(Reported by Beaver County News Correspondant Sandy Giordano, Published on October 23, 2024 at 9:49 A.M.)

Mikaela Malobabich was hired as  a long term substitute teacher at the junior high school. she will begin her duties on  Thursday, October 25, 2024.  Sharon Mercer was hired  as a new junior high school grill-prep person in the cafeteria beginning today.  Lauren Hale was hired as a cafeteria substitute worker.. Tim McGovern was hired as a substitute custodian , Barry MacDonald was hired as a bus driver..

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh International Airport could surpass over ten million passengers in 2024. According to data released on Friday during the Allegheny County Airport Authority’s monthly meeting, there were 7.5 million passengers through Pittsburgh International Airport through the end of September. The last time that Pittsburgh International Airport had ten million passengers was back in 2005.

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release from the Pennsylvania Department of State, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said Tuesday that there is one week left to to apply for their mail-in ballot online or in person. Schmidt also hopes those who want to vote by mail to apply for and return their completed ballot as soon as possible to ensure their vote is counted. Schmidt also notes the steps to make sure their ballot is counted.

• Read all instructions enclosed with the ballot.
• Fill out the ballot by following the instructions on how to mark selections. Check both sides of the ballot in case there are races listed on the second page.
• Seal the ballot in the yellow inner secrecy envelope marked “official election ballot.” Do not make any stray marks on the envelope.
• Seal the yellow inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope.
• Sign and write the current date on the voter’s declaration on the outer return envelope.
• Mail or hand deliver the completed ballot to their county elections office, or hand deliver the ballot to an officially designated satellite office or drop box.

Source for Photo: In this Oct. 13, 2020, photo, an envelope of a Pennsylvania official mail-in ballot for the 2020 general election in Marple Township, Pa. The Supreme Court will allow Pennsylvania to count ballots received up to three days after the election, rejecting a Republican plea. The justices divided 4-4 on Oct. 19, an outcome that upholds a state Supreme Court ruling that allowed election officials to receive and count ballots until Nov. 6, even if they don’t have a clear postmark. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

(Ambridge, PA) New grants totaling $2.86 million will fund roof replacement projects for three schools in the 16th Legislative District, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced Tuesday.

Matzie said the grants, awarded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program, will address drainage issues and leaks creating potential hazards.

“Several of our school districts have identified serious roof issues that have caused deterioration, drainage problems, leaks, and the buildup of mold and mildew,” Matzie said. “The new funding will ensure that repair and replacement projects move forward so that students, teachers and school staff have the safe surroundings and healthy environments they deserve.”

Matzie said the funding includes:

• $1.15 million to Hopewell Area School District for Phase I of a project to replace more than half the roof area on the Hopewell Area Senior High School to resolve leaks, remediate mold and mildew and improve energy efficiency.

• $1 million to Aliquippa School District for a roof repair project at Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School that will include removing the existing roof system down to the decking; addressing drainage issues and leaks that pose a threat to the infrastructure; and performance of restoration/replacement work. 

• $713,777 to Rochester Area School District for improvements to the K-12 facility, including replacement of two air handling units and part of the roof in the high school wing and replacement of roof areas that have deteriorated and are causing leaks and moisture and mold problems in the high school wing. 

The Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program – administered by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority – provides funding to public school districts and career and technical schools for eligible facility improvement projects. Grants are available for eligible improvement projects with a total project cost of $500,000 or more and may not exceed $5 million for any project. 

(Ambridge, PA) New grant funding of $2.73 million will support projects to bring smoother travel, stronger wastewater infrastructure and expanded recreational spaces to District 16 residents, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced Tuesday.

Matzie said the grants, awarded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Statewide Local Share Account funding, will support projects ranging from repairs to new construction. 

Matzie said the funding includes:

• $750,000 to Harmony Township for road resurfacing projects to rehabilitate four deteriorated roads. 

• $500,000 to the Aliquippa Municipal Water Authority to replace two clarifiers at the city’s wastewater plant, with the goal of reducing maintenance costs and improving reliability.

• $500,000 to Center Township to support construction of a four seasons lodge in a township municipal park. 

• $423,382 to Hopewell Township to acquire and clear three brownfield parcels next to an existing sports facility for future development of the Todd Road Recreational Complex. 

• $300,000 to the Rochester Borough Sewer and Maintenance Authority for sanitary sewer improvements, including line replacement and manhole connections, on six roads. 

• $257,250 to the Baden Borough Municipal Authority to retrofit a bar screen at the wastewater treatment plant to improve removal of solids and reduce maintenance costs. 

Matzie said the Harmony Township road repair funding would be especially helpful for the township. 

“Harmony Township has been handcuffed by the cost of repairing a landslide after severe storms this past spring on Woodland Road,” Matzie said. “The road is a township road and there is no state funding program for emergency repairs. Securing this funding can go toward any shortfall for this issue and also support other road improvement projects.” 

Statewide Local Share Account funding comes from the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, which provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through CFA to support projects in the public interest in Pennsylvania. 

(Beaver County, PA) The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is being investigated after trying to move the Aliquippa Quips Football Program from 4A to 5A. According to a release from Rep. Rob Matzie’s office, House Resolution 318, which directs the Legislative Budget and Finance committee to evaluate the PIAA’s management, policies and finances passed by a vote of 152-50. The PIAA stressed in January that after Aliquippa won the state title in November in the 4A class, the Quips needed to move to 5A, and Aliquippa lost the appeal after that decision. However, a May court ruling prevented this move because the Aliquippa school district attorney advocated for both the health and safety of the players for their football team. 

(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondant Sandy Giordano, Published on October 23, 2024 at 6:50 A.M.)

(Rochester, PA) After possessing both a firearm and ammunition, a Rochester felon has pleaded guilty. According to a release from the Pennsylvania Department of Justice written by U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan, 35-year-old James Gilmore has pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Attorney Olshan also noted that the Court was advised that, on June 9, 2021, law enforcement identified Gilmore operating a vehicle in New Brighton, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Gilmore due to an active arrest warrant related to a parole violation. After Gilmore escaped, a loaded firearm was thrown from the same vehicle. Attorney Olshan also asserted that Gilmore has been convicted of both a firearm and drug trafficking crime in the Court of Common Pleas in Beaver County. The sentencing date for Gilmore, according to Judge Bissoon, is February 11, 2025. 

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Commonwealth University today announced an agreement that allows PSP Troopers to receive college credits for their successful completion of cadet basic training at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. Upon successful completion of their PSP training, Commonwealth University will grant academic credit towards an Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.

“This agreement, coupled with the department’s suspension of the college credit requirement to become a Pennsylvania state trooper, expands opportunities for a rewarding career in law enforcement and public service,” said Colonel Christoper Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “The cost of a higher education is often a barrier to earning a degree, and we hope to reduce that barrier by assisting women and men who take the alternate route of completing college after starting their career.”

“As more working learners look for programs that will help them realize their career ambitions, we have an opportunity to steward that attainment,” said Hope Lineman, Executive Director of Workforce Development at Commonwealth University. “Commonwealth University is focused on improving equitable access, removing financial barriers and meeting learners where they are at, allowing them to step in and out of education as they need to. We are excited to enter into this agreement to allow for recognition of the State Police Academy training that places state troopers that much closer to degree attainment and upward career mobility.”

“The PSP Academy is one of the top law enforcement training programs in the nation,” noted Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “The opportunity to receive college credits recognizes the exceptional quality of this program and the caliber of individuals who graduate to become state troopers.”

At the direction of Governor Shapiro, PSP suspended its educational requirement of 60 college credits in August 2023.

The 2024-25 Commonwealth budget provides $16 million for four cadet classes during the current fiscal year.

Applicants must possess a high school diploma or GED certificate, a valid driver’s license from any state, and be at least 20 years old at the time of application. They must be at least 21 years old and cannot have reached age 40 upon entry into the training academy. At the time of graduation, cadets must be a Pennsylvania resident and possess a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license. No prior law enforcement experience is required. PSP announces cadet application periods on its website.

Academy training is approximately 28 weeks of rigorous physical activities and educational coursework in Pennsylvania’s crimes and vehicle codes, law enforcement principles and practices, firearms, and special equipment training. Upon graduation, cadets are promoted to trooper and receive an increase in salary, currently set at $66,911 annually.

For more information on becoming a Pennsylvania State Police trooper or to apply, visit patrooper.com.

For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov.

Jaqueline Benitez pushes her cart down an aisle as she shops for groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner)

Harrisburg, PA –Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh today announced increases to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) income and benefit limits in Pennsylvania, following a yearly adjustment from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Secretary Arkoosh also announced that the replacement of stolen SNAP benefits – which DHS began offering in 2023 – has been extended to benefits stolen through December 20, 2024.

“Being able to feed yourself and your family is not just a health issue; it also instills a sense of self-reliance, safety, and dignity when you know you can access fresh, nutritious foods without making the difficult choice between paying for groceries and paying for other necessities,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “SNAP helps more than two million Pennsylvanians, many of whom are our friends and neighbors, keep food on their tables. I strongly encourage anyone who may need food assistance to apply for SNAP.”

In September 2024, SNAP served 2,021,263 individuals by providing $367,985,636 in federally-funded food assistance.

Because of federal SNAP rules, the benefit levels and income limits for SNAP are updated every year. These changes will benefit all SNAP recipients with an average increase of just over $5 per month. No one will experience a decrease in benefits.

Below are the SNAP income limits beginning October 1, 2024:

Factors that could contribute to a household’s higher SNAP allowances and income limits in Pennsylvania include household size, monthly income, and if a member of your household is 60 years of age or older or has a disability.

Additionally, below are the changes to the Maximum Thrifty Food Plan effective October 1, 2024. The Maximum Thrifty Food Plan is the maximum amount of SNAP benefits a household can receive.

There is no change to the minimum monthly benefit this year; the minimum benefit remains $23.

The best way to determine if your household will qualify for SNAP and the amount of your monthly benefit is to apply. Current recipients should continue to report income and address changes to DHS and submit any semi-annual reviews or renewals they receive during this period so that they do not risk an interruption of their benefits.

Under federal guidelines, SNAP benefits do not expire as long as the recipient’s EBT card remains active, which means that the household’s EBT card must be used at least once every nine months. SNAP recipients can check their current EBT balance, make transaction inquiries, and request card replacements from DHS’ EBT contractor, Conduent, at 888-328-7366. Recipients may also check their EBT balance, transaction history, and change their PIN at any time using the free myCOMPASS PA mobile app on both Apple and Android devices. The myCOMPASS PA app is the official safe and secure app for Pennsylvanians to access and manage their benefits.

In addition to the benefit changes, DHS has been made aware of multiple reports of EBT card skimming in recent months. Skimming is the act of applying a device to a point-of-sale (POS) machine or an ATM to read a card’s magnetic strip, gather its data, and create a cloned card. SNAP recipients are encouraged to protect their EBT cards and personal information, such as a PIN.

SNAP recipients who have their benefits electronically stolen through December 20, 2024, can make a request to have their benefits reimbursed. To request a reimbursement, SNAP recipients should fill out a Benefit Theft Claim via a PDF form or web form within 60 calendar days of the incident. DHS will then validate within 30 calendar days of the request being submitted for evaluation, and if a replacement is to be issued, it can be done within 10 calendar days of the evaluation.

Pennsylvanians are encouraged to report any potential EBT skimming activity by calling the DHS fraud tip line at 1-844-DHS-TIPS (1-844-347-8477) or making a report through the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) website. Pennsylvanians can learn more about current scams and phishing attempts on DHS’ Scam page. Additionally, Pennsylvanians who have questions about whether a call, text, letter, or other communication is legitimate should contact DHS’ Office of Income Maintenance.

For more information on SNAP, including how to apply, visit dhs.pa.gov.

Pittsburgh, PA—The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) announced today that Lillian Gabreski has  been named its Director of Transportation. She will join the organization’s leadership team, lead a department of 13 staff members, and oversee transportation initiatives on behalf of the 10-county region.

Gabreski has an exceptional background in strategic planning and transportation, as well as securing state and federal grants. She joined the organization in 2018, and has become known by both staff members and external partners for taking innovative approaches to solving complex challenges.

“I am excited to have Lillian officially join our leadership team,” said Rich Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. “She has been with the organization for over six years, and in that time, has demonstrated her steadfast commitment to improving the quality of life for area residents. Lillian’s leadership style, expertise in transportation, and proven experience in securing grants for our region made her a natural choice for this position. She will hit the ground running and continue with SPC’s mission of planning for the continued success of Southwestern Pennsylvania.”

As Director of Transportation, Gabreski will direct the development of the organization’s required program documents like the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Both the TIP and LRTP plan for specific transportation and infrastructure projects across the 10-county region. Additionally, Gabreski will supervise all of the department’s programs including multimodal transportation planning, operations and safety, transportation demand management, a vanpool program, active transportation initiatives like trails, and many other initiatives. 

During her time at SPC, Gabreski has served in a variety of roles. More recently, she has served as the Manager of Sponsored Program Development and led the organization’s development of competitive grant funding applications for local, state, and federal discretionary programs. She played a very instrumental part in developing the application which SPC, PennDOT, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to secure the $142 million grant for the Eastern Pittsburgh Multimodal Corridor project. Additionally, she has guided the organization’s efforts on equity to ensure that programs adhere to the federal environmental justice requirements and Justice40 guidance.

Gabreski earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Penn State University’s Schreyer Honors College, and a Master of Public Administration with a concertation in economic and financial policy from Cornell University. She will officially assume the role on Oct. 24.