Governor Tom Wolf is announcing more help for victims of sexual assault. Wolf says the state Office of Victims’ Services is now accepting sex assault counseling claims for victims of abuse. According to the governor’s office, the claim process, enacted as part of a law last year, covers the costs of therapy and counseling for victims of childhood and adult sex abuse in the state. More info can be found on the website of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The Beaver County Democrats have announced award winners for 2020. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

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One Pittsburgh lawmaker is looking to expand the Clean Indoor Air Act. Representative Dan Frankel, of Squirrel Hill, says House Bill 2298 would close a loophole that allows smoking in some cigar bars, private clubs, casinos, restaurants, and sports venues. State Senator Jay Costa, of Forest Hills, says he plan to introduce a similar bill in the Senate this week.

New details have been released in that two vehicle accident in Wayne Township Wednesday morning that claimed the life of a Wampum man. The accident took place on Route 288 when 29 year old Dale Fey of Bessemer was westbound when he crossed the center line and struck a vehicle operated by 68 Samuel Kelly. Police said Kelly was pronounced dead at the scene. Fey was taken to UPMC Jameson for treatment.

Two people are being treated for injuries suffered in a New Castle stabbing. Police say Michael McNair stabbed his girlfriend yesterday during an argument at an East Washington Street home, then stabbed himself. They were both hospitalized with stab wounds to their necks and chests. McNair is charged with attempted homicide.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THURSDAY, FEB. 13TH, 2020

TODAY – MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SNOW SHOWERS AROUND
THIS MORNING. TEMPERATURES NEARLY STEADY
IN THE MID-30‘S.

TONIGHT – CLOUDY WITH SNOW SHOWERS MAINLY DURING
THE EVENING. LOW – 14.

VALENTINES DAY – PARTLY SUNNY AND MUCH COLDER.
HIGH AROUND 20.

SATURDAY – MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH – 38.

SUNDAY – CLOUDY SKIES. HIGH NEAR 40.

The nation’s two largest teachers unions want schools to revise or eliminate active shooter drills, asserting that they can harm students’ mental health and that there are better ways to prepare for the possibility of a school shooting. The American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association joined with the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund in calling for an end to unannounced drills or drills that simulate gun violence. The report released Tuesday recommends schools concentrate on training teachers to respond to an active shooter incident rather than drilling students. It also issued guidelines for schools that decide to use drills. Those include never simulating an actual shooting; giving parents, educators and students advance notice of any drill; working with mental health officials to create age-appropriate and trauma-informed drills; and tracking the effects of drills. Still others say that active shooter drills are effective when done appropriately. Some experts believe that simulating an event is the best way to prepare for one. According to a survey by the National Center for Education Statistics, about 95% of schools drilled students on lockdown procedures in the 2015-16 school year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has ended his campaign for president after his late bid failed to gain traction in the race. Patrick was the last remaining African American candidate in a Democratic presidential field once defined by its diversity. Patrick’s departure from the race leaves just one other candidate of color, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Samoan American. Patrick launched his bid for president in mid-November but failed to register in polling and fundraising and never made it onto a presidential debate stage. Patrick had focused his campaign entirely on New Hampshire, hoping the familiarity of a neighboring state would help boost his chances in the race.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The families of three female high school runners have a federal lawsuit seeking to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from participating in girls sports. Lawyers from the Alliance Defending Freedom argue that allowing athletes with male anatomy to compete has deprived their clients of track titles and scholarship opportunities. The lawsuit centers on two transgender sprinters who have taken 15 girls state championship titles since 2017. The Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference says its policy follows a state anti-discrimination law that says students must be treated in school by the gender with which they identify.