Former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke is making a presidential primary campaign stop in Pennsylvania on his way from Ohio to the early voting state of New Hampshire. O’Rourke, a Democrat, will appear Tuesday morning at Penn State’s Hetzel Union Building for a meet-and-greet at the center of student activity at the school. After narrowly losing to a Senate bid in November, O’Rourke is garnering larger crowds and more media attention than most others in the already crowded 2020 Democratic field.

The Department of Defense says money for four projects in Pennsylvania could be diverted to help finance a U.S.-Mexico border wall. The offices of Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, both Democrats, said Monday the department listed $71 million for a submarine propeller manufacturing facility in Philadelphia and almost $18 million to expand Pittsburgh’s Air Force Reserve station. There’s also $8 million for Fort Indiantown Gap and $5 million for a Conneaut Lake Army Reserve Center road.

According to this week’s Triple-A gas price report the average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is 10 cents more expensive this week at $2.79 per gallon. At 2.54 a gallon the national price is 7 cents more expensive on the week and 23 cents higher that last month. A year ago prices were less in Western Pennsylvania at 2.76 a gallon.

A state lawmaker is resigning amid allegations he sexually assaulted a woman more than three years ago. Republican State Representative Brian Ellis from Butler County submitted his resignation letter Monday, saying the move is in the best interests of his family, health, and constituents. Investigators in Dauphin County have been looking into the claims Ellis had sex with a woman unable to consent. The resignation is effective immediately.

Some Ellwood City Medical Center employees say they again weren’t paid last week. For the past four payrolls, the staff at the medical center had received minimum wage with the promise to be paid the rest within the next two weeks. On Friday, some said they weren’t paid at all with no notice as to when they could be made whole. This would make 14 payrolls since August that were affected.

THE CENTER TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS HEARD THE RESULTS OF A TRAFFIC STUDY DURING THEIR REGULAR MEETING LAST NIGHT. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO WAS THERE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 19TH, 2019

TODAY – PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH – 46.

TONIGHT – MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW NEAR 30.

WEDNESDAY – MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGH – 55.

Judge OKs evidence of prior drive-by in cop’s homicide case
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jurors in the case of a white western Pennsylvania police officer accused of shooting to death a black teenager last summer will hear evidence about a drive-by shooting that happened about 15 minutes before Antwon Rose II was killed.
A judge Monday allowed testimony at the trial of Michael Rosfeld regarding the drive-by shooting that involved the vehicle in which 17-year-old Rose was a passenger. The trial begins Tuesday.
Rosfeld’s lawyer has said Rose’s shooting was justified.
Allegheny County Judge Alexander Bicket isn’t letting jurors hear details about a robbery that Rosfeld’s lawyer says involved Rose before the drive-by incident and before his fatal shooting.
Bicket says his decision may be revisited.
Rose was shot three times, including in the back, as he ran from a vehicle Rosfeld had pulled over.

HE’S BAACK…FORMER SHERIFF GEORGE DAVID HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RUN IN THE MAY PRIMARY. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDNANO HAS THE STORY.  Click on the ‘play’ button to hear Sandy’s report…

AN ALIQUIPPA ROADWAY REMAINS CLOSED DUE TO A LANDSLIDE. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…