Bishop Zubik To Represent Pgh Diocese To The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday Regarding Obamacare

Pittsburgh Catholic Bishop David Zubik will represent the Pittsburgh Diocese to the U.S. Supreme Court this Wednesday in the case challenging the Affordable Care Act. This case calls into question the government’s right to mandate contraceptive coverage in the health care plans of religiously-affiliated organizations. Bishop Zubik argues that this would infringe on religious freedom, while the Obama administration says that it has given religious organizations an easy way to opt out of these regulations. Geneva College in Beaver Falls is involved in a similar case, as are 5 other organizations throughout the country.

New Developments In Turnpike Shooting Investigation

Court records show a retired state trooper who fatally shot two turnpike employees at a toll plaza had filed for bankruptcy last year. Clarence Briggs killed toll collector Danny Crouse and Ronald Heist, a former police officer working as security, at a toll plaza west of Harrisburg early Sunday. Briggs was killed during an exchange of gunfire with state police after taking off in a  toll collection vehicle.

How Will Gov. Wolf Respond To GOP Spending Package?

Governor Tom Wolf still won’t say how he’ll respond to a GOP spending package he has blasted as being well out of balance. As the budget stalemate drags on , Wolf yesterday got pressure from some of his own party’s lawmakers to back off his veto threats and at least approve enough aid to keep schools open.

Beaver County Coroner Says Ohioville Standoff Suspect Shot By Police Killed Self

The Beaver County Coroner’s office says an Ohioville man shot by police during an armed standoff fatally shot himself and wasn’t killed by a police sniper as first believed. Beaver County Coroner David Gabauer says 37-year-old Ryan Shorak shot himself in the head after he was wounded three times by the police sniper outside Shorak’s Ohioville home. District Attorney David Lozier says Shorak holed up with weapons near each door in his home after drinking and threatened his wife Thursday night. She ran from the home, locked herself in a car and called police, prompting the standoff that ended just before 6. a.m. Friday. Lozier says Shorak had earlier fired at officers and was on the phone with police threatening to fire more shots when the state police sniper shot him. The shooting and police response remain under investigation.

NRC To Hold Public Open House Tonight at Shippingport Municipal Building

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public open house tonight to discuss the agency’s annual review of the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station. N-R-C spokeswoman Diane Skrenci tells Beaver County Radio newsman Pat Septak that NRC employees will be on hand tonight to talk about the plant’s performance in 2015 and to talk about oversight plans for this year. Tonight’s meeting will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Shippingport community and municipal building. More information regarding tonight’s open house can be found on the N-R-C website at www.nrc.gov.

Aliquippa Apartment Fire Displaces 40 Residents

A fire inside an Aliquippa apartment building early Saturday morning displaced 40 residents. The Aliquippa Fire Department said the fire broke out inside the Eleanor Roosevelt Apartments on Sheffield Avenue shortly before 2 a.m. Officials said the fire started inside a kitchen on the eighth floor. Fire officials said there were no injuries, but 40 people were displaced because of water damage caused by the sprinkler system. The Red Cross said it is providing lodging for 23 of the building’s residents.

Man Arrested Following New Castle Police Standoff

A man has been arrested following a police standoff in New Castle. Officers say 21-year-old Louis Brewer was a suspect in recent incidents where shots were fired. He also had a warrant from the Pennsylvania State Board of Probation and Parole. On Saturday, police received a tip that Brewer was inside a home in the 500 block of West North Street. Officers set up a perimeter, and after having one of Brewer’s family members try to call him out, he eventually surrendered without incident. Brewer was placed in the Lawrence County Jail, with charges pending. The NCPD wished to thank Brewer’s family members and the community for helping bring the standoff to a peaceful end.

Standoff In Ohioville Ends With One Dead

An all-night standoff that saw an exchange of gunfire at 137 Wildwood Road,  Ohioville ended this morning, resulting in the death of an Ohioville man. Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier, said  a Pennsylvania State Trooper shot and killed 37 year old Ryan Shorak who had barricaded himself  in the residence after allegedly threatening his wife, and firing on police. She was able to flee the home and call for police. Beaver County Radio News reporter Greg Benedetti was on the scene and said no officers were hurt in the gunfire.