HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Votes in a referendum on enshrining victims’ rights in Pennsylvania’s constitution aren’t going to be tallied or certified while a legal challenge to the amendment is pending. Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler granted a preliminary injunction Wednesday. The amendment would enshrine in the state constitution a set of rights for victims, including to be notified about, attend and weigh in during plea hearings, sentencings and parole proceedings.

Pennsylvania Lawmakers are marking the first anniversary of the shootings at a Pittsburgh synagogue by introducing legislation dealing with hate crimes in the state. Don Rooney has details…

The Pennsylvania House this week continued work on a package of bills designed to bolster the volunteer fire and ambulance companies that form the backbone of the Commonwealth’s emergency response network. State Representative Natalie Mihalek – who represents the 40th Legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving parts of Allegheny and Washington counties – says the legislature must act to retain and recruit first responders…

The Helpers and Heroes Package addresses the crisis facing our first responders, with most companies having lost more than three quarters of their volunteer force.

PennDOT and AAA  urge motorists and pedestrians to stay safe while trick-or-treating. Beaver County radio news intern Alex D’Itri has more…

(Photos taken by Sandy Giordano)

BREAKING NEWS: The rainy weather forecast has prompted several municipalities in Beaver County and beyond….to postpone trick or treating times. The latest just called in this morning: Koppel has changed its trick or treat time to 1 to 3 on Saturday. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has the rest of the updated list. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

WEATHER FORECAST FOR HALLOWEEN: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, 2019

 

** WIND ADVISORY FOR BEAVER COUNTY IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 AM EDT FRIDAY…MEANING GUSTY WINDS COULD BLOW AROUND UNSECURED OBJECTS. TREE LIMBS COULD BE BLOWN DOWN AND A FEW POWER OUTAGES MAY RESULT…SO PLEASE USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN DRIVING. **

TODAY – PERIODS OF RAIN. HIGH NEAR 70.

TONIGHT – RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS THIS EVENING.
CLOUDY AND WINDY OVERNIGHT. LOW – 34.

FRIDAY – CLOUDY SKIES IN THE MORNING, FOLLOWED BY
SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH – 46.

SATURDAY – MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH AROUND 50.

SUNDAY – PARTLY SUNNY SKIES. HIGH – 44.

Work zone speed cameras about to be deployed in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Cameras to detect speeding in Pennsylvania’s roadway work zones will begin limited operation next week ahead of their use statewide early next year.
Two cameras will be deployed, one in the Pennsylvania Turnpike system and one on another Pennsylvania roadway, but for 60 days violators won’t be issued warnings or tickets.
There will eventually be 17 cameras deployed in the state.
There were more than 1,800 work zone crashes in Pennsylvania last year, and 23 people died.
The law calls for cameras to record license plates of anyone going more than 11 miles per hour above the limit while workers are present.
Violators will get a written warning the first time, followed by fines of $75 and $150 for subsequent offenses.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is asking the Army secretary for a briefing on what he’s doing to protect Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel detailed to the White House who testified Tuesday in Democrats’ impeachment inquiry. Schumer wrote Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy after Democrats in Vindman’s closed-door deposition said they pushed back on Republican attempts to reveal the identity of a whistleblower who filed a complaint about President Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The second highest ranking official at the State Department faced off with senators demanding to know why he didn’t know more about the Trump administration’s backchannel diplomacy with Ukraine and the dismissal of the former U.S. ambassador to Kyiv. Both issues are at the heart of the impeachment inquiry into the president. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan was questioned Wednesday during his confirmation hearing.

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — A wind-driven wildfire burning northwest of Los Angeles has grown to 1,300 acres. The Ventura County Fire Department says the blaze is threatening 6,500 homes. The fire erupted before dawn Wednesday between the cities of Simi Valley and Moorpark and has been spread by strong Santa Ana winds. Flames have approached the hilltop Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, but a spokeswoman says no damage has occurred.