(Beaver, Pa.) Beaver County Commissioners during their regularly scheduled meeting yesterday approved contracts to begin the process of refinancing old bonds and obtaining new money.
The Commissioners continued to meet virtually on the Beaver County website with only media present at the meeting due to the COVID-19. Chief county solicitor Garen Fedeles said early estimates indicate that the board plans to refinance about $20 million in previously obtained money while taking out an additional $20 million in debt. About $13 million would be used for capital improvements recommended during the recent Consultation Energy audit of the county’s properties. An additional $7 million will be used to pay for the court-ordered property reassessment.
Fedeles said the exact numbers for the three bonds will be determined later in the process.
Canada mass shooting erupted from argument, official says
By ROB GILLIES Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) — A Canadian police official says the country’s worst mass shooting erupted from an argument between the gunman and his girlfriend, who survived the attack. The official confirmed to The Associated Press late Thursday that the weekend rampage stemmed from a domestic dispute involving the couple. The official said more details will be provided at a new conference Friday. The suspect was shot to death Sunday morning, about 13 hours after the attacks began. Police have identified him as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman. They say he acted alone.
Republicans leap to reopen economy; Democrats more cautious
By MEG KINNARD Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Mostly Republican governors in a handful of states are racing ahead with reboots to their economy before they have met key health benchmarks recommended to control the coronavirus outbreak. Their approach stands in contrast to numerous Democratic governors who continue to maintain a cautious approach to reopening and have said they will base their decisions primarily on public health data. Governors pushing to fast-track their economic rebounds say they don’t want to endanger their residents, but numerous public health experts say that is what could happen if they don’t slow down.
Trump set to sign bill with nearly $500B more in virus aid
By ANDREW TAYLOR and ALAN FRAM Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will be holding a signing ceremony Friday for a bill providing a nearly $500 billion infusion of coronavirus spending. It’s aimed at rushing new relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of a pandemic that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and one in six U.S. jobs. Congress approved the spending almost unanimously on Thursday. House lawmakers gathered in Washington for the first time since March 27, adopting stricter social distancing rules while aiming to prove they can do their work despite the COVID-19 crisis. Easy passage of the measure belies a potentially bumpier path ahead for future legislation.
(Pittsburgh,Pa.) With Gov. Wolf setting a plan to reopen Pennsylvania in phases the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has come up with a plan to offer some sacraments with restrictions. Weddings, funerals and confession are the sacraments being addressed by the diocese.
Weddings: They can be celebrated with no more than 10 people, including the officiant. Couples are advised that once the ritual of matrimony is celebrated, it cannot be repeated, so a Mass of Thanksgiving sometime after the actual wedding ceremony can be planned if the couple wishes for more than 10 people gather.
Funerals: In exceptional circumstances, funerals with a Mass can be scheduled, but with a limit of 10 people or less. The diocese noted that cemeteries are still closed for public interments.
Confession: The Sacrament of Penance can be celebrated, but only outdoors, either in parking lots or another place where social distancing is respected. It cannot be done in churches, rectories or any parish buildings.
Carrying out the directives will be at the discretion of individual parish administrators, according to the diocese. People should contact their pastor with questions.
Until further notice, church buildings are not being reopened and public celebrations of Mass continues to be suspended.
(Monaca, PA) The brief sunshine on Thursday morning wasn’t the only reason people were smiling along Wagner Road in Center Township. The weekly free food distribution by Faith Restorations Food Pantry may have also played a part. With a high number of local residents suddenly without work, and in many cases without paychecks or unemployment compensation yet due to the COVID-19 business shutdown, the amount of food being given away has doubled in recent days. On Thursday, John Leonard, a volunteer with Faith Restorations, paused unloading a truck full of donated food and hopped down off of a fork lift to offer an observation about the recent spike in the need area families now have for the food.
Volunteers prepare boxes of food at Faith Restorations Food Pantry.
Faith Restorations Food Pantry relies on donations to supply the food, both cash and actual food donations. Sean Minahan and Michael Baux from Sodexo Food Service at The University of Pittsburgh had arrived earlier yesterday morning to the warehouse with a truck full of much needed food. It seems that with all of the Pitt students home taking classes online, Minahan no longer has to plan dining options and meals for thousands of hungry students every day, so this was a perfect match of time and resources.
Vehicles efficiently pass through the lanes to receive a weekly food allotment.
Around 3,200 families are now being served by Faith Restorations Food Pantry. Everyone is welcome. Distribution schedule is as follows: Mondays beginning around 9 A.M. for Veterans. The general public can take advantage of the free food distribution on Tuesday evenings starting at 4:30 P.M. and also on Thursday mornings beginning at 10 A.M. Leonard commented that the need is so great right now that many times, cars will begin to line up four or five hours early. Indeed on Thursday, vehicles were lined up all the way out on to Route 18 in front of Wal Mart and heading down the hill toward Monaca. Once open however, the assembly line style process was pretty efficient with two lines of cars quickly passing through and dozens of volunteers dropping prepared boxes of food into the awaiting hatchbacks of cars.
Cars line up early on Wagner Road and Route 18 in Center Township Thursday’s free food distribution at Faith Restorations Food Pantry.
Providing much needed free food to is something that has an effect that still amazes John Leonard.
Faith Restorations Food Pantry can be reached at 724-709-7718, or click here for more information about the organization’s mission.
Beaver Falls, PA.) Tune into 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, 99.3 FM, and beavercountyradio.com at 9:35 a.m. Friday April 24, 2020 during Teleforum with Frank Sparks. U.S. Representative for the 17th District Conor Lamb will be Frank’s guest via telephone to talk about the Economic Relief Package that was passed yesterday. Representative Lamb will discuss his feelings and where does he feel we need to go next with Economic Relief. The Congressman will also give his thoughts on whether he agrees with Proxy voting or not.
Swing-state Republicans pin virus fallout on Democrats
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With legions out of work, Republicans across the critical battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin are increasingly laying blame for the economic wreckage of the coronavirus outbreak on the stay-at-home orders or business shutdowns imposed by Democratic governors. They are ramping up a political strategy that is likely to shape the debate in the run-up to the presidential election. It comes as some governors, mostly President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans, are beginning to ease their orders and as the GOP has started to position itself as the defender of the economy, even if it means taking health risks.
Throwback Thursday: Steelers rare first-round spectators
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers were expected to spend the first round of the NFL draft as spectators. The team traded its first pick in this year’s draft last September in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. He earned All-Pro honors in 2019 thanks to a series of dynamic plays that helped keep the injury-ravaged club in the playoff hunt until the final weeks of the season. Pittsburgh likely won’t be on the clock until the middle of the second round, where it has the 49th overall pick.
Lawmakers, many in masks, debate mammoth new aid package
By ANDREW TAYLOR and ALAN FRAM Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A nearly $500 billion measure helping businesses and hospitals cope with the coronavirus’ devastation is edging toward House passage. Many lawmakers were wearing face masks and scarfs as they met to consider the measure on Thursday. The package is headed toward certain, overwhelming approval later in the day. That would send the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature. The Senate approved the legislation Tuesday. But partisan divides remain over the legislation. Republicans complained Democrats had delayed the original version of bill, which included only money for small businesses. Democrats ended up winning more money for small businesses and hospitals.
