The Beaver School Board held a virtual voting session tonight where board members voted on a couple of  pandemic related motions.  The first motion was for the district to return to full 5 day in class instruction.  The board voted unanimously against it.  The district will continue having 4 days of in class instruction, while partaking in what they refer to as “Virtual Wednesdays”.  On Wednesdays, students attend virtual sessions for instruction and help for classes.  Teachers are also able to take advantage of these virtual sessions to make sure students that are attending class in person and students that have opted to be virtual full time are all on the same page. 91% of the teachers were said to be opposed to 5 day instruction. The board then went on to vote on a motion to remove plastic dividers and barriers from the district buildings with the exception of lunch areas.  Some members of the board argued that the plastic barriers are unnecessary because the students remain 6 feet apart and wear masks, and some said they would like to give the teachers the opportunity to decide for themselves.  Ultimately, the motion was shut down during the vote.  The board also voted yes to not require masks for spring sports unless players are in close proximity, such as in a dugout, as well as allowing indoor practices in the event of poor weather conditions.

On Tuesday’s A.M. Beaver County, Matt will dig deeper into the controversial discovery of a Facebook Group associated with Pittsburgh Police and the effects it could have on the upcoming summer revival.

Also, speaking of effects–the role Pittsburgh and surrounding areas played in the cancellation of Kenny Chesney’s 2021 tour–and it may not be the only one.

6:30 to 9:00 weekdays, it’s A.M. Beaver County.

Spring Training baseball is in its dying days and regular season baseball is drawing near.

Pirates broadcaster John Wehner joined Matt Drzik to talk about the Bucs’ 9-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on March 21, and how the main players in the regular season hitting core have maintained a strong presence throughout exhibition baseball. He also talked about the prospects of young pitchers Will Crow (who beat the Red Sox) and Mitch Keller (who started today against Baltimore).

To listen to the full Report, click on the player below!

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, a Republican from western New York who was accused last week of rubbing a female lobbyist’s back and unhooking her bra without her consent in 2017, apologized to the woman on Sunday and announced that he will not run for reelection next year. Reed said in a statement that the incident involving then-lobbyist Nicolette Davis occurred “at a time in my life in which I was struggling.” He said he entered treatment that year and realized he was “powerless over alcohol.” Reed was first elected to Congress inn 2010. Reed said he would not seek any elective office in 2022.

Despite the clamor to speed up the U.S. vaccination drive against COVID-19, the first three months of the rollout suggest faster is not necessarily better. A surprising new analysis found that states such as South Carolina and Florida that raced to offer the vaccine to ever-larger groups of people have vaccinated smaller shares of their population than those that moved more slowly and methodically, such as Hawaii and Connecticut. The explanation, as experts see it: The rapid expansion of eligibility caused a surge in demand too big for some states to handle. The result was serious disarray, confusion and frustration. The analysis may hold an important lesson for states as they rush to meet President Joe Biden’s goal of making all adults eligible for vaccination by May 1.

Legislation that aims to bolster U.S. news organizations in negotiations with tech companies has supporters hoping that third time’s the charm. The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act was introduced in March for the third time since 2018. It would offer publishers a four-year exemption from antitrust law so they can negotiate as a group with Facebook and Google. Australia and other countries have started pushing their mechanisms to support news publishers against the tech giants that dominate online advertising. Publishers argue they also squeeze news organizations out of digital ad revenue and exert undue control over who can see their journalism.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jury selection has entered its third week for a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death, with at least two more jurors needed ahead of opening statements next week. Thirteen jurors have been seated for Derek Chauvin’s trial on murder and manslaughter charges. The judge has said two more will be seated ahead of opening statements expected March 29. An earlier court order said up to 16 total would be chosen. Only 12 will deliberate; the others will be alternates. Last week, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill declined defense requests to delay or move the trial over concerns that a massive settlement to George Floyd’s family would affect the jury.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will consider reinstating the death sentence for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, presenting President Joe Biden with an early test of his opposition to capital punishment. The justices agreed Monday to hear an appeal filed by the Trump administration, which carried out executions of 13 federal inmates in its final six months in office. The case won’t be heard until the fall, and it’s unclear how the new administration will approach Tsarnaev’s case. The initial prosecution and decision to seek a death sentence was made by the Obama administration, in which Biden served as vice president. But Biden has pledged to seek an end to the federal death penalty.