Category: News

One Person Injured in Patterson Twp. Accident Monday Morning

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Patterson Twp.) Traffic was restricted to one lane on Steffen Hill in Patterson Township early Monday morning following a one vehicle accident.  Police Chief Dave Stanislawski said the department received a call 5:18 a.m.  He said a pickup truck operated by a male  veered off the road ended up on the passenger side.   The driver was taken to the hospital for facial injuries.  The vehicle sustained extensive damage.. Steffen Hill was restricted to one lane , and it was closed between  Craig and Clayton so traffic could move,, the chief said.

House unanimously adopts Matzie resolution recognizing credit unions  

House unanimously adopts Matzie resolution recognizing credit unions

HARRISBURG, Oct. 19 – The House today unanimously adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution highlighting the special benefits provided by Pennsylvania’s credit unions.

Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said he introduced H.R. 1020 – designating Oct. 11-17 as Credit Union Week in Pennsylvania – to emphasize the ways these financial collaboratives empower consumers and differ from banks.

“Credit unions are unique because they exist to serve their members,” Matzie said. “Shareholder profits are not part of the equation. Instead, credit unions are owned and operated by their members, and any gains realized go back to members in the form of lower fees, lower-than-average bank card rates, low-interest loans and higher interest rates on deposits.

“Beyond those benefits, credit unions also offer financial education, consumer outreach and support for members’ community work. They are guided by a common motto – ‘Not for profit, not for charity, but for service’ – and they operate in a way that truly empowers the consumers they serve.

“It’s a model that has been working for more than 100 years in this country and an alternative that consumers should be aware of when it comes to their personal finances.”

Matzie said the credit union movement began in Germany in the mid-1800s, and the first U.S. credit union opened its doors in 1909 in New Hampshire.

Today, Pennsylvania and New Jersey are home to more than 510 credit unions serving the needs of 5.3 million members.

Prospects dim for critical election bill in Pennsylvania

Prospects dim for critical election bill in Pennsylvania
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With 15 days until the presidential election, Republican lawmakers in the battleground state of Pennsylvania appeared unwilling Monday to authorize counties to process mail-in ballots before Election Day, seen as crucial to producing a prompt election result. A spokesperson for the House Republican majority said they have no plans to consider changes to election laws that will affect the Nov. 3 election. County officials say the change could ensure the vast majority of ballots are tabulated within hours of polls closing. They say that waiting until Election Day to dig into roughly 3 million mail-in ballots could require days to process enough ballots to project a winner in the presidential contest.

Gov. Wolf Urges General Assembly to Support Small Businesses

Gov. Wolf Urges General Assembly to Support Small Businesses

Harrisburg, Pa. – Today, Governor Tom Wolf urged the Pennsylvania General Assembly to act on funding small businesses while the body is in session this week.

“Small businesses have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gov. Wolf. “The Small Business Assistance Program has seen immense success, but further support is needed to support our small businesses and strengthen the economy. I am calling on the General Assembly to approve additional funds to support our small businesses. We cannot let another week go by without addressing this need.”

As part of his fall legislative agenda, Governor Wolf called on the General Assembly to provide an additional $225 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding in the form of forgivable loans and grants to small businesses in Pennsylvania through the COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program. In addition, the governor proposed $100 million in forgivable loans and grants for the hospitality, leisure and service industries, including restaurants and bars, salons and barber shops.

The COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance funding was developed in partnership with state lawmakers and allocated through the state budget, which included $2.6 billion in federal stimulus funds through the CARES Act, of which $225 million was earmarked for relief for small businesses, including historically disadvantaged businesses.

To date, more than 10,000 businesses were approved for $192 million in grants through the COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program. However, as the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic continue, it is imperative that further funding be allocated to help small businesses that were not awarded in the first two rounds of funding, or that face ongoing hardship.

“So many of Pennsylvania’s small businesses have taken on additional work and costs to do the right thing and keep their employees and customers safe since reopening,” Gov. Wolf said. “They are doing everything right, and they need our help to continue to make ends meet.

“We held back a portion of Pennsylvania’s CARES Act funding so that we could address the commonwealth’s needs this fall. There is a need for additional funding for Pennsylvania’s small businesses right now, and I implore the General Assembly to take action without delay to support our small business community.”

Pennsylvania nears 9M voters at registration deadline

Pennsylvania nears 9M voters at registration deadline
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Monday is the last day in Pennsylvania to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election in which the presidential battleground state is playing a central role in the contest between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. Voter registration in Pennsylvania has hit a record high in this cycle, and as of Friday, the latest statistics available, voter rolls were about 17,000 short of hitting 9 million. That includes nearly 4.2 million Democrats and nearly 3.5 million Republicans. Democrats continue to hold a substantial registration edge, but Republicans have narrowed the gap by about 200,000 from 2016’s presidential election to about 700,000 now.

Some states allow ballots if voters die before Election Day

Some states allow ballots if voters die before Election Day
By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Ballots cast by people who vote early but die before Election Day are sometimes cited as proof of voter fraud, but in many states they’re perfectly legal. Seventeen states prohibit counting ballots cast by someone who subsequently dies before the election, but 10 states specifically allow it. Questions over whether ballots will count if someone votes early but dies before Election Day are especially pressing this year, amid a coronavirus outbreak that has been especially perilous for older Americans. People 85 years and older represent nearly one in three deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S.

Guitars played, partly made by Eddie Van Halen go to auction

Guitars played, partly made by Eddie Van Halen go to auction
By The Associated Press undefined
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Two guitars owned, played and partly designed by the late Eddie Van Halen will be going up for auction. Julien’s Auctions announced Monday that a 2004 EVH Charvel Art Series electric guitar and a customized electric guitar Van Halen built at his home studio with his guitar tech will be among the items for sale at the Beverly Hills auction that starts Dec. 5. Each instrument is expected to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000. The auction was already in the works when the guitar legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee died of cancer on Oct. 6 at age 65.

150 years: The Oyster House celebrates its sesquicentennial

150 years: The Oyster House celebrates its sesquicentennial
By DAN GIGLER, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette undefined
PITTSBURGH (AP) — It was Oct. 12, 1870, and the morning edition of the Pittsburgh Daily Post’s front page carried news of the day and ads for dry goods, but not a word about a new Downtown restaurant and saloon where the oysters were a penny and draft beers a dime. The place, now known as the Original Oyster House, is celebrating its 150th anniversary after weathering the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, Prohibition, the Great Depression, fires, recessions and now another pandemic.

Wolf Administration: Join the More than 322,000 Pennsylvanians Who Added Their Phone to the Fight by Downloading the COVID Alert PA app

Wolf Administration: Join the More than 322,000 Pennsylvanians Who Added Their Phone to the Fight by Downloading the COVID Alert PA app

Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today encouraged residents to join the more than 322,000 Pennsylvanians who have added their phones to the fight by downloading the COVID Alert PA mobile app.

“I am encouraging everyone to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer on a regular basis,” Dr. Levine said. “I also urge every Pennsylvanian to download the COVID Alert PA so you can get a notification if you have been in close contact with someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, or anonymously notify other residents if you yourself test positive. We all play a part in stopping the spread of this virus, and by uniting together, we can all make a difference.”

COVID Alert PA is a free and voluntary mobile app developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health in partnership with NearForm, University of Pennsylvania and MIT Lincoln Laboratory using Apple and Google’s Exposure Notification System. The app’s features include an interactive COVID-19 symptom check-in, alerts for potential exposures to the virus, updates on the latest public health data about COVID-19 in PA and public health guidance for what to do if you have a potential exposure to COVID-19.

The app is designed to ensure privacy of the user. It does not use GPS, location services or any movement or geographical information. It will never collect, transmit or store personal information. It is completely anonymous.

Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa.”

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean surfaces frequently.
  • Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
  • If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

Virtual 2021 PA Farm Show Offers Competitive Opportunities, Exhibitor Rules and Regulations Modified Amid COVID-19 Pandemic 

Virtual 2021 PA Farm Show Offers Competitive Opportunities, Exhibitor Rules and Regulations Modified Amid COVID-19 Pandemic 

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today expanded on competitive event opportunities for the virtual 2021 Pennsylvania Farm Show. More than 20 opportunities are available, with every competition having modified rules and regulations to effectively mitigate against COVID-19.

“Many Pennsylvanians look forward to exhibiting in the PA Farm Show all year long,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Although this year’s competitive events look different, what remains is a showcase of the quality and breadth of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and those who make it thrive.”

The virtual Farm Show will hold the following competitive events:

  • Agriculture Education
  • Apiary
  • Beer
  • Christmas trees
  • Corn and small grains
  • Family Living
  • Jr. Market Cattle
  • Maple syrup
  • Mushrooms
  • Potatoes
  • Vegetables
  • Wine
  • Wool

In additional to these Farm Show staple competitions, new opportunities include a Coloring Contest, Educational Video Contest, Public Speaking Contest, and additional Skill-a-thon contests.

Competitors are encouraged to review the rules and regulations prior to entering, as they feature changes to classes, registration requirements, entry deadline, and method of getting items to the Farm Show Complex.

The virtual 2021 Pennsylvania Farm Show is scheduled to take place from Saturday, January 9-Saturday, January 16, 2021. Virtual events will be focused on education and awareness for both the general public and the agriculture industry.