FILE – Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro speaks at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., on Jan. 11, 2023.  (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today awarded $1.5 million in 2022 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant funding to help municipalities, schools, and businesses around the state switch to clean transportation and improve air quality in their communities. The DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program helps municipalities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations replace older gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles with clean fuel transportation. This funding builds on Governor Shapiro’s agenda to create a bold, comprehensive climate and energy plan that will grow Pennsylvania’s economy, protect and create jobs, and address climate change.

The grant recipients, ranging from a small borough to rental car, garbage truck, and school bus companies, will replace 88 old gasoline or diesel vehicles with 78 electric and 10 renewable natural gas vehicles and install 36 chargers for electric vehicles.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to growing the Commonwealth’s economy while protecting Pennsylvanians’ constitutional right to clean air and pure water,” said DEP Acting Secretary Rich Negrin. “A growing number of organizations and businesses in Pennsylvania want to lower their transportation emissions. Today’s announcement demonstrates a shared commitment between the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and our local communities and businesses to improve air quality, address climate change, and increase the use of renewable energy across the Commonwealth.”

The funded projects are as follows:

Allegheny County

• City of Pittsburgh: $272,152 for 30 electric cars, 15 electric transit vans, and 10 dual-plug level 2 chargers for use by staff in the Departments of Public Works and Permits, Licenses and Inspections.

• Flyspace Productions LLC: $13,500 for an electric pickup truck and electric cargo van to make deliveries and tow event equipment.

Beaver County

• Borough of Ambridge: $15,000 for two electric pickup trucks for the police department.

Cambria County

• Pro Disposal, Inc.: $300,000 for three electric garbage trucks to be used in the City of Johnstown.

Dauphin County

• Aero Corp.: $300,000 for six DC fast chargers at Harrisburg International Airport for Aero’s fleet of rental electric vehicles. The chargers will also be available to other car rental companies.

Lackawanna and Westmoreland Counties

• Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Inc.: $200,000 for 10 renewable natural gas garbage trucks to be used in North Huntingdon Township and Dunmore Borough.

Northampton County

• Bethlehem Parking Authority: $15,000 for two electric cars for parking enforcement.

Potter County

• Protektor Model Company: $15,000 for two electric pickup trucks for deliveries and travel to trade shows and competitions for this manufacturer of rifle shooting accessories.

Philadelphia County

• Philadelphia Gas Works: $28,125 for three electric cars and two electric pickup trucks for customer service and field work, as part of the utility’s Green Fleet project.

• University of Pennsylvania: $52,500 for seven electric transit vans for student transport, as part of the university’s Fleet Electrification Initiative.

State

• Highland Electric Fleets: $75,000 for 10 electric vans and $225,000 for 20 DC fast chargers for a school district in Pennsylvania.

“We greatly appreciate this AFIG funding from DEP,” said Michael Bellvia, president of Pro Disposal, Inc. “We’re a family-owned local business, and committed to providing the best services for our customers. This investment will enable us to begin transitioning our fleet from burning fossil fuels to using renewable resources to reduce our carbon footprint, which will benefit both our company and our community.”

“Aero Corporation is committed to the adoption of electric vehicles,” said Tom Troxell, Director of Electrification. “This DEP grant will allow us to expand access to convenient and reliable fast charging for both our community and visitors to the keystone state.”

Getting more zero- and low-emission vehicles on the road in Pennsylvania helps reduce harmful air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. It also helps lower the level of carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases heating up the climate, in the air.

Gasoline and diesel vehicles generate 47 percent of nitrogen oxides emissions in Pennsylvania, contributing to ground-level ozone. This affects the health of children, older people, people who work or are active outdoors, and people with asthma, emphysema, or other lung conditions.

The transportation sector makes up 22 percent of Pennsylvania’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

It was a succinct and somewhat short meeting for the Beaver Falls City Council to close the month of February, but it wasn’t without major announcements regarding the future.

During the meeting, the council approved for a tournament to be held by the Beaver Valley Youth Basketball Association from March 10-12 at Beaver County Christian School, with police protection for the event provided by the city’s police department. The policed department also received approval for a three-year agreement with PlateSmart for software services (PlateSmart had acquired the company from which the department had been previously using software). General Fund expenditures were approved at an amount of $331,952.80.

The Farmer’s Market was approved for return by the city council, as the market will be held behind the Brodhead Apartments beginning May 1 until November 20. The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority Board had the five-year term of Anthony Comer approved by the board, along with the purchase of the property at 108 14th Street by Devay Owens.

13th Street will be closed from 3 PM until 9 PM on April 29 for the launch event for the new group Beaver Falls Core at March Park, while another park has received name suggestions. Community Development director Rochelle Burks announced that she had a list of 18 names that were submitted for the new park by the Carnegie Free Library, which is set to be open in the summer.

The biggest reveal of the evening, however, came near the very end as councilmembers provided their updates…and longtime councilman Leonard Chiappetta had a major one.

“After prayerful thought, I will finish my term now, I will not seek re-election in January,” Chiappetta announced. “It’s hard for me to step down, but now is the time to do it.”

“We’re really sad to hear that, but we’re thankful for all the years that you’ve invested in our city,” Mayor Kenya Johns stated. The rest of the council concurred in thanking Chiappetta for his many years of servitude on the Beaver Falls City Council.

The next Beaver Falls City Council meeting is scheduled for March 14 at 7:00 PM.

Student debt relief advocates gather outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, as the court hears arguments over President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative justices in the Supreme Court’s majority are asking skeptical questions about President Joe Biden’s plan to wipe away or reduce student loans held by millions of Americans. The high court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, began hearing arguments on Tuesday in challenges to the plan. So far, Republican-appointed judges on lower courts have blocked the plan. The Biden administration says 26 million people have applied and 16 million have been approved to have up to $20,000 in federal student loans forgiven. The program is estimated to cost $400 billion over 30 years.

FILE – The TikTok logo is seen on a cell phone on Oct. 14, 2022, in Boston. The White House is giving all federal agencies 30 days to wipe TikTok off all government devices, as the Chinese-owned social media app comes under increasing scrutiny in Washington over security concerns. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

The White House is giving U.S. federal agencies 30 days to delete popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices amid growing concerns about security. Canada announced a similar ban. Congress, the White House itself and more than half of U.S. states had already banned TikTok for government employees. They’re concerned that China could use its legal and regulatory powers to obtain private user data or to try to push misinformation or narratives favoring China. More than two-thirds of American teens use TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020.

FILE – In this Aug. 11, 2014 file photo, actor Tom Sizemore arrives at the premiere of “The Expendables 3” in Los Angeles. Sizemore is in critical condition after suffering a brain aneurism, a representative for the actor said Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. Sizemore suffered the aneurism around 2 a.m. Saturday at his home in Los Angeles, and is hospitalized. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — More than a week after Tom Sizemore suffered a brain aneurysm, a representative says the actor’s family is “now deciding end of life matters.” Sizemore’s manager Charles Lago said in a statement issued Monday night that doctors informed his family that “there is no further hope.” Sizemore has been in critical condition and a coma since collapsing early Feb. 18 at his Los Angeles home. The 61-year-old actor has acted in films like “Saving Private Ryan” and “Heat.” He also has a significant history of drug abuse and run-ins with law enforcement, including domestic violence and abuse allegations.

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, speaks on the Pennsylvania House floor, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Philadelphia state Rep. Joanna McClinton is the first woman to serve as speaker of the Pennsylvania House. She ascended to the chamber’s top position Tuesday on the strength of a fresh one-vote Democratic majority. The leadership reshuffling came nearly two months after Rep. Mark Rozzi, a Berks County Democrat, became the surprise choice for speaker. Democrats flipped a net of 12 seats in November to retake majority control after more than a decade, but their margin didn’t become effective until their candidates won three special elections earlier this month. Rozzi stepped down shortly before the 102-to-99 vote for McClinton. The 40-year-old McClinton grew up in southwest Philadelphia, where she still lives.

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) issued the following statement Tuesday on the election of Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) as Speaker of the House:

“As a former Speaker of the House, I offer my congratulations to Speaker McClinton and wish her well on this tremendous responsibility.

“After several months of gridlock and a state House of Representatives that has not been working for the people, we are in dire need of a reset.

“I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle join us in working to move ahead, open the House, and adopt operating rules for the House that we hope will be reflective of the priorities contained in the already-public House Republican rules draft, especially those pertaining to transparency and sexual harassment protections.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in the town of East Palestine, Ohio, just across the state line with Pennsylvania, U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and Ro Khanna (CA-17) today led their colleagues in introducing the Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL) Act to broaden the definition by which trains get classified as a “high-hazard flammable train” (HHFT).

The bill will ensure that trains carrying hazardous materials are properly classified and rail carriers are required to take proper safety precautions—such as slower speeds, newer rail cars, better braking equipment, and required reporting—when carrying these materials across the country. The bill also improves information sharing by requiring rail carriers to report to the National Response Center, state officials, and local officials within 24 hours after a train carrying toxic chemicals derails.

“I represent constituents in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, who live, work, and play just miles from the site of the Norfolk Southern derailment,” said Rep. Deluzio. “Following this derailment, many of them are worried about their health and livelihoods and whether their air, water, and soil will be safe after this disaster. They want answers, accountability, and assurance that something like this will never happen again. For too long, railroads have prioritized profit ahead of public safety and their workers, and it is time to regulate the railroads. This legislation is an important step forward to finally strengthen our rail regulations and improve rail safety in communities like western Pennsylvania and across America.”

“The people in East Palestine and western Pennsylvania are the working-class folks who feel invisible and abandoned by our nation,” said Rep. Khanna.  “I’m proud to introduce this legislation to expand our safety regulations and help prevent against this type of disaster in the future. This is a moment where we need political leaders from all parties and from across the country to speak out loudly for better safety regulations and to acknowledge what so many Americans are going through.”

This debate isn’t new. For years, safety advocates have called for the definition of HHFT to be broadened to include Hazard 2 gasses. But rail industry lobbyists fought to limit the types of chemical compounds that would be covered by the regulation. Reporting by The Lever News has shown how rail regulations have been weakened and rolled back over the past years and helped raise awareness in the immediate aftermath of the East Palestine derailment.

The derailment included eleven tank cars carrying hazardous materials that ultimately ignited, including five with vinyl chloride, a Class 2 flammable gas, and two tank cars with benzene residue, a Class 3 flammable liquid. Yet, the derailed train wasn’t classified as a HHFT, and thus, was not subject to stricter safety regulations.

The DERAIL Act expands the definition of which trains are classified as a “high-hazard flammable train” in two key ways. First, it adds Class 2 flammable gasses to the definition and gives the Secretary of Transportation the authority to add other materials to the definition as necessary for safety. Second, DOT currently defines HHFT as a train carrying hazardous materials in at least 20 consecutive cars or 35 cars total, this bill lowers the threshold to one railcar.

“We commend Congressman Deluzio and Congressman Khanna for proactively taking positive action to improve rail safety for Pennsylvania and America,” said Greg Hynes, National Legislative Director of SMART Transportation Division, the union representing rail workers who staffed the Norfolk Southern train that derailed. “Increasing safety measures will better protect both workers and the communities our trains run through every day.”

“As the derailment and explosion in East Palestine, Ohio showed us, federal laws excluding freight companies from reporting the dangerous and explosive materials that they are carrying have loopholes large enough to drive a train through,” noted PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur. “The DERAIL Act will take commonsense and important steps to improve reporting and the public’s right to know about volatile and hazardous materials rumbling through U.S. communities every day. This will help protect public health, safeguard local communities, and assist first responders.”

FILE – Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., leaves an intelligence briefing on the unknown aerial objects the U.S. military shot down this weekend at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 14, 2023. A spokesman for Fetterman says the Democrat is “on a path to recovery” after checking himself into a hospital for clinical depression earlier this month, and that he is still expected to be away from the Senate for several weeks. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A spokesman for Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman says the Democrat is “on a path to recovery” after checking himself into a hospital for clinical depression earlier this month, and he is still expected to be away from the Senate for several weeks. Fetterman communications director Joe Calvello said in a statement Monday that the senator’s recovery will be a “weeks-long process.” He is at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he checked in Feb. 15 as he was still struggling with the aftereffects of a stroke. His office said then that he had experienced depression before but it had become severe.