Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa School  District Superintendent asked the school board to observe a moment of silence  in memory of cheerleader sponsor Shawntae Olden who died last week.  Dionna Hines was appointed  to be a volunteer coach for the cheerleaders by the board..

Gov. Wolf and Lt. Gov. Fetterman Message to Legislature: Now is the Time to Take up Legalization of Adult-Use Cannabis

Harrisburg, PA – Focusing on the benefits of restorative justice and revenue generation, Governor Tom Wolf and Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman again today called on the legislature to take up legalization of adult-use cannabis.

“I urge the legislature to join me in building a foundation now to strengthen Pennsylvania’s economy by legalizing cannabis for adult use,” Gov. Wolf said. “This is revenue that can help Pennsylvanians adversely impacted by the criminal justice system access restorative justice programs, it can be earmarked to help our historically disadvantaged small businesses weather the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, and it will give our economy a much-needed boost.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous disruptions to Pennsylvania’s economy, and with additional federal aid stagnating in Congress, Wolf said adult-use cannabis legalization now will go a long way in helping the state’s economy recover in the future.

Some states that have legalized adult-use cannabis have received hundreds of millions in additional revenue.

Wolf and Fetterman stressed that while it will take time to build a system that will bring in that level of revenue in Pennsylvania, there are things the legislature can and should do now to ensure that the state and its residents can benefit from that revenue as soon as possible.

Lt. Gov. Fetterman has long led the charge for decriminalizing possession of small amounts of cannabis, something that can save money and change the path of the lives of people previously convicted of these low-level crimes.

“In 2019, nearly 22,000 people in PA were arrested for having a small amount of marijuana,” Lt. Gov. Fetterman said. “We can better devote the time and resources we spend prosecuting these Pennsylvanians for doing something that most of us think shouldn’t even be illegal.”

Gov. Wolf and Lt. Gov. Fetterman were joined by Lehigh Valley NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) executive director Jeff Riedy. NORML hosted “Planting A Seed for Freedom; Let Our People Grow,” an awareness event on the Capitol steps today.

“We welcome the inclusion of cannabis legalization into Governor Wolf’s legislative agenda, which doubles-down on his commitment to support statewide legalization,” Jeff Riedy said. “NORML chapters across the commonwealth endorsed the Wolf/Fetterman ticket back in 2018. With two robust legalization bills already written, lawmakers could act tomorrow.”

The clear message of the day was urgency and how acting now to decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis can have immediate benefits for those most adversely affected by criminalization and legalization now can have long-term benefits for the state and all of its residents.

“The decriminalization and legalization of adult-use cannabis are what the people of Pennsylvania want,” Gov. Wolf said. “I urge the General Assembly to listen to them.”

First volume of Barack Obama’s memoir coming Nov. 17
By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The first volume of former President Barack Obama’s memoir is coming out Nov. 17, two weeks after Election Day. It’s called “A Promised Land” and will cover his swift and historic rise to the White House and his first term in office. The publication date for the second volume has not yet been determined. The 768-page book is the most anticipated presidential memoir in memory, as much or more because of the quality of the writing than for any possible revelations. He has been called the most literary president since Lincoln and has already written two highly praised, million-selling books.

After Sally: Rescue, recovery and a wary eye on rivers
By JAY REEVES, ANGIE WANG and JEFF MARTIN Associated Press
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Rivers swollen by Hurricane Sally’s rains could mean more problems for parts of south Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Sally has diminished to a tropical depression. But it’s still a rainmaker as it has moved Thursday into Georgia, on a path to the Carolinas. Authorities warned that rain from the storm could swell eight waterways in Florida and Alabama to record levels. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned residents and visitors of possible river flooding in the coming days. The National Weather Service says the small city of Brewton, Alabama, can expect moderate to major flooding.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Will the puck be dropped? Or will the season be put on ice?

Following the decree of a federal judge ruling Governor Tom Wolf’s pandemic restrictions on gatherings “unconstitutional”–and the Wolf administration’s announcement to appeal that ruling–the futures of many local events are in a state of limbo, including the upcoming hockey season for high schools and youth organizations alike.

“We’re waiting to determine and see if, while that appeal’s pending, if those numbers are still in play or if they’re not,” said Solicitor Garen Fedeles at Wednesday’s Commissioner Work Session, referring to the limit set by Governor Wolf of 25 people at indoor events and 250 at outdoor events.

“If that were to be removed,” Fedeles said, “I believe it would go back to 50% of whatever the occupancy limit is for that facility.”

This has been an issue that the Commissioners have received numerous emails about, and the issues haven’t been relegated to simply crowd size.  Commissioner Dan Camp brought up two particular concerns from those emails; one about players changing in the lobby as opposed to the locker rooms, and the other about player safety.

“We were reached out to by a lady whose son is now playing [a level of] hockey where they can check each other, so there’s a higher chance of getting hurt,” Camp said. “Her concern is that if a kid gets hurt and she has to take them to the hospital or doctor, she can’t relay back to that doctor or hospital what happened to her child, because that would just be hearsay from whoever was there.”

“So I guess the question is,” Camp proposed, “how do we get around these parents–or at least one parent–into the crowd during practice if they wanted to?”

The dubious future of the Ice Arena’s usage comes at the heels of its winning of a $100,000 grant to “Renovate The Rink” from the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.

(Photo courtesy Matt Drzik)

Brodhead Road will be soon going through an engineering study, thanks to a $250,000 grant that was approved by for Beaver County, as announced by Planning Commission Director Joe West at Wednesday’s Commissioner Work Session.

The County will match 25% of the grant at $62,500 which brings the total to roughly $312,500.

“Because of all of the development and everything that occurred on Brodhead Road…the road was never designed for that much development,” West said at the work session, “so now PennDOT is looking at that area.”

West added, “they’re also looking at Route 18, and there’s another grant in for that.”

Brodhead Road is one of the longest roads in the county, stretching from 6th Street (Route 18) in Monaca to University Boulevard  in Moon Township, covering a majority of Center Township, Monaca, Aliquippa, and Hopewell Township.

Firefighters have prevented a California wildfire from damaging the Mount Wilson Observatory, which played a pivotal role in early 20th century astronomy. The Bobcat Fire came within 500 feet of the observatory on Tuesday but Angeles National Forest officials say firefighters were able to protect the historic site. The observatory is where astronomers confirmed that galaxies exist outside the Milky Way and that the universe is expanding. The blaze remains a threat to foothill communities but officials say the fire behavior has moderated.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Sally has lumbered ashore near Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 2 storm, with top winds of 105 mph. The coast is being pummeled with sideways rain and beach-covering storm surges. Sally’s northern eye wall raked the Gulf Coast for hours before the center finally made landfall, delivering punishing wind and rain from Pensacola Beach, Florida, westward to Dauphin Island, Alabama. The National Hurricane Center says Sally will cause dangerous flooding from the Florida Panhandle to Mississippi and well inland in the days ahead. Nearly 500,000 homes and businesses are without power between Sally and Hurricane Laura’s aftermath in Louisiana.

PA House Republicans and Democrats Call on Gov. Wolf to Sign PIAA Sports and Spectators Bill

HARRISBURG – Dozens of House Republicans joined together in a press conference Wednesday morning to call for Gov. Tom Wolf to sign House Bill 2787, legislation that will enshrine in law that decisions about school sports and spectators can be made at the local level.

House Bill 2787 passed both the House and the Senate with enough supporting votes that, should the bill be vetoed, a veto could be overridden if the vote totals remain the same.

“It is time to give the people their voice back and ensure our children have the best educational outcomes. We encourage Gov. Wolf to join a bipartisan majority of the General Assembly and sign this bill. If he does not, we will hold a vote to override his veto,” said Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin). “This should not be a hard decision for members. It comes down to this: Do you support your constituents or do you support your governor?”

Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland/Somerset), who is the lead sponsor of House Bill 2787, said the governor’s indoor and outdoor occupancy limits relative to school sports to do not make sense.

“Applying a 250-person gathering limit to sports stadiums that have seating for a few thousand people simply does not make sense. It is even harder to understand the 25-person limit for indoor gatherings being applied in gymnasiums that are larger than some big box retail stores,” Reese said.

“Who are Gov. Wolf, Secretary Levine – or anyone in Harrisburg — to dictate that parents and grandparents cannot attend a loved one’s sports event or activity? Local officials know their facilities and have no less a commitment to public safety than Gov. Wolf. It makes sense that they should be empowered to make these decisions.”

Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) noted the overwhelming support the bill received in both chambers clearly expressed the bipartisan will of the people as voiced through their representatives in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

“It is clearly the will of the General Assembly that these decisions regarding all extracurricular activities are placed in the hands of local school districts. I would encourage the governor to sign this bill and demonstrate some trust in our local districts to make these very important decisions,” Topper said.

Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Northampton), who was a student athlete and is the parent of two student athletes, noted the importance of this legislation to Pennsylvania families.

“From my time as a student athlete the memories I have of my parents meeting me outside the locker room after every game—win or lose—are some of my most cherished. As the father of two daughters who are also student athletes, I share the desire of parents across Pennsylvania to be there in support of my children,” said Emrick. “This is more than just about sports. This is about moments and opportunities that are finite and irreplaceable, that once they are lost can never be recovered or recreated.”

Wednesday’s rally had bipartisan support with Democratic House members Rep. Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny), Rep. Anita Kulik (D-Allegheny), Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Allegheny), and Rep. Joe Petrarca (D-Westmoreland) appearing in support of House Bill 2787 becoming law.