A measure requiring drivers to remove ice and snow from their vehicles before driving is a step closer to law. Senate Bill 114 moved through the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday and is off to the full chamber for a potential vote. The measure would give drivers 24 hours after a storm to clean their vehicles off. This bill would increase the penalty to 15-hundred dollars if ice or snow from a vehicle strikes another car or pedestrian, causing injury.

A bill is making its way through the state legislature that would require more of Pennsylvania’s energy be generated by renewable resources. As Don Rooney reports, the bill’s backers say it will generate both clean energy and jobs…

The City of Pittsburgh is revealing how much the Michael Rosfeld murder trial cost. Officials announced today it paid just over one-and-a-half-million-dollars during last year’s trial against the former police officer who killed 17-year-old Antwon Rose. The bulk of the cost went to pay police overtime, with smaller amounts covering the cost of fire crews and emergency medical crews. The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office spent about 500-thousand-dollars during that time. Rosfeld was found not guilty.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A western Pennsylvania casino has announced plans to break ground on a $60 million hotel project. The Rivers Casino Pittsburgh says the 219-room, four-star property to be built in the North Shore will be called “The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh.” Officials say they expect the seven-story project to bring about 128 new hotel and casino jobs along with 1,400 temporary construction jobs.

State Police in Lawrence County are investigating an identity theft incident that took place last month. A 50 year old North Beaver Township man told police that someone took out two auto insurance policies out in his name. Anyone with information is asked to call State Police at the New Castle Barracks.

A Pulaski Township man is wanted for the alleged rape of a 13 year old girl. The criminal complaint filed by Pulaski Township police also alleges that 19 year old Maverick Joseph Conners gave the teen alcohol and cocaine before the alleged sexual assault took place, knowing how old she was. The incident took place in June of last year. A warrant has been issued for Conners’ arrest on two counts each of statutory sexual assault and sexual assault along with a number of other charges.

A flight from Pittsburgh International Airport to Dallas was forced to make an emergency landing because a belligerent passenger started becoming aggressive. The Oklahoma City Police Department released body camera video showing 32-year-old Brandon Cordell Ganus being escorted off the plane after he was aggressive toward passengers and crew, hitting one of them. A police report noted Ganus was allegedly “bellowing an obscenity laden tirade that could be heard throughout the plane.” And police noted the smell of alcohol from Ganus was “overpowering.”

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The County Commissioners gathered on June 19 to a work session that focused primarily on Brady’s Run. Earlier this week there was a power outage that knocked out certain areas of the park, including the Ice Arena. At the Wednesday meeting, Public Works Director Dan Colville & Parks & Recreation Director Tim Ishman explained what happened to cause the outage:

 

During the meeting, Commissoner Chairman Dan Camp asked the two men about the possibility of making updates to the Horse Arena (such as wiring for the horses and updates to the restroom area), and also renovation to the Trail Maps for hikers and bikers (including proper boundary markers along the trails).

Meanwhile, Commissioner Sandie Egley took her segment of her Board of Commissioners’ reports to clarify herself after last week’s mentioning of proper funding & use of the Aliquippa Veterans’ Center:

 

Commissioner Tony Amadio was not present due to vacation, and head Solicitor Garen Fedeles was in a meeting with Cory Trautman of Susquehanna Financial and the IRS in regards to the county’s recent tax lien.

The next Commissioners’ work session will be at 10 AM on June 26.

Franklin Township officials are being forced into trailers after significant flood damage to the municipal building. The damage came from the four-inches of water that came during the May 28th storms. It’s believed the repairs will take about a month.

Senate Bill To Aid Veterans In Property Tax

Senate Bill 92 was written to give disabled veterans relief in their property taxes. Yesterday it passed through the state senate committee after a unanimous vote. Beaver County Radio News Intern, Christina Sainovich, has more…