A drug raid took place in Ambridge earlier this morning. Sandy Giordano has more details…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of mayors are joining those calling for the Senate to return to Washington to pass two bills expanding background checks for gun sales. The House passed the bills earlier this year, and Senate passage would send the legislation to President Donald Trump. In a letter to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, more than 200 mayors urged McConnell to bring senators back to take action. So far, McConnell has resisted those calls.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cheers and jeers greeted President Donald Trump when he visited Ohio and Texas to console those left grieving by mass shootings last weekend. While a White House official told reporters that Trump was received warmly by patients and staff at a Dayton hospital, at least 200 protesters gathered outside to demand action on gun control and criticize Trump for his incendiary rhetoric. In El Paso, a similar scene played out, with Trump supporters on hand and protesters holding “Racist Go Home” signs.

(Photo taken by Sandy Giordano)

The Aliquippa Council discussed applying for more grants to further economic development. With more on that, here’s Sandy Giordano…

State Rep. Rob Matzie was appointed to Point Park University’s Board of Trustees for a 3 year term. Here’s Sandy Giordano with more detail…

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s highest court will determine whether the head of a township roadwork crew should have to pay $30,000 over approving time-cards for his son, in a case that could alter the state’s anti-nepotism rules. The Supreme Court said Tuesday it’ll review the case of John Sivick, ordered to pay the money over the financial benefit from his actions that went to his son. The justices will consider whether restitution is allowed and whether the time-card approval was a conflict of interest.

The Carnegie Free Library is holding a fundraiser in an attempt to raise money for a new roof. The roof is expected to cost 200,000 dollars, and officials say so far the library has raised 5,711 dollars, with a bulk of that coming from the local gym and fitness center, B Well Nation. The library has set up a GoFundMe page, and cash and check donations can be dropped off at the library, at 1301 Seventh Ave. in Beaver Falls.

This morning, water hydrants will be flushed in various locations throughout Beaver County. While flushing water hydrants is necessary to ensure a good water quality, this process could result in lower pressure or dirty water temporarily.

Penn Avenue will be closed from Allegheny Street to 6th Street in New Brighton from 9 am to 1 pm for routine road maintenance. For information, call 724-846-1870.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

For several weeks now, Brush Creek Park has been a top talking point at the weekly Commissioners’ work session, with citizens and officials from Marion Township discussing the matter with the Board of Commissioners. So with the recent announcement that the Commissioners were looking into road repairs at Brush Creek, it should be no surprise that the topic once again dominated the session with plenty of discussion and citizens’ opinions.

Public Works director Dan Colville was the first to speak about the issue, saying that in order for the road entering Brush Creek to be suitable for users, that a full repair is necessary:

 

Commissioner Sandie Egley also felt that the road was a concern, and one that masks the “beautiful” semblance of the park itself:

 

Egley, however, did comment that the goals being used for the soccer fields were also an eyesore, being rusted and infested to the point of unusable.

But several Marion Township residents were resilient in their concerns with the park. One of them, Jody McElwain, said that one thing that the park was missing was a new playground that she felt would not cost the county much, and also that the conditions of the park itself could lead to trouble:

 

While the Commissioners seemed to agree with the outcries of concern, they held firm to the prioritizing of the road to the park being fixed first. Solicitor Garen Fedeles echoed as much, and said that the county is looking into possible financial sources to get the repairs done:

 

Commissioner Tony Amadio and Assistant Solicitor Nathan Morgan were absent from the August 7 session. The commissioners will reconvene for public session on August 8 at 10:00 AM.