Harrisburg, Pa. Pa. Governor Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine held a press conference on Friday afternoon to announce 13 more counties moving from a red phase to a yellow phase next Friday, May 15, 2020. Beaver County was not included on that list and Political figures throughout the area are not happy with the decision.
During the Press conference Gov. Wolf was asked why not Beaver County? Press the play button below to hear what he said:
Matzie questions governor’s decision to keep Beaver County closed
Says excluding county from others moving to ‘yellow,’ open status May 15 makes ‘zero sense’
AMBRIDGE, May 8 – State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement today that Beaver County will remain in the “red,” closed status, when surrounding counties – including Allegheny County – move to the “yellow,” open phase of the state’s reopen plan on May 15.
“Beaver County remaining in COVID red status, due to inflated numbers from one nursing home, makes zero sense. I’ve been urging the administration, for over a month, to intervene in the dire situation at Brighton Rehab. I directly informed the Department of Health of my concerns about the lack of transparency with residents, families and the public.
“So now, a facility that is responsible for nearly 70% of our county’ total cases, is being used as a reason to hold us back? It’s unacceptable.
“We took the directive – stay calm, stay home, stay safe – to heart. We social distanced, wore masks and gloves.
“Our businesses suffered; our workers suffered. But we did it to help protect the health and well-being of our friends, families and neighbors. And while far too many of our people tragically died, that tragedy could have been far, far worse. We are ready to move forward. We are ready to start our recovery. We must continue to utilize necessary safeguards to protect ourselves and those we may be in contact with for the foreseeable future. We are ready to safely and responsibly move to the yellow phase.
“I’ve already asked privately, so now I’ll make the request publicly. Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine, it’s time to move Beaver County to yellow status.”
Eastbound I-376 Beaver Valley Expressway Bridge Inspection Next Week in Brighton Township
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing work to inspect the eastbound I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) bridge over Bradys Run Park in Brighton Township, Beaver County, will occur Monday through Thursday, May 11-14 weather permitting.
A single-lane restriction on the westbound I-376 bridge located over Bradys Run Park between the Chippewa (Exit 31) and Brighton (Exit 36) interchanges will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Crews from CDM Smith will conduct the inspection activities.
Motorists can check 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 950 traffic cameras.
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.
(Beaver Falls, Pa,) Tune into 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, 99.3 FM, and beavercountyradio.com at 2:00 p.m. today for a virtual press conference with Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine. They will provide an update on the coronavirus known as COVID-19 and efforts to mitigate the virus in Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Wolf is also expected to announce more counties moving from the red phase to yellow phase starting next Friday May 15, 2020
We will have full coverage of the Governor’s Press Conference at 2:00 p.m. Courtesy of Common Wealth Media Services.
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
Aliquippa City Council met Wednesday night on ZOOM and approved a $53,000 contract with HRG for the Zoning and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance updates . Council discussed the county’s Community Development Block Grant re qualification process for the fiscal years 2021-2023. The county is required to obtain a cooperation agreement from third-class cities that choose to be included. The resolution is due June 7, 2020. . The funding, when received, is for demolition of blighted structures, playgrounds and other projects.
Train kills 15 migrant workers walking home in India
NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s Railways Ministry says a train has plowed through a group of migrant workers who fell asleep on the tracks after walking back home from a coronavirus lockdown. It says the driver of the cargo train tried but failed to stop in time in Maharashtra state. The Press Trust of India news agency says the workers were walking to their home state in central India after they lost jobs when the country went into a strict lockdown on March 25. Early this week the government started running trains to carry stranded workers to their home states. But a lack of trains led many to walk back. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was anguished by the loss of lives.
Jetliner hits, kills man on Austin, Texas, airport runway
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A man was struck and killed by a commercial jet landing on a runway at an Austin, Texas, airport. Authorities say it happened Thursday night at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration says the pilot of a Southwest Airlines flight arriving from Dallas reported seeing a person on Runway 17-Right shortly after touching down at 8:12 p.m. The driver of an airport operations vehicle later found the body on the runway. Airport spokesman Bryce Dubee says officials don’t believe the man was supposed to be on Runway 17-R at the time, but they’re working to confirm that and determine the events leading up to his death.
World War II veterans to join Trump at V-E Day ceremony
By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight World War II veterans will join President Donald Trump at a wreath-laying ceremony Friday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, White House officials describe the veterans as “choosing nation over self” by joining Trump at the World War II Memorial ceremony. The veterans range in age from the mid 90s to 100. White House spokesman Judd Deere says, “These heroes are living testaments to the American spirit of perseverance and victory, especially in the midst of dark days.” The veterans joining Trump include 97-year-old Gregory Melikian, of Phoenix, who sent the coded message to the world that the Germans had unconditionally surrendered.
A devastating jobs report for April will show virus’s impact
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is poised to report the worst set of job numbers since record-keeping began in 1948, a snapshot of the devastating damage the coronavirus outbreak has inflicted on the economy. The unemployment rate could reach 16% or more. Twenty-one million jobs may have been lost in April. If so, it would mean that nearly all the job growth in the 11 years since the Great Recession ended had vanished in one month. Even those grim numbers won’t fully capture the scope of the damage the coronavirus has inflicted on jobs and incomes. Many people who are still employed have had their hours reduced. Others have suffered pay cuts.
VE Day clashes with virus chaos, veterans left in limbo
By RAF CASERT Associated Press
BRUSSELS (AP) — The 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe should be all about parades, remembrances and one last great hurrah for veteran soldiers who are mostly in their nineties. Instead, it is a time of coronavirus lockdown and loneliness spent in search of memories both bitter and sweet. And comparing the world’s fight to contain the coronavirus crisis with the real war doesn’t sit well with some. It all adds to the sense of wistful melancholy that hangs as a heavy, dark cloak across many countries that were victorious in 1945.