Several new laws will go into effect in Pennsylvania in 2020. The laws range from changing how we vote to how military families pay for college. One of the laws with broader impact is the election reform bill, which allows Pennsylvania residents to vote by mail up to 50 days before an election without an excuse. It also extends voter registration times and gives $90 million to help counties buy new voting machines. The election reform bill will be in effect by the April primary. Another law raises Pennsylvania’s smoking age to 21 — which also just passed on the federal level — and expands tobacco products to include e-cigarettes and other vaping products. As for hunting, it’s now allowed on three Sundays a year: one during rifle deer season, one during archery deer season and a third one to be determined by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Two criminal justice laws will change sentencing guidelines and expand drug treatment programs…and a new GI Bill will give 10 semesters of tuition-free education to spouses and children of members of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

There were two newly reported flu deaths in Pennsylvania, and in the last week the number of flu cases jumped 56%. The total number of deaths caused by the flu in Pennsylvania in 2019 jumped to nine. Health department officials said there were more than 4,000 confirmed flu cases since September in Allegheny County alone – accounting for 24% of the state’s total. Officials said the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalization for everyone, especially children and senior citizens. That is why they urge people to get the vaccine.

The closing of a local hospital is now impacting how police deal with drunk drivers. Ellwood City Medical Center shut down in November, and it has forced Ellwood City Police to drive out of town for blood tests every time they make a DUI arrest in the borough. The change is not only time consuming but expensive for taxpayers since it requires another officer to be called in for overtime to cover the borough. Two officers are required to be on-duty in the borough at all times, meaning a trip to New Castle requires officers to be called in. The medical center’s parent company, Americore Health LLC, filed for bankruptcy in federal court earlier this week, putting the hospital’s future in serious doubt. Mayor Tony Court said the borough recently spent $10,000 on its own blood test system to avoid the repeated trips, but it will be at least a month until it’s operational and officers are trained on the new system. Court didn’t know how much this has cost taxpayers since the medical center closed, but he believes the in-house blood testing system will ultimately save a lot of money.

Some local families are expressing anger that decorations at loved ones’ gravesites at a Beaver County cemetery continue to disappear. During the holiday season, people said they’ve placed decorations on their family’s gravesites at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park in Rochester Township… but those decorations keep disappearing. While some believe the items are being taken by outsiders, a former cemetery worker said the company takes down the decorations each day and throws them out. Sylvania Hills Memorial Park then released the following statement about these allegations: “We empathize with client families who wish to add personal items to the graves of their loved ones; however, we have an obligation to those we serve to maintain a consistent standard of appearance and safety for visitors and workers. It is never our intention to upset or offend any client family. We care deeply for our families and strive to provide them with a peaceful and beautiful environment to remember their loved ones.” There are signs at the entrance stating no decorations are allowed.

A portion of Route 51 (McGovern Boulevard) in Moon Township is closed in both directions due to a major landslide reported late last night. The heavily traveled roadway is closed between Purdy Road and Stoops Ferry Road after the landslide downed trees and power lines, according to Moon police. The landslide was reported shortly before midnight. Crews from PennDOT are on the scene to oversee repairs. Peoples Gas and Duquesne Light were also called in, police said. Power was restored around 5:30 this morning for about 600 Duquesne Light customers. Northbound drivers are being advised to turn left onto Flaugherty Run Road to avoid the closure; southbound drivers should take Brodhead Road.

An overnight stabbing in Ambridge is under investigation this morning. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has details. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

State police have reportedly taken one man into custody after an hours long chase in Beaver County overnight. It started just before midnight along Route 168 in Hookstown. It remains unclear why police started chasing the man. There are reports the suspect may have shot at troopers during the chase. No one was hit. Troopers are still on the scene near border with West Virginia, searching for a second person. State Police from Beaver County say a large wooded area is being searched from the Pennsylvania border to a bridge that connects East Liverpool, Ohio, to Chester. Stay with Beaver County Radio News for the latest on this developing story.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 2ND, 2019

 

TODAY – MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGH – 48.

TONIGHT – CLOUDY WITH PERIODS OF RAIN. LOW – 42.

FRIDAY – A STEADY RAIN IN THE MORNING. SHOWERS
CONTINUING IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH – 47.

SATURDAY – A STEADY LIGHT RAIN IN THE MORNING
TRANSITIONING TO SHOWERS OF RAIN AND
SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH – 43.

SUNDAY – CLOUDY. HIGH – 35.

Authorities say homicides in Pittsburgh have hit a 20-year low. Data from police and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office show 37 homicides city-wide last year. That’s way down from 52 homicides reported in 2018, and ties the number of homicides in 1998. All but four of last year’s victims were men and all but three were shot to death. Five victims were children. The Tribune-Review reports that homicides in Pittsburgh have been decreasing since a spike in 2014 when the city saw 70 homicides. Surrounding Allegheny County had 59 homicides last year.