Congressman Conor Lamb said he wouldn’t vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, and the Democratic Pennsylvania congressman stuck to his word Thursday. When Lamb’s name was called, he voted for Congresman Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., which led to some laughter in the chamber. Lamb and a handful of other lawmakers voted for alternative candidates. Still, Pelosi was elected to lead the new Congress. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is now the minority leader. Lamb, of Mt. Lebanon, was elected to his first full term by defeating Republican Keith Rothfus in the November election in Pennsylvania’s new 17th Congressional District.

One person was taken to the hospital following a crash in Greene Township this morning. The crash happened shortly after 5:30 a.m. along Route 30 in Greene Township. A medical helicopter was brought in to transport the injured person to the hospital. The cause of the crash has not been determined.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 4TH, 2018

 

TODAY – CLOUDY THIS MORNING WITH PEEKS OF
SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH – 46.

TONIGHT – RAIN. LOW – 36.

SATURDAY – CHANCE OF A MORNING SHOWER…GIVING
WAY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES FOR THE
AFTERNOON. HIGH – 47.

SUNDAY – SOME MORNING CLOUDS…FOLLOWED BY
AFTERNOON SUNSHINE. HIGH NEAR 40.

The big topic on ‘Ask The Commissioners’ this morning was the 2019 budget, which the commissioners adopted last week. The budget was balanced without a tax increase, but the decision wasn’t unanimous. Commissioner Sandie Egley voted against the $210 million budget, as she did its draft earlier this month…and this morning, she explained why:

We’re in the black again in this budget. Egley and Amadio were both asked to talk about that the key factors that made it so that we could operate in the black this year….

 

Amadio says the county has been able to end each year with a surplus…

The budget included a deferment of $1 million of the county’s subsidy to the Community College of Beaver County. Both Amadio and Egley were asked where that idea came from…

Commissioner Dan Camp was unable to attend ‘Ask The Commissioners’ due to a an appointment.

The budget includes estimations for wage and health-care increases for six of the county’s nine collective-bargaining units. Those negotiations are ongoing and won’t be settled until next year.

There are more than 64-hundred confirmed flu cases across Pennsylvania already this season. The state Department of Health is calling the problem widespread, with confirmed cases in 66 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. The Midstate has about one-thousand confirmed cases itself.

State police investigated fewer crashes but made more drunken-driving arrests over the extended New Year’s weekend compared with last year’s holiday. According to a press release, 406 people statewide were arrested for driving under the influence over the four-day holiday enforcement period of Saturday to Tuesday. That’s an increase of 284 DUI arrests from the holiday weekend last year, which was three days long. Troop D, which includes Beaver, Lawrence, Butler and Mercer counties made 31 DUI arrests and reported 28 crashes.

An Ambridge couple is facing charges after a fight late last month. Chad Price and Rachelle Gruber were charged after the December 26th fight at a home in the first block of Economy Village. Police say they found Price with a bloodied face and Gruber holding their two-year-old son. Price told police Gruber came home drunk and out of control, punching him in the face several times. Gruber told police all the fighting happened while she was holding the child.

AN AMBRIDGE HOUSE FIRE HAS BEEN RULED ACCIDENTAL….AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 3RD, 2019

 

 

TODAY – MORNING CLOUDS…THEN SUNSHINE FOR THE
AFTERNOON. HIGH NEAR 40.

TONIGHT – A CLEAR SKY. LOW NEAR 30.

FRIDAY – MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH – 48.

SATURDAY – SOME CLOUDS IN THE MORNING WILL GIVE
WAY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES FOR THE
AFTERNOON. HIGH – 48.

SUNDAY – PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH – 44.