(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The Beaver County Commissioners rounded out their 2023 by voting to pass the County’s budget for 2024 yesterday at their public meeting at the Beaver County Courthouse.

The final budget was set at $264,118,465 for the upcoming year, and had faced no changes from the Commissioners, row offices or the public when it was announced at the end of November.

The work session scheduled for December 27 has been canceled, and the Commissioners will reconvene with a reorganization meeting on January 2nd.

(Sandy Giordano/Beaver County Radio)

The city of Aliquippa finalized and approved its 2024 budget of $6,825,637 at their council meeting on Wednesday night.

Within the new budget, land millage has been set at 14.88 mills while building millage is set at 3.18 mills, and the earned income tax rate is set at 1.2%.

At the same meeting, the council approved the retirement of longtime fire captain Dave Childs, who will officially retire effective January 2nd. Childs had served as a firefighter for Aliquippa for 20 years since he started in September of 2003.

Mayor Dwan B. Walker, City Manager Sam Gill and Councilman Donald Walker thanked everyone for their cooperation in 2023, including their recent removal of the Act 47 designation for distressed communities.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden believes “serious scrutiny” is warranted for the planned acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel, the White House said Thursday after days of silence on a transaction that has drawn alarm from the steelworkers union.

Lael Brainard, the director of the National Economic Council, indicated the deal would be reviewed by the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which she participates in and includes economic and national security agency representatives to investigate national security risks from foreign investments in American firms.

She said in a statement that Biden “believes the purchase of this iconic American-owned company by a foreign entity — even one from a close ally — appears to deserve serious scrutiny in terms of its potential impact on national security and supply chain reliability.”

“This looks like the type of transaction that the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment Congress empowered and the Biden administration strengthened is set up to carefully investigate,” she said. “This administration will be ready to look carefully at the findings of any such investigation and to act if appropriate.”

Under the terms of the approximately $14.1 billion all-cash deal announced Monday, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, where it was founded in 1901 by J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie. It will become a subsidiary of Nippon. The combined company will be among the top three steel-producing companies in the world, according to 2022 figures from the World Steel Association.

Chaired by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the CFIUS screens business deals between U.S. firms and foreign investors and can block sales or force parties to change the terms of an agreement for the purpose of protecting national security.

The committee’s powers were significantly expanded in 2018 through an act of Congress called the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, known as FIRRMA. In September, President Biden issued an executive order that expands the factors that the committee should consider when reviewing deals — such as how the deal impacts the U.S. supply chain or risks to Americans’ sensitive personal data. It has on some occasions forced foreign companies to divest their ownership in American firms.

In 2020 Beijing Kunlun, a Chinese mobile video game company, agreed to sell gay dating app Grindr after it received an order from CFIUS.

United Steelworkers International, which endorsed Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, swiftly opposed the new transaction.

The union “remained open throughout this process to working with U.S. Steel to keep this iconic American company domestically owned and operated, but instead it chose to push aside the concerns of its dedicated workforce and sell to a foreign-owned company,” said David McCall, president of United Steelworkers, in a statement after the transaction was announced, adding that the union wasn’t consulted in advance of the announcement.

“We also will strongly urge government regulators to carefully scrutinize this acquisition and determine if the proposed transaction serves the national security interests of the United States and benefits workers,” he added.

Political allies of Biden in Pennsylvania — a presidential battleground state that is critical to his reelection campaign — also objected to the sale this week, and released statements pressing Nippon to make commitments to keep U.S. Steel’s workers, plants and headquarters in the state.

Some also described it as the latest example of profit-hungry executives selling out American workers to a foreign company.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said it appeared to be a “bad deal” for the state and workers, while Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman — who lives across the street from U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thompson plant just outside Pittsburgh — said he will attempt to prevent the sale based on national security issues.

“It’s absolutely outrageous that U.S. Steel has agreed to sell themselves to a foreign company,” Fetterman said.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the committee, a Treasury spokesperson said: “CFIUS is committed to taking all necessary actions within its authority to safeguard U.S. national security. Consistent with law and practice, CFIUS does not publicly comment on transactions that it may or may not be reviewing.”

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Sullivan wants the Pittsburgh Penguins to get comfortable playing the type of responsible hockey required to win the litany of taut, low-scoring games that likely lie ahead.

The Penguins took what they hope is a significant step in that direction on Thursday against Carolina.

Sidney Crosby scored his 19th goal of the season in regulation and then beat Pyotr Kochetkov in a shootout as Pittsburgh beat the Hurricanes 2-1.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 23 saves against his former team and turned away all three Carolina attempts in the shootout as the Penguins beat the Hurricanes for just the third time in 13 meetings.

“This year, last year, all the games they look very similar to that and we didn’t find a way to win them,” said Crosby, now tied for fourth in the NHL in goals. “So to kind of get over the hump and get on the winning side, I think that’s big and hopefully that’ll boost our confidence in a tight game like that.”

Teuvo Teravainen scored his 12th of the season for the Hurricanes. Kochetkov stopped 24 shots and Carolina’s penalty kill turned away all five Pittsburgh opportunities with the man advantage, including one in overtime. Yet Kochetkov couldn’t get his glove on Crosby’s wrist shot from in close in the shootout.

Carolina now has points in each of its last six games and is drifting toward the top of the logjam in the Eastern Conference as Christmas approaches. A solid penalty kill, which has now allowed just one goal in its last 34 chances, has helped.

“I think the way we’ve been playing the last few games is a little bit more the way we want to play (overall), so that’s a good thing,” center Jack Drury said. “We just have to keep building on it.”

The Penguins are still searching for consistency, though there have been signs of late that they are settling into the more mindful approach Sullivan is trying to get them to play more frequently.

While there’s more work to be done, Pittsburgh avoided hanging Nedeljkovic out to dry by taking unnecessary risks, a positive development for a team that at times can get caught focusing too much on offense.

“I thought we did a pretty decent job. We didn’t give up any sort of dangerous odd-man rushes, two-on-ones, things of that nature,” Sullivan said. “I thought we had numbers back for a lot of the night.”

Pittsburgh’s Rickard Rakell — stuck in a goal-less drought that reaches to April — nearly broke through with a nifty backhand in the first period that deflected off the post. Rakell set up Crosby minutes later with a beautiful spinning backhand pass that found Crosby streaking across the goal mouth. Crosby’s deflection caught Kochtkov off guard and flicked into the net to give Pittsburgh the lead 8:51 into the game.

Carolina started to turn the pressure up in the middle of the second period, pinning the Penguins in their end while generating opportunities around Nedeljkovic. Tervainen finally broke through with more than a little help from Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang, who saw Tervainen’s centering pass smack off his skate and into the Pittsburgh net to tie it 14:52 into the second.

The tempo finally turned up over the final period and into overtime, but the Penguins couldn’t find a way to sneak a shot past Kochetkov, who got help from a post on a blast by Crosby in the waning seconds that deflected off the iron and out of harm’s way.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published December 21, 2023 6:56 P.M.

(Rochester, Pa) A ceremony was held Thursday evening outside of Beaver County Transit Authority in Rochester to honor the lives of those who died while homeless in Beaver County.

Those who attended participated in a candlelight memorial on the longest night of the year along W Washington Street to honor those who passed while homeless.

At least one Beaver County resident died while homeless in 2023, 9 deaths were reported in 2021 and 7 in 2022. Beaver County Continuum of Care Coordinator Dina Ciabattoni stated that the goal is to have no homeless deaths in the county in 2024.

The event was hosted by the Beaver County Continuum of Care, The Cornerstone of Beaver County, The Housing Authority of the County of Beaver, Trails Ministries, Housing Opportunities of Beaver County, Cornerstone Recovery & Supports, Pinnacle, and the Active Community of Real Estate Entrepreneurs.

(Photo of the Hoot Owls, Headliners for the Notes on Entertainment Christmas Show)

(Brighton Twp., Pa.) Beaver County Radio will be broadcasting the 5th Annual Notes on Entertainment Christmas Show at 9:10 AM Thursday morning, December 21, 2023. Beaver County Radio’s Eddy Crow and Mike Romigh along with Scott Tady Entertainment Editor for the Beaver County Times will host the show. The 5th Annual Notes on Entertainment Christmas Show will be live on the air as well as video streamed on the Beaver County Radio Facebook Page and Youtube Channel.

The Show is being presented by the Tusca and East Rochester Shop n’ Save’s along with the True Value Hardware Store located beside the Rochester Shop N Save.

American Idol contestant and Beaver County resident Morgan Gruber will be joining an already impressive line-up for the 5th Annual “Notes on Entertainment” Christmas Show on Thursday  December 21, 2023 from 9AM to Noon.

Morgan is planning on singing  her newly released Christmas song  “O’ Come All Yee Faithful” She will also be singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “White Christmas” along with her recently released single “What Ever Gets You Through It”.

Local Band the Hoot Owls will get the show started at 9:10 AM. Gruber will perform at 10:10 AM right after the news. After Morgan Beaver County Radio’s Curtis Walsh and his band “Better Think Twice” will perform. Next up will be Beaver County Radio’s JD Merkel. At 11:00 AM the big guy himself, Santa Claus will be in the house. After that at 11:35 The Beaver Valley Choral Society will perform and we will finish the show up with New Brighton native and country singer Dawn Savage.

The 5th Annual Notes On Entertainment Christmas Show will also be presented via Facebook Live on the Beaver County Radio Facebook Page. Just Click the link below at 9:10AM:

If you can’t tune in you can click the link below to listen on-line via beavercountyradio.com:

You can also down load our free apps:

(Monaca, PA ) Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is proud to release 279 names of full and part-time students who achieved either President’s List or Dean’s List honors for the fall 2023 semester.
To be named to the President’s List, students must have completed at least 12 hours of credit-bearing courses in which performance grades are awarded and have received a 3.75 grade-point average or above for the semester. Dean’s List honorees must have completed at least 12 hours of credit-bearing courses in which performance grades are awarded and have received a 3.25 to 3.74 grade-point average
for the semester.
The following full-time students were named to the President’s List and Dean’s List:
President’s List
Jade Adkins, Kyle Donovan, Michael Krumpe, Micah-Dawn Rombold,
Damon Astorino, Brandi Dornetto, Grace Lane, Madelyn Ronk,
Christian Bailey, Josef Druzak, Tanner Leavens, Parker Ross,
Gabrielle Barber, Jaylee Duncan, Devin Lewis, Cailie Schill,
Julia Bennett, Kimberly Ervin, Katherine Livengood, David Schuler,
Hunter Bock, Serenity Eubanks, Michael Longo, Hayden Schulte,
Makenzie Bonifate, Madison Fryer, Madeline Luke, Errett Sedlacek,
Vanessa Borgen, Erica Gazdik, Sarah Lyons, Jonathan Selavko,
Spechelle Bunch, Jayden Geer, Connor Madgar, Mayley Servick,
Kira Burd ,Olivia Geiger, Shikhar Mainalee, Aaron Shanor,
Meagan Burke, Farrah Glomb, Austyne Mann, Ana Shipman,
Tyler Byer, Anna Goberish, Maya Marshall, Deniro Simpson,
Michael Byrne, Abbie Graves, Landyn McClean, Philip Spann,
Amelia Callaghan, Olive Hambe, Epse Notue, Cassidy McCracken, Carmen Spara,
Logan Cantwell, Taylor Hans, Christopher McGlawn, Julia Stoyer,
Ella Capelli, Joseph Hartle, Maxwell Merwitz, Morgan Swan,
Anthony Carter, Peyton Hastings, Macey Mesinere, Haylie Thomas,
Taylor Cayton, Connor Haynes, Mason Milkovich, Alexis Tolejko, LeAndra Clark, Monjeana Henderson, Gracie Miller, Hannah Triscila,
Adam Cline, Jocelyn Herda, Garrett Milnes, Jakob Uthoff,
Kira Coffman, Jack Hickman, Jacob Mima, Brooke Vidovich,
Ethan Colvin, Pamela Hill, J’Daniel Mosquera, Kennedy Vogel,
Jason Commentucci, Olivia Hogue, Payne Nairn, Emma Weismantle,
Ashton Costanza, Mandy Hopkins, Thomas Orr, Stefania Wiley,
Amanda Cramer, Jacy Hudock, Genavieve Pansera, Camryn Wilson,
Kaden Cvitkovic, Jacob Huffman, Reagan Peters, Alexandra Wise,
Kail Davidson, Dalton Janicki, Gabriella Petrof, Lydia Wisler,
Gabrielle Davis, Mayank Jathan, Lanaya Pharr, Matthew Wockenfuss,
Sydney Davis, Isaac Jones, Lily Pruszenski, Michael Wockenfuss,
Emily Deane, Mara Kachur, William Rebello, Matthew Wolfe,
Connor Denes, Maison Keczmer, Landon Reckerd, Isabella Woodrow,
Lia Diaz, Stephen Kropf, Cody Record, Meah Yonlisky,
Isabella Dibe, and Joshua Rexroad
Dean’s List
Grace Appleton, Jaiden Glover, Kennedi Miller, Aubrey Shanor,
Jenna Bechtold, Jaxon Guido, Alexandrea Mixter, Jordan Shields,
Dakari Bradford, Jared Gwizdak, Ashley Moakley, Mikalah Smith,
Benjamin Briscoe, Connor Hammer, Olivia Moore, Rebekah Spann,
Aaron Bruder, Annaray Hatt, Victoria Moran, Aubrey Stamm,
Shane Bucklen, Rocky Houston, Dylan Myers, Ashley Stoltz,
Carol Buzard, Joshua Irons, Gage Nagy, Trey Strickland,
Travis Cerce, Kendell Irving, Alexander Neel, Ryan Subroski,
Saige Chambers, Payton James, Lane Oldham, Sarah Tharp,
Alexander Clark, Adam Johnston, Lucas Peretik, Adisyn Thompson,
Megan Darrah, Adam Jokic, Rhea Pieprzyk, Teariney Trosky,
Mason Davis, Husam Kanan, Abigail Pokorski, Ava Vice-Griffiths,
Laura Dennis, Trevor Keenan, Kyle Pokorski, Olivia Vixman,
Jake Dokmanovich, Nina Kelban, Mark Rachic, Calla Walker,
Jadyn Elliott, Sydney Klaas, Michela Ricci, Nicholas Waschak,
Laina Franchek, Charles Knauss, Cheyanne Rodgers, Reilly Wilfong,
Emily Garcia, Lauren Krug, Amarian Saunders, Colin Willoughby,
Jamie Garrett, Luke Lasko, Cristina Saville, Selena Wilson,
Emily Garvin, Dallyn Love, Emily Sedgwick, Joshua Yeck,
Nathanael Given, Carmen Mercado, Zachary Sexauer, Paige Young,
Camden Glass, Zane Metzgar, Hailee Shaffer.

The following part-time students were named to the President’s List and Dean’s List:
President’s List
Sheri Acre, Julia Fawcett, Erin Kelly, Sarah Reisker,
Mary Bauman, Kayleigh Gisborne, Kayli Kolarosky, Samantha Schaeffer,
Jennifer Boehm, Megan Grimm, Nicholas Leavens, Mackenzie Snyder,
Julia Clarkin, Prince Charles Guidotti, Claire Matzie, Megan Soltis,
Meredith Cote, Samantha Hess, Krista McCandless, Melissa Sullivan,
Gianna Dale, Damen Hunt, Bailey McKenna, Raeleen Tomsik,
Lauren Davids, Christina Ion, Cadance Noss, Connie Walker,
Anna Dawes, Lavanya Jeffries, Josephine Patosky, Kaylynn Young,
Katelyn Emig.
Dean’s List
Emily Beres, Peyton Heidish, Molly Klepal, Olivia Peroni,
Chase Bockman, Michenna Heim, Rosanna Lerini, Riley Sanders,
Sidney Brooks, Emilee Hohenshel, Samantha Long, Ethan Seikel,
Anthony Cianfaglione, Leonard Hricz, Paul Medford, Emma Shaddick,
Katelin Dishler, Alyssa Imhoff, Hunter Moran, Rebbecca Surenda,
Savannah Ellis, Sabrina James, Alicen Mosura, Katelyn Vanderzanden,
Ivelyn Figueroa Servellon, Nicole Jenkins, Alexandra Palmer, Audrey Ward,
Shawn Geisinger, Preston Kisow, Amy Pauvlinch,  and Maggie West

FILE – A Rite Aid sign is displayed on the facade of a store in Pittsburgh, Jan. 23, 2023. Rite Aid has been banned from using facial recognition technology for five years over allegations that a surveillance system it used incorrectly identified potential shoplifters, especially Black, Latino, Asian or female shoppers. The deal announced late Tuesday, Dec. 19, settles Federal Trade Commission charges that the struggling drugstore chain didn’t do enough to prevent harm to its customers and implement “reasonable procedures,” the government agency said. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, file)

Rite Aid has been banned from using facial recognition technology for five years over allegations that a surveillance system it used incorrectly identified potential shoplifters, especially Black, Latino, Asian or female shoppers. The deal announced late Tuesday settles Federal Trade Commission charges that the struggling drugstore chain didn’t do enough to prevent harm to its customers and implement “reasonable procedures,” the government agency said. Rite Aid said it disagrees with the allegations, though the company is pleased to reach an agreement to resolve the issue. It noted that any agreement will have to be approved in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.