State Rep. Aaron Bernstine yesterday commended the House Judiciary Committee, for passing House Bill 1855 or Markie’s Law, which focuses on the parole process for violent offenders. This is in the wake of the recent murder of an 8-year-old child in Lawrence County…

Bernstine and the family of Mark Edward Mason (Markie) also met with Gov. Tom Wolf, House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) about his legislation…

Bernstine’s legislation would postpone consideration of a violent inmate’s parole until an addition 24 months following the inmate’s minimum release date for each conviction for a violent offense while incarcerated. The legislation would postpone consideration of an inmate’s parole an additional 12 months if the inmate attempts to escape, smuggles contraband, or retaliates against witnesses while incarcerated.

A high-profile bullying incident in the Beaver Area School District has parents and school administrators concerned. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has the story…

(Photos taken by Sandy Giordano)

Midland Elementary School is honoring the vets, first responders and police. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

BREAKING NEWS: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has denied Monroe County-based Mount Airy Casino’s application to open a mini-casino in Big Beaver, thwarting a second plan to bring gambling to Beaver County and Lawrence Counties. The board denied a proposal by Mount Airy to open a Category 4 mini-casino in Big Beaver. Officials with the board said Mount Airy was not able to come up with the funding that is required to build such a casino in the county. In response, County Commissioner Dan Camp tells Beaver County Radio News that he is disappointed that such an establishment is not coming to the county, but that it’s no reason to give up:

(Photo of Hopewell High School Paint the Plow provided by
Michael E. Allison, Proud Principal of Hopewell High School.
Students featured Hannah Berkovic, Paulina Deutsch, Abbey Garofalo, Ainsley Kindred, Kelly Kypta, Victoria Lutz, Josh Maxin, Molly Nagy, Kain Nice, Cora Reddinger, Jillian Schrift, Linday Sedlacek, Olivia Stokes and Teacher Mrs. Sue Masley)

PennDOT has announced the winners of the ‘Paint the Plow’ contest in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. Beaver Falls High School won the “Fan Favorite” award, which was determined by online voting at www.penndot.gov and the “Judges’ Pick” award for its incorporation of the “Don’t Rush in Ice and Slush” safety message and overall design.
During the winter weather season, the plow designed by Beaver Falls, along with those painted by Freedom Area and Hopewell high school students, will be used to maintain state-owned roadways in Allegheny and Beaver Counties.Beaver County Radio News Intern Alex D’Itri has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Alex’s report…

Meteorologist Kevin Benson will not be returning to the air on Channel 11. Officials with WPXI-TV yesterday confirmed that Benson is no longer with the station. Benson was charged with driving under the influence in Washington County in September. According to a criminal complaint, a blood test showed that Benson had a blood alcohol content almost four times the legal limit and had an inactive cocaine metabolite in his blood. Both Benson’s photo and biography have been removed from the station’s website, WPXI.com.

(Photo provided by Center Township Police Chief Barry Kramer)

Police officers from Center and Hopewell Township are being honored for their heroic actions. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

A major step forward in the process to deal with Beaver County’s court-ordered reassessments was brought to light at the Commissioners’ work session on Wednesday. Matt Drzik has details from the courthouse:

 

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh’s third-term city controller is running for an open state auditor general’s office next year. Democrat Michael Lamb made the announcement Tuesday, two weeks after he was re-elected to the fiscal watchdog job in Pennsylvania’s second-largest city. Pennsylvania’s current auditor general, Eugene DePasquale, is completing a second four-year term and is barred from seeking another.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Democrat in Pennsylvania’s state Senate is switching his registration to become an independent and will caucus with the Republican majority. Sen. John Yudichak of Luzerne County said Tuesday that registering as an independent is the only way he can faithfully and fully serve his district. Yudichak’s departure comes after Democrats picked up six seats in the past year. Yudichak won a third Senate term last year. He’s occasionally split with Democratic leadership on floor votes.