Biden vs. Trump: General election battle is now set
By STEVE PEOPLES AP National Political Writer
The general election for president is underway between President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The former vice president’s last major rival, Bernie Sanders, announced Wednesday he was ending his campaign. Sanders’ decision concludes a fiery and public intraparty battle that has been tearing at the fabric of the Democratic Party. Sanders says he will continue to work toward the defeat of the Republican president. But Sanders suggested in an interview on CBS’ “Late Show” he hopes to see Biden move in a more progressive direction. Neither Trump nor Biden has formally received his party’s nomination, but they will be the standard-bearers barring an unforeseen event.

HHS: Federal stocks of protective equipment nearly depleted
By MICHAEL BIESECKER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Strategic National Stockpile is nearly out of N95 respirators, surgical masks, face shields, gowns and other supplies desperately needed to protect front-line medical workers treating coronavirus patients. The House Oversight committee has released documents showing that about 90% of all the personal protective equipment in the stockpile has been distributed to state and local governments. The remaining 10% is being held in reserve for federal workers. House Democrats say the Trump Administration is leaving states to fend for themselves, competing with each other and federal agencies in a free-for-all bidding war that drives up prices.

Thousands without power after storms that spawned tornadoes
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Thousands of utility customers in Pennsylvania are still without power a day after severe thunderstorms knocked trees and utility lines and spawned two small tornadoes. The storms containing heavy rains, hail, lightning and strong winds caused damage across the state. especially in western Pennsylvania where winds tore the roofs off of a church and a brewery in New Kensington and blew away a hanger at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The National Weather Service confirmed two small tornadoes touched down in the area early Wednesday _ one near Tarentum and another in Lower Burrell. No injuries were reported. Roughly 13,000 utility customers were still without power early Thursday.

THE BEAVER COUNTY OFFICE ON AGING LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE DURING THE COVID-19 STAY AT HOME STATUS

Ombudsman is a Swedish term that means citizen advocate. “Ombudsmen advocate for those who can’t, support those who can and ensure all long-term care consumers live with dignity and respect.”

Under normal circumstances, staff and volunteer Ombudsmen make regular monthly visits to each personal care and nursing facility in Beaver County to talk with residents, family and staff about the quality of life in the home.  Ombudsmen also complete resident directed complaint investigations where the goal is to resolve issues to the satisfaction of the resident.  Confidentiality and consumer direction are extremely important throughout the process.

Our Ombudsmen are working full time, at home, and are still available for any complaints or questions related to Nursing facility and Personal Care Home resident rights and problem resolution.  If you have a problem you need help with give us a call. We will return your call by the end of the next business day.  Note: Ombudsman calls are considered and treated with highest confidentiality.

HOW TO CONTACT THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM:

1. Email us at Ombudsman@BCOA.US
2. Or call the Ombudsman direct phone line 724-480-8589
3. If calling the Office on Aging main phone 724-847-2262, identify your call as an Ombudsman issue, with no details, as these calls are highly confidential. Ask for an Ombudsman to call you back and leave your NAME AND PHONE NUMBER ONLY.

Route 68 Midland Road Slide Repair Work Resumes Thursday in Beaver County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing slide repair work on Route 68 (Midland Road) in Midland and Ohioville boroughs, Beaver County will resume Today weather permitting.

Work will begin at 7 a.m. today between Smiths Ferry Road in Ohioville and Route 168 in Midland. Single-lane alternating traffic controlled by a temporary signal will occur in the work zone. A single 11-foot 6-inch lane will be maintained for both directions of traffic. Trucks will be accommodated through the work zone.

The $3.54 million slide remediation project also includes paving, drainage improvements, and line painting operations. Plum Contracting, Inc. is the prime contractor.

Normal highway and bridge construction projects in Pennsylvania remain paused as part of the commonwealth’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This project is part of critical work that continues statewide addressing safety needs and work needed to eliminate roadway restrictions that could impede the ability for the movement of life sustaining goods and services.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 950 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Trump-Biden election off-limits for US bettors (so far)
By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Double down on Donald, or bet big on Biden? Plenty of Americans would like the chance to place a bet on the presidential election, and sports books would love to take their money. But so far, it is not legal anywhere in the country. It actually was permitted for about an hour in West Virginia on Tuesday as the state gave and then quickly rescinded permission for sports books to take bets on the election. West Virginia lottery officials said they needed to study the issue further. Jay Kornegay, a Las Vegas sports book executive, says elections betting would be “gigantic” in the U.S.

Iran says US oil production must be known before OPEC+ call
By NASSER KARIMI Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has demanded that U.S. oil production levels must be known before an upcoming OPEC meeting with Russia and others seeking to boost global energy prices. The meeting of the so-called OPEC+ is scheduled to be held on Thursday after officials delayed it following Saudi Arabia criticizing Russia over its comments about the price collapse. A meeting in March saw OPEC and other nations led by Russia fail to agree to a production cut as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has drastically cut demand for oil. In the time since, prices have collapsed. State news agency Tass reported Wednesday that Russia’s Energy Ministry said it is prepared to cut production by 1.6 million barrels a day.

‘Full House,’ Broadway producer Thomas Miller dies at 79
By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The producer of a string of TV hits including “Full House” and its sequel “Fuller House” has died. A family spokeswoman said that Thomas L. Miller died Sunday in Salisbury, Connecticut, from complications of heart disease. A native of Milwaukee, Miller moved to Los Angeles in 1962 and began his Hollywood career working for famed movie director Billy Wilder. After serving as a studio executive, Miller’s independent production career included the sitcoms “Happy Days” and “Laverne & Shirley.”  Working in partnership with Robert Boyett, he produced “Full House” and the Netflix sequel that debuted in 2016. Miller and Boyett later collaborated on Broadway productions, including the Tony Award-winning “War Horse.”

Tornado confirmed as storms tear roof off church, cut power
APOLLO, Pa. (AP) — The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado touched down in western Pennsylvania amid storms that knocked down trees and utility lines, leaving thousands of utility customers without power. Forecasters said examination of radar data confirmed the presence of the tornado early Wednesday near Tarentum in Allegheny County. A meteorologist had been dispatched to conduct a full survey. The storm also tore the roof off of St. Mary of Czestochowa Church and a brewery in the Westmoreland County community of New Kensington. Winds also blew away a hanger at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe.

First lady spreads Easter cheer to workers during pandemic
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump is spreading some colorful Easter cheer to workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. She is sending 25,000 commemorative Easter eggs to Washington, D.C.-area children’s hospitals, government agencies, aid groups and grocery stores that are serving the public. The pastel-colored wooden eggs would have been handed out to participants at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, which had been scheduled for April 13. That’s the day after Easter. But the event was cancelled due to concern about large gatherings during the coronavirus. outbreak.