Category: News

US senators seek probe of veterans homes after virus deaths

US senators seek probe of veterans homes after virus deaths
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press
A group of U.S. senators is seeking an investigation into the Department of Veterans Affairs’ oversight of homes for aging veterans amid a spate of coronavirus deaths at the state-run homes. The senators on Tuesday asked the Government Accountability Office to look into the VA and states’ roles in ensuring veterans get proper care at the homes. They also want to know whether the agency or states have a system to “capture real time spikes in mortality rates.” Their request comes as outrage builds over the death of more than 70 veterans sickened by the coronavirus at a home in Massachusetts.

Dallas salon owner jailed for defying virus shutdown order

Dallas salon owner jailed for defying virus shutdown order
DALLAS (AP) — A Dallas hair salon owner is in jail after she continued to operate her business despite shutdown orders that were in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. A judge in Dallas found Shelley Luther in contempt of court and sentenced her Tuesday to seven days behind bars. Luther says she had to reopen her Dallas salon because she wouldn’t have been able feed her kids otherwise. But Judge Eric Moye says Luther expressed no “contrition, remorse or regret” for her actions. Luther was jailed on Tuesday afternoon, around the same time Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced salons and barbershops can reopen Friday.

The Beaver County Commissioners will resume having weekly Work Sessions

(File Photo)

(Beaver County, Pa.) The Beaver County Commissioners will resume having weekly Work Session Meetings starting today at 10:00AM. The Meeting will not be open to the public.  There will be a live stream available to view on the Commissioners’ portion of the County’s website. Beaver County Radio will have full coverage of the work session starting with the noonday report.

The Commissioners will also make their monthly appearance on “Ask the Commissioners” tomorrow morning at 9:10 a.m.

Traveling in Allegheny County? Better Slow Down in Work Zones.

(Allegheny County,Pa.) If you are planning on driving through Allegheny County and run into any work zones you better make sure you are following the posted speed limit. PennDOT’s vehicle-mounted work zone speed cameras will be throughout zones in Allegheny County

The program uses cameras to detect and record drivers exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour. The first time a driver is caught speeding, they will receive a warning letter. After that, there will be fines: a first offense is $75 and every offense after that will be $150.

Faith Restortion Food Pantry needs Help to Continue Serving Beaver County

(Monaca, Pa.) Faith Restoration Food Pantry in Monaca is Beaver County’s largest Food Pantry and they are in desperate need for help. The pantry typically serves 300 people each week, it is now trying to feed more than 1,000.

Faith Restoration’s is running dangerously low on meat and staples.

With the increasing number of people waiting in line for hours at times they have had to turn some people away.

The food pantry has set up a GoFundMe account asking for any type of donation.

 Brodhead Road Drilling this Week in Beaver County

 Brodhead Road Drilling this Week in Beaver County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing drilling operations on Brodhead Road (Route 3007) in Hopewell and Center townships and the City of Aliquippa, Beaver County, will begin Wednesday, May 6 weather permitting.

Drilling operations will occur in various locations on Brodhead Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, May 6-8 between Marrow Way in Hopewell Township and Lincoln Drive in Center Township. Single-lane alternating traffic controlled by flaggers will occur while crews from Armstrong Drilling, Inc conduct drilling operations.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, 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.

Why has toilet paper run out during the pandemic?

Why has toilet paper run out during the pandemic?
The Associated Press undefined
Why has toilet paper run out during the pandemic? Blame the empty shelves on hoarders who stockpiled toilet paper. During a two-day period in March, online and in-store sales shot up 845% as states announced lockdowns, according to a data and consulting firm. Since toilet paper is bulky and not profitable, retailers don’t keep a lot of inventory on hand. That made it hard to keep up with surging demand. Demand has since softened and retail chains like Kroger are limiting the number of rolls customers can buy at once.

Pennsylvania tops 3,000 virus deaths as data are reconciled

Pennsylvania tops 3,000 virus deaths as data are reconciled
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM, MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania has reported another 554 deaths from the coronavirus to pass 3,000 total, and Gov. Tom Wolf says he isn’t committing to a particular schedule to lift stay-at-home restrictions in the state’s counties or regions. The large number of new deaths reported Tuesday by the state Department of Health were spread out over the previous two weeks. It comes as case growth appears to slow in many parts of Pennsylvania and Wolf’s administration moves to lighten its restrictions on movement and business activity. Wolf maintained Tuesday that he would stick to a reopening process that relies on what he sees as indicators tied to safety.

U.S. Congress Candidate Sean Parnell joined Frank Sparks on Teleforum Monday May 4, 2020

(Beaver Falls, Pa.)  Republican Candidate for US Congress in the 17th District Sean Parnell joined Frank Sparks on Teleforum Monday May 4, 2020.

Sean told the listeners of 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, 99.3 FM, and beavercountyradio.com exactly who Sean Parnell is. Parnell discussed growing up in Western Pennsylvania. He graduated from Greensburg Central Catholic and then got his undergrad from Duquesne University. Parnell said then 911 happened and he knew his mission and he joined the Army. Sean was medically retired as a Captain after being injured during deployment. He then went on to grad school and became a top selling author.  He discussed what made him want to run for US Congress and also answered listeners questions via telephone.

You can listen to the entire interview by pressing the Play button below:

 

 

Pittsburgh International Airport to Become first U.S. Airport to Utilize Autonomous Robots with Ultraviolet Light Technology

Pittsburgh International Airport to Become first U.S. Airport to Utilize Autonomous Robots with Ultraviolet Light Technology

 Airport to bring UV germ-killing tech inside the terminal starting with self-driving, floor scrubbers with hometown partner Carnegie Robotics

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh International Airport is looking to the region’s vibrant tech community to help incorporate a new disinfecting strategy using ultraviolet light – on robots.

This partnership with Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Robotics is the first step of an airport-wide strategy to deploy technology solutions and multi-layered cleaning processes to enhance the health and safety of the traveling public. The technology is designed to kill microbes in high-traffic areas, increasing cleanliness and helping to restore confidence in traveling.

PIT is the only airport in the United States with these specially equipped floor-cleaning machines, and airport officials look to incorporate UV disinfecting technology in additional ways, including the sterilizations of handrails on escalators and moving walkways, elevator buttons and other high-touch areas.

“We appreciate the ongoing partnership with Carnegie Robotics, one of the great organizations which calls our region home,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “The Airport Authority is always at the forefront of technologies and, in this case, is using these Carnegie Robotics innovations to protect passengers and staff and enhance the travelers’ experience.”

The pandemic’s impact on the aviation industry has been dramatic, with passenger traffic falling more than 90 percent as social distancing and stay-at-home orders remain in effect. As part of the solution, PIT hopes to speed the industry’s rebound through technology solutions.

“The health and safety of airport staff and the traveling public are always the top priorities,” said Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis. “We know that restoring confidence in travel is going to be key to the industry recovery. That’s why we’re partnering with world-leading Pittsburgh technology companies to help develop solutions.”

Developed in conjunction with Pittsburgh firm Carnegie Robotics, Nilfisk’s Liberty SC50 Autonomous Scrubber/Dryer is a commercial-grade, fully autonomous, robotic floor-cleaning machine.

What makes the airport’s system unique is the integration of a UVC fixture that emits intense ultraviolet rays on the floor, sanitizing the surface after the scrubber has cleaned it. Hospitals and laboratories have used ultraviolet light as a disinfectant for years, and now Pittsburgh International Airport and Carnegie Robotics are testing that technology to safely treat public spaces in the U.S. airport sector.

 “Carnegie Robotics is thrilled to work with the Allegheny County Airport Authority to rapidly test and develop this technology, which was designed to combat healthcare associated infections (HAIs) such as C. Diff., MRSA and other resistant pathogens in medical facilities,” said Daniel Beaven, Carnegie Robotics CFO. “I can’t overstate the importance of a motivated and competent user-partner to rapidly develop new technology. The Airport Authority has repeatedly demonstrated leadership in this way and we could not be more pleased to be here