Category: News

FAA clears Boeing 737 Max to fly again

FAA clears Boeing 737 Max to fly again
By DAVID KOENIG and TOM KRISHER AP Business Writers
After nearly two years and a pair of deadly crashes, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is clearing Boeing’s 737 Max for flight. The nation’s air safety agency announced the move early Wednesday, saying it was done after a comprehensive and methodical 20-month review process. Regulators around the world grounded the Max in March 2019, after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet. That happened less than five months after another Max flown by Indonesia’s Lion Air  plunged into the Java Sea. A total of 346 passengers and crew members on both planes were killed. The planes won’t return to the skies for a while. The FAA says it must approve pilot training changes.

Dolly Parton adds pandemic hero to list of accomplishments

Dolly Parton adds pandemic hero to list of accomplishments
BOSTON (AP) — Dolly Parton is being celebrated in song with a rewritten version of her own “Jolene” for her contribution to an experimental coronavirus vaccine. Northeastern University associate English professor Ryan Cordell posted a video on Twitter of himself performing a tweaked version of Parton’s signature song. It’s renamed “Vaccine” and has drawn tens of thousands of views. The lyrics were written by linguist and author Gretchen McCulloch. She posted them online and invited people to record them. Parton’s $1 million gift to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University helped researchers develop Moderna’s experimental coronavirus vaccine, announced this week.

Peters Twp. Band Disciplined by WPIAL for Costumes Suggestive of Black Face

Pennsylvania school disciplined for marching band’s costumes
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Officials have disciplined a western Pennsylvania high school because of costumes worn by some members of its marching band that were perceived as blackface. The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League on Tuesday placed the Peters Township School District on probation until Oct. 31, 2021 and ordered it to submit a written plan to “educate and eradicate the social and racial insensitivity displayed by the marching band.” At least two members of the band wore black full-body suits during a pregame performance when the school, which is comprised of mostly white students, played Woodland Hills, a predominantly Black school, on Oct. 30. The Woodland Hills community likened the outfits to wearing blackface.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Officials have disciplined a western Pennsylvania high school because of costumes worn by some members of its marching band that were perceived as blackface.
The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League on Tuesday placed the Peters Township School District on probation until Oct. 31, 2021 and ordered it to submit a written plan to “educate and eradicate the social and racial insensitivity displayed by the marching band.”
At least two members of the band wore black full-body suits during a pregame performance when the school, which is comprised of mostly white students, played Woodland Hills, a predominantly Black school, on Oct. 30.
The Woodland Hills community likened the outfits to wearing blackface.
In a statement to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a Peters district spokeswoman said the district found the students “acted without racist or harmful intent.”
“Nonetheless, their choice of costumes, in the context of the game, was insensitive. The investigation also revealed that there were multiple missed opportunities for adults present at the game to address the costumes prior to the students entering the field,” Shelly Belcher said.
“We’re very happy with the outcome of the incident with Peters Township,” Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris told the newspaper.

PennDOT Requests Public Feedback on Transportation Funding

PennDOT Requests Public Feedback on Transportation Funding

Harrisburg, PA – As part of its ongoing work to explore sustainable transportation options, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is requesting public feedback for the PennDOT Pathways Program. Information is accessible at www.penndot.gov/funding and feedback will be accepted through December 17, 2020.

“A safe and reliable transportation network is critical to quality of life for those who travel throughout our state,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “We take our responsibility as stewards of mobility very seriously, which is why we must explore our options.”

The department faces an $8.1 billion gap in its annual highway and bridge transportation funding to keep the network in a state of good repair. Federal funding has remained essentially flat for several years despite rising inflation. Gas taxes, which comprise 74 percent of PennDOT’s funding, have become increasingly unreliable.

Through the PennDOT Pathways program, the department is launching an extensive initiative to examine possible near- and long-term funding solutions – and how they could potentially work in Pennsylvania. As part of this program, PennDOT recently launched an alternative funding Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study as part of the PennDOT Pathways program to explore options for funding the maintenance and improvement of Pennsylvania’s highways and bridges.

PennDOT encourages the public to review the information presented on its online engagement platform and to provide comments. Online comments can be submitted directly from the website, or through the below methods:

  • Email: PennDOTPathways@pa.gov
  • Hotline: 717-325-6129
  • Mail: PA Department of Transportation, Keystone Building, 400 North St., Fifth Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120

For more information about PennDOT Pathways, visit www.penndot.gov/funding.

Aliquippa Women Arrested during Traffic Stop in Aliquippa

Story By Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) An Aliquippa woman was stopped for a traffic violation on Franklin Avenue in Aliquippa  at 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.  According to a police report, Candy Brown, 50 of Aliquippa , showed signs of impairment , and  field sobriety tests were administered. She was placed under  arrest for suspicion  of driving while under the influence of a controlled substance.  She consented to a search of the vehicle and drug paraphernalia found.  Charges are pending  until results of her blood tests are complete.

Pa. State Trooper Cruiser Struck While Investigating Accident on I-376 Tuesday Evening

(Brighton Twp., Pa.) PA State Police reported they were investigating an accident on I-376 in Brighton Township  at 6:30 p.m. when  the cruiser that was parked off the road was struck by a vehicle operated by Brad A. Bartley of Monaca, PA. State Police said  Trooper Zakery Mata was investigating another crash when the cruiser was struck on the slippery road.

No one was injured.  Bartley is charged with  driving at a un-safe speed

Sen. Grassley, 87, says he tested positive for coronavirus

Sen. Grassley, 87, says he tested positive for coronavirus
By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the longest-serving Republican senator and third in the line of presidential succession, says he has tested positive for the coronavirus. The 87-year-old Grassley had said Tuesday morning that he was quarantining after being exposed to the virus and was waiting for the results of a test. On Tuesday evening, he tweeted that he had tested positive. Grassley said he looks forward to “resuming my normal schedule soon.” He did not say how he was exposed. He was in the Senate and voting Monday. By missing votes Tuesday, Grassley broke a 27-year streak of not missing a single Senate vote.

Beaver man faces hearing for DUI Charges

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver Pa.) Zachary Ruskin, 35 of Beaver was arrested by PSP  at 8:33 p.m. October 24 on I-376westbound.  State Police reported that  they made a traffic stop near the Center exit because Ruskin was speeding..  He was found to be under the influence of alcohol, he failed Field Sobriety Tests and was taken into  custody.  He submitted to a chemical test which determined that his Blood Alcohol Level was 0.16% at the time of the traffic stop.

He  has been charged with 1 count each of DUI, speeding, , and careless driving.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15 at 8:45a.m. in Beaver County Central Court.

Center Twp. Board Gives Extension to Sheffield Funeral Home for Proposed Developement

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Center Twp., Pa.) Center Township Supervisors Chairman Bill DicCioccio, Jr. said that the township  has given  a time extension  to Sheffield Funeral Home   per their request   for their preliminary and final land development plan at Union Cemetery. The supervisors discussed the  time extension at last night’s meeting. The township’s zoning hearing board will address the dimensional variance  to construct a chapel, crematory and related burial services at 1400 Chapel Road, Monaca (Center Township). The property is  located in a R-1 low-density residential district.

The zoning hearing board meeting is scheduled for  Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 7 p.m. in the township’s  meeting room.

Dr. Levine Orders to Protect the Health Care System, New Traveler Testing Order, Strengthened Masking Order, Recommendations for Colleges and Universitie

Harrisburg, PA– As Pennsylvania experiences a resurgence of COVID-19 cases with
significantly higher daily case counts than in the spring and hospitalizations on the rise, the
Wolf Administration has identified four new mitigation efforts, which Secretary of Health Dr.
Rachel Levine announced today.
“It is our collective responsibility to protect our communities and our most vulnerable
Pennsylvanians from COVID-19 and to continue to work together to get through this pandemic.
These targeted mitigation efforts, combined with existing ones, are paramount to saving lives
and protecting our economy,” Gov. Wolf said. “The administration will continue to monitor the
risks posed by COVID-19 across the commonwealth and will reinstate or institute new targeted
mitigation tactics as necessary.”
The efforts announced today include:
Protecting Our Health Care System
Dr. Levine issued a memorandum to acute care hospitals outlining expectations to care for
Pennsylvanians who need care during the pandemic.
Hospitals are to work through the established health care coalitions and other partnerships to
prepare for how they will support one another in the event that a hospital becomes
overwhelmed during the pandemic. Hospitals should also be working to move up elective
procedures necessary to protect a person’s health and prepare to suspend them if our health
care system becomes strained.
Restrictions on elective surgeries put into effect in March and lifted in April were to help with
both PPE and bed capacity and were considered successful.
Hospitalizations are increasing, as are ICU patients, and according to modeling from the
Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, which does not take into account hospitalizations
from influenza, Pennsylvania will run out of intensive care beds in December if ICU admissions
continue at the current rate.
The same modeling indicates we will have sufficient medical-surgical beds with some
uncertainty as to capacity from region to region.
Traveler Testing
Dr. Levine issued an order and Gov. Tom Wolf signed a concurrent order requiring anyone who
visits from another state to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to entering the
commonwealth.
If someone cannot get a test or chooses not to, they must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival
in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvanians visiting other states are required to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72
hours prior to their return to the commonwealth or to quarantine for 14 days upon return to
Pennsylvania.
This order, which takes effect on Friday, November 20, does not apply to people who commute
to and from another state for work or medical treatment.
Strengthened Masking Order
Dr. Levine first issued a masking order on April 15. The order signed today strengthens this
initial order with these inclusions:
• Masks are required to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home.
• When outdoors, a mask must be worn if you are not able to remain physically distant (at
least 6 feet away) from someone not in your household the entire time you are
outdoors.
• When indoors, masks will now be required even if you are physically distant from
members not in your household. This means that even if you are able to be 6 feet apart,
you will need to wear a mask while inside if with people other than members of your
household.
• This order applies to every indoor facility, including homes, retail establishments, gyms,
doctors’ offices, public transportation, and anywhere food is prepared, packaged or
served.
Colleges and Universities
The departments of Health and Education issued recommendations for colleges and universities
to implement a testing plan for when students return to campus following the holidays.
These recommendations include establishing routine protocols for testing.
Colleges and universities should have adequate capacity for isolation and quarantine and
should be prepared to enforce violations of established policies such as mask wearing and
physical distancing.
Every college and university should test all students at the beginning of each term, when
returning to campus after a break and to have regular screening testing throughout the
semester/term.
“We must remain united in stopping COVID-19,” Dr. Levine said. “Wear a mask, wash your
hands, stay apart and download the COVID Alert PA app. If you test positive, please answer the
call of the case reviewer and provide information that can help protect others. It’s the selfless,
right thing to do.