Officer charged in Floyd’s death held on $1 million bond
By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis police officer charged with second-degree murder in George Floyd’s death will remain in custody on $1 million bond. Derek Chauvin said almost nothing during an 11-minute hearing Monday in which he appeared on closed-circuit television from the state’s maximum security prison in Oak Park Heights. His attorney, Eric Nelson, did not contest the bail amount. Nelson also didn’t address the substance of the charges. Nelson didn’t speak with reporters afterward. Chauvin’s next appearance is set for June 29.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) On Saturday morning just before 11 a.m. Aliquippa High School’s Class of 2020 Commencement Cavalcade left their starting point on Main Street in front of St. Elijah Church  they proceeded down Main Street into the city The student’s vehicles were  decorated in red and black they , honked horns and waved to bystanders who cheered them on. They  were escorted by Aliquippa Police officer/school resource officer Francis Conkle and Mayor Dwan B. Walker and the fire department .  They proceeded throughout the city on a designated route which ended at the high school. As they ascended the hill to the front of the high school staff held signs in honor of the 60 graduates,  The students were presented with their diplomas  when they exited their vehicles. The event  was made possible  in cooperation with the city and school district.

Photos of both parades are on Beaver County Radio.com

Check out the Photos below from both Parades.

Aliquippa School District

Hopewell School District

Gov. Wolf Announces $225 Million Grant Program for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

Harrisburg, PA — Governor Tom Wolf today announced a $225 million statewide grant program to support small businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis and subsequent business closure order.

“As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and shift our focus toward reopening our commonwealth, we need to help all Pennsylvanians recover. We need to provide assistance for those who were hurt by the pandemic and the resulting economic downturn,” Gov. Wolf said. “This new program will provide direct support to impacted businesses to cover operating expenses during the shutdown and the transition to reopening.”

The funding was developed in partnership with state lawmakers and allocated through the recently enacted state budget, which included $2.6 billion in federal stimulus funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, of which $225 million was earmarked for relief for small businesses.

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) will distribute the funds to the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which will then administer the funding in the form of grants.

Eligible businesses will be able to use the grants to cover operating expenses during the shutdown and transition to re-opening, and for technical assistance including training and guidance for business owners as they stabilize and relaunch their businesses.

The funds will be available through three programs:

• $100 million for the Main Street Business Revitalization Program for small businesses that experienced loss as a result of the governor’s March 19, 2020 order relating to the closure of all non-life-sustaining businesses and have or will incur costs to adapt to new business operations related to COVID-19;
• $100 million for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Revitalization Program for small businesses that experienced loss as a result of the business closure order, have or will incur costs to adapt to new business operations related to COVID-19, and in which socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51 percent interest and also control management and daily business operations.
• $25 million for the Loan Payment Deferment and Loss Reserve Program, which will allow the CDFIs the opportunity to offer forbearance and payment relief for existing portfolio businesses that are struggling due to the impact of COVID, as well as shore up the financial position of the CDFIs that are experiencing significant increased defaults in their existing loan portfolios.

“I want to thank Governor Wolf for engaging leadership in the General Assembly to inform the process of moving federal aid out to those who have been most harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I also want to thank the leadership of the Senate Democratic caucus who worked with our members to formulate a strategic plan for the deployment of nearly $4 billion in federal assistance,” said state Senator John Blake (D-Lackawanna). “The Main Street Business Revitalization program is a reflection of that cooperation and leadership and it will meet Pennsylvania’s small business owners where they are, on Main Street, after nearly three months of lost or no sales. It will enable small business owners throughout the commonwealth to meet their insurance payments, rents, health insurance premiums, local taxes and other expenses that they otherwise could not meet due to lost sales. Finally, I want to thank the 17 CDFIs throughout the state as well as DCED for their professionalism, agility, urgency and dedication to getting this federal funding to the small businesses that need it most as quickly as possible.”

“The Main Street Business and Historically Disadvantaged Revitalization Programs will provide welcomed relief for mom and pop businesses in neighborhoods across the commonwealth. Since this pandemic began, we have heard the needs of the auto body shops, the barbershops, the beauticians, the pizza shop owners, the soul food establishments and other businesses in our communities. The needs of these businesses that were unable to get much needed help from other state and federal programs were a priority in our Senate Democratic Caucus’ April 29 PA CARES Program announcement,” said state Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery). “For months, my office has worked with a network of trusted community organizations that have a proven track record of working with our small businesses, the CDFIs, to find a solution to assist our neighborhood businesses. I believe these programs are that solution. There is still more work to be done, but these programs are a win for Pennsylvania and its small businesses.”

“Small businesses bore the brunt of the economic impacts of the pandemic. This investment is a good first step toward their recovery and the recovery of communities across the commonwealth,” said House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. “This program will benefit multiple diverse industries, brought forward from many partners in the legislature, including Reps. Jared Solomon, Morgan Cephas, Jake Wheatley, Ryan Bizzarro, Chris Sappey and Melissa Shusterman.”

The PA CDFI Network is a group of 17 PA-based community development financial institutions that primarily provide financing options for small businesses.

“We are pleased to work with the governor on the COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance program to provide economic opportunities for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said James Burnett, vice chairman of the PA CDFI Network. “We know how important it is to support the smallest, most vulnerable businesses throughout the commonwealth, including historically disadvantaged and main street businesses.”

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver Falls,Pa.) Beaver Falls  Police Chief David Johnson said this morning  that an incident that occurred in the city  at an undisclosed location over this past weekend is under  investigation. He said that reports that the incident occurred at the Sheetz convenience store on College Hill in Beaver Falls  are false.

Most stocks on Wall Street rise again on hopes for economy
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Most stocks are rising on Wall Street as markets continue to ride the high supplied by Friday’s surprisingly encouraging report on the U.S. jobs market. The S&P 500 was up 0.3% in morning trading on Monday, bringing it back within 5.4% of its record set in February. Optimism is strengthening that the worst of the coronavirus-induced recession may have already passed. Stocks that would benefit most from an economy that’s growing again were making the biggest gains, but pullbacks for a handful of big tech stalwarts were keeping the market’s overall gains in check.

BP to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide amid virus pandemic
By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — Energy company BP says it will cut its global workforce by 10,000 jobs amid the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CEO said Monday that the cuts will affect office-based and come mostly this year. The company’s current global  workforce is 70,000. The job cuts come at a time of tremendous change for BP, which said it wants to eliminate or offset all carbon emissions from its operations and the oil and gas it sells to customers by 2050. The pandemic, meanwhile, has caused huge turmoil for the industry by causing demand for energy to plummet.

AHN Wexford Hospital Remains on Schedule for Opening in 2021

WEXFORD, Pa. (June 8, 2020) – Nearly one year from its anticipated fall 2021 opening, construction of Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Wexford Hospital is progressing safely and remains on schedule according to network officials. The new, 160-bed hospital in Pine Township will offer residents of Pittsburgh’s northern suburbs enhanced access to a wide range of advanced specialty care.

“Despite the many unexpected challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the exception granted for construction of healthcare facilities enabled us to continue to make progress with the building of this beautiful, state-of-the-art facility and we are excited about opening its doors next year,” said Allan Klapper, MD, President, Wexford Hospital.

AHN Wexford Hospital will offer comprehensive women and infant care, including labor and delivery services; advanced cardiac, neurosurgical, orthopaedic, and cancer care; a 24-room emergency department and short-stay observation unit; an adult intensive care unit (ICU); operating rooms that provide minimally-invasive robotic surgical capabilities; 160 all-private inpatient rooms; and a host of other clinical programs, amenities and services.

The hospital will feature an intuitive, patient- and family-centered design which aims to foster a first-class patient and visitor experience. In addition to amenities such as free self-parking and complimentary valet parking, large inpatient rooms will have ample sitting space and recumbent sleeping options.

Among the hospital’s hotel-like concierge services, patients will be able to control their own environment, enabling them to set the temperature, lighting and entertainment to their satisfaction, and order from a room-service menu. Exterior views providing patient rooms with natural light will make for an attractive, comfortable environment that promotes health and wellness.

The 345,000-square-foot facility is the single-largest investment in AHN’s history and is expected to employ more than 750 health care professionals. The hospital will be adjacent to AHN’s Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion on U.S. Route 19 (12311 Perry Highway) and will closely integrate with the pavilion’s comprehensive clinical and retail health services.

Since placing the final steel beam in the architecture of the hospital last October, progress has been made on the main hospital tower, parking garage and onsite power plant. This natural gas-fired electric power generation, heating and cooling facility constructed in partnership with Peoples Natural Gas will provide for increased efficiency and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, while serving as a redundant source of power to the hospital.

Following Dr. Klapper’s appointment as president of the hospital in 2018, Wexford Hospital’s leadership has continued to expand with the appointments of Amy Cashdollar as Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Graper as Chief Nursing Officer, James Kanuch as Chief Financial Officer and Suzanne Labriola, DO, as interim Chief Medical Officer. The naming of key clinical leaders in areas such as emergency services and cardiovascular services is expected in the coming months.

“Bringing remarkable healthcare to the Wexford community also requires building a world-class team of physicians, nurses and caregivers at every level to deliver the exceptional experience our patients deserve within these walls. We are thrilled with the tremendous interest we have received from talented healthcare professionals, both locally and from around the country, who want to be part of that team,” said Dr. Klapper.

Democrats look to counter GOP vote-by-mail fraud claims
By BRIAN SLODYSKO and NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are mounting a new effort to push back against a well-funded Republican campaign that seeks to undermine public confidence in mail-in voting. An organization called Fair Fight, led by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, has joined forces with Priorities USA, the largest Democratic outside group, and American Bridge, the party’s opposition research clearinghouse, to form a new effort called Voter Suppression Watch.  The aim is to not only counter Republicans in the courts, but in public relations, too, while playing offense by providing opposition research that often forms the grist of news stories.

Building works re-start in Paris’ fire-ravaged Notre Dame
By The Associated Press undefined
PARIS (AP) — Works have re-started in Paris’ fire-ravaged Notre Dame cathedral after a hiatus linked to the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday morning operations recommenced to dismantle scaffolding that was already in place before the April 2019 fire amid previous restoration efforts on the old structures. This current phase of works has been deemed highly dangerous because the scaffolding weighs over 200 tons, and is thought to have melted together in areas because of the heat of the blaze.