School openings hinge on case counts, health official warns
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Every region of Pennsylvania has seen an increase in the rate of positive cases, the state’s top health official says. Health Secretary Rachel Levine said Thursday it is critical to slow the virus’ spread ahead of the start of the fall school semester. In response to the rise in new cases, Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration last week imposed a new round of restrictions targeting bars, restaurants, nightclubs and indoor gatherings. In July, Pennsylvania’s 14-day rate of new cases per 100,000 residents has risen by more than 50%, from below 60 to 90. The seven-day positivity rate has gradually increased in July, from about 4.5% to 5.8%.

(New Brighton, Pa.) Were you one of the millions of people who were stuck at home during the “Red Phase” of the Governor’s stay at home orders? Well you could be partially responsible for not being able to find your favorite beer or soda pop the next time you go shopping. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a nationwide shortage of aluminum cans. The fact that people who were under stay at home orders consumed more beer and soda caused an increase in demand for aluminum cans and manufacturers could not keep up with the demand. Another factor that help cause the shortage had to do with certain plastic plants being deemed non-essential business. 

Frank Sparks, Beaver County Radio Program Director, spoke with Mike Fischer, who owns New Brighton Foodland, Beaver Falls Save-A-Lot and Fischer’s Beverage in New Brighton with his brother Ron, and asked him is there a can shortage Locally and what is the cause? Mike explained that there is a plastic sleeve that goes inside of cans and the company that produces them was deemed non-essential in the government shutdown and they could no longer produce the the sleeves and that is what caused the shortage. Fischer also explained he is having problems getting Coors Light in cans at Fischer’s Beverage and when the Pandemic first started they had problems getting Miller Lite in cans. He said at Fischer’s Foodland he has been able to get your core soda pops like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, Coke and Diet Coke but beyond that some of the slower non-core items are not available because of the can shortage.  Fischer said he doesn’t expect the shortage to last long and has already seen a rebound in some of the products that were tough to order. 

 

 Manufactures are now taking steps to increase production of cans by building new plants to try and help with the demand. In the meantime plants that produce Aluminum cans are working around the clock to try and catch up.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

As has been the case, the Board of Commissioners maintained solidarity and made quick work of the list of resolutions at their most recent public meeting on Thursday. The board approved all 55 resolutions with no dissenting votes or additional commentary provided. As was the case with the day before, Chairman Dan Camp was present with Solicitor Garen Fedeles and Assistant Solicitor Nate Morgan, while Commissioners Tony Amadio and Jack Manning called in via phone for the session.

Chief among the 55 resolutions were a pair of agreements with Susquehanna Accounting as well as Zelenkofske Axelrod LLC to handle the $14.8 million dollars alloted to Beaver County through the Federal CARES Act. Each firm is not to be paid any more than $50,000 each for their services.

The Commissioners’ next public meeting is set for August 13 at 10:00 AM.

Harrisburg, PA – In keeping with its dedicated efforts to provide commonwealth citizens with fair and equitable services, PennDOT announced today that it now offers a non-binary gender designation option for its driver licenses and photo identification cards.

“Our identity documents are critical to how we navigate the world, and having an affirming and accurate ID is critical for access to employment, healthcare, housing and so much more,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Offering equitable and inclusive services for all Pennsylvanians is central to PennDOT’s mission, and I’m proud that we’re taking this step.”

Gender designation options on Pennsylvania driver’s licenses and photo ID cards are “M” (male), “F” (female) or “X” (non-binary). Customers who wish to change their gender designation should fill out Form DL-32, “Request for Gender Change on Driver’s License/Identification Card,” and bring it to any PennDOT Driver License Center to complete the process. This process does not require the signoff of a medical or social service provider.

“PennDOT is taking a very important step towards better serving Pennsylvanians of all gender identities. By removing barriers to make these changes, we are providing Pennsylvanians the agency to live their lives as their true selves,” said Rafael Álvarez Febo, Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs. “Your state issued ID is quite possibly the most important identity document you use on a daily basis, it should reflect your truth.”

A gender designation change must be completed in person at a PennDOT Driver License Center. Driver license center locations can be found by clicking on “Find a Location” at www.dmv.pa.gov.

Pennsylvania joins 16 other states in offering a non-binary option for its customers.

The designation is offered free-of-charge for identification products. Applicable duplicate fees will apply to customers to obtain a duplicate license or photo ID card reflecting the change in designation.

For more information on the non-binary gender designation for driver licenses and ID cards, please visit the PennDOT website at www.dmv.pa.gov and look under the Driver and Teen Licensing tab under Driver Services.

Mayor of Portland, Oregon, tear gassed by federal agents
By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The mayor of Portland, Oregon, was tear gassed by federal agents late Wednesday as he stood with protesters at a fence guarding a federal courthouse. Mayor Ted Wheeler said it was the first time he’d been tear gassed and appeared slightly dazed and coughed as he put on a pair of goggles someone handed him. Earlier in the night, Wheeler was jeered as he tried to rally demonstrators who have clashed nightly with federal agents sent in by President Donald Trump to quell ongoing unrest in the city. Wheeler said it was important to oppose what he called an unconstitutional federal occupation.