Driver tries to hit person, instead accidentally hits man
MCKEESPORT, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a woman who was trying to hit another person with her car instead struck and seriously injured a 72-year-old man who was on a sidewalk.
Allegheny County police say charges are pending against 32-year-old McKeesport resident Jakiia Williams.
The accident happened around 2:45 a.m. Thursday in a public housing complex in McKeesport. Authorities say Williams was arguing with someone when she got into her car and tried to run that person over but instead struck the man.
The victim was hospitalized in critical condition with undisclosed injuries that were described as life-threatening. But his name and further details about him were not disclosed.
No other injuries were reported.
It wasn’t known if Williams has retained an attorney.
Report: China, Russia and Iran conduct economic spying on US
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Iranian hackers known as “Rocket Kitten” repeatedly target American defense companies in hopes of stealing information to boost Tehran’s missile and space programs. Russian hackers last year compromised dozens of U.S. energy companies. A Chinese cyberespionage group called APT10 relentlessly attacks U.S. engineering, telecom and aerospace industries.
While Moscow’s efforts to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election are widely known, spy services from China, Russia and Iran, along with their proxy hackers also are hard at work trying to steal trade secrets and proprietary information from the United States, according to a government report released Thursday.
“Foreign economic and industrial espionage against the United States continues to represent a significant threat to America’s prosperity, security and competitive advantage,” the National Counterintelligence and Security Center said. “China, Russia and Iran stand out as three of the most capable and active cyber actors tied to economic espionage and the potential theft of U.S. trade secrets and proprietary information.”
Cyberespionage is a relatively low-cost, high-yield way to access and acquire information from U.S. research institutions, universities and corporations, the report said, adding that cloud computing and new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, will expose even more vulnerabilities in U.S. networks,
Cyberoperations are the preferred method for conducting economic espionage, the report said, but U.S. adversaries also acquire sensitive information by hiring sophisticated hackers, recruiting spies or gleaning material from foreign students studying at American universities.
The report listed two dozen technologies that have piqued the interest of foreign intelligence collectors. They include oil, gas and coal-bed methane gas energies; smart grids; solar and wind technologies; biopharmaceuticals and new vaccines and drugs; defensive marine systems and radar; hybrid and electric cars; pollution control; high-end computer numerically controlled machines, which are used to control factory tools and machines in manufacturing; space infrastructure and exploration technology; synthetic rubber; rare earth materials; quantum computing; and next generation broadband wireless communications networks.
China uses joint ventures to try to acquire technical know-how, the report said. It said Beijing seeks partnerships with U.S. government labs to learn about specific technology and information about running such facilities, and uses front companies to hide the hand of the Chinese government and acquire technology under U.S. export controls.
“If this threat is not addressed, it could erode America’s long-term competitive economic advantage,” the report said.
Russia conducts offensive cyberoperations to gather information that can help Moscow make decisions and benefit its economic interests, according to the report. Experts say Russia needs to diversify into technology and other sectors to expand its gross domestic product.
“In support of that goal, Russian intelligence services have conducted sophisticated and large-scale hacking operations to collect sensitive U.S. business and technology information,” the report said. It also said that Russian “military modernization efforts also likely will be a motivating factor for Russia to steal U.S intellectual property.”
Iranian’s operations have typically targeted adversaries in the Middle East, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia. But it also tries to infiltrate U.S. networks to acquire technologies to bolster economic growth, modernize its military and increase exports.
“The loss of sensitive information and technologies not only presents a significant threat to U.S. national security,” the report said. “It also enables Tehran to develop advanced technologies to boost domestic economic growth, modernize its military forces and increase its foreign sales.”
Joe Weidner – the former district director for Congressman Keith Rothfus – was accepted into a special plea program for first-time offenders. Weidner will serve six months in the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program. And if he completes the program he will have his record expunged. Weidner was charged with a hit-and-run in the parking lot of the Rochester Giant Eagle supermarket. Police reports say his blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit when he was arrested.
A Beaver Falls woman accused of cashing more than $15,000 in fraudulent checks at banks in South Strabane Township made a plea in the case and was sentenced to serve time in jail. 22 year old Anastasia Kline pleaded guilty to one count each of forgery and theft. She was sentenced in Washington County to serve between one and two years in jail, followed by three years of probation. The incident occurred back in September of 2016.
CCBC is receiving another grant to help with their technology programs expansion. With more on that story, here is Beaver County Radio News Intern Malik Garrett. Click on ‘play’ to hear Malik’s report…
A power line was knocked down in Center Township. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano reports. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…
THE AMBRIDGE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A NEW WEAPON SHOULD IT HAVE TO DEAL WITH AN ACTIVE SHOOTER OR OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATION – AN OLD FIRE HOSE. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO EXPLAINS. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…
THE ALIQUIPPA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED NEW DETAILS IN THE CASE OF A YOUNG BLACK MALE WHO WAS ASSAULTED BY A BASEBALL BAT IN THE CITY. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS THE UPDATE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…
This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of when Beaver County’s first radio station, WBVP, was heard over the airwaves for the the first time on May 25, 1948. To mark the historical event, each week, another “70th Anniversary Moment” will be showcased on the airwaves and published on the station’s online feeds.
Jim Reynolds in 1983. Photo Courtesy of Chris Shovlin.
In 1959, a young boy attending classes at Beaver Falls High School entered a contest sponsored by The Pittsburgh Pirates. The winner would be given a chance to actually sit in with the regular Pirates radio announcers and help call a Pirates Baseball game. Whether it was his natural love of baseball, the charismatic humor of the young lad, or his deep bellowing voice that caught the judges attention isn’t certain, but Jim Reynolds was selected as the winner and began his announcing career in the press box of Forbes Field alongside popular Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince. Not long afterwards, Reynolds would darken the doorway of WBVP and get hired on to host and evening music program from 6 P.M. to Midnight, where he shared the duties in that time slot with another Beaver County broadcasting legend, Syl Sergi.
In the recently published book, “Behind The Microphone, The History Of Radio In Beaver County, PA”, contributing author, Kenneth Britten penned these words about Jim Reynolds: “In 1959 yet another boy was hired for the staff. Jim Reynolds had just won the yearly Pittsburgh Pirate Sports casting contest and had broadcast a number of Pirate games on KDKA with veterans Bob Prince and Jim Woods. (WBVP General Manager Frank) Smith hired him immediately and no one would ever realize it but Reynolds would go on to become the longest hired veteran in the station’s history. He would last 28 and one half years at WBVP.
Like (Arnie) Felsher, (Syl) Sergi and several others, Reynolds would become known for his individual style and strange sense of humor. As the morning man for many years listeners would encounter daily zany meetings with Fred the Abominable Snowman, the Mole, Lena the Leopard Girl, Madge the gum chewing waitress and Poopsie the Mystery Girl. There would be daily dinosaur hunts, national days, morning marches, morning polkas and Uncle Jimmy’s Strange Time.
Reynolds also once did an entire Christmas show in the middle of July, pretended to do a program while the studio was flooding and once offered to pay $20 to any girl who would show up in a bikini on a day when several feet of snow had fallen and it was 20 below zero.”
Jim and Debbie Reynolds wedding ceremony at the Beaver Valley Mall in 1982.
One of the most talked about events over the course of the seventy year history of WBVP was when Jim Reynolds, who went by the nickname, “The The Teddy Bear”, got married. Another excerpt from the book recounts the event: “The year was 1982, and to this day, Jim’s marriage to his bride, Debbie Reynolds at the Beaver Valley Mall was one of the biggest, most talked about events in the history of the Beaver Falls radio operation. Thousands of spectators crowed into the center court area of the mall to witness the highly publicized and live broadcast nuptials that would be performed by then Mayor of Beaver Falls, and pharmacist at Hoffman’s Drug Store in Beaver Falls, Leo Hegner. The wedding party was made up of local radio royalty, including fellow station staffers Chris Shovlin, Steve Granato and Terry Pease. Images of Jim walking down the aisle with his lovely bride on his arm flanked by scores of people in a shopping mall teeming with all sorts of great stores seem surreal nowadays. Almost fairy-tale like. Everyone did their part just as Jim wanted it. Everyone looked very nice, the men dressed in dark tuxedos and the bride in pretty white.”
“70th Anniversary Moments” is presented by Abbey Carpet and Floor, Albert’s Heating, Cooling and Plumbing, Aliquippa Giant Eagle, The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, Beaver Valley Auto Mall, Beaver Valley Sheet Metal, Castlebrook Development, The Community College Of Beaver County, Farmers Building and Savings Bank, Freedom United Federal Credit Union, Hank’s Frozen Custard and Mexican food, The Health Huts, Kitchen City, Laughlin Insurance Agency, Rochester Manor and Villa and Young’s Jewelry and Coins.
