The nation’s two largest teachers unions want schools to revise or eliminate active shooter drills, asserting that they can harm students’ mental health and that there are better ways to prepare for the possibility of a school shooting. The American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association joined with the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund in calling for an end to unannounced drills or drills that simulate gun violence. The report released Tuesday recommends schools concentrate on training teachers to respond to an active shooter incident rather than drilling students. It also issued guidelines for schools that decide to use drills. Those include never simulating an actual shooting; giving parents, educators and students advance notice of any drill; working with mental health officials to create age-appropriate and trauma-informed drills; and tracking the effects of drills. Still others say that active shooter drills are effective when done appropriately. Some experts believe that simulating an event is the best way to prepare for one. According to a survey by the National Center for Education Statistics, about 95% of schools drilled students on lockdown procedures in the 2015-16 school year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has ended his campaign for president after his late bid failed to gain traction in the race. Patrick was the last remaining African American candidate in a Democratic presidential field once defined by its diversity. Patrick’s departure from the race leaves just one other candidate of color, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Samoan American. Patrick launched his bid for president in mid-November but failed to register in polling and fundraising and never made it onto a presidential debate stage. Patrick had focused his campaign entirely on New Hampshire, hoping the familiarity of a neighboring state would help boost his chances in the race.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The families of three female high school runners have a federal lawsuit seeking to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from participating in girls sports. Lawyers from the Alliance Defending Freedom argue that allowing athletes with male anatomy to compete has deprived their clients of track titles and scholarship opportunities. The lawsuit centers on two transgender sprinters who have taken 15 girls state championship titles since 2017. The Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference says its policy follows a state anti-discrimination law that says students must be treated in school by the gender with which they identify.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

A familiar face returned to the Commissioners’ work session on Wednesday.

After four years as County Commissioner, newly elected Treasurer Sandie Egley made her first visit in that role to a Commissioners’ work session on February 12. One of Egley’s major requests during her visit was to expand the opportunities for Beaver County citizens to obtain dog licenses:

 

The cost of the online services would be $250 a month ($3000 a year), money which Egley said is not in the budget for the Treasurer’s office at the current moment.

The other major factor brought up in Egley’s department head comments was that the transfer of power for her to take over as Treasurer was less than desirable, with the claims made by Egley that she was “starting from scratch”.

 

One of those other officials was new Controller Maria Longo, who agreed with Egley that this issue needs to be resolved:

 

Longo succeeded David Rossi as Controller, while Egley succeeded the retired Connie Javens as Treasurer.

The Commissioners will have their public meeting on Thursday, February 13 at 10 AM.

Ambridge Council has purchased a new police vehicle to replace the one was that involved in a crash last month. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

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The practice of conversion therapy is now illegal within Allegheny County. In an unexpected vote, Allegheny County Council passed a measure officially barring anyone from trying to convert LGBTQ minors. Some council members and those in attendance last night were surprised that the council voted on the bill. It passed by a vote of 13-2. The bill bans sexual orientation and gender conversion therapy for minors. Some council members called the therapy a public health and safety threat, saying the therapy has been rejected by virtually every professional organization in the mental health universe. Council has been discussing this since March of 2019…and they finally decided to vote on the bill last night.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania court is taking up a legal challenge by three transgender women to a two-decade-old state law prohibiting people with serious felonies from ever changing their names. Commonwealth Court will hear oral arguments Thursday in the lawsuit brought by plaintiffs who live as women but are unable to change their masculine first names because of a 1998 state law designed to prevent fraud. Current state law requires anyone convicted of a felony to wait at least two years after completion of their sentence to apply for a name change. Those convicted of certain more serious felonies are permanently barred from changing their names.

The Ambridge Rotary Club plans to erect a pavilion along Merchant Street in Ambridge borough. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play ‘ to hear Sandy’s report…

Flu-related deaths are again on the rise in P-A. Department of Health officials say there were seven more deaths over the past week, raising the statewide total to 47. Most of the deaths have been individuals older than 65. The commonwealth hasn’t said where those deaths occurred.