal and effectively represent and serve the people of your district is a heavy one, which is why being a state representative is such an incredible position of trust. And at this time, in this moment, on our watch, the people of Pennsylvania need us more than ever,” Cutler added.

Cutler previously served as House majority leader and the majority whip. A lawyer and former X-ray technologist, he has made health care reforms a cornerstone of his extensive impacts in Harrisburg. His legislation last session to establish a statewide health care exchange has already proven to save millions of dollars for health care consumers and state agencies.

In his address to the House, Cutler reminded the members that since the founding of the Commonwealth, the House has had to manage through many difficult times. In order to address the challenges currently before the state, Cutler said honest, caring, committed and principled leaders who will seek understanding, listen more than they speak, work in good faith and be willing to challenge their own assumptions are what is needed.  He also noted that long-term success will require fidelity to the Constitution.

“Our Republic’s creation, through the Constitution, can only be sustained if we are faithful to its design,” said the speaker.  “Our Constitution is not just an outdated parchment promise. It is the Peoples’ Law, divinely inspired and masterfully created for all generations, through good and bad times.” The speaker noted that one of the stated purposes of the Constitution is to provide for a more perfect union, which is why the oath of office pledges allegiance to the Constitution. “The architects of this magnificent experiment in representative government knew that our Commonwealth could endure if people – just like you – would keep that singular commitment,” said Cutler.

Tanya Roberts, Bond girl and ‘Sheena’ star, dead at 65
By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Tanya Roberts, who captivated James Bond in “A View to a Kill” and appeared in the sitcom “That ’70s Show,” died Monday, several hours after she was mistakenly declared dead by her publicist and her partner. Roberts’ partner Lance O’Brien confirmed her death Tuesday after picking up her personal effects at a Los Angeles hospital. One of Roberts’ highest-profile roles was playing geologist Stacey Sutton opposite Roger Moore in 1985’s “A View to a Kill.” Roberts appeared in the final season of “Charlie’s Angels” and later played Midge Pinciotti in the sitcom “That ’70s Show.”