Trump moving ahead with State of the Union speech next week
By JILL COLVIN, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is moving forward with plans for President Donald Trump to deliver his State of the Union speech next week in front of a joint session of Congress — despite a letter from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requesting he delay it.
The White House sent an email to the House Sergeant-at-Arms on Tuesday asking to schedule a walk-through for the speech in anticipation of a Jan. 29 delivery, according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the planning.
At the same time, the White House is continuing to work on contingency plans and has been considering potential alternatives, including a rally, as a back-up venue.
A previously scheduled Capitol walk-through was canceled last week just before Pelosi sent her letter to Trump suggesting that he either deliver the speech in writing or delay it until after the partial government shutdown is resolved, citing security concerns.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen responded by assuring that DHS and Secret Service were “fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union.”
Asked about the letter by reporters Tuesday, Pelosi did not address the White House’s decision, saying only: “We just want people to get paid for their work.”
The president cannot speak in front of a joint session of Congress without both chambers’ explicit permission. A resolution agreed to by both chambers specifies the date and time of a joint session of the House and the Senate for receiving an address from the president.
Trump and Pelosi have been locked in an increasingly personal standoff over the partial government shutdown, which is now in its 32nd day. She had previously extended Trump a formal invitation to deliver the speech, which the White House says Trump accepted.
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Associated Press writer Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.
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Follow Colvin on Twitter at https://twitter.com/colvinj

THE AMBRIDGE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SET TO RE-OPEN THE WRIGHT FIELD HOUSE IN TIME FOR TONIGHT’S BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST CENTRAL VALLEY. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

A Hopewell High School graduate who was killed in Afghanistan will be buried Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has details. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

THAT HOUSE FIRE IN ALIQUIPPA EARLIER THIS MORNING HAS BEEN RULED ACCIDENTAL. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

State troopers are investigating a deadly crash in Lawrence County that claimed the life of a Beaver County woman. An SUV slammed into a building next to a toll booth on I-376 in North Beaver Township last night, killing 58-year-old Kelly Ann Gilligan of Hookstown. No other injuries were reported.

Former U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford of Pennsylvania, a civil rights activist who staged an upset Senate win in 1991, has died. He was 92. Wofford died late Monday night of complications from a fall in his Washington, D.C., apartment, his son, Daniel Wofford, said. After his stint in the Senate, he headed President Bill Clinton’s domestic volunteer program. Wofford’s activism in civil rights dated to the 1950s and he was a confidant of Martin Luther King Jr.

Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced he was assigned to serve on the House Commerce and Insurance committees during the 2019-20 legislative session. He also retained his seats on the House Health and Game and Fisheries committees.  The second-term lawmaker said the new assignments will allow him to combine his private sector experience with his legislative duties to protect consumers and businesses.

First-term legislator Rep. Joshua Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) today announced he has been assigned to serve on five standing House committees during the 2019-20 legislative session: Education, Children and Youth, Commerce, Gaming Oversight, and Liquor Control.  Kail said he is particularly pleased with his assignments on the Education and Children and Youth committees.

WEATHER FOREAST FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 22ND, 2019

 

 

TODAY – MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGH – 33.

TONIGHT – CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF A RAIN SHOWER.
LOW – 28.

WEDNESDAY – CLOUDY WITH PERIODS OF RAIN. HIGH
NEAR 50.

Loose barges temporarily shutter multiple Pittsburgh bridges
By The Associated Press
Strong river currents caused a dozen barges hauling coal to break loose from a tow boat, prompting the closure of major bridges crossing the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, at least one of which was struck, officials said.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said five vehicular bridges were shut down early Monday because of the loose barges, which were reported just before 5 a.m. Monday. The Liberty, Smithfield, Fort Pitt, West End and McKees Rocks bridges later reopened. Port Authority of Allegheny County
The Panhandle bridge, a light rail transit bridge, took “a direct hit from a loose barge” but also reopened after inspection, the Port Authority of Allegheny County said.
Murray American Transportation Inc. of Monessen said strong currents caused the loaded barges to break free from the M/V Brenda L. Murray II.
“We are working with the United States Coast Guard and other state and federal regulatory agencies to investigate this matter, and to determine the cause of the barge breakaway,” the company said in a statement.
The company said all barges had been secured. Lt. Shawn Simeral of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh said all 12 had been accounted for although “not all have been removed from the river.”
Simeral said earlier that officials had received reports that the Liberty Bridge was struck by at least one barge and the Smithfield and Fort Pitt bridges may have been struck.
“We have barges that are near them that are not yet out of the water,” he said. “We are waiting for the bridge inspectors to confirm that for us.”
Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, said on Facebook that they were aware of the situation, but none of the barges had impacted the Emsworth Locks and Dams, the first lock on the Ohio River.