An attempt to form an Allegheny countywide police review board is coming up short. The proposal failed by a nine-six vote with council members who voted against it saying it contained too many flaws. Some lawmakers who support the proposal said they’ll start to advocate at the state Capitol.
A Maryland man will spend 30 years behind bars for kidnapping and assaulting a Somerset County girl in 1999. Timothy Nelson Junior was sentenced yesterday for kidnapping and rape. Nelson pleaded guilty earlier this year to snatching the ten-year-old girl from Cainbrook and assaulting her in West Virginia. New DNA testing technology helped lead state police to Nelson.
State Representatives Seth Grove (R-York) and Matthew Dowling (R-Fayette/Somerset) joined a group of House Republican lawmakers this week to announce the introduction of the Reinventing Government initiative, a package of bills aimed at improving government function, encouraging economic prosperity and building stronger communities. Grove’s bill would merge the Budget Office, the Department of General Services, the Office of Administration and the Governor’s Office of Policy and Planning into one agency called the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Grove said this effort to streamline state government would improve the core functions and speed delivery of government services to the people of Pennsylvania…
Dowling said his legislation is focused on implementing commonsense changes to make state government more efficient and effective, as well as more financially responsible…
There’s no word yet whether a former Monessen school bus driver was collecting child pornography while taking kids to school. Jack Laforte was indicted this week in federal court for possession of child pornography. Prosecutors say Laforte was arrested in June when explicit images and videos of children under age 12 were found on his computer.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh reports a New Castle woman has pleaded guilty to charges in federal court with defrauding Social Security. 37 year old Shawna Stetler pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. Federal Authorities say Stelter failed to disclose that her husband was part of her household, and, as a result, received nearly 27 thousand dollars in Supplemental Security Income benefits to which she knew she was not entitled, from June of 2014 to September of 2016. Sentencing has been set for December 17th. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both.
UNDATED (AP) — The decision by federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for the man accused of killing 11 worshippers inside a Pittsburgh synagogue was made despite opposition from people most affected by the massacre. The filing this week drew a disappointed reaction from Dor Hadash, one of three congregations assembled when an armed man opened fire last year. Some opponents say they have a religious objection to the death penalty. Others say a plea deal could help survivors avoid reliving the event.
PennDOT District 11 is announcing drilling operations on Route 51 (Constitution Boulevard) in in Bridgewater and Fallston boroughs will occur Wednesday through Friday, August 28-30 weather permitting. Single lane restrictions will occur on Route 51 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day between the Veterans Memorial Bridge and Beaver Street. Crews from Armstrong Drilling will conduct core drilling operations for a future bridge rehabilitation project.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY, AUG. 28TH, 2019
TODAY – RAIN SHOWERS THIS MORNING…THEN SUNSHINE
FOR THE AFTERNOON. HIGH NEAR 80.
TONIGHT – CLEAR SKIES. LOW – 56.
THURSDAY – SUNNY SKIES. HIGH – 78.
THE AMBRIDGE STREETSCAPE PROJECT IS JUST ABOUT COMPLETE. CREWS WILL BE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE PROJECT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…
ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence told South Carolina conservatives Monday night that another four years for the Trump administration is a far better choice than anything the Democratic Party might offer from its nomination race.
“Have faith in the American people,” Pence told about 3,000 people attending a fundraising barbecue in the town of Anderson. “When the American people are given a choice between more freedom and more government, they’ll choose freedom every time.”
Pence spoke at the Faith and Freedom BBQ, an annual fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, one of the more conservative members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation. Organizers tout the event as the state’s largest annual gathering for conservatives, who packed out a civic center for plates of barbecue, cole slaw and homemade ice cream.
Other speakers Monday included Duncan, Gov. Henry McMaster and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, as well as U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Pence said that South Carolina — 55% of its voters backed Donald Trump in 2016 — is a beneficiary of military victories and economic successes pledged by Trump during his campaign.
“It’s been two and a half years of promises made and promises kept. We’re just getting started, South Carolina,” Pence said. “With God’s help, we will keep America great.”
Pence visited the state in March to help Graham kick off his reelection bid. On Monday night, Graham playfully swiped at the president, with whom he said he got off to a “rocky start.”
“I’ve come to like the president, admire the president,” said Graham, who frequently sparred with Trump when both sought the 2016 nomination but now counts as an ally and frequent golfing partner. “He likes himself, so we’ve got a lot in common. … This is a hell of a country, and we’re not going to give it over to a bunch of socialists.”
To applause and cheers, Graham also told the crowd, “If you’re not here to support Trump/Pence, you came to the wrong place.”
Before the program, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who is mulling a primary challenge to Trump, worked the room, speaking with attendees and calling for a conversation on what he sees as the ignored topic of the national deficit.
Sanford visited the early-voting state of New Hampshire earlier this month, where he said he felt he got “another greenlight” in terms of making a decision to challenge Trump. The former 1st District congressman, who is set to visit Iowa this week, has said he will take until Labor Day to make his decision.
As Sanford spoke with reporters, attendees waving Trump/Pence signs surrounded him, some chanting, “Trump! Trump!” and “Go take a hike,” a reference to Sanford’s 2009 disappearance to visit a mistress in Argentina while telling his gubernatorial staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Earlier Monday, Pence visited a metal fabrication business to promote the proposed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
“The USMCA is a win for South Carolina,” Pence said at Sargent Metal. “It’s a win for the United States. And it’s going to strengthen our economy and strengthen our hand on the world stage. It’s time to get it done.”