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Source for Photo: A shopper walks past partially empty frozen food coolers at a grocery in Cranberry Township, Pa., on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. Shortages at U.S. grocery stores have grown in recent weeks as new problems, like the fast-spreading omicron variant and severe weather — have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages that have plagued retailers since the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondant Sandy Giordano, Published on November 14th, 2024 at 8:53 A.M.)

Steering committee member Ty Patillo, announced that a $150,000 grant was made available through the USDA  Healthy food finance Initiative.  The funds were made available to the city through the USDA and Reinvestment fund, according to USDA State Director for Rural Development Rob Morgan. The announcement was made on November 1, 2024. 

According to the press release received by Patillo the funds will help expand member-owner enrollment, community outreach activities, and increase co-op education and organizing support. 

 

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(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

Although Pennsylvania is a major supplier of electricity from coal and gas, solar energy is gaining ground. Federal incentives are helping local companies adopt solar power, reducing costs and their carbon footprints. Randy Groff of Four Seasons Produce in Ephrata says his company has installed a total of three megawatts of solar panels across its roof, partly in 2018, then doubling its solar capacity this year. He says the tax credits that funded these upgrades were made available through the Inflation Reduction Act. Groff says the combination of tax credits, grants and rebates has helped the company reduce the payback period for its new solar array, to less than five years. He also notes their refrigerated cold storage building uses nearly all the solar energy generated, cutting overall energy use by thrity-five to forty percent.

 

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Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) On Wednesday, a boy who is thirteen years old is being charged after bringing a gun to Ambridge Area Middle School. According to Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible, the teen suspect was arrested, his gun was both secured and locked in preparation, and that the gun was owned by the parents of the boy. Another student was also threatened by the suspect, and after that occurred, that student let school officials know what just happened. Parents of students from the school also received a letter noting that the incident was so serious that it involved the presence of police. A Facebook post from Ambridge Area Middle School from Wednesday states that not only will the place close on Thursday but also will operate on a day of flexible instruction and will open back up on Friday. 

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Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

According to a release from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Pennie, and the Department of Human Services on Wednesday, the Open Enrollment period for Pennie is underway, and is giving options for health insurance that those can afford in 2025. The release states that the due date that Pennsylvanians are able to enroll by is December 15, 2024, as well as being prepared to go through each option to find a plan that suits them. The release also notes that Pennie has also partnered with the Medicaid program here in Pennsylvania to make sure their savings can increase through the health plans of Pennie that are private, and the health plans that are from Pennie can protect services, which include both care for maternity and hospital, prescriptions, mental health support, and others, For more information, the phone number to call and website to visit can be viewed on our website at beaver county radio dot com, so visit pennie.com or dial this phone number, 1-844-844-8040.

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Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

Source for Photo: FILE – This photo combo shows. Republican David McCormick, left, addressing supporters at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Sept. 21, 2023 and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., speaking during an event at AFSCME Council 13 offices, March 14, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa.. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, Marc Levy, file)

(Pennsylvania) On Wednesday, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schimdt declared that since the race for the United States Senate between Democrat Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick is so close the votes will officially be counted again. When 4 p.m. on Wednesday occurred, Casey had less votes by just more than twenty-nine thousand.  

According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, the difference in percentage for votes between the two candidates is 0.43%, with Casey having 48.5% and McCormick with 48.93%. Pennsylvania law reveals that the only way a recount is possible is when the difference of the vote is less than or equal to a half of one percent. Schimdt’s statement asserts that November 20th will be the official date that the counting will begin. Casey and his team have been patient on the outstanding votes that are still yet to be determined. McCormick is already thinking about the votes that lead his successful campaign, as he finished a speech in Pittsburgh addressing winning the race, as well as spending time in Washington during the week adjusting to becoming a member of the Senate. 

 

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published November 13, 2024 11:45 A.M.

(Beaver, Pa) The Beaver County Board of Commissioners met Wednesday morning for their weekly work session.

A situation was brought to the Commissioners attention regarding trees at the Courthouse. There are currently trees standing higher than the Courthouse and are said to be creating problems, particularly at this time of year, with drains on the roof. The County will be taking bids on having the trees trimmed to heights below the roof.

Another topic of discussion brought up once again was the former Beaver County Times building. The county has arranged another appraisal of the building from an Erie County based company. Treasurer Sandie Egley asked the Commissioners for confirmation that the company has no connections to the Courthouse in which they replied that they do not. The appraisal company is Sammartino, Stout & Lo Presti, Inc.

The Commissioners hold their work session weekly as needed on Wednesdays at 10am in the Courthouse.

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Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) PennDOT announced that work to help drainage improvement will start on Thursday, November 14th, weather permitting, on Route 488, Portersville Road in Perry Township.

Both cross pipe replacement and inlet installation work are planned between Meadow Land Avenue and Hickernell Road, scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays until Friday, November 22. There will also be flaggers operating single-lane alternating traffic.

Please stay safe if you are in the area.

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Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A man from West Virginia is receiving charges after trying to sneak a live flash-bang grenade into the Pittsburgh International Airport. According to the Allegheny County Police Department, twenty-five-year-old Zachary Velling of Morgantown, West Virginia brought the grenade in his luggage Tuesday morning and was discovered at the main security checkpoint of the airport. The grenade was pronounced live by a bomb squad technician and has since been safely taken away, but the incident has been told to the FBI. Velling has been given charges including two for misdemeanor for both criminal attempt by bringing explosives and for prohibitive offensive weapons.

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Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

On Tuesday, the results for Operation Safe Stop 2024, a yearly reminder for drivers to stop for school buses and make safety for students taking buses around the state, were announced by the administration of Governor Josh Shapiro, PennDOT, and other partners.  Agencies of law enforcement detected one-hundred and thirty-one violations of the law, which was decreased from the total of last year of one-hundred and seventy-seven for the time of Operation Safe Stop 2024. Drivers must stop when a school bus has it flashing lights present, and also must stay a minimum of ten feet away from that bus, according to the School Bus Stopping Law. 

According to PennDOT, here are some bus stop tips for students to stay safe.

• Get to the school bus stop at least five minutes early, so you won’t have to run across the road to catch the bus. 
• When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic. 
• Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus. 
• Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop. 
• Never push when getting on or off the school bus.

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(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Published on November 13th, 2024 at 7:20 A.M.)

(Beaver County, PA) According to a release from Liane Leshne of the House Democratic Communication Office, State Representative Rob Matzie was elected on Tuesday for the position of Majority Caucus Chair for the 2024-2025 legislative season. Matzie admitted that he is “honored and excited” to lead the House Majority Caucus. Leshne states that the House of Representatives leadership team has duties that include getting other members ready for legislation that are being recognized for the House, organizing caucus meetings and making sure that legislators can both represent the districts they serve efficiently.  

Leshne also asserts that back in 2008, the Pennsylvania House elected Matzie, and he has since been a member of the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee, the House Policy Committee as well as the Nuclear Energy Caucus and the Multiple Sclerosis Caucus co-chair.