FILE – The TikTok logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen which displays the TikTok home screen, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Boston. TikTok’s CEO plans to tell Congress that the video-sharing app is committed to user safety, data protection and security, and keeping the platform free from Chinese government influence.(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

TikTok’s CEO plans to tell Congress that the video-sharing app is committed to user safety, data protection and security, and keeping the platform free from Chinese government influence. Shou Zi Chew is due to answer questions Thursday from U.S. lawmakers concerned about the social media platform’s effects on its young user base and possible national security risks posed by the app. In prepared remarks released ahead of his appearance, Chew says TikTok’s efforts to ensure the security of its user data go “above and beyond” what any of its rivals are doing. He’s urging officials against pursuing an all-out ban on the TikTok app or for the company to be sold off.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is teaming up with the New Sewickley Police Department to urge safety when traveling through the Freedom Road/Route 989 roundabout in New Sewickley Borough, Beaver County.

Last fall, the roundabout at Freedom Road and Route 989 opened to traffic as part of the $21.7 million Freedom Road Upgrade project. While work on the project is still underway, the overall construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.

“Roundabouts are a great solution to reducing traffic congestion and speeding, and we are glad to have one at this intersection,” said New Sewickley Police Chief Greg Carney. “Now that the roundabout is open, we’re happy to be partnering with PennDOT to educate motorists on how to properly navigate through it, for everyone’s safety.”

To help motorists navigate the newly constructed roundabout, PennDOT recommends viewing their informational video, “How to Navigate Pennsylvania’s Roundabouts.” Drivers can also stop into the New Sewickley Police Department to pick up a free copy of PennDOT’s Single-Lane Roundabout brochure.

Roundabouts are frequently installed to address intersections with safety issues but may also be installed to improve traffic flow as well as other reasons such as traffic calming, and to facilitate pedestrian mobility. Roundabouts offer improved safety over other at-grade intersection forms primarily because there are fewer conflict points, slower speeds, and easier decision-making.

Geometrically designed to reduce vehicle speeds to generally 25 mph or less, roundabouts only consist of right turns. This significantly reduces the severity of crashes over those at traditional intersections. Crashes that do occur are typically low-speed, sideswipe crashes rather than high-speed T-bone collisions that can occur at traditional intersections, especially with left-turn movements. Roundabouts also improve pedestrian safety due to the slow speeds and by providing a median refuse area. This allows for two simple crossings of one-way traffic.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District11.

Information about infrastructure in District 11, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D11Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

For more information, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.

PennDOT’s media center offers resources for safety organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders. Social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving and distracted driving can be found online at www.PennDOT.gov in the “Media Center” under the “About Us” footer.

For regional updates, follow PennDOT on Twitter and join the Greater Pittsburgh Area PennDOT Facebook group.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 22, 2023 11:11 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police responded to a home in the Plan 12 section of the city on Tuesday morning for a male found deceased in a bathroom.  He had a snake bite.  Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer said on Wednesday morning it will take 6-8 weeks for the autopsy report. While there, police discovered almost 200 various species of snakes, lizards and a Caiman alligator in the basement.  Police Chief John Lane said there were 2 dogs in a crate, and one in the kitchen. Code and zoning officer James Bologna said the pets were removed from the home and sent to the exotic pet store in Ambridge by the Beaver County Humane Society. The owners of the pets could face a fine of $1,000 each for the number of venomous snakes. Child Protective Services were called to the home to investigate, and the child was allowed to remain in the home.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 22, 2023 10:50 A.M.

(Center Township, PA) Keenan Vincent Murray, 39n of Enon Valley, PA was charged by Center Township Police on Tuesday  following his arrest at the Hilton Garden Inn where he went with  a female to get a room. He set fire to a trash can, lighting bath towels and throwing them into the hotel hallway . The female Gina Lynn Dambrosi went to her vehicle and Murray followed her, dumped black Velvet Liquor on her head, and attempted to set fire to her hair. She crawled over her passenger seat, got out of the car, and he followed her. Officers went to Room 230 where there was heavy smoke and, burned sheets, mattress and a comforter, firefighters were called. The hotel was evacuated, another fire was set in a downstairs public restroom, the sprinkler activated and brake, causing a flood in the hotel lobby. Murray is charged with 1 count of arson and related offenses, 1 count of risking a catastrophe, 1 count of criminal mischief, damage to property intentional, reckless or negligence, recklessly endangering another person, 1 count of disorderly conduct/physical offenses, resisting arrest/ other law enforcement, and aggravated assault. He is also charged with terroristic threats  with intent to terrorize another.

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – Today, EPA published the East Palestine Train Derailment Response Newsletter, for communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania on EPA’s website. The newsletter will also be mailed to area residents.

This week, the Unified Command has prepared for a significant rain event forecasted for the East Palestine area on Friday. Response workers dug a bypass trench at the derailment site to divert rainwater runoff. Two large storage tanks were also constructed to store runoff for transport and disposal.

EPA has reviewed preliminary data from some of the soil sampling related to the controlled burn that occurred during response actions to the train derailment in East Palestine. While final results will be available in the coming weeks, EPA’s review of the preliminary data indicates levels of semi-volatile organic chemicals and dioxins in the samples are similar to typical background levels.

EPA will hold the next community open house on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at East Palestine High School. EPA staff will be available at booths to discuss soil sampling and other information about the response.

A look at the week ahead:

At the derailment site:

• Increased truck traffic along designated trucking routes
• Taggart Street is still closed to the public
• Continued excavation and construction work at the site
• Trucks continue to take soil off site
• Two street sweepers will continue around truck traffic, and crews continue to clean trucks before

leaving the site

In the greater community:

• Air monitoring continues at 23 locations around the community
• EPA’s Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) mobile laboratory will continue to sample
• Soil sampling crews in right of ways:
• Crews made up of 4-5 people wearing high visibility safety vests and scooping soil into jars
• If your property is nearby the sampling area and the sampling crew sees signs of soot or ash, a member of the sampling team may ask to sample your property
• River agitation and aeration will continue

Response By the Numbers

• 7,784 tons est. of contaminated soil shipped (+983 tons from yesterday)
• 7.5 million est. gallons of liquid wastewater shipped (+111,314 million gallons from yesterday)
• 621 indoor air screenings
• The Welcome Center has received 365 visitors Soil Removal at the Derailment Site

Soil removal continues at the derailment site and approximately 7,784 tons of contaminated soil has shipped to disposal facilities. Work at the site includes removing tracks in sections, and removing soil and placing it in a staging area for disposal. Soil removal continues on the south track rail area; planning for the north track rail removal is underway. During the soil removal process, Norfolk Southern, with EPA oversight, will conduct soil sampling beneath the excavated rail track.

Liquid Waste Removal

Wastewater is collected to ensure water does not leave the derailment site or staging piles of contaminated soil. Wastewater is generated after rain falls on contaminated soil and is collected and from cleaning and washing trucks before they leave site. An estimated 7.5 million gallons of wastewater has been shipped offsite to appropriate disposal facilities.

Soil Sampling

EPA and Norfolk Southern contractors continue to take soil samples at agricultural, commercial, recreational and residential properties in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. To date, 97 properties have been sampled. This soil sampling effort will help identify if contaminants, including SVOCs and dioxins, are present and may have been caused by the train derailment.

EPA has reviewed preliminary data from some of the soil sampling related to the controlled burn that occurred during response actions to the train derailment in East Palestine. While final results will be available in the coming weeks, EPA’s review of the preliminary data indicates levels of semi-volatile organic chemicals and dioxins in the samples are similar to typical background levels.

Air Quality

To date, 621 indoor air screenings have been conducted. Air monitoring continues 24/7 at 23 stations throughout the community. No detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride have been identified.

During the soil removal at the derailment site, EPA and independent contractors are conducting air monitoring within the work zone and throughout the surrounding community. This includes continuous air monitoring and sampling at the site and throughout the community as well as the use of EPA’s Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) mobile laboratory which is conducting an air monitoring route near the soil excavation area. EPA does not anticipate exceedances of levels of health concern as a result of the soil removal work.

See operational updates from other agencies supporting this incident response below.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• FEMA has been working closely with the state since the beginning of this incident and has been in constant contact regarding emergency operations since February 4—less than 12 hours after the train derailment.
• In total, FEMA deployed 70 personnel to help coordinate this multiagency effort and get the people of East Palestine connected to critical information and resources.
• Specifically, FEMA recently supported Interagency Community Outreach teams with door-to-door outreach in the affected area, sharing valuable information with residents and businesses.
• These teams engaged with affected residents in the community and more than 2,200 flyers were distributed to individuals or dropped off at their homes and businesses.

Department of Transportation (DOT) & National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

• DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced that over $25M is available for projects that will train first responders, strengthen safety programs, improve safety, reduce environmental impacts, and educate the public on local safety initiatives. This includes projects that provide support to state inspectors for hazardous materials shipments and pipelines inspections, important safety training and educational programs for emergency response, and advance innovative safety technologies.
• PHMSA recently urged all railroad operators to create and maintain emergency response plans for the transport of hazardous materials, strengthen the accessibility of the AskRail system, and inform PHMSA when they identify responders who are not able to access PHMSA’s grant-funded training. Read the PHMSA Safety Advisory Notice: Railroad  Emergency Preparedness.
• NTSB, an independent federal agency, is leading the investigation into the cause of the derailment. Read NTSBs recently issued an Investigative Update with factual findings on their investigation on the ground.
• Within hours of the derailment, staff from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration staff were on the scene to support the NTSB investigation.
• Upon completion of the investigation, DOT will use all relevant authorities to ensure accountability and improve safety.
• DOT is demanding immediate actions from the Class I railroads, announcing continued and expanded action from DOT, and calling on Congress to take actions that will hold the industry accountable.

Norfolk Southern Corporation

• For daily updates community members can view the Norfolk Southern website https://nsmakingitright.com/.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) reminds residents that free Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program (PAMSP) training opportunities are available to motorcycle riders across the state. Prospective, experienced, and new Pennsylvania riders who have a motorcycle learner’s permit or motorcycle license can develop and refresh operator proficiency through these free trainings.

“All riders can benefit from the valuable skills and safety lessons learned through Pennsylvania’s free motorcycle safety clinics,” said PennDOT Acting Secretary Mike Carroll. “The time spent in training supports many safe miles of riding by helping riders sharpen reflexes and hone the split-second decision-making abilities required to safely operate a motorcycle.”

PennDOT’s statewide third-party motorcycle safety training providers offer many training classes. A full list of providers and their locations can be found on PennDOT’s PAMSP page on our website.

Successful completion of a basic or intermediate course waives the requirement to take a skills test at a PennDOT Driver License Center for those over the age of 18 and automatically earns the permit holder their motorcycle license. Motorcycle permit holders who complete a 3-wheel basic course will earn a motorcycle license with a restriction prohibiting the operation of a 2-wheel motorcycle.

Classes can be scheduled at multiple locations throughout Pennsylvania, and class schedules are coordinated by each third-party training provider at each individual location. Individuals interested in training should contact the training providers directly or check their websites for class availability, as additional courses may be offered, and providers may offer additional walk-in or waiting list opportunities.

The 16-hour Basic Riding Course (BRC), which consists of in-class or virtual instruction and practical riding, provides valuable training for new riders and gives experienced riders the opportunity to polish their skills and correct any unsafe riding habits they may have developed. Students are responsible for providing all protective gear. Act 84 of 2012 established the requirement that all permit holders under the age of 18 must successfully complete the BRC to receive their motorcycle license.

The eight-hour Intermediate Riding Course allows skilled riders to refresh their safety knowledge and hone their on-road skills. Students taking this clinic must provide their own motorcycle and protective gear and provide proof of insurance, current registration, and inspection for their motorcycle.

During the 3-Wheel Riding Course, riders learn the same skills and safety strategies taught in BRC, except on a 3-wheeled motorcycle. The clinic is comprised of classroom instruction and riding exercises. The majority of students must provide their own motorcycle and all of their own protective gear and provide proof of insurance, current registration and inspection for their motorcycle. However, select locations offering the course have 3-wheeled motorcycles on hand for student use. Please check with the location before signing up for a course.

The Advanced Riding Course, a one-day clinic for experienced riders who want to enhance their safety skills through attitude and awareness, rounds out the PAMSP offerings.  The clinic is designed to enhance a rider’s ability to avoid a crash through honing their decision-making abilities, riding strategies, risk management and rider behavior and choices. Students taking this clinic must provide their own motorcycle and protective gear and provide proof of insurance, current registration and inspection for their motorcycle.

Additional classes and locations will continue to be added throughout the riding season. Registration for the 2023 training season is ongoing.

Story by Curtis Walsh and Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 22, 2023 8:58 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Over 150 snakes and a gator were taken from a home at 1325 McMinn Street Aliquippa, after a man was found dead on Tuesday. A majority of the snakes are said to be venomous. The cause of death of the man hasn’t been confirmed but the man was said to have at least one snake bite on him when he was found. The coroner told Beaver County Radio that it will likely be at least 6 to 8 week until a cause of death will be revealed. 4 adults were living in the home with a 3 year old girl. The reptiles were not allowed within the code of the city. The people were said to have moved to Aliquippa while pursuing a business of selling the reptiles. The maximum fine for violating the code laws is $1,000 per reptile.
Updated story with more details 11:11am :
https://beavercountyradio.com/news/aliquippa-police-respond-to-city-home-for-deceased-male-and-find-illegal-pets/

FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — Fire has destroyed a large New Jersey church, collapsing its roof as more than 150 firefighters fought to control the blaze. The Fountain of Life Center in Florence Township was engulfed in flames Monday night. No injuries were reported in the fire. The cause wasn’t immediately known. Senior Pastor Russell Hodgins tells Philadelphia’s KYW-TV that it’s a devastating loss. The center describes itself on its website as a multipurpose, 120,000-square-foot facility with a preschool, basketball courts, and a fitness center. It’s believed the school and recreation building survived the fire.

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw testifies about the Feb.3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, before the Pennsylvania state Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, March 20, 2023, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Norfolk Southern’s CEO is offering support for some parts of a bipartisan Senate bill to put tougher safety regulations on railroads. A fiery hazardous materials train derailed last month on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. CEO Alan Shaw is under pressure from senators and federal safety regulators to step up his commitment to safety regulations as he appears before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday. Shaw says in prepared remarks that Norfolk Southern will “support legislative efforts to enhance the safety of the freight rail industry. But he does not address several key provisions of the Railway Safety Act of 2023.