Pennsylvania businesses that were considered to be non-life-sustaining are being issued warnings from the PA State Police. Police released data on actions taken against 27 non-life-sustaining businesses who failed to comply with Governor Tom Wolf’s order to close their physical locations by Monday, March 23rd. Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police said the process is two-phased beginning with warnings to gain voluntary compliance, followed by enforcement as necessary. The Wolf administration has provided all local law enforcement with enforcement guidance that mirrors PSP’s.

PennDOT is reopening more highway rest areas across Pennsylvania. The 23 indoor facilities include portable restrooms and handwashing stations, which were temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 guidance from Governor Wolf. The rest areas, returning to normal service and maintenance hours, are meant to keep offering clean sites for interstate truckers to use. More information about open locations can be found online at PennDOT’s website.

The Pennsylvania Senate is meeting remotely for the first time. The chamber is using the method to allow them to address urgent issues related to the spread of coronavirus while practicing social distancing. Senators are likely to discuss how to best support healthcare facilities and workers, address changes to the school code, and even consider delaying the April primary election.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic and the nation’s crashing economy are scrambling the themes both major political parties thought would carry them to victory in this November’s elections. Gone, at least for now, are the hopes of President Donald Trump and Republican candidates to run on a spectacularly strong economy. And Democrats must see if they can attack Trump’s competence at a time when many Americans crave a return to normalcy. Consultants say Trump’s handling of the twin crises will clearly dominate this year’s campaigns. Both sides are waiting to see where things stand as the fall approaches and are trying to figure out the best message.

The Hopewell Township Commissioners held their regular meeting this week by conference call due to the coronavirus outbreak. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has details on what transpired…

Sandy reports that the meeting was advertised on the township website and also on its Facebook page, so anyone could call in with a code to hear the meeting. She says the commissioners practiced social distancing while meeting. She says there were no violations of the SUNSHINE ACT.

Pennsylvania health officials say there are now more than 850 confirmed coronavirus cases statewide…7 here in Beaver County. Doctor Rachel Levine says those positive tests are coming from 40 counties across P-A, with everyone either at home in isolation or in the hospital. The virus is blamed for seven deaths in Pennsylvania so far.

More changes have been announced in the way that local government conducts business due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Beaver County Commissioner Dan Camp tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak that that tomorrow’s commissioners meeting will take place as scheduled, but with a twist…

Asked if these changes will be implemented at all future commissioner meetings, Camp says…

As for all future commissioner weekly work sessions, Camp says….

Camp tell us that all future commissioners meetings will be streamed live…while weekly commissioner work sessions will be decided on a weekly basis.

Police in Grove City say a New Castle woman is facing charges for breaking into a Mercer County home and taking her children. Nichole Swanburg is accused of entering the home last Friday and taking the three-year-old and 20-month-old whom she had lost custody of earlier this year. Police caught up with the three and the children were returned unharmed. The 36-year-old is in the Mercer County Jail on burglary and interfering with the custody of children charges.

New Castle City Police have identified a man found shot to death in New Castle early yesterday morning. According to police, officers were called out around 3 am after receiving a report that a man was inside a vehicle that had been shot-up outside the McGrath Manor high-rise apartment on West Washington Street. The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Andre Robinson of New Castle. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information concerning the shooting is asked to call New Castle City police.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH, 2020

 

 

TODAY – MOSTLY CLOUDY…WITH OCCASIONAL RAIN,
MAINLY DURING THE MORNING HOURS. HIGH – 56.

TONIGHT – PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 40.

THURSDAY – PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH – 67.