PITTSBURGH (AP) — Fire crews have brought under control a fire in a downtown Pittsburgh high-rise that prompted evacuation of the building but caused no reported injuries. Pittsburgh public safety officials said the 9:30 a.m. Wednesday blaze was contained to the basement of the 44-story Gulf Tower, although smoke could be seen rising from the roof from what officials said was a ventilation shaft. Firefighters went floor to floor of the 582-foot-tall building to evacuate any remaining occupants. The blaze was declared under control shortly after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Report: Colonial confirms it paid $4.4M to pipeline hackers
The Associated Press undefined
The operator of the nation’s largest fuel pipeline has confirmed it paid $4.4 million to a gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems. That’s according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Colonial Pipeline’s CEO Joseph Blount told the Journal that he authorized the payment after the ransomware attack because the company didn’t know the extent of the damage. The FBI discourages making payments to ransomware attackers, because that just encourages criminal networks around the globe. But many victims of ransomware attacks opt to pay.

PITTSBURGH (May 19, 2021) – Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Allegheny Health Network (AHN) are teaming up to thank Emergency Medical Service (EMS) first responders during National EMS Week (May 16-22, 2021) by donating 1,500 tickets for upcoming Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games to EMS providers throughout Western Pennsylvania and AHN’s Westfield Memorial Hospital in Westfield, New York.

“Our EMS partners have carried an exceptionally heavy weight on their shoulders throughout the past year and continue to make tremendous sacrifices for the health and safety of others,” shared Deb Rice-Johnson, president of Highmark Inc. and chief growth officer for Highmark Health. “These tickets serve as a small token of our appreciation for their ongoing dedication and commitment to our communities. As things slowly begin to return to normal, we hope this gives them a much-needed chance to relax while cheering on the Pirates in one of America’s most beautiful ballparks.”

A predetermined number of tickets will be distributed to EMS providers for the Chicago Cubs series games on May 25, 26, and 27, with 500 tickets designated for each game. Agencies that will receive tickets include those in the Western Pennsylvania region including Pittsburgh and Erie, agencies near AHN’s Westfield Memorial Hospital in Westfield, New York, and agencies in the Johnstown area.

“We’re grateful to have strong partnerships with EMS providers across our network,” shared Robert Twaddle, vice president of prehospital care services for AHN. “The high-quality level of prehospital care provided by the men and women of our local EMS agencies is a tremendous asset available to the patients we serve. We can’t thank them enough for all that they do.”

This announcement comes on the heels of a donation to EMS providers in March and April across AHN to supply agencies with additional PPE to continue through the pandemic. In total, nearly over 275 EMS agencies received over 400,000 N95 masks, 740,000 surgical masks, 51,000 face shields, and 250,000 surgical gowns.

On Thursday’s Teleforum host Eddy Crow is joined by Dr. Roger Davis. The president of CCBC has authored a new book to talk about, and we’ll get an update on educaton in the time of covid. Since it’s Thursday Mike Romige will be in to host another episode of the Best of Beaver County, as well as Beaver County Times entertainment editor Scott Tady joining the show to get updated  about the growing entertainment news for Beaver county. Teleforum is every weekday from 9 till noon on AM1230, AM1460, and 99.3FM presented by St. Barnabas.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver County, Pa.) The 2021 primary election in Beaver County resulted in a very light voter turnout, election officials reported Tuesday night.

Pennsylvania voters impose new limits on governor’s powers
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania voters became the first in the nation to impose restrictions on a governor’s authority under an emergency disaster declaration. They approved constitutional amendments sped to a statewide referendum Tuesday by Republican lawmakers angry over how Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf handled the pandemic response. The vote on Tuesday’s primary ballot came as Republican lawmakers across the country have sought to roll back the emergency powers governors wielded during the COVID-19 pandemic. With 73% of precincts reporting, the two questions led with almost 54% of the vote. Wolf had opposed them, but has no say in what proposals lawmakers choose to put on the ballot to amend the state constitution.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf has proclaimed May 23 as “1-4-3 Day” in Pennsylvania and is inviting all Pennsylvanians to show more kindness and gratitude to one another during the three-day weekend of May 21–23.

“I have designated the 143rd day of the year as ‘1-4-3 Day’ and encourage acts of kindness throughout the weekend in honor of Fred Rogers, who served as an inspiration to millions of Pennsylvanians and people around the world,” said Gov. Wolf. “Pennsylvania is a place where kindness and gratitude toward those who make up our community is part of who we are, and a weekend of kindness, after an especially difficult year, celebrates the spirit inherent in all Pennsylvanians.”

Pennsylvania native Fred Rogers, best known as Mister Rogers, regularly used 1-4-3 as a way of saying “I love you” on his beloved television series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. His reference was to the number of letters in each word: 1-4-3.

“1-4-3 Day is an invitation to share gratitude for the people in our lives and celebrate the little things we do for one another every day,” said Carrie Fischer Lepore, Deputy Secretary, Office of Marketing, Tourism, and Film for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. “Good deeds and acts of kindness can take on many shapes and forms, from volunteering in the community or donating to those in need, to offering a note of appreciation. Putting more kindness out in the world paves the road in the Pursuit of Happiness.”

A “Kindness Generator” can be found at pa.gov/143-day, to provide inspiration for the day, and a “Kindness Tracker” will tally good deeds and kind gestures Pennsylvanians do throughout the day. Residents are also urged to use #143DayInPA on social media to share and help spread the love.

Follow visitPA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using the hashtag #143DayInPA to help spread the movement across the commonwealth and follow all the good deeds festivities.

(Brighton Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were called to the scene of an accident on Interstate 376 in Brighton Twp. last Friday at 3:50 PM

Upon arriving on the scene and investigating Troopers reported that an unidentified person who was driving a 2013 Chevy Impala reported to them that as they were traveling westbound on Interstate 376  an erratic driver in another burgundy colored Chevy Impala was driving erratically and swerved into the driver’s lane multiple times almost causing a collision. The erratic driver then cut off the victim causing the victim to slam on the brakes and swerve causing the victim’s vehicle to strike a guard rail. The vehicle sustained minor damage and the driver was not injured in the accident. The erratic driver continued to travel westbound on I-376 and was unable to be located by troopers. Troopers did report in the release that two witnesses were able to verify the victims claims. Anyone with information can call state police at the Beaver Barracks at 724- 773-7400

PA State Police have reported via release that on April 18, 2021 at approximately, 7:34 p.m., Beaver’s Patrol Unit pulled over a 2007 Saturn being operated by 52 year old female, Elise Wurtzburger, along Big Beaver Boulevard. Ms. Wurtzburger was believed to be driving under the influence of a controlled substance, and was arrested for suspicion of DUI. Charges pending through District Court 36-3-02.