(Monaca Pa.) On Sunday night the 117^th Congress of the United States started the term by holding an election for the Speaker of the House. Nancy Pelosi a California Democrat is the only women speaker in US history. This election was set to be possibly be the closest challenge to date of her three other terms as Speaker of the House. With the Democrats having a slim majority and the COVID-19 Pandemic effecting Congress members who could and couldn’t vote.  In the end Pelosi was selected to her fourth term with the gavel.

Pelosi won with 216 votes to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy‘s 209. Not a single Republican defected from McCarthy, compared to six in 2019.

But Pelosi’s appointment wasn’t agreeable by five Democratic members of Congress including local Congressman from the 17^th District Conor Lamb. Rep. Lamb voted for House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries a New York Democrat, who is considered a rising star in the caucus ranks. Back in 2019 Lamb also went against the majority of Democrats and cast his vote for Speaker  for former Rep. Joe Kennedy. Beaver County Radio reached out to Rep. Lamb’s team to find out why he voted the way he did and via e-mail statement the Congress man said ““When I first ran for Congress three years ago, my constituents told me they wanted new leadership across the board, and I promised to vote for new leadership even in my own party.  That’s what I did again yesterday.”

As for the other four Congressman that voted for someone other than Pelosi  Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) cast his Speaker vote for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a former House member turned senator who was considered a potential running mate for President-elect Joe Biden last year and the other three voted “present”: Reps. Mikie Sherrill (N.J.), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Abigail Spanberger (Va.).

NEW BRIGHTON – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Lawrence/Butler) today announced that New Brighton Borough will receive $15,610 in funding from a federal program that offers grants to purchase camera systems, data storage and other costs relating to implementation or expansion of body-worn camera (BWC) systems for law enforcement and corrections institutions in Pennsylvania.

The BWC Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies program supports agencies seeking to establish or expand BWC programs and have specified plans to implement this technology in a manner that maximizes the benefits of BWCs.

“I’m pleased we are able to bring home the funds necessary to create a safer living environment to the district,” said Bernstine. “The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police existence, actions, behavior and the ability of the police to secure and maintain public respect. BWCs have been viewed as one way to address these challenges and improve law enforcement practice more generally while protecting our police officers.”

 

“BWCs are useful for documenting evidence; officer training; preventing and resolving complaints by members of the public; and strengthening police transparency, performance and accountability,” said Tom Albanese, borough manager for New Brighton. “This technology is a key to ensuring the public outcry for justice and accountability for our police is met.”

 

Bernstine noted studies have shown that BWCs have resulted in more positive interactions between officers and citizens and have made people feel safer. In addition, reductions in citizen complaints were noted, as were similar reductions in crime. The studies also found that the use of BWCs led to increases in arrests, prosecutions and guilty pleas.

 

Grant award recipients are required to work with the Bureau of Justice Assistance-funded BWC training and technical assistance (TTA) provider as part of the policy development process. Agencies must demonstrate appropriate policy development and internal law enforcement adoption prior to BWC procurement and implementation. There is a dollar-for-dollar, non-federal cash or in-kind match requirement for grant qualification.

Pittsburgh, PA – As the region has experienced winter storms earlier this season, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) highlights safe driving tips in conjunction with Winter Driving Awareness Week, which runs through January 10.

PennDOT advises drivers to stay in during inclement weather unless it’s necessary to be out. However, if motorists do need to travel, they are urged to practice the following winter driving tips:

• Use low beams in snowy weather;
• Keep the gas tank at least half full;
• Slow down your speed;
• Increase the following distance from the vehicle in front of you;
• Use extra caution on bridges and ramps, where ice can form without warning.

To maintain visibility, Pennsylvania law states motorists must properly clear their vehicles from snow and ice before getting on the road, especially from the mirrors, roof, trunk and hood. Drivers can be cited $200 to $1,000 for not clearing their vehicle if snow and ice are dislodged and strike another, causing a crash.

To help make decisions regarding winter travel, motorists are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. Users can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the “Check My Route” tool.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Drivers should be extra cautious around operating snow-removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should:

• Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck;
• When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, as snow can obscure the actual snow plow width;
• Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a “plow train;”
• Never drive next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can’t see;
• Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle.

Additionally, motorists should prepare their vehicles for the winter by checking fluid levels, lights, defrosters and windshield wiper blades, in addition to ensuring proper tire air pressure and adequate tread depth. If maintaining the vehicle is a challenge for the owner, these minor checks can be conducted by any auto care professional.

Emergency kits should be replenished to keep families safe in the event they are stuck in the vehicle. Supplies may include non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Kits can be tailored to the specific needs of the individuals in the vehicle, with items such as baby supplies, extra medication, pet supplies or even children’s games.

For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video, visit PennDOT.gov/winter. Additional winter driving and other highway safety information is available at PennDOT.gov/safety.

For more PennDOT information, visit www.PennDot.gov/winter.

For regional twitter updates, visit www.511PAPittsburgh.

Trump, on tape, presses Ga. official to ‘find’ him votes
By JEFF AMY, DARLENE SUPERVILLE and KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is heard on tape pleading with Georgia’s election chief to overturn Joe Biden’s win in the state. Trump suggests in a telephone call that the official “find” enough votes to hand Trump the victory. The conversation was the latest step in an unprecedented effort by a sitting American president to reverse the outcome of a free and fair election that he lost. The Associated Press obtained a copy of a recording of Trump’s conversation with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Trump tells Raffensperger at one point that he wants him to “find” 11,780 votes for Trump. Georgia previously certified that Democratic President-elect Biden won the state by 11,779 votes.

Biden’s pick to lead Treasury made over $7M in speaking fees
By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden’s choice to be treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, collected more than $7 million in speaking fees in 2019 and 2020 from major financial firms and tech giants including Citi, Goldman Sachs and Google. That’s according to financial disclosure forms filed as part of her nomination. Yellen’s was one of three financial disclosures filed by Biden transition officials that were made public on Thursday by the Office of Government Ethics. Also released Thursday were disclosure forms from Biden’s choice to be secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and Biden’s pick for national intelligence director, Avril Haines.

Governor Wolf Orders Commonwealth Flags at Half-Staff to Honor Representative Mike Reese

Harrisburg, Pa. – In honor of Pennsylvania State Representative Mike Reese, who passed away on Saturday, January 2, Governor Tom Wolf ordered the commonwealth flag on all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds fly at half-staff immediately.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Representative Mike Reese,” Governor Wolf said. “Our thoughts are with Mike’s family, colleagues and constituents. Mike was a good man and a strong leader, and the people of western Pennsylvania have lost a dedicated advocate.”

Rep. Mike Reese represented the 59th Legislative District from 2009 to 2021 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

The commonwealth flag has flown at half-staff since Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in honor of the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and should continue to fly at half-staff until further notice. The United States flag has flown at half-staff since Thursday, December 31, 2020 in honor of former Governor Dick Thornburgh, and should remain at half-staff until the date of former Governor Thornburgh’s interment.

All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute.

Official: GOP Pennsylvania House member dies
HARRISBURG (AP) — A top lawmaker says a state GOP House member who was elected to serve as the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus chairman in the 2020-21 session has died. Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, the House Majority Leader, says Rep. Mike Reese, R-Westmoreland/Somerset, “died peacefully with his family by his side” Saturday afternoon at a Greensburg hospital “following an apparent brain aneurysm.” Reese was 42. He was first elected to the state House in 2008. He said early last month he was quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors in the case against the four Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd requested that the trial delayed by three months. Prosecutors cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the amount of time needed before enough people are vaccinated and health risks are sufficiently diminished. The trial has been scheduled for March 8 for the now-fired police officers charged in the death of Floyd on May 25 while he was forcibly detained on a south Minneapolis street corner. Prosecutors want to delay the trial until June 7.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police say six people were arrested after a group vandalized several federal buildings in Philadelphia’s Center City on New Year’s Eve. Police said officers spotted about 50 people, all dressed in black, at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the historic U.S. Customs House, where windows were smashed. Three arrests were made there and three were made later. Anti-police and anti-prison graffiti was then scrawled on the Federal Detention Center and on a nearby sheriff’s van and several windows were broken. Chief Inspector Mike Cram told reporters that officers recovered what he called “numerous Molotov cocktails and some other devices which haven’t been identified.”