First Energy permits still being extended

Both the Little Blue Run coal ash impoundment and the Bruce Mansfield coal-fired power plant have been operating under an “administratively extended” permit concerning the regulation of pollution discharges. That permit expired in November of 2011 according to Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Lauren Fraley. With additional applications being made and state & federal regulations continuing to change, there were more delays. Everything was collected and resubmitted to the DEP in February, but the evaluation continues whether to deny or approve the permit./about 30 people attended a public hearing Wednesday night at South Side Area High School to offer their opinions on the permit renewal. If the permit is approved, it will be the last one needed as First Energy has announced its plan to close the Bruce Mansfield plant in 2021 and the Little Blue Run stopped receiving coal ash shipments at the end of 2016.

Police continue to investigate after a 66 year old woman was struck by a vehicle in Squirrel Hill Wednesday evening. After EMS responded, the woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition. According to Allegheny County emergency officials, Shady Ave. was closed in both directions.

Dylan Elchin didn’t tell his Mom until he graduated from Hopewell Highschool about his plans to join the special services.
He was assigned to the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, based at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.
According to a KDKA interview Dylan‘s mom Dawna Duez said“I didn’t know he was jumping out of planes and diving underwater, and all the things he was doing,”
Elchin, a Hookstown native, was one of three service members killed Tuesday in Afghanistan as the result of a roadside bomb that detonated in Andar in the Ghazni Province of Afghanistan.
When he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel, his Mom said, “I didn’t want him to go. He said, ‘Mom, I’ll be okay,’” Dawna said, ‘Dylan, if anything happens to you, it will destroy me.’ He said, ‘Mom, I’ll be fine,’ with a big smile on his face, ‘I’ll be fine.’ I said, ‘It’s in God’s hands now.” When he left out that door I hugged him,
Lt. Col. Gregory Walsh, commander of the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, said in a statement from the United States Air Force: “Dylan had an unusual drive to succeed and contribute to the team. He displayed maturity and stoicism beyond his years, and was always level-headed, no matter the situation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dylan’s family, fiancé, and friends. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.”

WEATHER: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018

TODAY: Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. High 37F.

TONIGHT: Rain and snow this evening. A few rain showers overnight – otherwise, mostly cloudy. Low 33F.

FRIDAY: Cloudy with light rain early. High 43F.

SATURDAY: Rain likely. Thunderstorms in the evening. High 48F.

SUNDAY: Cloudy. High 58F.

PennDOT District 11 is announcing inspection activities on the Rochester-Bridgewater Bridge, which carries Route 4042 (Bridge/Madison Street) over the Beaver River in Bridgewater and Rochester boroughs will occur Thursday, November 29 weather permitting. Single-lane alternating traffic will occur on the bridge between Delaware Street and Market Street from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday.

A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT WILL GIVE BEAVER COUNTY RESIDENTS A LOOK AT A PLAN TO CONTROL CONTAMINATION LEVELS FROM THE LITTLE BLUE RUN COAL ASH IMPOUNDMENT. PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING A RENEWED POLLUTION DISCHARGE PERMIT FOR LITTLE BLUE RUN. THE NEW PERMIT – IF APPROVED – WOULD MARK THE FIRST TIME THE STATE D-E-P HAS ADDRESSED PREVIOUSLY UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGES OF COAL ASH MATERIAL INTO WATERS AROUND LITTLE BLUE RUN. D-E-P OFFICIALS ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PUBLIC INPUT AT A MEETING TONIGHT AT 6 P-M AT SOUTH SIDE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT’S MIDDLE/ HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM IN HOOKSTOWN. PEOPLE WILL HAVE UP TO FIVE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK ON THE DRAFT PERMIT.

A HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP MAN FACES A HEARING ON VARIOUS ASSAULT CHARGES. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS DETAILS. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

Pennsylvania State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale has released his Firearm Safety Special Report…

DePasquale released his special report on firearm safety outlining new ways in which Pennsylvania can curb deaths and injuries without changing existing laws….

Depasquale is calling for a community approach to saving lives…

The report highlights ways to achieve commonsense goals, curb violence, and save lives…

THE MOTHER AND COUSIN OF ALIQUIPPA MURDER VICTIM RACHAEL DELTONDO ARE HEADED TO COURT. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS DETAILS. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

BEAVER COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING THE FIRST COST OF LIVING INCREASE TO RETIREES IN NEARLY TWO DECADES. THE COUNTY PENSION BOARD TABLED A SUGGESTION BY TREASURER CONNIE JAVENS ON TUESDAY TO GIVE THE COUNTY’S NEARLY 11-HUNDRED PENSION RECIPIENTS A 1.7 PERCENT ANNUAL COST OF LIVING RAISE. THE RAISE WOULD COST THE COUNTY ABOUT 366-THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY. COUNTY OFFICIALS WILL RE-CONSIDER THAT OPTION NEXT MONTH.