Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published March 21, 2023 10:17 A.M.
(Center Township, PA) Two fires were reported at the Hilton Garden Inn in Center Township shortly after 2 am this morning. We have not heard of any injuries or what caused the fires.
Gas prices are two cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.733 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in Beaver County is $3.754
House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) will host a hearing titled “Obstacles to Opportunity: PA’s Permitting Process” to hear the challenges of Pennsylvania’s permitting process and explore possible solutions.
WHO: Kail; members of the committee; Mike Ford, secretary, PA Building Trades; Kevin Sunday, director of government affairs, PA Chamber of Business and Industry; and others.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 22, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Room 205, Ryan Office Building in Harrisburg.
LIVESTREAM: Barring any technical difficulties, the hearing will be streamed online at www.PAGOPPolicy.com, www.PAHouseGOP.com and www.RepKail.com.
Darlington Township, PA – Today, the Shapiro Administration announced plans to maintain a long-term, physical presence in Darlington Township, Beaver County to continue assisting residents impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment that occurred on February 3 in East Palestine, Ohio.
Starting on Thursday, March 23, staff from the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection (DEP) and Health (DOH) will be onsite at the Darlington Township Building, 3590 Darlington Rd., Darlington, PA 16115 every Thursday from Noon to 5:00 PM to meet with residents. Additional staff will be available via video conferencing during that time, as well. In addition, state agencies are working with Township staff to ensure they can help residents access state resources related to the derailment.
Staff from Commonwealth agencies and Beaver County also plan to hold open house events Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 PM to offer one-on-one discussion to individuals who attend, as well as provide resources and information.
“Since it opened last month, the Center has been an invaluable community resource for residents in Western Pennsylvania, providing everything from clinical evaluations to behavioral health assistance, and even spiritual guidance,” said Acting Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen. “It takes time and proven commitment to build trust, and the Shapiro Administration is pledging to do just that. Residents should be assured we are here to help in any way we can.”
“Under the direction of Governor Shapiro, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has taken direct action to safeguard Pennsylvanians’ soil and water,” said Acting Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection Rich Negrin. “The Department of Environmental Protection worked diligently to conduct independent water sampling throughout the affected area to closely monitor water contamination risks related to the East Palestine train derailment. DEP has been on the scene since the first hours after the derailment, and we will continue to stay in affected communities as long as it takes to assure Pennsylvanians’ their air, water and soil are safe.”
“Farmers depend on healthy soil and water to produce food that is safe for their families and customers,” said Acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “As we wait for DEP and EPA experts to carefully review and validate results of water and soil testing, the Department of Agriculture has been present, listening to area farmers so that we can take the critical step of validating their concerns. The Health Resource Center has been a valuable tool in hearing, and responding to concerns of Pennsylvanians who depend on healthy soil and water for their lives and livelihoods.”
Residents will continue to have access to expert staff and be able to ask questions about their health, pets, farm animals, and inquire about air, soil, and water quality testing. Resource materials will also be available for pickup, including on days when agency staff are not on site.
This extension of operations furthers the Administration’s commitment to helping residents affected by the derailment and assist in their recovery.
Since Norfolk Southern’s train derailed more than six weeks ago, the Shapiro Administration has been on the ground in Western Pennsylvania, assisting local residents and ensuring they have the information and resources they need to keep themselves, their families, and their property safe.
Governor Shapiro has visited the affected areas in Western Pennsylvania several times, meeting with local leaders and residents, and he has tasked his Administration with making all possible resources available to help local communities. PEMA Director Randy Padfield, DEP Acting Secretary Richard Negrin, DOH Acting Secretary Dr. Bogen, and PDA Acting Secretary Russell Redding have all visited the affected areas several times, as well.
See below for examples of how the Shapiro Administration is continuing to respond:
Department of Health staff are continuing to conduct the Assessment of Chemical Exposure (ACE) survey among residents and first responders living near the derailment. The surveys help residents identify symptoms, experiences, and concerns about the impact of the train derailment on their lives.
Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 21, 2023 10:11 A.M.
(Center Township, PA) Center Township Engineer Ned Mitrovich reported to the supervisors at Monday night’s meeting that the bids for both projects will go out in late spring or early summer 2023.
99.3 and 95.7 FM along with 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA and Beavercountyradio.com present the players of the game for March 20th, 2023!
Your CCBC Players of the game are:
Lincoln Park: Brandon Cummings
Uniontown: Calvin Winfrey
Jeff Bost’s last visit on the Teleforum talk program was a discussion about clinical depression. (John Fetterman) Jeff’s visit this Tuesday is about concussions. (Mitch McConnell) He also cohosts Living Well w Dr. Joseph Maroon on Saturdays on the St. Barnabas Radio network. Jeff is Brilliant, and you will be smarter after listening to him. Eddy, not so much. Teleforum is on every weekday from 9 till noon on am1230, am1460, fm99.3, and fm95.7. Teleforum is also heard on the free Beaver County Radio app!
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A retrial is scheduled to begin Tuesday in western Pennsylvania in the death of an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer shot and killed in a street confrontation more than 3 1/2 years ago.
Attorneys for Christian Bey, 34, sought and were granted a mistrial ruling by an Allegheny County judge last week after a prosecution witness mentioned that she had known the defendant since he moved into the neighborhood after having been “released from prison.”
Prosecutors said jury selection for the retrial began the next day and was completed Friday.
Bey is charged with homicide in the July 2019 shooting that killed 36-year-old Officer Calvin Hall after an apparent dispute at a Homewood block party. Hall was off-duty at the time and visiting friends on the street.
In the first trial, a prosecutor told jurors that DNA on the murder weapon matched that of the defendant, the Tribune-Review reported. Defense attorney Carmen Robinson, however, said the case was about “a rush to judgment and a biased investigation.”
Prosecutors last month notified the court that they no longer intended to seek the death penalty if the defendant is convicted of first-degree murder.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Prosecutors say they plan to seek the death penalty if they win a first-degree murder conviction against a man charged in last month’s shooting death of one police officer and the wounding of another in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
Johnathan Jermia Morris, 31, of McKeesport is charged in Allegheny County with criminal homicide, attempted homicide and assaulting a law enforcement officer, as well as firearms crimes in the Feb. 6 shootings about 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of Pittsburgh.
In a notice filed with the court Friday, prosecutors said capital punishment would be warranted for several reasons, including that the victim was a police officer, the crime was committed during another felony and it created a grave risk of death to another person. Pennsylvania hasn’t executed anyone since 1999.
Authorities have said officers were called to a home over a dispute involving a man having a mental health crisis. When they caught up with Morris, he “ suddenly produced a handgun ” and fired, killing Officer Sean Sluganski, 32, and wounding another officer, authorities alleged.
Wounded by return fire, Morris ran to a parking lot and sought help. A person putting a tourniquet on his leg reported seeing Morris pull a handgun and point it at a third approaching officer, sparking another exchange of gunfire, authorities said.
Detective Patrick Kinavey testified during a preliminary hearing last month that Morris said he didn’t remember firing at Sluganski and only did so after failing to scare the officers off. He shot at the third officer because he said he feared the officer was “out for blood,” Kinavey said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has called on state lawmakers to repeal the death penalty and says he won’t sign death warrants and will issue reprieves on scheduled executions, extending his predecessor’s policies.
There are 101 people on death row in Pennsylvania. Since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976, only three people who dropped appeals have been executed.
(Sandy Giordano/Beaver County Radio)
The Ambridge School District Board has approved and accepted a Targeted Resource Officer grant for $75,000. The grant money will be used to offset the funding of current SRO services.
The board also approved the upgrade of security cameras for the high school at a cost of $37,225.
Their next meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 19.