Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Chippewa Twp., Pa.) Chippewa Township Police said the owner of Bolland Machine  Shop  in the township reported the theft of  some  TRUMP/PENCE , Senator Elder Vogel, State Representative  Jim Marshall , and Sean Parnell signs.  According to Chippewa Police this is the first report of signs being stolen in the twp..

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Hopewell School Board approved the annual  salary for high school assistant  principal Robert Kartychak at last night’s meeting.  He will receive $91,491.00.

Keystone State News Connection

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new bill in the General Assembly could help Pennsylvania farmers reduce the amount of polluted runoff in rivers and streams and help the state meet its clean water commitments.

Almost one-third of Commonwealth streams don’t meet standards for drinking, fishing or recreation, and farms are a major source of that pollution. Under the multi-state Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint, Pennsylvania is required to have plans in place to reduce water pollution flowing downstream to the bay by 2025.

But according to Harry Campbell, Pennsylvania science policy and advocacy director at the Pennsylvania office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the state’s current plans fall short by more than 25% of pollution reductions and hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

“We believe that this program will put Pennsylvania in the position to achieve those water quality commitments, both locally and certainly within the context of the Chesapeake Bay,” Campbell said.

Senate Bill 1272 would create an Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program to send farmers funding and technical assistance to help keep soil on the land and reduce pollutants entering local waterways.

Darrin Youker, director of state government affairs with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, said farmers are willing to take steps like planting cover crops and streamside trees, no-till farming and reducing nutrient runoff. But he noted the farm economy was suffering even before the pandemic.

“Those cost money, so it’s going to help both on the technical expertise but also the practical, on-the-ground applications that need to be done,” Youker said of the legislation.

Funding from the program would be allocated to county conservation districts based on factors like the amount of land under cultivation and livestock adjacent to impaired streams.

Campbell said Pennsylvania’s farmers want to leave farm land for the next generation that is both beneficial to the environment and has grown more productive through sound agricultural practices.

“These types of investments in our family farms are going to help achieve and maintain that cultural heritage, while boosting our economy in a time where that is of critical importance and concern,” Campbell said.

SB 1272, introduced by Sen. Gene Yaw of Lycoming County, has bipartisan support. It’s been referred to the Senate Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee for consideration.

Keystone State News Connection

Andrea Sears

PITTSBURGH — The number of children without health insurance was rising nationwide and here in Pennsylvania before the COVID pandemic, and a new report predicts that trend will continue.

The report, from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, says after years of progress getting more kids covered by health insurance, between 2016 and 2019, most of the gains for children achieved through the Affordable Care Act were wiped out. According to Laura Stephany, health policy coordinator with Allies for Children, an estimated 726,000 children nationwide are uninsured – and Pennsylvania has the eighth-highest number in the country.

“We have now 128,000 children across the Commonwealth who are uninsured,” Stephany said. “And our percentage of uninsured children also rose.”

She added those losses occurred when the economy was strong and unemployment was low – before the economic impact of the COVID pandemic.

The increase in uninsured children in Pennsylvania was relatively small, about 2,000 additional children. But Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown Center, cautions no increase should be ignored.

“If you look at your state and you see that the number’s going in the wrong direction but it’s not statistically significant, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be worried,” Alker said. “This year, 2020, more kids are probably losing. So, it’s a red flag.”

Research shows children who have health insurance are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college and to be healthier and more productive as adults.

Stephany points out many families have lost health insurance along with parent’s jobs, and the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act will mean more children will be without coverage.

“Pennsylvania has been hit hard by the economic crisis,” Stephany said. “And there is no national effort to inform newly unemployed families about their public coverage options.”

In November, the Trump administration and 18 state attorneys general will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to rule the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa k-9 officer Nicco D’Arrigo  said warrants have been issued for a male and female in connection with the shooting inside Eleanor Roosevelt Apartments at 8:50 p.m. on Sheffield Avenue Thursday night October 8, 2020 . Four persons were involved, according to Officer D’Arrigo A male suffered a gunshot wound  from a 12 gauge shotgun to  his left thigh. The unidentified male was life flighted to a Pittsburgh hospital, and D’Arrigo said he is listed in stable condition.

Barrett’s Supreme Court hearing opens as GOP seeks speedy OK
By MARK SHERMAN, LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing has begun as the Republican-led Senate is charging ahead to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with President Donald Trump’s pick before Election Day. Barring a dramatic development, Republicans appear to have the votes to confirm the 48-year-old conservative appellate judge to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court. In prepared remarks for the Judiciary Committee hearing, Barrett says the courts cannot “right every wrong.” The hearing is like no other with voting underway in many states and the country in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic. Two Republican senators on the panel have tested positive for the virus.

(Ambridge, Pa.) Two people were shot Sunday afternoon in Ambridge. A family members Facebook post states that young kids were breaking into cars Sunday afternoon and when they were approached by the victim one of the youths showed a handgun. The victim and the relative began to chase the group after calling 911 and while they were chasing one member of the group shot at the victim striking him in the neck. The victim was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital and is expected to recover.

Beaver County DA David J. Lozier reported a Monday morning  that Beaver  County Detectives are investigating . The shooting occurred in the  500 block of Merchant and 5th Streets.