Zeta barrels northeast after battering storm-weary coast
By REBECCA SANTANA and KEVIN McGILL Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A fast-moving Zeta weakened to a tropical storm as it ripped through the South on Thursday morning, killing at least two, knocking out power to more than 2 million across the region and prompting a rare tropical storm warning for Atlanta. And officials say life-threatening conditions will last into the day. Zeta weakened over central Alabama but its strong winds continued across portions of the state and the Florida Panhandle early Thursday. The storm was west of Asheville, North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. Zeta was moving quickly toward the northeast at 39 mph.

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa will not have Trick or Treat tonight,  Thursday October 29, 2020  due to the inclement weather!!  The annual event  will be held Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 6-8 p.m. . Council made the decision at last night’s work session.  Councilman Matt Mottes said he and his wife bought plenty of candy for the trick or treaters who stop by his Christine Drive home..

(Beaver County, PA) October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Women’s Center of Beaver County has partnered with Beaver County Radio to produce and publish a four part series on issues associated with Domestic Violence.

One of the most significant ways to combat domestic violence is by making people more aware of the resources that are available to them in their community. The Women’s Center of Beaver County has traditionally been that safe haven and advocate for the victims of domestic violence.  Ann Colella-Murray from the Women’s Center of Beaver County remarked in a recent discussion, that one of the key ways that her organization combats domestic violence is by making a full time helpline available to victims, and the people involved in the support process.

The final segment in this series will be published later this week and explore the topic of  “Counseling Versus Therapy”.

For more information, call the Women’s Center Of Beaver County at 724-775-0131.

‘We need you’: GOP hunts for new voters in Trump territory
By JOSH BOAK Associated Press
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s campaign has a bold theory for how he will win reelection: It can tap a universe of millions of supporters who did not vote for him in 2016 but will do so this time. This strategy will be tested in Pennsylvania, a critical state that Trump carried by only 44,292 votes out of 6.1 million cast in 2016. A Democratic surge of votes in cities and suburbs could quickly erase that narrow lead. To hold on to Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes, the president needs to prove that a hidden groundswell of supporters exists — and will vote.

Philadelphia police shooting of Black man sparks unrest
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police shot and killed a 27-year-old Black man on a Philadelphia street after yelling at him to drop his knife, sparking violent protests that police said injured 30 officers and led to dozens of arrests. The shooting occurred Monday afternoon as officers responded to a call for a person with a weapon. Police spokesperson Tanya Little said officers who arrived ordered the man to drop the knife. Video of the fatal confrontation posted on social media shows officers pointing their guns at the man, later identified as Walter Wallace. He walks toward the officers as they back away from him in the street, guns still aimed at him. Both officers then fired several times. Hundreds of people took to the streets to protest the shooting late Monday into early Tuesday.

Shawn Kelly is a guidance counselor at Karns City High School
No one has seen or heard from Kelly since he left his house Friday night. Shawn Kelly was last seen leaving in a black 2012 Ford Fusion with Pennsylvania license plate JPL-4916. There’s urgency to locate Shawn Kelly because he has Crohn’s Disease and was scheduled for surgery earlier this week at the Cleveland Clinic.
Police have determined that Kelly’s phone is turned off, but they were able to determine that it was last turned on Sunday morning in North Washington, Butler County near the fire department.
State police are investigating. Anyone with information on Kelly’s whereabouts is asked to contact PSP Butler at 724-284-8100.

Republicans see bright spot in 2020 voter registration push
By NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press
The Republican Party has cut into Democrats’ advantage in voter registration tallies across some critical presidential battleground states, a fact they point to as evidence of steady — and overlooked — enthusiasm for President Donald Trump and his party. Even as Trump trails in national polls and struggles with fundraising, Republicans see their progress signing up voters in Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona and other states as a rare bright spot. Democrats appear to have been set back by their decision to curb in-person voter registration drives during much of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 3M in Pennsylvania apply for mail-in ballots
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A week ahead of the Nov. 3 election, applications in Pennsylvania for mail-in or absentee ballots have exceeded 3 million. Tuesday’s the last day to request one. State data shows that, of those applications, more than 57% have been returned to counties. More than 9 million Pennsylvanians have registered to vote, a record high. Meanwhile, Luzerne County on Tuesday asked Justice Amy Coney Barrett to recuse herself from consideration of the state Republican Party’s request that the U.S. Supreme Court block counties from counting mailed-in ballots received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election. The filing by Luzerne County came shortly after Barrett was formally sworn in as the Supreme Court’s ninth justice.

(File Photo)

Deadline for mail ballot application is today, apply at votesPA.com

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar reminded Pennsylvanians that today is the deadline to apply for a mail or absentee ballot for the Nov.3 election. Voters who still have their mail ballot are strongly encouraged to immediately hand-deliver their voted ballot to their county election office or other officially designated site, including drop boxes.

“If you haven’t already, voters with mail ballots should immediately hand-deliver your ballot to your county-designated location,” said Gov. Wolf. “Don’t wait until election day. Hand-delivering your own ballot now will give you the peace of mind that your vote will be counted, and your voice will be heard in this historic election.”

More than 3 million Pennsylvanians have applied to vote by mail, made possible by a new law the governor signed last year creating the most sweeping election reforms in 80 years.

Today is the deadline to apply for their ballot or apply in person for a ballot and vote early.  Counties will mail ballots to voters once the application is verified. The deadline to drop off their completed mail ballots is 8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

“Pennsylvanians have more secure and accessible options for how they cast their ballot than ever before,” said Secretary Boockvar. “Whichever method you choose, the important thing is that you cast your ballot and have a say in our democracy.

As soon as the voter receives the mail ballot, the voter should:

• Read the instructions carefully.
• Fill out the ballot, being sure to follow instructions on how to mark selections.
• Seal the ballot in the white inner secrecy envelope that indicates “official ballot.” Make sure not to make any stray marks on the envelope.
• Then seal the inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope which the voter must sign.
• Complete and sign the voter’s declaration on the outside of the outer return envelope.
• For the ballot to be counted, it must be enclosed in both envelopes and the voter must sign the outer envelope.

Voters can find out information about the status of their ballot by contacting their county election office.

“Pennsylvania is well prepared, and we will have a fair election,” said Gov. Wolf. “Counting more than 3 million mail ballots may take more time than in past elections. All of us will need to be patient as county officials work tirelessly to ensure that all votes are counted. This could take a few days, but we must have accurate results.”

Voters who applied for and received a mail ballot and then decide they want to vote at the polls must bring their entire mail ballot packet with them to be voided, including both envelopes. They may then vote on their county’s voting system.

If a voter applies for a mail ballot but does not return it and no longer has the mail ballot and envelopes, they may vote by provisional ballot at the polls on election day. Their county board of elections will then verify that they did not vote by mail before counting their provisional ballot.

Additionally, if a voter’s absentee or mail ballot is rejected for a reason other than their qualification or eligibility to vote, such as a missing signature or naked ballot, they may vote by provisional ballot.

Under Pennsylvania law, voters may only return their own mail ballot. The only exceptions to this are for voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot, or for voters  who need an emergency absentee ballot. Voters with a disability have several options for how to cast their ballots this election.

For voters with limited English proficiency, mail ballot applications are available in Spanish and Vietnamese. If voters have questions, or need translation services in other languages, they are encouraged to call the Department of State at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).

For more information on voting and elections call the Department of State’s toll-free hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) or visit votesPA.com.