Western Pennsylvania drivers could face fewer vehicle emissions testing requirements. The state Senate Transportation Committee voted yesterday to waive annual emissions inspections for vehicles that are less than nine-years-old. Supporters say only two-percent of new cars and trucks fail the tests in their first eight years.

A freshman state Senator is asking Governor Tom Wolf to send Pennsylvania National Guard members to the U-S southern border. State Senator Doug Mastriano says that’s how opioids are entering the country and Pennsylvania should do its part to prevent that from happening. Mastriano was sworn in Monday after winning a special election for P-A’s 33rd Senate District.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican lawmakers aren’t committing to the money sought by Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to back up his demand that counties replace their voting machines by 2020. Republicans who control the Legislature say their budget counterproposal doesn’t include the $15 million Wolf requested. Republicans say that there’s no example of an election irregularity in Pennsylvania and that counties that already use machines with a paper-based backup shouldn’t be forced to buy new machines.

MIFFLINTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A small earthquake has rumbled parts of central Pennsylvania. The United States Geological Survey says the epicenter of Wednesday night’s magnitude 3.4 quake was about 11 miles (18 kilometers) southwest of Mifflintown at a depth of nearly 17 miles (27 kilometers). No damage has been reported. Some people reported hearing a rumble like thunder while others compared the quake to a big truck going by.

State Police in Lawrence County are investigating damage that took place last month at DelMar Golf Course in Wampum. According to police an unknown vehicle had driven on the course causing damage to portions of the course including minor damage to a tree. Police estimated the damage at three thousand dollars. Anyone with information is asked to call State Police.

Proposed legislation in Harrisburg would require schools to pass out information about eating disorders to parents in an effort to catch problems before they begin. Don Rooney has more…

THE AMBRIDGE STREETSCAPE PROJECT IS NEARING COMPLETION. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS MORE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

(Photos taken by Sandy Giordano)

It took about six weeks, but Beaver County is now caught up on its I-R-S paperwork. The chief county solicitor tells The Beaver County Times today all the missing payroll tax paperwork for last year has been submitted. In April, the county was issued a 387-thousand-dollar lien by the I-R-S because of late paperwork dating back to 2016. Congressman Conor Lamb is pushing to have the fines related to the late filing forgiven.

The Pittsburgh Chapter of Not One More will be holding a vigil in Beaver this evening…in hopes of bringing awareness to the opioid epidemic, as well as remembering those whose lives have been lost to drug addiction and overdose. Beaver County Radio News intern Christina Sainovich has a preview. Click on ‘play’ to hear Christina’s report…

NEW DETAILS HAVE JUST COME IN ON THAT LATE NIGHT SHOOTING IN MIDLAND HEIGHTS. ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE, 44-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW CAROTHERS OF MIDLAND WAS SHOT IN THE STOMACH IN THE AREA OF 59 MIDLAND HEIGHTS SHORTLY AFTER 11:00 LAST NIGHT FOLLOWING A VERBAL ALTERCATION. POLICE HAVE A SUSPECT IN CUSTODY, IDENTIFIED AS 52-YEAR-OLD JOHN PARSONS OF MIDLAND. HE’S BEEN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, SIMPLE ASSAULT AND RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON. PARSONS WAS TAKEN TO THE BEAVER COUNTY JAIL AND IS AWAITING ARRAIGNMENT.