PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eight people face federal charges over alleged actions amid racial justice protests in Pittsburgh two months ago. Jurors indicted people on charges that include throwing objects at officers or into a police vehicle, vandalizing a police vehicle, burning a police vehicle and hitting police horses. The incidents occurred on May 30, as large protests were going on after the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.  Public safety officials said multiple officers were hurt and three journalists attacked or injured, although the injuries were not deemed to be serious. Damage in downtown Pittsburgh was described as extensive.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Beaver County school districts are within a month or so of their usual return to education for students and administrators alike, but how usual is it going to be?

At the regularly scheduled work session on July 29, the Board of Commissioners spoke about these re-openings amidst the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, and how these administrators are trying to nail down a fluid situation.

“I personally think that the state will come out and say ‘you’re only going to school 50% of the time’ or ‘50% of the students’…whatever it may be,” said Commissioner Chairman Dan Camp. “I think they’re going to get some direction from the state.”

This theory was reiterated by Solicitor Garen Fedeles, who stated that “the state’s mandating them to have a plan in place.” However, Fedeles added that “those plans can be amended at any time by the board.”

Commissioners Tony Amadio & Jack Manning returned to the Courthouse after a few weeks of self-administered quarantine.

House speakers get reprieve from criminal history plaques
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The portraits of three former Pennsylvania House speakers who went to prison on corruption-related charges have received a reprieve of sorts. In one of his last acts in office, Mike Turzai, a former speaker, ordered the removal of the plaques describing the former speakers’ criminal histories. The plaques were hung in 2014. Pennlive.com reports that House Clerk Dave Reddecliff said Turzai requested the plaques’ removal before he resigned in June. Turzai declined comment to Pennlive. On the Senate side,  criminal history plaque continues to hang beneath the portrait of Robert J. Mellow, a former Senate president pro tempore.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

At the Commissioners’ work session on Wednesday, Beaver County Controller Maria Longo brought forth a plan for the Board to consider in regards to their insurance plan.

The current plan that the Courthouse is using, according to Longo, has been largely unused for the last several years, and that the County could have saved $1.5 million by covering their own insurance expenses over the last seven years.

“Looking back [at the numbers]–the risk is low, not that many people use it, and we buy this every year,” Longo commented. “So I would like for you to consider that and the savings for the county as we move forward.”

The Commissioners provided no further comment on the considerations at the work session.

Allegheny Health Network Launches Cancer Program at Grove City Hospital

GROVE CITY, PA (July 29, 2020) – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) has further extended the reach of its cancer program with the recent opening of AHN Cancer Institute -Grove City, bringing expanded, high-quality cancer care closer to home for residents of Grove City and surrounding communities.

Located at 631 N. Broad St. Extension, AHN Cancer Institute – Grove City offers complete medical oncology and hematology services, including infusion therapy. The center’s location within AHN Grove City Hospital provides patients with convenient access to other complementary medical resources such as imaging and laboratory services.

“Cancer treatment can be a difficult process for patients and their families.  Accessing care conveniently should always be the least of their concerns,” said David Bartlett, MD, Chair, AHN Cancer Institute. “At AHN Cancer Institute, we are committed to offering comprehensive services in local communities throughout western Pennsylvania, and to providing compassionate, personalized care through a patient’s diagnosis and treatment and into survivorship.”

AHN Cancer Institute Grove City is staffed by medical oncologists Ali Amjad, MD; Aiman Daghestani, MD, and Mohammed Islam, MD, as well as nurse practitioner Jennifer Martello, CRNP.  All of the physicians are board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology-oncology, and bring many years of experience in cancer care to the community.

AHN and Highmark Health have invested more than $300 million in new cancer facilities over the past few years, including the just-opened AHN Cancer Institute – Allegheny General, a state-of-the-art, $78 million center which will serve as the hub of AHN’s clinical, academic and cancer research collaborations with the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.  AHN has opened five new,  comprehensive community cancer centers throughout western Pennsylvania over the past two years, including facilities in Beaver, Butler, Hempfield, Monroeville and Erie.

AHN Cancer Institute – Grove City, becomes another key access point in the Institute’s hub and spoke model for cancer care that makes important clinical resources more readily accessible to those in need.

The former Grove City Medical Center became part of AHN in January 2020.  AHN plans to invest more than $40 million in the hospital over the next decade to strengthen its clinical programs, technological capabilities and physical infrastructure.

Grove City’s cancer services were formerly provided by UPMC.  The new AHN Cancer Institute on the campus has been completely renovated with both aesthetic and technological upgrades.

Patients seeking more information about the services provided at AHN Cancer Institute – Grove City can call 724.450.7010

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh City Council has approved several changes in police operations proposed in the wake of demonstrations over the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that a ban on chokeholds and other neck restraints will now be part of the city code as will a requirement for officers to intervene upon witnessing “unreasonable force.” Members voted 6-3 to move $250,000 from the police recruit budget to the STOP the Violence fund, which is intended for violence reduction and social services, and to ban certain types of equipment from any source, including the military.

Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today warned consumers to properly discard and report unordered and mislabeled seeds shipped from overseas. Consumers nationwide have received seeds in packages labeled as jewelry. These seeds may contain plant diseases, weeds or invasive plants that could harm Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and ecosystem.

“Seeds sold in Pennsylvania are rigorously tested to ensure that they are genetically pure and regulated to ensure that what’s on the label is what’s in the package,” Secretary Redding said. “Planting seeds without knowing what they are can wreak havoc with our environment, destroy agricultural crops and incur costly control efforts for years to come.”

Seeds labelled as jewelry are likely a scam known as “brushing.” Companies boost online sales by purchasing their own products through fake buyer accounts created by the company. The products are shipped to a real address, to someone who didn’t order the item. The seller writes a positive review of their items from the fake buyer account.

In the past, scammers have sent empty packages. Recent packages have been filled with unlabeled seeds.

Consumers who receive unsolicited seeds are asked to retain the seeds and packaging. If opened, double bag and seal the seeds. Do not plant them or discard loose seeds.

Report the package to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) confidential Antismuggling Hotline, 800-877-3835 or email SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov. USDA will provide further instructions.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s seed program licenses seed distributors, and analyzes and certifies seeds to help ensure that seeds are free of pathogens, invasive plants and noxious weeds.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s efforts to protect and promote agriculture in Pennsylvania, visit agriculture.pa.gov.