Category: News

Steelers rally past Colts to end skid, lock up AFC North

Steelers rally past Colts to end skid, lock up AFC North
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are AFC North champions. Finally. Ben Roethlisberger overcame a month-long malaise to throw for 342 yards and three second-half touchdowns as the Steelers locked up the division title with a stunningly improbable 28-24 victory. Listless and lifeless for weeks thanks to a three-game losing streak that followed an 11-0 start, Pittsburgh (12-3) somehow got it together over the final 25 minutes against the Colts (10-5). Indianapolis missed a chance to inch closer to a playoff berth when it let a 17-point third-quarter lead slip away.

Baseball Hall of Famer, knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81

Baseball Hall of Famer, knuckleballer Phil Niekro dies at 81
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) — Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro has died at the age of 81 after a long fight with cancer. Niekro pitched well into his 40s with a knuckleball that baffled big league hitters for more than two decades, mostly with the Atlanta Braves. The Braves announced his death, saying he died Saturday night in his sleep. Niekro won 318 games over his 24-year career, which ended in 1987 at age 48 after he made one final start with the Braves. Niekro also pitched for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays late in his career.

Cause of blaze at Gibsonia metal fabricating/recycling plant sought

Cause of blaze at metal fabricating/recycling plant sought

GIBSONIA, Pa. (AP) — Scores of firefighters battled a blaze that destroyed a metal fabricating and recycling plant in western Pennsylvania over the weekend. Fire crews were called just after 6:30 a.m. Saturday to the TNT Metals plant in West Deer Township. Chief Josh Wiegand of the West Deer Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 said crews were hampered by the cold and by the materials involved, since the building housed magnesium and other highly flammable materials that ignited during the fire. An Allegheny County fire marshal will try to determine the cause of the blaze. TNT Metals president Rick Tibensky called it “truly devastating” but vowed to rebuild

 

 

Nashville bombing investigation prompts FBI to search home

Nashville bombing investigation prompts FBI to search home

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI, MICHAEL BALSAMO and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Federal agents have converged at the home of a possible person of interest in the bombing that rocked downtown Nashville on Christmas morning. Investigators are scouring hundreds of tips and leads in the blast that damaged dozens of buildings. More than 48 hours after the explosion, a motive remained elusive as investigators worked round-the-clock to resolve unanswered questions about the mysterious blast. The explosion took place on a mostly deserted street on a sleepy holiday morning and was prefaced by a recorded warning advising those nearby to evacuate. Officials have been searching a home in Antioch in suburban Nashville.

 

 

Police: Explosion in Nashville may have been “intentional”

Police: Explosion in Nashville may have been “intentional”
NASHVILLE (AP) — The Metro Nashville Police Department says authorities believe an explosion that rocked the downtown Nashville area early on Christmas Day was a deliberate act. Police spokesman Don Aaron said the 6:30 a.m. explosion, which shattered glass and damaged buildings, was believed to be “an intentional act.” Aaron said three people were taken to area hospitals for treatment, although none were in critical condition. Police and fire crews were on the scene, as were investigators from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

‘We are struggling’: A bleak Christmas for America’s jobless

‘We are struggling’: A bleak Christmas for America’s jobless
By JOSEPH PISANI and CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Business Writers
NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of Americans have been jobless since the viral pandemic ripped through the U.S. economy in March, triggering a deep recession and causing widespread unemployment. Now, many months later, they face a holiday season they hardly could have foreseen a year ago: Too little money to buy gifts, cook proper meals or pay all their bills. Nearly 8 million people have sunk into poverty since June after having spent the $1,200 checks the government gave most Americans this spring and a $600-a-week supplemental jobless benefit that expired in July, according to research by Bruce Meyer at the University of Chicago and two other colleagues.

Pa House Leader Benninghoff Responds to Gov. Wolf’s Business Assistance Announcement

Leader Benninghoff Responds to Gov. Wolf’s Business Assistance Announcement

HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday announced he intends to make funding available for small businesses and restaurants impacted by his shutdown orders and ongoing economic restrictions.

Last session, the House Republican Caucus took the lead in standing up for Pennsylvania’s workers, businesses and restaurants by passing legislation like the vetoed House Bill 2513 that would have prevented the current restaurant shutdown and passing a constitutional amendment to limit the governor’s emergency authority.

In response to the governor’s announcement, Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) made the following statement:

 

“There is only one reason why restaurants and small businesses are shut down, suffering and facing permanent closure, and that reason is the governor. The backbone of our state and local economy, restaurants and small businesses, have been unfairly targeted by his administration, and have been pleading for months for relief from his mandates.

 

“Hearing those cries, the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus has taken the lead in advocating that Pennsylvania’s small businesses, restaurants and workers get the relief and commonsense support they desperately need.

 

“Throughout the pandemic, House Republican have tried to bring commonsense to Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 response, stood up for small businesses, and worked to undo the harm caused by Gov. Wolf’s economic shutdowns and restrictions.

 

“Going alone is not what is best for Pennsylvanians. We need to work together, and I encourage Gov. Wolf to work with us on relief plans and join us in focusing on long-term solutions that keep Pennsylvanians working and businesses and restaurants operating safely.”

 

State Representative Rob Matzie announces grants for Monaca and Aliquippa

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Ambridge, Pa.) New grants totaling more than $1.5 million   have been awarded under the Redevelopment and Capital Assistance  Program, according to State Representative Rob Matzie.

He said in a release yesterday the funding to Aliquippa will allow  us to transform a dead brownfield  into   a thriving manufacturing area. The development will provide job opportunities and  economic revitalization .The grant awarded is $1 million dollars
The grant Monaca was awarded will allow for the construction of a 27,000 square foot building to house   police, fire, and administration operations.  Rep. Matzie said the new facility will allow the borough to operate with greater efficiency and a greater savings to taxpayers.”  The grant award is $500,000.

Pa Rep. Matzie Announces Free COVID-19 testing coming to Beaver County on Sunday, December 27

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Ambridge, Pa.) State Representative Rob Matzie (16th) announced Wednesday that Beaver County residents  will have access  to COVID-19  testing  at a drive-thru  clinic at CCBC. Testing will be available  this Sunday, December 27, 2020 through Thursday, December 31, 2020  from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m..

Testing is a mid-nasal passage swab  test. PCR  tests will be  performed  on a first-come, first-serve basis. Patients must be age 3 or older and aren’t required  to show COVID-19  symptoms to be tested. No appointments are necessary. Patients should  bring a photo-ID  or insurance card. Registration will be completed on site. Turnaround  time for test results is 2 to 7 days after testing.

Christmas Eve Storm to Bring Snow to Beaver County. Winter Weather Advisory Starting at 7 PM.

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Looks like we are going to have a white Christmas this year after all. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for our are starting at 7 PM Christmas Eve. The Advisory says that temperatures will drop throughout this afternoon and rain will change to snow. The NWS says the temperature drop will be so rapid that road crews will not be able to pre-treat the roads because of the rain which will make traveling hazardous once the snow starts here in Beaver County. The NWS is predicting snow will fall throughout the night as Santa Claus makes his yearly visit. Snowfall is predicted to be around 3 to 5 inches of snow. When you awake on Christmas Day to see what gifts Santa has delivered it will still be snowing as snow showers will taper off towards afternoon with another inch of accumulation possible.

You a can see the advisory below:

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
348 AM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-031-073-075-WVZ001>004-012-021-509-
241915-
/O.CON.KPBZ.WW.Y.0017.201225T0000Z-201225T1800Z/
Mercer-Venango-Forest-Lawrence-Butler-Clarion-Jefferson PA-Beaver-
Allegheny-Armstrong-Indiana-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland-
Fayette-Hancock-Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-Marion-Monongalia-
Including the cities of Sharon, Hermitage, Grove City, Oil City,
Franklin, Tionesta, New Castle, Ellwood City, Butler, Clarion,
Punxsutawney, Brookville, Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Ambridge,
Monaca, Pittsburgh Metro Area, Kittanning, Ford City, Indiana,
Washington, Canonsburg, Waynesburg, Murrysville, Greensburg,
New Kensington, Lower Burrell, Latrobe, Monessen, Uniontown,
Weirton, Follansbee, Wellsburg, Wheeling, Moundsville,
New Martinsville, Fairmont, and Morgantown
348 AM EST Thu Dec 24 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS
EVENING TO 1 PM EST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 6
  inches.

* WHERE...Portions of western Pennsylvania and northern West
  Virginia.

* WHEN...From 7 PM Thursday to 1 PM EST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Falling temperatures
  could also result in rapidly deteriorating travel conditions
  this evening.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

Please report snow or ice by calling 412-262-1988, posting to the
NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSPittsburgh

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania
Turnpike Commission remind motorists to adjust speeds based on
driving conditions as winter weather impacts Pennsylvania
roadways. Visit www.511pa.com for the latest travel, roadway and
traffic conditions.