Category: News

More protests occurred in downtown Pittsburgh yesterday for the fourth straight day.

(Pittsburgh,Pa.) More protests occurred in downtown Pittsburgh yesterday for the fourth straight day.

It is being reported that the group of protesters stopped in front of the Allegheny County Jail and sat down for about an hour. Pittsburgh Police shutdown Second Avenue because of the protestors. After the sit down at the jail the protestors traveled across the 10th Street Bridge and onto the South Side of Pittsburgh where they sat at the intersection of East Carson and 10th streets. The protestors then made their way back into downtown and ended up back in Market Square.

Pittsburgh Police reported that there were no arrests and no incidents during Tuesday’s protest march. The March was to protest the death of George Floyd the young black man who was killed in police custody when and officer knelt on him cutting off his air supply for over eight minutes.

Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy to be on Teleforum Wednesday June 3, 2020

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Tune into 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, 99.3 FM and beavercountyradio.com Wednesday June 3, 2020 at 10:10 a.m. for a special interview with Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy. The Sheriff will join join Frank Sparks on Teleforum to discuss a round table of subjects. On the docket is of course what occurred in Minnesota with the death of George Floyd. The pair will also discuss the COVID-19 outbreak, the Beaver County Courthouse, and gun permits.

The Sheriff will also be available to answer any of your questions by calling 724-843-1888 or 724-774-1888.

Judge gives control of Joe Exotic’s zoo to Carole Baskin

Judge gives control of Joe Exotic’s zoo to Carole Baskin
WYNNEWOOD, Okla. (AP) — A federal judge in Oklahoma has awarded ownership of the zoo made famous in Netflix’s “Tiger King” docuseries to Joe Exotic’s chief rival. U.S. District Judge Scott Palk on Monday granted control of the Oklahoma zoo that was previously run by Joseph Maldonado-Passage — also known as Joe Exotic — to Big Cat Rescue Corp. The Florida group was founded by Carole Baskin, who also featured prominently in the hit Netflix series. Maldonado-Passage is currently serving a 22-year federal prison for killing five tigers and plotting to have Baskin killed.

Minnesota files civil rights charge vs police in Floyd death

Minnesota files civil rights charge vs police in Floyd death
By STEVE KARNOWSKI and AMY FORLITI Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The state of Minnesota has filed a human rights complaint against the Minneapolis Police Department in the death of George Floyd by an officer who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes, even after he stopped moving. Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced the filing at a news conference Tuesday. Widely seen bystander video showing Floyd’s death has sparked protests around the world. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Three other officers involved were fired but have not been charged.

Pennsylvania Turnpike to lay off hundreds of toll collectors

Pennsylvania Turnpike to lay off hundreds of toll collectors
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — About 500 fare collectors and other toll workers along the Pennsylvania Turnpike are about to those their jobs. The Turnpike Commission voted Tuesday to make the entire interstate network a cashless system. The cuts are the latest development in the agency’s multi-year transition from a system that’s largely relied on workers stationed in toll booths to collect cash to one that employs E-ZPass as well as automated license readers. The job losses will begin June 18, and the commission said some health benefits will remain in place for two years.

Social media, music world go dark for Black Out Tuesday

Social media, music world go dark for Black Out Tuesday
By MESFIN FEKADU AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Though Black Out Tuesday was originally organized by the music community, the social media world also went dark in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, joining voices around the world outraged by the killings of black people in the U.S. Instagram and Twitter accounts, from record labels to everyday people, were full of black squares posted in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Most of the captions were blank, though some posted #TheShowMustBePaused, black heart emojis or encouraged people to vote. Seven states and the District of Columbia on Tuesday host presidential primary elections. But some on social media question if posting black squares diverts attentions.

United States Health and Human Serivces Secretary Alex Azar came to Beaver County Friday May 29, 2020

Story and photos by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver, Pa.) United States Health and Human Serivces Secretary Alex Azar came to Beaver County Friday May 29, 2020 and met with Heritage Valley officials and the Beaver County Commissioners. He was introduced by Heritage Valley CEO  Norm Mitry. The topic of discussion was the Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center just across Dutch Ridge Road.  The  nursing home is the site where most of the county’s COVID-19  cases  have occurred, and approximately 90% of the coronavirus  deaths have occurred there, according to statistics compiled since mid-March. Azar said that between May 12-14 HHS was on site  and there is a federal investigation  and findings, according to Secretary Azar,  will be released  soon.”He said a series of negative findings  and the tragic loss of many patients is unacceptable.” He said,”We’ll look at the rules and regulations  from CMS .”  He said, “States have to take care with infection control and systems control  at nursing homes seriously .”He said, “We’re focusing on protections  immediately.”He said, “We will certainly demand accountability.  As of Sunday there were 589 Covid-19 cases and 73 deaths in Beaver County.

Azar said a meeting with govenors and health commissioners is another step to be taken  to ensure the health and safety of our nursing home patients.
Below are Photos of Secretary Azar’s visit:

“STOP,STAND, AND SUPPORT PEACEFUL PROTEST” IN ALIQUIPPA SUNDAY MAY 31, 2020

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AUTUMN IVEY

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) AUTUMN IVEY SAID  SHE WAS DRIVING THROUGH ALIQUIPPA SATURDAY NIGHT ON HER WAY TO WORK.   SHE SAID GOD TOLD HER TO  ORGANIZE A PROTEST IN ALIQUIPPA. SHE CALLED AND GOT PERMISSION ACCORDING TO POLICE AND IT WAS A PEACEFUL PROTEST OF  100 PEOPLE.  IVEY SAID IT STOOD FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.  MAYOR DWAN B. WALKER SAID IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE PROTEST WAS AT THE POLICE STATION AT 10 A.M.SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020

IVY SAID SHE REACHED OUT TO HER LONG TIME FRIEND DEMETRIUS DORSETT ,  AND HE AND HIS FRIENDS WEREN’T AWARE OF ANY PROTESTS BEING HELD ON SUNDAY. SHE CALLED POLICE  TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT SHE INTENDED ON DOING . SHE SAID  THAT HER  INTENTION WAS TO STAND IN PEACE AND ASKED THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN HER, NO MARCHING OR RIOTING OCCURRED.   SHE SAID SHE GOT 200 COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK  SUPPORTING HER INTENTIONS.  . SHE INTRODUCED HERSELF TO MAYOR WALKER SUNDAY MORNING , AND TO THREE  ALIQUIPPA POLICE OFFICERS, SHERIFF TONY GUY,  AND COUNTLESS OTHER COMMUNITY OFFICIALS AND BUSINESS OWNERS. IVEY GAVE A SHOUT OUT TO HERB AND ANGEL BAILEY FROM UNCOMMON GROUNDS  CAFE’ FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND SHARING THEIR AMAZING ENERGY. SHE SAID THE COMMUNITY STOPPED AND STOOD TOGETHER, ARMS LENGTH APART, MASKS ON AND SIGNS IN THEIR HANDS.
SHE SAID THE PROTEST LASTED ONE HOUR AND AT 11 A.M. THEY LOCKED ARMS, HELD HANDS, AND STOOD AROUND THE AMERICAN FLAG IN FRONT OF THE ALIQUIPPA POLICE DEPARTMENT. REVEREND BAILEY  LED THEM IN THE LORD’S PRAYER FOLLOWED BY THE CHANT “NO JUSTICE. NO PEACE”.
CHECK OUT PHOTOS OF THE RALLY BELOW COURTESY OF AUTUMN IVEY

Man gets life plus 11 to 22 years in homicide, rape case

Man gets life plus 11 to 22 years in homicide, rape case
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A western Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole and a consecutive 11- to 22-year sentence in the strangulation death of a man and the rape of a woman last year. Fifty-nine-year-old Richard Mickens pleaded guilty Tuesday in Allegheny County to first-degree murder in the death of 51-year-old Luke Connelly in Carnegie in May 2019. Mickens also pleaded guilty to the rape and aggravated assault, for which the consecutive term was imposed. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors withdrew their bid to seek the death penalty in the case.

Pa. Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 6/2/20: Beaver County up One New Case and One New Death

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 2, that there are 612 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 72,894. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

There are 5,667 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 100 new deaths. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

Locally in Beaver County we are at 591 cases an increase of one case. 3889 people have tested negative and one new death in the county for a total of we 74.

“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.”

There are 616 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 399,361 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;
  • 6% are ages 19-24;
  • Nearly 37% are ages 25-49;
  • 25% are ages 50-64; and
  • 28% 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 15,660 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,696 cases among employees, for a total of 18,356 at 609 distinct facilities in 44 counties. Out of our total deaths, 3,597 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 5,523 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, 57 counties are in the yellow or green phase of reopening. The first 18 counties moved to green on May 29. All remaining red counties are expected to move to yellow by June 5.