CARNEGIE, PA — On August 10, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law. This law honors America’s commitments to our veterans by expanding VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. Today, Navy and Iraq War veteran Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) released a video urging his fellow toxic-exposed veterans to start the process of filing for PACT Act benefits and coverage before the law’s upcoming retroactivity deadline of August 9, 2023—a few days from today.

While veterans are still able to file claims under this new law after this August 9 deadline, those who file by the deadline are eligible for benefits backdated to the date of the bill signing. Thus, veterans who begin the process of filing PACT Act claims, even just by completing a document showing an intent to file, could receive benefits backdated one year to August 10, 2022. Those who begin the claim process after August 9 will not be able to receive these backdated benefits.

An estimated five million American veterans could benefit from the PACT Act. Nationwide, over 4.1 million veterans have already received their toxic exposure screenings and more than 400,000 veterans have already had their claims resolved under this new law. As of July 21, 2023, more than 20,500 veterans filed PACT Act related claims in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and nearly 12,000 Pennsylvania veterans have enrolled at the VA since the passage of the PACT Act last year. More eligibility details and information are available at VA.gov/PACT.

Congressman Deluzio’s video is available for viewing and download here, and follows a previous video he released with House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano about the importance of the PACT Act for his fellow veterans.

FILE – (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is reinstating a regulation aimed at reining in the proliferation of firearms without serial numbers, called ghost guns. The court Tuesday voted 5-4 to put on hold a ruling from a federal judge in Texas that invalidated the Biden administration’s regulation of ghost gun kits. The regulation will be in effect while the administration appeals the ruling to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans — and potentially the Supreme Court. The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence supports regulation of ghost guns and praises the Supreme Court’s action. A gun rights group called the Firearms Policy Coalition Action Foundation says it’s confident it can again defeat the rule.

Jars of Rao’s sauce are displayed at a food store in New York on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Campbell Soup is set to buy Sovos Brands, the maker of Rao’s pasta sauces. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

NEW YORK (AP) — Campbell Soup is set to buy Sovos Brands, the maker of Rao’s pasta sauces. In a Monday announcement, the two companies said they had entered an agreement for Campbell’s to acquire Sovos for $23 per share in cash — reflecting a total value of about $2.7 billion. The transaction will help diversify and strengthen Campbell’s Meals & Beverages division, Campbell’s President and CEO Mark Clouse said in a statement. Campbell intends to finance the Sovos acquisition with the issuance of new debt. The transaction’s closing is expected for December, subject to Sovos stockholder and regulatory approval, as well as other closing conditions.

FILE – The Stellantis sign is seen outside the Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills, Mich, Jan. 19, 2021. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 dangled the possibility of relaunching a shuttered Illinois factory if it can be made more competitive as the United Auto Workers Union threatens a strike. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety investigators have opened a probe into reports that some older Ram 1500 pickup trucks can lose their power-steering assistance with little or no warning. The investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers over 1.1 million pickups from the 2013 through 2016 model years. The agency says it has 380 complaints about the problem that include three crashes but no injuries. Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, recalled 440 pickups in 2016 to fix a power steering problem. But the agency says it has complaints indicating a similar failure in trucks that weren’t recalled. The agency says the recall query will determine if enough vehicles were recalled or if another safety defect might be causing problems.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 8, 2023 2:41 P.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) The memorial is being rededicated at its location on Reed Street, it faces Main Street.  The event begins at 10 a.m. Sunday, September 10, 2023. The memorial park has a fresh new look thanks to volunteers that have helped with funding or worked to support the project. The dedication is to honor all veterans that served in the gulf war, and all those that served in the war against terrorism. The event is also being held to complete the designation of Aliquippa as a Purple Heart City.

Canonsburg, PA – Aug. 11 is almost here, and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania hopes that the 8/11 date on the calendar will serve as a natural reminder for homeowners and contractors to call 811 or visit PAOneCall.org at least three business days before any digging project to have underground utility lines marked.

Contacting 811 is free for homeowners, and it’s the law. Striking a single line can cause costly repairs, inconvenient outages, steep fines and even injuries.

When contacting 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to Pennsylvania One Call, which notifies the appropriate utility companies to mark the approximate location of underground utilities lines with either flags or a special spray paint.

Every digging project, no matter how big or small, requires contacting 811 at least three business days in advance to allow underground utilities time to mark their utility lines before digging begins. Examples of projects to contact 811 include everything from installing a fence, deck or mailbox to planting a tree, bushes or new garden.

Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches or digging in a previously marked location, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists. The depth of utility lines can also vary for several reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces.

Along with recognizing National Safe Digging Day, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania is celebrating 8/11 Day with their very own Digger Dog’s birthday! Digger Dog, is a smart, fun safety mascot, who can be found regularly at community events and classrooms across their service territory educating everyone on contacting 811, safe digging, and other natural gas safety messages. When you see Digger, you know safety is the topic – no bones about it.

“Digger Dog is a fantastic safety ambassador,” said Columbia Gas Vice President Gas Operations Brian McCaul. “On August 11 and throughout the year, we want to spread the word that contacting 811 before digging allows us to mark our gas lines and prevent a potentially dangerous situation. Digger Dog allows us the opportunity to spread safety messaging in an educational and fun way.”

To mark and celebrate Digger Dog’s birthday, Columbia Gas is partnering with the Washington Area Humane Society to highlight adoptable dogs looking for homes and reminding new pet parents they need to contact 811 before installing any fence, even electric.

Columbia Gas and the NiSource Charitable Foundation are proud supporters of the humane society and have a provided a $1,000 grant to support shelter programs.

“Through the foundation, Columbia Gas proudly supports the Washington Area Humane Society and their work caring for animals. Through adoptions and low-cost vet programs, their work strengthens the communities we serve,” said Government & Public Affairs Manager Scott Waitlevertch.

The Kraft Heinz Company (Photo: Business Wire)

PITTSBURGH & CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 8, 2023– Continuing its 150-plus-year legacy in Pittsburgh, The Kraft Heinz Company is bringing “Heinz Field” back to the Pittsburgh area in a new way. After witnessing the undying love from Pittsburghers for the legendary football stadium, the Company will unveil a new Heinz Field at Aliquippa High School in Aliquippa, Penn. – and make a $1.3 million charitable donation to the Aliquippa School District. The donation will bring new resources to the community by helping to construct an academic and athletic center attached to the new Heinz Field, the district’s newly renovated football stadium also known as “The Pit.”

“Kraft Heinz is proud to call Pittsburgh home as our co-headquarters, and we’re excited to bring Heinz Field back to the community in a new and meaningful way,” said Carlos Abrams-Rivera, Executive Vice President and President, North America at Kraft Heinz. “We look forward to seeing Heinz Field live on as part of the Aliquippa community.”

The academic and athletic center will feature offices, lockers, weight rooms, training and therapy rooms, and a large collaborative creative space for hands-on learning. Community groups and local citizens will also have access to the flexible space and weight rooms for programs and classes.

“Our beloved stadium has recently undergone a complete transformation, and we’re thrilled to continue this momentum with a new academic and athletic center for our students and community members in partnership with Kraft Heinz,” said Dr. Phillip K. Woods, Aliquippa School District Superintendent. “We’re incredibly proud of our athletics program, which has the most Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League football titles in league history and three alumni in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kraft Heinz’s donation will help us further our legacies together and will impact Aliquippa, a deserving community, for generations to come.”

Finding a way to bring Heinz Field back to the Pittsburgh community has been a dream at Kraft Heinz over the past year.

“We know how important the original Heinz Field was to the people of Pittsburgh,” said Peter Hall, President, U.S. Away From Home and Kraft Heinz Ingredients at Kraft Heinz. “By working with Aliquippa – a community that has truly inspired us – we’re making our dream of a Heinz Field reboot a reality. Driven by our Company purpose Let’s Make Life Delicious, we look forward to giving Aliquippa’s hard-working students and community members new opportunities to learn, grow and thrive, while also continuing the legacy of Heinz Field.”

Aliquippa fans and community members will be able to experience the new Heinz Field at the start of the 2023-2024 football season. Construction of the new academic and athletic center is expected to be completed in 2025.

(AP) Lottery players will have another shot Tuesday night at a massive Mega Millions prize that ranks as the third-largest jackpot in U.S. history.

The estimated $1.55 billion prize has been gradually building for months thanks to 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. The last time someone won the game’s top prize was April 18.

Each drawing without a winner pushes the prize closer to the record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot that someone in California won last year.

Mega Millions jackpot winners are so rare thanks to odds of 1 in 302.6 million.

The $1.55 billion payout would go to a winner who opts for an annuity, doled out over 30 years. But people usually prefer a lump sum option, which for Tuesday’s jackpot would be an estimated $757.2 million.

The money would be subject to federal taxes. Many states also tax lottery winnings.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rookie infielder Liover Peguero had two hits in a six-run third inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates chased Spencer Strider early before holding off the Atlanta Braves for a rain-delayed 7-6 victory Monday night.

Connor Joe homered in the fourth to help the fourth-place Pirates hand the major league-leading Braves their third consecutive defeat. Pittsburgh ended an eight-game losing streak to Atlanta that dated to 2021.

Strider (12-4), runner-up in NL Rookie of the Year voting last season, matched a career low by pitching just 2 2/3 innings. He also lasted only 2 2/3 innings a year to the day prior against the New York Mets.

Strider had gone 8-1 in his previous 12 starts. He allowed five hits, walked three and struck out three.

“You’re going to have bad starts from time to time,” Strider said. “But you can’t have a bad start to this level.”

Carmen Mlodzinski (2-2) retired all four batters he faced for the win.

The Braves closed to 7-6 in the ninth when Michael Harris II hit a leadoff double and scored on Ozzie Albies’ groundout, but closer David Bednar held on for his 23rd save in 25 opportunities.

“These last three games, we’ve been right there. We’ve been a hit away, but it makes it hard when you have to come from behind,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “We brought the tying run or the winning run to the plate each of the last three days, but we didn’t make it happen.”

Matt Olson had two hits and drove in two runs for Atlanta, raising his season total to 99 RBIs. Albies hit his 26th home run and Austin Riley had two hits.

The Pirates broke a scoreless tie with their big third inning on the way to their third win in four games.

Peguero led off with a double and scored on Joe’s groundout. Pittsburgh added five more in the inning with two outs as Andrew McCutchen hit an RBI double and scored on Henry Davis’ single before Jared Triolo had a two-run single. Peguero capped the rally by greeting reliever Michael Tonkin with a run-scoring single.

“When I made good pitches they were spoiling them or putting them in play, and then I stopped making good pitches,” Strider said. “Maybe I needed to be more aggressive, needed to go right at them. Again, it’s easy to say in hindsight.”

A week after trading four veteran players at the deadline, the Pirates were happy to beat a team like the Braves and one of the better young pitchers in the game.

“It was awesome. It was a great inning,” Triolo said. “I think it really helped change the momentum of the game, obviously. Putting up early runs like that, it was really good. Running (Strider) out of there, too, that was awesome.”

The Braves chased Pirates starter Osvaldo Bido during a four-run fourth that drew them within 6-4. Albies homered with one out before Olson and Marcell Ozuna hit RBI singles. The fourth run scored on Davis’ error in right field.

Bido allowed four runs — three earned — in four innings.

Joe led off the bottom half with a home run against Tonkin. The Braves got a run back in the fifth when Olson singled to make it 7-5.

The game was delayed for 78 minutes after the fifth because of rain.

St. Barnabas Charities hosted the 32nd annual Free Care 5K on Saturday, August 5, 2023 presented by Paracca Interiors Flooring America. The race was held at the St. Barnabas Gibsonia campus on Meridian Road.

Top honors went to first place finisher Jed Christiansen, of Greenville, crossing the finish line with a time of 15:12. Overall female winner is Claire Anderson of Jamestown, PA with a time of 17:58.

Followed by:

Male 2nd Place: Dale Hall, Allison Park, PA 15:23

Female 2nd Place: Meg Griffith, Pleasant Hills, PA 19:07

Male 3rd Place: Julian Paul, Pittsburgh, PA 15:44

Female 3rd Place: Amy Brown, Valencia, PA 19:10

Wheelchair finisher: Andrew Grossmann, Butler, PA 21:54

Master Category: Terry Beacom, 17:53 and Erika Shuhy, 19:47

Grand Master: Eric Shafer 18:04 and Tammy Slusser, 21:32

Team Results
First place: Cute Men Running Track with a total time of 48:43
Second place: Tom Cat Elite clocked a time of 49:53
Third place: Team Beer 61:24

Participants enjoyed a post-race party that included four food trucks, live music by The Rock Station DJ Jay Kline, and free drink and protein bar samples by Ready Nutrition.

To view full results from the 32nd annual St. Barnabas Free Care 5K, visit www.RunHigh.com.

Competitive and amateur runners, joggers, walkers, teams, stroller pushers and wheelchair racers of all ages enjoyed a rolling 3.1 mile out and back course. Cash prizes and medals were awarded during a post-race party that also featured raffle prizes and food.

Proceeds benefited the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which provides more than $6 million in care to residents and patients that cannot afford their care. To learn more, visit FreeCare5K.com, call 724-625-3770 or to donate to the Free Care Fund, TEXT the word GIVE to 41444. Save the date for the next Free Care K on Saturday, August 3, 2024.