Following recent incidents where people have opened fire at township meetings, a state Senator has introduced legislation that would allow local municipalities to restrict firearms at their facilities. Don Rooney has more…

A program which encourages families start saving for a newborn’s future post-secondary education is now statewide. The Keystone Scholars Program provides $100 to every child born in Pennsylvania or adopted by a PA family on or after January 1st, 2019 to be used for the child’s post-secondary education when the time comes. Legislation expanding the program was passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Wolf last June.

Lawmakers, students and supporters of improving workforce development programs rallied in Harrisburg on Monday to acknowledge the successful passage of a Good Jobs for Pennsylvania package of legislation by the full House…and, as it turns out, Beaver County played a prominent role in that rally. The 11-bill package would help match up interested students and individuals with the best training for their career paths. The bipartisan, career and technical education (CTE) package includes measures to address workforce shortages in business and industry, strengthen educational partnerships with employers, increase access to career oriented technical training and alleviate misperceptions regarding vocational education programs. House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) pointed to the forthcoming Shell Cracker Plant in Potter Township as an example of why he supports this package…

A freshman Republican state representative’s opening prayer in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is drawing complaints that it was inappropriately divisive. Rep. Stephanie Borowicz began the day’s session Monday with a Christian invocation that thanked Jesus for the honor and President Donald Trump for standing “behind Israel unequivocally.” Democratic Leader Frank Dermody called Borowicz’s invocation beneath the dignity of the state House.

The Pennsylvania attorney general’s office has charged a co-founder and former executives of an addiction treatment firm and accused them of profiting off addicts by fraudulently billing insurance companies for tens of millions of dollars. The charges announced Monday by Attorney General Josh Shapiro against 11 people and nine corporations focus on Liberation Way, a for-profit treatment company. The firm that bought a majority stake in Liberation Way in 2017 says the staff has been overhauled.

The foreman of a jury that acquitted a white Pennsylvania police officer of homicide says the Michael Rosfeld didn’t know the black teen he shot was unarmed. Juror Jesse Rawls Sr. says Antwon Rose II and another occupant who ran “brought it on themselves.” He says the then-East Pittsburgh officer knew there had just been a drive-by shooting. Hundreds of high school and college students protested the verdict Monday in downtown Pittsburgh.

A Pittsburgh mom faces felony child endangerment charges after her 3-year-old daughter was found standing outside nearly naked in near-freezing conditions. Pittsburgh police say a subsequent investigation determined the girl and her two siblings _ an infant and a 6-year-old _ were living in filthy conditions in a rowhouse. Authorities say a passing motorist called 911 after seeing the girl standing on the sidewalk in front of the rowhouse on March 18 with only a towel covering her.

 

A Chippewa Township woman accused of dumping the body of a drug overdose victim in White Township was sentenced in the case. 37 year old Carly Wiley pleaded no contest and was sentenced to spend 11 months in jail followed by two years probation. Wiley was one of two people charged Aug. 31 with dumping the body of 29-year-old Ryan Chiappetta in his vehicle in White Township after he died of a drug overdose at Wiley’s Chippewa Township house.

(File photo property of Beaver County Radio News)

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 26TH, 2019

 

TODAY – SUNNY. HIGH – 47.

TONIGHT – MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW – 25.

TUESDAY – SOME CLOUDS IN THE MORNING WILL GIVE WAY MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES FOR THE AFTERNOON.
HIGH – 55.

 

(File photo property of Beaver County Radio News)

Months of cold wintry weather have had a big impact on vehicles throughout the region, paving the way for breakdowns in the months ahead.  With the harsh winter weather in the rearview mirror and road-trip season ahead, AAA East Central advises motorists to give their vehicles a thorough check-up to help deter costly repairs down the road.

“Winter can lead to many issues that effect a vehicle’s performance, and a major issue AAA sees every year is rust damage caused by road salt,” says Mike Hoshaw, vice president of automotive services for AAA East Central.  “Americans are paying millions a year in rust damage, and easy steps like having the undercarriage washed can go a long way to help prevent a costly repair.”

The AAA Spring Car Care Checklist:

• Undercarriage blast — Give the entire vehicle, including the undercarriage, one last cleaning in the spring.  Any deposits left over from winter can continue to cause corrosion year-round.
• Tires — For optimum performance, tires must have adequate tread depth, show no signs of physical damage and be properly inflated.  With more potholes on the road, properly tires can act as a cushion to protect your vehicle’s suspension components.
• Windshield wiper blades — Cold temperatures are hard on rubber compounds, making early spring a good time to check or replace the blades if necessary.
• Fluids — Check all fluids and top off as necessary.  Winter driving conditions require your engine to work harder, and condensation can cause moisture to buildup in the engine that can create wear.
• Air Filter — The air filter is an integral part of your engine’s performance, and AAA recommends motorists change them with every oil change.
• Interior — This maintenance can include washing floor liners, vacuuming the carpets, and checking the cabin air filter.
• Battery — During the summer months, the hot sun can break down internal components of this part.  If a battery is more than three years old, it should be tested – especially before any long road trips.

Many items on the checklist can be done at home, but some are best left to the professionals.  Motorists can take their vehicles to a certified technician like those who participate in AAA’s Approved Auto Repair (AAR) program.  Garages that participate in the AAR program offer qualified technicians, a wide range of professional repair services, and guaranteed quality.  These shops meet AAA’s strict quality standards and display AAA’s logo.  AAR shops can be found at AAA.com/AutoRepair.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 80 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.