(Ambridge, Pa.) Ambridge police are asking for all residents to check their properties for a missing resident, Gary Kerr, 84 who has dementia. He was last seen at 5 p.m. yesterday. he’s described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, wearing a pink shirt, beige pants and slip on shoes..Lt. Brian Jameson said a short time ago the last time he was missing he was found hiding on someone’s porch .
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Center Twp., Pa.) The Center Twp. Zoning hearing Board will hold a hearing on Wednesday July 29, 2020 to discuss Calvin L Sheffield Financial Services, Inc.’s request for a variance at 1400 Chapel Road for a crematory and events center. The hearing will start at 7 p.m. at the Center Township Municipal building. The property where Calvin Sheffield Financial Services is wanting to put the crematory and events center is currently zoned R-1 low density residential, according to township officials. Several residents have raised questions about the site, and the meeting is open to the public.
AG Shapiro: We’ll Act If DeVos Illegally Withholds School Funding
HARRISBURG―Attorney General Josh Shapiro today wrote a letter to school district superintendents across the Commonwealth addressing the recent threats made by Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to withhold federal funding from schools that do not open for full-time, in-person instruction due to COVID-19. AG Shapiro assured educators that the Office of Attorney General would act if DeVos illegally withholds funding appropriated by Congress.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, educators across our Commonwealth are being forced to make incredibly difficult choices,” wrote Attorney General Shapiro. “Your decisions must balance children’s educational and emotional needs, parents’ ability to return to work, the health and safety of your teachers and staff, and overall public health.
The CDC, Pennsylvania’s Department of Health, and Pennsylvania’s Department of Education have all outlined steps schools can take to mitigate the risk of the virus. While we have learned much about COVID-19, there is still much we do not know about how physical reopening will affect students and their families along with faculty and staff – despite Secretary DeVos’ statements to the contrary.”
DeVos recently announced that she would support the Trump Administration’s plan to force students and faculty back to school in the Fall. The majority of federal education funding is allocated to support low-income communities and students with learning challenges.
“Secretary DeVos has indicated that she may attempt to unilaterally stop Congressionally-appropriated funds from flowing to certain districts and schools in violation of the law. If that happens, in a way that impacts the Commonwealth, I’ll take all appropriate actions,” Attorney General Shapiro concluded.
Cops: 15 injured after shooting outside Chicago funeral home
By HERBERT G. McCANN Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Police say 15 people have been injured in connection with a shooting outside a funeral home on Chicago’s South Side. First Deputy Eric Carter says mourners were fired upon from a passing vehicle. Carter says several targets of the shooting returned fire. The vehicle later crashed and the occupants fled in several directions. One person of interest was being questioned. Carter says all the victims were adults. The shooting comes as the Department of Homeland Security is planning to deploy dozens of federal agents to Chicago to deal with an uptick in violent crime in the city. Tuesday’s shooting follows a weekend that saw 63 people shot, 12 fatally.
Biden launches wide battleground push with ads, surrogates
By BILL BARROW Associated Press
Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is ramping up its advertising and deploying some of its high-profile surrogates as it tries to solidify a broad battleground map that his advisers see as giving the former vice president multiple paths to an Electoral College majority. Biden’s campaign announced Tuesday a $15 million weeklong advertising campaign including television, digital, radio and print in six states: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. President Donald Trump won all six states four years ago. While the Biden moves underscore his wide-ranging approach, they also highlight lingering questions about possibly spreading the campaign too thin.
NEW CASTLE, July 21 – Pa State Rep Chris Sainato yesterday announced an $8,000 grant to the Hickory Township Volunteer Fire Co. will help firefighters guard against the threat of wildfires and brushfires.
Sainato said the grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will fund key resources at a time when they are most needed.
“Hot, dry weather leaves our rural communities and forestland especially vulnerable to the risk of brush and wildfires, which under the right conditions can pose a grave danger to life and property,” Sainato said. “Our volunteer firefighters stand ready – as always – to protect us from the threat, even with limited resources.
“This funding is welcome news because it should help the company pay for training, equipment such as mobile radios and water supply apparatus, and other resources that can keep our volunteers better equipped and better protected.”
The grant is part of package of nearly $592,000 to 109 volunteer firefighting companies statewide. Recipients are selected based on vulnerability and adequacy of existing fire protection, and assistance is granted on a cost-share basis, with recipients supplying matching funds.
Pennsylvania reports more than 1,000 new COVID-19 infections
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — More than a thousand additional coronavirus infections are being reported in Pennsylvania as health officials work to stifle a recent spike in cases. The state Health Department said Tuesday the addition of 1,027 positive cases puts the state’s running tally at nearly 103,000. Pennsylvania’s two biggest cities accounted for about a third of the latest infections, with 139 reported in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, and 168 in Philadelphia. There were also 20 additional deaths statewide. That makes for 7,038 since the pandemic reached Pennsylvania earlier this year.
Locally in Beaver County is up to 983 positive cases. That is an increase of 15 since Monday.
Transgender official takes abuse while leading virus efforts
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
One of Pennsylvania’s most popular fairs is apologizing after a dunk-tank promotion led to accusations of transphobia. The dunk tank featured a man in a dress. The Bloomsburg Fair likened him in a Facebook post to Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman who is Pennsylvania’s health secretary. A U.S. senator and other politicians issued statements of condemnation, and some people said they planned to skip this year’s fair in September. Fair officials apologized Tuesday and said they meant no disrespect. Levine is leading the state’s pandemic response and has been subjected to a stream of mockery and abuse.
Turnpike: Toll hike, 45% non-EZ pass surcharge coming
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Turnpike officials have announced yet another toll increase — 6% beginning early next year — as well as a new 45% surcharge for non-EZ-Pass users whose tolls are assessed by mail based on their license plates. Officials said the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Tuesday approved a 6% increase for EZ-Pass users as well those without passes in the “Toll by Plate” program. But they also approved an average 45% increase over the 2020 cash rate “to reflect the costs of collections for this tolling method.” The new rates are to take effect Jan. 3.
Police: Female body found in trunk of car at auto body shop
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police say a female body was found in the trunk of a car at an auto body shop in west Philadelphia. Police said the female, whose age and race wasn’t immediately available, was found in the trunk of a silver Dodge Charger at Superior Automotives. She was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. There was no immediate word on a possible cause of death. Last week, a woman’s body was found in a large plastic container on a street in south Philadelphia.