The practice of conversion therapy is now illegal within Allegheny County. In an unexpected vote, Allegheny County Council passed a measure officially barring anyone from trying to convert LGBTQ minors. Some council members and those in attendance last night were surprised that the council voted on the bill. It passed by a vote of 13-2. The bill bans sexual orientation and gender conversion therapy for minors. Some council members called the therapy a public health and safety threat, saying the therapy has been rejected by virtually every professional organization in the mental health universe. Council has been discussing this since March of 2019…and they finally decided to vote on the bill last night.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania court is taking up a legal challenge by three transgender women to a two-decade-old state law prohibiting people with serious felonies from ever changing their names. Commonwealth Court will hear oral arguments Thursday in the lawsuit brought by plaintiffs who live as women but are unable to change their masculine first names because of a 1998 state law designed to prevent fraud. Current state law requires anyone convicted of a felony to wait at least two years after completion of their sentence to apply for a name change. Those convicted of certain more serious felonies are permanently barred from changing their names.

The Ambridge Rotary Club plans to erect a pavilion along Merchant Street in Ambridge borough. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play ‘ to hear Sandy’s report…

Flu-related deaths are again on the rise in P-A. Department of Health officials say there were seven more deaths over the past week, raising the statewide total to 47. Most of the deaths have been individuals older than 65. The commonwealth hasn’t said where those deaths occurred.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania is launching the website where voters for the first time can request the newly legalized mail-in ballots ahead of the state’s April 28 primary election. Beginning Tuesday, someone applying online must supply a driver’s license number or an identification card number from a card issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, as well as their name, address, phone number and email address. The mail-in ballots, part of an election reform law signed in October by Gov. Tom Wolf, now allow all voters to vote by mail for any reason.

Ambridge Council is applying for grants to help improve the parking lots in the borough’s business district. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Authorities say a fast-moving fire that roared through a Pittsburgh home killed a woman and her two pets. The fire in the city’s Brookline neighborhood was reported shortly before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Emergency responders encountered heavy smoke and flames at the back of the two-story house when they arrived, but firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze and enter the residence. They soon found the woman dead on the first floor, along with a dog and a cat that died. The woman’s name has not been released. No other injuries were reported in the blaze, which remains under investigation.

Moon Township police are investigating a string of vehicle break-ins that happened early this morning. Police say thefts were reported on Meade Drive, Glengarry Drive and Whispering Woods Drive. They anticipate additional reports of break-ins in the area and are asking anyone who has surveillance footage or may have witnessed suspicious activity to contact Moon Township Police Department.

The Moon Area School District will be adding an additional police presence at the middle school and high school today. School officials say they and local police were notified via an anonymous tip of a threat to the school at 8:30 last night. An investigation determined the threat was not credible. However, out of an abundance of caution, both middle school and high school will have added police presence today. All classes and activities will continue as scheduled. The school is also offering counselor support for students and staff that may need it.

One person has died in a fatal head-on collision in Lawrence County. According to state police, the crash occurred just after 5:00 a.m. on Route 288, Wampum Road in Wayne Township. Route 288 at Jockey Moore Road is currently closed and there is no word on when it will reopen. The cause of the crash and the identity of the victim have not been made available at this time.