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.

FILE – Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is due in federal court in Washington, D.C., to answer charges he sought to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss. The Republican former president will be facing a judge near the U.S. Capitol building his supporters stormed Jan. 6, 2021, to try to block the peaceful transfer of power to Democrat Joe Biden. In what’s become a familiar but nonetheless stunning ritual, Trump is expected to be processed by law enforcement Thursday. Trump is expected to be taken into custody and enter a not guilty plea in front of a judge before being released. Then Trump can rejoin the 2024 campaign trail as he seeks to reclaim the White House.

Bullet holes to the front windshield of a hijacked semi-truck from London, Ohio, are seen on Airport Access Road in Dayton, Ohio, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. A police pursuit in Ohio eventually led to the kidnapping of a tractor-trailer driver, spurring a lengthy standoff near the Dayton International Airport that culminated in a shootout between two suspects and Ohio state troopers, leaving both suspects mortally wounded. (Marshall Gorby/Dayton Daily News via AP)

VANDALIA, Ohio (AP) — A police pursuit in Ohio eventually led to the kidnapping of a tractor-trailer driver, spurring another pursuit and a lengthy standoff that culminated in a shootout between two suspects and Ohio state troopers, leaving both suspects dead. The initial pursuit began around 1 a.m. Wednesday in London, when a police officer stopped a van. A man and a woman in the van then drove off, eventually stopping at a truck stop where they stole a tractor-trailer cab and took the cab driver hostage. Another pursuit ensued and led to a lengthy standoff before the shootout occurred.

East Palestine Train Derailment (Curtis Walsh)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress responded to the fiery train derailment in eastern Ohio earlier this year with bipartisan alarm at railroad crashes causing potential disasters. Yet six months after life was upended in East Palestine, lawmakers are deadlocked on new safety regulations. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing for new safety regulations on railroads. But they have met hesitance from top GOP leaders in Congress, as well as the railroad industry. Longtime East Palestine resident Jami Wallace says lawmakers would be “fools” if they don’t seize the example of her hometown’s suffering to pass reforms.

NEW YORK (AP) — Your chances of winning the lottery are extremely slim. After no big winner Tuesday night, the Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.25 billion. If someone wins it all on Friday, when the next Mega Millions drawing takes place, the prize would one of the largest in U.S. lottery history. But don’t plan on entering a new tax bracket anytime soon. The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot — no matter the size — stand at about 1 in 302.6 million. And chances of taking home a top prize for Powerball, which had an estimated jackpot of $95 million Wednesday, are near 1 in 292.2 million. Here are some things to know about the odds of winning the lottery.