HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Two news organizations are reporting that the Pennsylvania Senate is hiding thousands of detailed explanations about its expenses from official records it provided under public records requests. The Caucus and Spotlight PA news organizations reported that Senate officials edited out the explanations, making it appear as though they didn’t exist. Lawyers who specialize in public records access cases in Pennsylvania say public officials aren’t allowed to erase parts of public records. They say public officials must justify why they choose to redact or not release certain pieces of information. Pennsylvania’s Legislature is one of the nation’s largest and most expensive.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania State Police will now let troopers have tattoos on their arms, but those who do will have to wear long-sleeved uniform shirts that conceal them when they’re on duty. In a statement, Col. Robert Evanchick, the state police commissioner, said Wednesday that the agency hopes the new policy will widen its field of potential recruits. Before Wednesday’s announcement, troopers could have tattoos, as long as they weren’t visible to the public. Troopers still may not have tattoos that are above their neckline or below their wrist. Tattoos that could be seen as hateful or discriminatory are prohibited.

New details have been released regarding the Aliquppa man jailed on child pornography charges. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has the update. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

Aliquippa City Council last night addressed numerous complaints about the poor lighting on Franklin Avenue. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano was there. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

Cranberry Township’s Board of Supervisors are moving forward with a plan to renovate the Rotary Amphitheater. This July, work is set to begin to add an expanded canopy, and upgrade lights and sound to the structure. The work is the first of three phases and will eventually add a plaza and terraced seating.

Aliquippa City Council has accepted a police officer’s resignation. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has more. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state laboratory is improving its ability to handle samples that it is testing for the new coronavirus that is sickening people across the globe. State health officials said Wednesday that the lab can now handle about 25 samples a day. A spokesman said that rate should increase in the coming days after the lab gets a piece of equipment, an extractor, that boosts its testing capacity. Officials say there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. Hospital and state officials in Pennsylvania are encouraging people who fear they may have contracted coronavirus to call their doctor or hospital.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2020

 

TODAY – A MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUN DURING THE MORNING
WILL GIVE WAY TO CLOUDY SKIES THIS
AFTERNOON. HIGH – 53.

TONIGHT – MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW – 35.

FRIDAY – CLOUDY WITH RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
HIGH – 42.

SATURDAY – SOME CLOUDS IN THE MORNING WILL GIVE
WAY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES FOR THE
AFTERNOON. HIGH – 45.

SUNDAY – MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH NEAR 60.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden’s aides say the Democratic presidential candidate is thrilled to have former rival Mike Bloomberg’s support. Bloomberg ended his own bid Wednesday after a poor showing and endorsed Biden. The former New York mayor has committed to leaving up his massive campaign operation to help Democrats defeat President Donald Trump in 2020. It’s unclear if Bloomberg would use his resources and organization to help Biden in his nominating fight against Bernie Sanders. Federal campaign finance laws would bar direct coordination between the Biden campaign and Bloomberg on a range of spending possibilities should the former mayor essentially want to turn his campaign into a Biden-aligned super PAC.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An elections administrator in the Tennessee county that includes Nashville is praising voters for turning out on Super Tuesday despite tornado damage to voting locations and roads. More than a dozen voting locations in one county were closed after a tornado swept through Nashville and surrounding areas early Tuesday. Voters navigated road debris and street closures to reach precincts that were not damaged to cast ballots in the presidential primary election. Polls in another county opened at 8 a.m., an hour later than originally planned. Campaigns for four Democratic presidential candidates successfully sued to keep polls open late.