Gov. Wolf Addresses Protests, Provides Update on Commonwealth Response

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today provided an update on the steps the commonwealth is taking in response to violence and looting following peaceful protests across Pennsylvania over the weekend to condemn racism, oppression and injustice.

“Every Pennsylvanian should speak out against violence and oppression, and the recent murder of George Floyd in Minnesota has rightfully outraged many of us. Pennsylvanians are joining together to speak out against this injustice, and make their voices heard, peacefully,” Governor Wolf said. “But yesterday was a challenging day for many cities in our commonwealth as these peaceful protests were co-opted by violence and looting. This is unacceptable.”

On Saturday, the governor signed a disaster emergency declaration using his authority to provide all necessary assistance to municipalities as they respond to the escalation of protests in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The governor also announced the expanded activation of the Commonwealth Response Coordination Center at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). That activation, combined with the declaration, authorizes PEMA to direct emergency operations in Allegheny, Dauphin and Philadelphia counties, allocating all resources and personnel as deemed necessary to cope with the situation.

“I will continue to work with Mayors Kenney, Peduto, Papenfuse, and others to make sure that everyone is able to make their voices heard, while keeping each other safe, and I want to thank of all our first responders,” Governor Wolf said. “I urge everyone to be peaceful. I urge everyone to have respect for our communities and our neighbors. I urge all of us to continue to call out injustice. I don’t want to lose sight of why we are here.

“I want to again send my condolences to the family and friends of George Floyd, and everyone impacted by oppression, racism, and violence,” Wolf said. “Every day, in every corner of our society, we need to work at eliminating racism. That means we need to do our part to address racism – from the smallest thought to the biggest action – here in Pennsylvania, too.”

(Beaver County, PA)    For 11 weeks  now, reaction to the coronavirus pandemic continues to force the suspension or cancellation of large gatherings, including worship services across Pennsylvania.  Along that line, WBVP, WMBA and 99.3 F.M. are pleased to provide a way for worship to still be a part of Sunday even though the sanctuaries are closed . Local listeners and parishioners can tune in to WBVP. WMBA, 99.3 F.M. and the Beaver County Radio live online audio stream to seven different local church and faith based programs this week.

The Line Up For Sunday May 31 – Wednesday June 3, 2020:

Sunday starts off with “Sounds of Faith”, a two hour inspirational segment  of worship and praise music that airs from 7 until 9 A.M.

At 9 A.M.  live Sunday Mass from St. Monica Catholic Parish in Chippewa will still take place even though the church is closed to the public.

Then at 10 A.M., A recorded broadcast from First Presbyterian Church in Rochester featuring Reverend Lee Bittner along with special music from Mike Neely.

The Sunday morning 10:30 A.M. slot features Pastor Jan Davis from Central United Methodist Church in Beaver Falls, who will engage with listeners via a recorded sermon.

At noon, Senior Pastor Cliff Reynolds from Word Alive church in Ellwood City will be featured with a recorded message entitled “Your New Identity”  The Word Alive broadcast is sponsored by Hamilton Tool and Supply in Beaver Falls.

Then, from 1 to 2 P.M., a special live broadcast will be aired from The New Galilee Church of the Nazarene featuring Pastor Andy Russell speaking from the “drive in church” pulpit.  Much like the old drive in movies of years past, Pastor Russell plans on preaching from the parking lot this Sunday and inviting people to pull up, park, and tune the car radio in to 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA or 99.3 F.M. to hear his special  Sunday message.

On Wednesday at 5:30 P.M., Pastor Rod Smith from Mountain Ministries will present his recorded message: “Good News From The Mountain.”

All seven segments will air on WBVP,  WMBA,  99.3 F.M. and The Beaver County Radio Live Audio Stream.

Minneapolis cop who knelt on man’s neck charged with murder
By TIM SULLIVAN and AMY FORLITI Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis officer who was seen on video kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died in custody after pleading that he could not breathe, has been arrested and charged with murder. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says Derek Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, after his office gathered enough evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. He did not have immediate details, but said a criminal complaint would be made available later. The charges come after three days of protests, which had been escalating in violence.

Matzie supports budget-related bills

HARRISBURG, May 29 – Pennsylvania nursing and personal care homes at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic would receive more than $630 million in federal CARES Act funding under legislation the House passed unanimously yesterday, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced.

Matzie, who has led the charge to investigate and address the spiraling infection and death rates in nursing and long-term care facilities statewide, said he is relieved that a large chunk of $2.6 billion in federal CARES Act funding is going where it is needed most – to address the crisis facing seniors in care facilities.

“It is beyond frustrating to read the statistics on mounting deaths and see our seniors being held hostage by this virus without being able to go in and do something to address it,” said Matzie, whose legislation recently prompted the state to begin universal testing in facilities. “Now, thanks to this infusion of funding, we will have the test kits, personal protective equipment, additional staffing and other critical resources to start bringing the situation under control.”

Beyond the assistance to nursing homes, Matzie said the CARES Act funding will provide $50 million to volunteer fire and EMS companies, which lost key sources of revenue when the pandemic forced a halt to fundraising efforts.

“We ask our first responders to combat any form of disaster, and to do so with tight budgets and limited resources,” Matzie said. “Now, a new and unforeseeable danger has been demanding even more of these heroes, while at the same time cutting off a reliable form of revenue. This funding will ensure that they have the equipment and other resources they need to stay safe while protecting the rest of us.”

Matzie said he expects the governor to sign the legislation – which among other funding also allocates about $870 million for small business and local government relief, $347 million for education and early childhood resources, and $260 million to help people with intellectual disabilities – in the near future.

“For our seniors and most vulnerable to those who are committed to protecting them, the funding can’t come soon enough. It’s good to know we’re on the path to progress,” he said.

Matzie added that the bills passed would also restore a $300 million property tax shortfall created by the budget.

Gov. Wolf Signs Budget to Sustain Education, Support Communities Amid Pandemic

Harrisburg, PA – As Pennsylvania continues to address public health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tom Wolf today signed a state budget that will provide 12 months of sustained public education funding at 2019-20 levels and makes important investments in communities and programs to help begin to restore the economy.

“Education must remain a priority even during a pandemic and this budget provides schools with the stability to continue building on the progress we have made to prepare our children for a successful future,” said Gov. Wolf. “Reaching an early budget agreement under these challenging circumstances is encouraging as we continue to fight the spread of COVID-19.

“While this is an encouraging step in the right direction, more needs to be done to ensure Pennsylvania has the resources it needs to protect key programs and investments.”

The $25.75 billion General Fund budget in HB 2387 includes an additional $2.6 billion in federal funding provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act. The budget sustains funding at current year levels for Pre-K Counts and Head Start, basic and special education in K-12 schools, and higher education. The budget also provides $300 million from the CARES Act to make up for a decline in gaming revenue that annually supports school property tax relief for homeowners.

To help communities to recover, the budget provides $420 million to assist nursing homes with COVID-19-related costs, $50 million to help Pennsylvanians with food insecurity and $225 million for grants to small businesses through the Department of Community and Economic Development.

The budget also provides $625 million to counties through block grants to help address the disruption to their budgets from the pandemic. The funding will assist counties with the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment, help local governments, and provide grants to small businesses, among other options.

“As the state’s economy begins to reopen from the public health emergency, there are still unanswered questions about the state’s finances, but this agreement is an important step to stabilize our schools and put Pennsylvania on a path to recovery,” said Gov. Wolf.

The governor also signed HB 1083, HB 2441, HB 2442, HB 2443, HB 2444, HB 2445, HB 2467, HB 2468, HB 2469, HB 2470, HB 2471, HB 2472, HB 2473, HB 2474, HB 2475, HB 2510, SB 166, SB 1108 and SB 1122. The governor vetoed SB 1027 and HCRRR#1.

Route 18 7^th Avenue Improvements Continue Next Week in New Brighton and Beaver Falls

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing roadway improvement work on Route 18 (7^th Avenue, 7^th Street) in the City of Beaver Falls and New Brighton Borough, Beaver County, will continue Monday through Friday, June 1-5 weather permitting.

Beginning Monday, single-lane restrictions will occur on Route 18 in both directions between 5^th Street (Route 65) in New Brighton and 20^th Street in Beaver Falls from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Friday, June 5. Crews will conduct punch list asphalt paving activities.

6. Liberoni, Inc. is the prime contractor on the $6.05 million project. The overall project is anticipated to conclude in July of 2020 which also included milling and resurfacing, guide rail improvements, and signal updates. Additional traffic safety improvements include a “road diet” (from the existing four lanes down to three lanes), curb extensions, bicycle lanes, and revised street parking between 3rd Street and 20th Street in the City of Beaver Falls.

Please use caution if traveling in this area.

Work on this project will be in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which will include protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job-site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the jobsite, and relevant training.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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 Twitte

Southbound Route 18 Ramp to Pleasant Street Long-term Closure Begins Monday in Beaver County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of the southbound Route 18 ramp to Pleasant Street in Rochester Borough, Beaver County will begin Monday, June 1 weather permitting.

Beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, the ramp that carries traffic from southbound Route 18 to Pleasant Street will close to traffic around-the-clock through Tuesday, June 12 as crews conduct dam replacement. Traffic will be detoured.

Posted Detour

Southbound Route 18 Ramp to Pleasant Street

• Continue on southbound Route 18/65 past the closed ramp
• Take the left-hand ramp to southbound Route 51
• Turn right and cross the Monaca-East Rochester Bridge
• Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 4044)
• Turn right onto Route 18 (9^thStreet) and cross the Rochester-Monaca Bridge
• Follow to Pleasant Street
• End detour

Gulisek Construction, LLC is the prime contractor on this $10.07 million improvement project.