HARRISBURG – As Pennsylvania moves one step closer to having an agreed upon, completed spending plan, Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) released the following statement regarding the 2023-24 State Budget bill, House Bill 611, moving to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.

“After much debate, today we see our Commonwealth move closer to having a completed budget as we sent the $45.55 billion General Appropriations bill, which spent about $300 million less than governor’s original proposal, to Gov. Shapiro’s desk for his signature. It’s then up to him as to whether he will approve the bill in its entirety or line-item veto the $100 million allocated for the Pennsylvania Award for Students Success (PASS) scholarships.

“What the governor has received today encompasses 75% of the total budget package and showcases record investments we have made to support our students, our seniors, our police, and many others to ensure they receive the assistance they need. While this can be seen as a step in the right direction, we still are awaiting House action on Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Code which makes up the last 25% of the budget. Until we receive and approve of that code bill only then will Pennsylvania’s budget impasse cease.

“This remains an ongoing process and I remain dedicated to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to see that our commonwealth achieves a completed, balanced budget.”

Additionally, the Senate also signed and sent to Gov. Shapiro’s desk a bill that would expand eligibility and rebate amounts available through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, providing more assistance to low-income seniors and Pennsylvanians with disabilities.

Beaver, PA  The Beaver County Board of Commissioners is excited to announce a funding opportunity to those fire or police departments looking to merge in Beaver County. Any department which merges with another department they were not associated with as of January 1, 2023 will be eligible for reimbursable expenses related to the merger up to $50,000/merger. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars is being set aside by the County Commissioners to assist financially with mergers that are completed by September 30, 2024. Please contact the Beaver County Commissioners Office for further details.    

The photo above shows water submitted to Beaver County Radio of an Industry resident. (Curtis Walsh)
Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 3, 2023 1:11 P.M.

(Industry, PA) The PA DEP signed off on the consensual agreement and order on August 1, 2023  formalizing to have the water authority clean the system, and flush and clean the system, and design and install a filtration system.

Subway’s new Deli Heroes line-up, featuring freshly sliced meats

MIAMI — After elevating its entire menu with freshly sliced meats* and introducing a collection of new Deli Hero subs in U.S. restaurants earlier this summer, Subway is looking to reward its biggest fan with free subs for life if they legally change their first name to Subway**. Since debuting on Subway’s menu on July 11, Americans have gobbled up two million Deli Heroes, and now one lucky fan will eat them free for life.

Between August 1 and August 4, Subway superfans and sandwich lovers can visit SubwayNameChange.com, and enter to win free Subway Deli Heroes for life if they commit to legally change their name. Subway will select one lucky winner to earn free sandwiches and assume an iconic new identity. Subway will provide the winner with money to reimburse them for legal and processing costs for the name change, making it easy and effortless to become Subway and enjoy a lifetime of delicious subs.

Subway brand love and dedication run deep, especially when free sandwiches are up for grabs. In 2022, one superfan camped out for two days to get a footlong tattoo of the Subway Series logo in exchange for free Subway for life. Now, the addition of freshly sliced meats at Subway, showcased on its new Deli Hero subs, is inspiring a whole new level of passion.

The third year of Subway’s multiyear transformation journey is the brand’s latest and biggest update after overhauling its pantry of ingredients in 2021 and unveiling a whole new way to Subway with the Subway Series in 2022. This update is Subway’s most complex, investing more than $80 million to bring deli meat slicers to more than 20,000 U.S. restaurants and installing a slicer every five minutes over the course of nine months to get ready for this summer’s debut. To showcase its new freshly sliced meats, Subway’s culinary team spent over a year crafting the recipes for its Deli Hero subs – Titan Turkey (#15), Grand Slam Ham (#99), Garlic Roast Beef (#17) and The Beast (#30) – also piled high with double cheese.

CARNEGIE, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) released the following video statement to mark six months since the toxic derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, just over the state line from Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District.

Rep. Chris Deluzio:

“It’s been months since Norfolk Southern’s train derailed just across the border from us in Pennsylvania in East Palestine. “So many folks in Beaver County were hurt, have been evacuated, and have been afraid for their health and their livelihoods.

“We are working hard to make sure this railroad is held accountable, and most importantly, for my job as your Member of Congress, that we change the law so that freight rail has to be safer.

“It is no mystery what we need to do to make freight rail safer, we have bipartisan, commonsense solutions.

“I have Republican and Democratic cosponsors for my bill the Railway Safety Act, and our Senators, Casey and Fetterman are working alongside their Ohio counterparts, to pass in the Senate.

“That bill has made its way out of committee in the Senate. I’m hopeful that when we come back to Congress in September we will see it pass out of the Senate, and that we can get it done in the House. It’s important.

“This railroad, and so many others, for a long, long time have invested in their stock buybacks, their dividends, their profits, over keeping communities like ours safe.

“Well, that’s not acceptable to me. I will be fighting every day I can to hold them accountable, and to make them protect our communities to keep all of you safe.” 

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that nearly $4 million in state funds will be invested in the Pittsburgh International, Allegheny County and Washington County Airports. These investments are part of $10 million in state funding that will be awarded to public use airports for facility improvements, infrastructure preservation and development. Pennsylvania’s robust aviation industry helps bolster economies across the Commonwealth, and supporting safe, reliable infrastructure is a key priority for the Shapiro administration.

“Our airports are gateways to local economies in the Commonwealth, providing Pennsylvania communities with thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic benefit each year,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Governor Shapiro knows that investing in infrastructure leads directly to jobs and economic progress. This state support will improve our airports, make our infrastructure more resilient and stimulate regional business.”

The funds will support the following projects:

Allegheny County:

• Allegheny County Airport – $600,000 of state funds for repairs and upgrades to existing hangars. These repairs include roof repair and replacement of an exterior wall.  An additional $375,000 in state funding will go to repairs and improvements to the airport’s drainage system.
• Pittsburgh International Airport – $1,875,000 in state funding will go to the initial phase of a watershed restoration project to improve the water quality in two on-airport streams and maintain environmental compliance.

Washington County:

• Washington County Airport – $1,125,000 in state funds to continue construction of the southside taxiway. This development will provide enhanced airside and landside access to continue to add corporate hangars and aviation businesses.

“The Allegheny County Airport is a great asset to the Mon Valley and surrounding municipalities. This investment of just under $1 million to repair and upgrade the hangers along with the improvements to the drainage system are timely,” said Senator Jim Brewster. “These projects will allow the airport to maintain its first-rate operations for years to come.”

“This funding to continue construction at the Washington County Airport will play a tremendous role in attracting businesses to Southwestern PA and enhancing the local economy,” Senator Camera Bartolotta said. “I look forward to all the good this project will bring to the 46th District.”

Ten projects statewide will be funded by the state Capital Budget through the Aviation Transportation Assistance Program, which is supported by bonds.

“Allegheny County Airport is a unique asset to the communities I represent and I’m happy to see additional funding from Harrisburg being put to work right here in West Mifflin,” said Representative Nick Pisciottano. “The County Airport is a major economic driver for our local businesses and will continue to be a crucial component of our region’s economic strength moving forward.”

For more information on aviation in Pennsylvania visit www.penndot.pa.gov.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 3, 2023 8:27 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) City Code and Zoning Officer Jim Bologna reported Wednesday night  that he got 3 calls asking him if chickens are allowed to be at home within the city limits. He said he told those asking that they are not permitted under the city code. Reports of dumping throughout the city have surfaced, if anyone sees someone dumping, take a picture of the license plate and turn it into police immediately.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 3, 2023 8:26 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Mayor Dwan B. Walker reported at Wednesday night’s meeting of council that Shell chemical has been asked to rebuild Morrell Park located on Maratta Road to make it  the  focal point of the city. He said it would be somewhere for the kids to go, with a splash pad, amphitheater for programs, and a basketball court.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 3, 2023 8:21 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) PA State Police Sgt. Joseph Burello reported to council Wednesday night that a saturation patrol was held Tuesday night with the police department during National Night Out. He said, “We’re here to help, we try our best,”  He told council 14 out of 15 homicides in the city have been solved with the efforts of Aliquippa Police and PSP. He also gave a report from January 1st to June 30, 2023  for all incidents that occurred in the city. He said, “We’re here to help, and we communicate with Chief John Lane and Mayor Walker.

Philadelphia school district teacher Rhonda Hicks poses for a portrait at her home in Philadelphia, Thursday, July 20, 2023. Hicks loved teaching and loved her students, but other aspects of the job deteriorated. When she retires soon, she will join a disproportionately high number of Black and Hispanic teachers in her state who are leaving the profession. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Teachers are leaving jobs in growing numbers, state reports show. The turnover in some cases is highest among teachers of color. A major culprit is stress — from pandemic-era burnout, low pay and the intrusion of politics into classrooms. But the burdens can be heavier in schools serving high-poverty communities that also have higher numbers of teachers of color. Nationally, about 80% of American public school teachers are white, even though white students no longer represent a majority in public schools.