Politics has way of finding Supreme Court eager to avoid it
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court might prefer to avoid politics, but politics has a way of finding the court. President Donald Trump wants the court to keep his taxes from being turned over to New York’s top prosecutor and allow his administration to exclude non-citizens from the census count. He wants the justices to counteract an order making it easier for women to get an abortion pill and rein in voting by mail. And Trump is hoping to have his third high court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, installed before Election Day. That would forge a 6-3 conservative majority on the court.
US layoffs still high, but so is skepticism on jobless data
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dipped last week to a still-high 840,000, evidence that layoffs remain elevated seven months into the pandemic recession. Yet economists say they are increasingly dubious about the unemployment claims figures, even though there is little doubt that hiring has slowed and employers have continued to lay off workers. One reason layoffs remain high is that companies often hold on to workers when a recession begins, if they can, in hopes of outlasting the downturn. Yet if the recession drags on, many will eventually give up and cut workers.
13 charged in plots against Michigan governor, police
By ED WHITE Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — Six people have been charged in federal court with plotting to kidnap Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at her vacation home. Separately, seven more people have been charged with trying to target police and the Michigan Capitol. The FBI says in a court filing that four had planned to meet Wednesday to “make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear.” The FBI quoted one of the accused as saying Whitmer “has no checks and balances at all.” The government used informants and undercover agents to thwart the plot. U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge says the men are “violent extremists.”
Pennsylvania House Republican Leaders Call on Rep. Aaron Bernstine to Resign Immediately
HARRISBURG – The leadership of the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus issued the following statement today regarding the conduct of Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence):
“As parents and fellow legislators, we are disgusted by Rep. Bernstine’s conduct. In order to take the time necessary to focus on his family and repair his relationships, we call on Rep. Bernstine to immediately resign.”
Trump vows not to participate in virtual debate with Biden
By ZEKE MILLER and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he won’t participate in next week’s debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden if it’s virtual. Debate organizers announced Thursday that the debate would be virtual because of Trump’s diagnosis of COVID-19. The Commission on Presidential Debates made the announcement a week before Trump and Biden were scheduled to face off in Miami. It said the candidates will “participate from separate remote locations,” while the participants and moderator remain in Miami. But Trump said he’s “not going to do a virtual debate.” Biden’s campaign insisted its candidate was ready to move forward, but the future of the event is now in serious doubt.
Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano
(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa City Council met Wednesday night via zoom and hired a full time laborer, John Coffey was hired for Aliquippa’s street department. Two part-time hires, Troy Dawkins and Ke’Shawn Sheppard were approved conditionally upon passing pre-employment testing. Street department superintendent Alex Scott reported that paving of streets in key areas is nearing completion.
Council approved the city planning commission’s recommendation for approval of the land development plan submitted by the Aliquippa Municipal Water Authority.
Following a report in a local newspaper about several videos that were uploaded to his personal Snapchat account and later sent to other media sources, State Representative Aaron Bernstine made a statement about those videos and their content on Rappin’ With The Reps to host Eddy Crow.
“I was wrong and took things too far when joking with my son and his friends over July 4th weekend, there’s no doubt about that,” said Bernstine. “They were private videos sent directly to friends…someone who I thought was a friend took those videos and sent them to the media, and I apologize. I apologize to my family, I apologize to the constituents, and I’ll do better moving forward.”
The videos showed, among other things, Bernstine inviting his son to smoke a cigar and the use of several profane phrases. The Snapchat account has since been deleted.
Bernstine has been the Representative for District 10 since 2016, and is currently running as incumbent versus Democrat Kolbe Cole of Beaver Falls and United Party member Jonathan Peffer of Franklin Township.
The full October 8 edition of Rappin’ With The Reps can be seen in full by clicking here.
(Bridgewater, Pa.) A construction crew that was working at the former Oak Arbor Restaurant at Stone Point Landing in Bridgewater struck a water line Thursday morning around 9:20 a.m. . As seen in the picture a Geiser of water flooded out the nearby area including a portion of the drive thru lane at Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union. Crews have been working over the last couple of months at renovating the former restaurant that has housed many businesses over the years. The Building once housed Keystone Bakery.
2nd Trump-Biden debate to be virtual due to Trump’s COVID-19
By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Commission on Presidential Debates says the second Trump-Biden debate will be ‘virtual’ amid concerns about the president’s COVID-19. The nonpartisan host of the debates made the announcement Thursday morning, a week before the two were scheduled to face off in Miami. Now, the candidates will “participate from separate remote locations,” while the participants and moderator remain in Miami. Trump was diagnosed with the coronavirus a week ago and said he looked forward to debating Biden on stage in Miami.
What initially began as a simple request for paperwork bloomed into a terse discussion between the County Commissioners, Treasurer Sandie Egley, and Controller Maria Longo at the October 7 work session.
Egley asked towards the end of the meeting why she was not allowed access to the resolutions for the October 8 Public Meeting, and Commissioner Chairman Dan Camp responded by saying it was an issue of security.
“At this time we are not giving them out, because when we were giving them out prior to the meeting, there was a leak of one of the resolutions that was eventually going to be pulled, but they had no knowledge of that, and it became a news story,” Camp said.
“I certainly don’t appreciate getting a phone call about a resolution I haven’t seen yet, and that happened a couple months ago,” Commissioner Jack Manning said. “So I’m all in favor of ensuring that nothing goes public until I have a chance to see those resolutions.”
But Egley wasn’t buying the explanation of security, claiming that “the resolutions come from downstairs, so that leak is happening somewhere in that table.” Manning and Camp denied that the leak came from the Board of Commissioners.
Egley then asked who else would have access to the resolutions prior to a public meeting, and Camp noted that the Controller’s office had access to them, “not saying that there was a leak from her office.” Controller Longo, though, took offense to Camp’s answer, saying “I got that same call you did before I saw them.”
Assistant Solicitor Nathan Morgan spoke about the issue, adding “really, it’s a matter of putting out accurate information. When a list of resolutions is being put out to you guys, ultimately…it’s not being voted on, because it’s misinformation. So the way to provide more accurate information is to wait until after the work session, when we know the complete and accurate list of resolutions to be voted on is.”
The full audio of the conversation surrounding the release of public meeting resolutions, courtesy of the Beaver County Courthouse, can be heard in full below.
