Category: News

AFGE Endorses Conor Lamb and Mike Doyle for Reelection to U.S. Congress

AFGE Endorses Conor Lamb and Mike Doyle for Reelection to U.S. Congress

Largest federal employee union says Lamb and Doyle have shown continued support for federal employees

Conor_Lamb,_Official_Portrait,_115th_Congress.jpgMike_Doyle,_official_portrait,_116th_Congress.jpg

WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) today announced its endorsement of Conor Lamb and Mike Doyle for reelection to Congress representing Pennsylvania’s 17th and 18th Congressional Districts.

“Conor Lamb has repeatedly shown his support for federal employees in Pennsylvania,” said AFGE District 3 National Vice President Philip Glover. “He works with every local union in western PA on important issues facing the workforce.”

Both Connor Lamb and Mike Doyle have both been strong supporters of AFGE key issues including the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise and the Paycheck Fairness Act.

“Mike Doyle, as a subcommittee chairman on the energy committee, plays a large role for our Department of Energy employees in Pittsburgh,” Glover added. “We can always count on him to be there for us when we need him.”

Nearly 60,000 federal employees live in Pennsylvania – caring for veterans, supporting the military, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time. There are nearly 50,000 active and retired federal employees in the 17th and 18th Congressional District.

AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing 700,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents more than 31,100 federal employees in District 3, which includes Delaware and Pennsylvania.

PA. Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 5/26/20: Beaver County adds two positive cases and no new deaths

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 451 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 68,637

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 26, that there are 451 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 68,637. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

There are 5,152 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 13 new deaths. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

“As Pennsylvania continues to move forward in the process to reopen, we need to remember that the threat from COVID-19 has not gone away,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “As counties move into the yellow and green phases, we must take personal responsibility to protect others. Wearing a mask, continuing to maintain social distancing, and washing your hands frequently are all steps we can take to help protect others, including our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.”

Locally in Beaver County we are up 2 cases since yesterday to 570 cases. 3413 people have tested negative and the county remains at 72 deaths.

There are 551 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 339,835 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

  • Nearly 1% are ages 0-4;
  • Nearly 1% are ages 5-12;
  • Nearly 2% are ages 13-18;
  • Nearly 6% are ages 19-24;
  • Nearly 37% are ages 25-49;
  • 25% are ages 50-64; and
  • Nearly 29% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 14,857 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,505 cases among employees, for a total of 17,362 at 594 distinct facilities in 44 counties. Out of our total deaths, 3,395 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 5,159 of our total cases are in health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Non-life-sustaining businesses in the red phase are ordered to be closed and schools are closed statewide through the remainder of the academic year. Currently, 49 counties are in the yellow phase of reopening. Eight additional counties will move to yellow and 17 to green on May 29. All remaining red counties are expected to move to yellow by June 5.

Route 51 Lane Restrictions Wednesday, May 27, 2020 in Center Township

Route 51 Lane Restrictions Wednesday in Center Township

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane restrictions on Route 51 (Constitution Boulevard) in Center Township, Beaver County will occur Wednesday, May 27 weather permitting.

Single-lane restrictions will occur in each direction on Route 51 for bridge inspection activities on the bridge just south of Monaca Road. Restrictions will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restrictions will not occur in each direction simultaneously. Crews from the Larson Design Group will conduct the inspection work.

                                                                                        Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns. Please use caution when driving through the area. Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 950 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Pa State Rep Tim O’Neal Introduces Bill to Privatize Government-Controlled Liquor Stores

HARRISBURG – In response to the governor’s shutdown of state liquor stores and recent failures by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to adapt to a 21st century business model during the coronavirus pandemic, Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) recently introduced legislation to end government control of wine and spirit sales.

“When Gov. Tom Wolf shutdown the liquor stores, he almost returned Pennsylvania to Prohibition and showed us why government should never be in control of alcohol sales,” O’Neal said. “Grocery stores and restaurants quickly and efficiently found ways to adapt to the pandemic while the PLCB, at Wolf’s direction, caused mass mayhem and turned Pennsylvanians into modern-day bootleggers.”

House Bill 2547 would close state stores, privatize the wholesale liquor system and create private outlets for liquor. It is similar to House Bill 466 of 2015, which was vetoed by the governor.

“Act 39 of 2016 proved private industry can responsibly sell wine,” O’Neal said. “I have no doubt liquor sales can be done in the same effective and efficient manner.”

Wolf ordered Pennsylvania’s government-controlled Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores to close on March 17. Because the state has a monopoly on spirit sales, Pennsylvanians had no choice but to flock to Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey and other neighboring states.

“All that business activity and revenue could have happened in Pennsylvania but was pushed over the borders,” O’Neal said.

O’Neal noted Wolf’s shutdown of the state liquor stores is not the only reason he is calling for full privatization. The PLCB has had persistent problems for decades.

“The PLCB drives up costs while at the same time decreasing selection and convenience,” O’Neal added. “But even more concerning is that the current system forces Pennsylvanians, small businesses and local family restaurants into doing business with a government-run monopoly that’s rife with political favoritism.”

 Past polling shows that two-thirds of Pennsylvania voters support privatizing the state’s liquor system.

 Pennsylvania remains one of only two states in the entire nation where government wields complete control over all wholesale and retail sales of both wine and spirits.

 “The state-controlled liquor monopoly was set up in 1939 to make it as inconvenient as possible to purchase wine and spirits in Pennsylvania, and it’s clear that is still its mission today,” O’Neal said. “The time has come to revisit ending this antiquated government system once and for all.”

Gov. Wolf Thanks Pennsylvanians for Their Part to Slow the Spread of COVID-19, Centre County to Move to Green 

Gov. Wolf Thanks Pennsylvanians for Their Part to Slow the Spread of COVID-19, Centre County to Move to Green 

Harrisburg, PA – As part of a COVID-19 briefing, Governor Tom Wolf today thanked Pennsylvanians, including the Pennsylvania National Guard, for the many contributions to the pandemic response. He also announced that Centre County will move to green on Friday.

“I personally want to thank our National Guard members and their families for their work, especially during these trying times,” Gov. Wolf said. “Just like other families across the commonwealth, I know our military families are facing new challenges. Some are overcoming these challenges while coping with one parent being away from home due to a deployment to a COVID-19 site. That’s really showing the strength of these dedicated, courageous Pennsylvanians.”

He also thanked Pennsylvanians for their contributions that helped to move us toward a broader reopening of the state.

“We’re able to make this progress toward safely reopening our economy because people are taking precautions and keeping themselves and their communities safe – whether it is a person wearing a mask or a business changing their operations to protect employees and customers,” Gov Wolf said. “I thank each and every one of you for doing your part.”

On Friday, Gov. Wolf announced eight additional counties will move to yellow and 17 to green, effective at 12:01 a.m., this Friday. All remaining counties in red are expected to move to yellow by June 5 at 12:01 a.m.

The counties moving to yellow on Friday include Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Schuylkill.

The 17 counties moving to green, also on Friday, include Bradford, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango and Warren. Centre County is eligible to move to green on May 29, so county officials chose to vote today to decide to move ahead and Centre will now be the 18th county to move to green on Friday.

Counties that remain in red on May 29 and are expected to move to yellow by June 5 include Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.

The Wolf Administration released Summer Camp Guidance on Friday in the form of frequently asked questions for parents, summer camp operators, public bathing places, part-day school-age programs, and other entities that provide necessary child care and enrichment and recreational activities for children and youth during the summer months. This guidance is especially helpful as most counties are moving to yellow or green.

“Because of our collective commitment to actions that reduce COVID-19 spread, several counties will be moving into the green phase on Friday,” Gov. Wolf said. “We’re continuing to ramp up testing and contact tracing across the state to help ensure we can identify cases and eliminate outbreaks even as we reopen our economy.

New Brighton To Honor Class Of 2020 With Graduation “Cruise” On June 3

With the pandemic providing uncertainty to most aspects of life, many high school graduates were left wondering if there was to be any closure to their grade school careers.

Well for the New Brighton Class of 2020, such a finale is going to happen.

The New Brighton Area School District, in conjunction with Beaver County Radio, will be hosting an outdoor graduation “cruise” in the high school main parking lot beginning at 6:00pm on June 3. The ceremony, while somewhat unorthodox and unprecedented, looks to stay true to the traditional format of awarding these young men and women their diplomas.

New Brighton Superintendent Dr. Joe Guarino & HS Principal Ryan Yates joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to preview the festivities, which will be broadcast on Beaver County Radio at 6:00pm, on the dial, app, and at beavercountyradio.com. The ceremony will also be streamed live on the Beaver County Radio Facebook page.

Dr. Guarino and Prinicpal Yates also talked about the format of the proceedings, the emotions that the students and faculty have been feeling during the pandemic, the possibilities for the 2020-21 school year, and the parade celebration following the graduation ceremony on Wedensday.

To hear the full interview, click on the player below!

State police: 2-year-old fatally shot at Pennsylvania home

State police: 2-year-old fatally shot at Pennsylvania home
EAST PENN, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania state police say a 2-year-old boy was shot and killed at a Carbon County home. The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon in East Penn. The child was taken to a hospital but died there a short time later. No other injuries were reported in the shooting, but authorities declined further comment. The child’s name has not been released. No charges have been filed so far, but the shooting remains under investigation.

Flags to Honor Heroes on Display in Hopewell

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano 

(Hopewell, Pa.) Hopewell Twp. honored veterans past and present with a display of Flags at the new memorial that was dedicated late last year. The flags honoring the fallen at Hopewell were visible from the road and many stopped to see the tribute  on Memorial Day. The new memorial debuted on November 4, 2019 for past and present heroes and loved ones  that served our country. The display is sponsored by the Hopewell Commissioners, WesBanco, State Rep. Robert F. Matzie, State Senator Camera Bartolotta, and  private donors. You can purchase a flag to honor your loved one or friend at a  Cost of  $50, and a portion of the funds goes to the Wounded Warrior Program. Contact njanicki@hopewelltwp.com or call 724-378-1460 ex. 100.

Check out the photos below:

 

WHO warns that 1st wave of pandemic not over; dampens hopes

WHO warns that 1st wave of pandemic not over; dampens hopes
By ELAINE KURTENBACH and MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press
BANGKOK (AP) — As Brazil and India struggle with surging coronavirus cases, a top health expert is warning that the world is still smack in the middle of the pandemic. Those comments from Dr. Mike Ryan of the World Health Organization are dampening hopes for a speedy global economic rebound. A U.S. travel ban takes effect Tuesday for foreigners coming from Brazil. On top of that, the South American country got a warning from the U.N. health agency not to reopen its economy before it can perform enough tests to control the spread of the coronavirus. India reported a record single-day jump in new infections for the seventh straight day and Russia had a record number of daily coronavirus deaths.