Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Connection

A Pennsylvania environmental group is touting electric vehicles as both cost-effective for drivers and a means to address climate change.

Keystone State motorists appear to be embracing the transition to EVs, with registrations surging 82% last year, to nearly 43,000.

Elizabeth Gore, senior vice president of political affairs for the Environmental Defense Fund, said car companies have made billions of dollars in commitments to help drive down EV prices. Her group estimated Pennsylvania EV owners could save more than $25,000 over the life of the vehicle, along with lower fuel costs.

“There are tax credits that were part of the Biden clean energy plan,” Gore explained. “Those can be point-of-sale rebates. This drives the price down even farther. And so, families can stop worrying about the price of gas, and they can experience lower maintenance costs.”

Gore emphasized the Inflation Reduction Act included substantial tax rebates for buying an electric car or passenger truck, as much as $7,500 for a new vehicle, and $4,000 for a used one.

Gore argued adopting the EPA’s stronger clean car standards would help reduce pollution even more. She noted transportation is a major contributor to climate pollution, and Pennsylvania’s efforts to electrify transportation would also curb emissions.

“The EPA standards can help further accelerate the transition that’s already underway,” Gore stressed. “By encouraging even more investment in electric vehicles and their manufacture, and charging stations, all of these efforts work together to drive more electric vehicles to the roads.”

Lois Heckman, owner of two electric vehicles, a Pocono Mountains resident, said she has owned electric vehicles for more than five years. She explained the decision was motivated by a desire for a better, cleaner environment.

“We have two electric cars now and we couldn’t be happier,” Heckman added. “We charge it in our own garage, and it hasn’t really seriously raised our electric bill at all. And there’s no maintenance, like, you don’t even realize that when you buy one. The only thing that you ever need on an electric car is tires and my husband just said, ‘And the wiper blades!'”

The Pennsylvania EV Mobility Plan recommended the state’s Department of Transportation support installing at least 5,000 new EV charging ports at 2,000 sites by 2028.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 23, 2023 9:51 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Overdose Prevention and Narcan Training will be conducted Monday October 23, 2023 from 6:30 to 8 pm. The program is geared to help those with a loved one, or themselves, that use narcotics or have had a close call with a potential overdose, be informed to provide assistance to the community. Free Narcan will be provided to attendees. Childcare will be available , and registration is required. You can register by contacting Jennifer Honess, the library’s new social worker at 724-375-2900 or by email  jelmer340@gmail.com.

File – A help-wanted sign hangs in the front window of the Bar Harbor Tea Room, Saturday, June 11, 2022, in Bar Harbor, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for September 2023.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 3.4% in September, setting a new record low (records date back to January 1976). The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged from August at 3.8%. The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate was 0.9 percentage points below its September 2022 level of 4.3%, while the national rate was up three-tenths of a percentage point over the year.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – was down 2,000 over the month. Resident employment rose by 2,000 from August and unemployment fell by 4,000.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 8,300 over the month to a new record high of 6,171,600 in September. This was the ninth consecutive month that jobs have set a new all-time high level. Jobs increased from August in eight of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest gain in education & health services (+6,100), which rose to a record high. Three other supersectors also reached all-time highs in September.

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 148,700 with gains in all 11 supersectors. Education & health services (+54,900) had the largest volume over-the-year gain among supersectors.

Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

FILE – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks at the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania Oppenheim Healthy Aging Campus in Scranton, Pa., on Thursday, May 25, 2023. After a top aide to Gov. Shapiro was accused of sexual harassment earlier this year, the governor’s office settled with the complainant for $295K last month, according to documents released by the administration Friday, Oct. 20, through an open records request. (Christopher Dolan/The Times-Tribune via AP, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Documents show the office of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has settled a former employee’s claim she was sexually harassed by a senior aide earlier this year by agreeing to pay her and her lawyers $295,000. The details of the settlement were released Friday through an open records request. The settlement stems from allegations made by a coworker against Mike Vereb, who served as Shapiro’s secretary of legislative affairs until his resignation in September. The woman’s attorney, Charles Pascal, confirmed the settlement, which provided more than $196,000 to the woman and more than $49,000 to both law firms she had hired to represent her through this process. He declined further comment.

(Brighton Twp., Pa.) Beaver County Radio and the Pennsylvania Hot Rod Company teamed up to present a Trunk or Treat Car Cruise on Saturday that featured live music from the Dawn Savage Band, costumes, good food and most importantly Trick or Treating.

The big winner of the day though was Leslie Klutka taking home a free recliner courtesy of AK Nahas. There was also a costume contest in which the Pirate Queen took home a $100 Visa gift card.

Check out of the pictures of the fun below:

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Many came out to the 5th Annual New Brighton Fall Fest to have fun, and mother nature largely cooperated by mostly holding off the rain. Vendors were lined up and down 3rd Avenue in New Brighton, selling and showcasing their eats, treats, keepsakes, treasures, and pieces of their work that helped celebrate the fall season.

Beaver County Radio’s Matt Drzik and Dan Campbell came with the all-new BCR Prize Van, along with the prize wheel and prizes courtesy of Kopicko’s Pizza in New Brighton, Fun Fore All in Cranberry, and TL Ferguson Landscaping in Chippewa.

Coverage on Beaver County Radio could not have been possible without the help of our great sponsors: Alterations & Tuxedo By Floriana, EXP Realty/Tank & Lisa Lathom, Fischer’s New Brighton Foodland, Pappy’s Handcrafted Candles, Craig’s Hardware, Hallowed Grounds, Eye Care On 3rd, Craig’s Hardware, J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Altsman Gunsmithing, The Cornerstone Of Beaver County, RS Bellco Credit Union, and Polly’s Leggings & Gifts.

To check out more pictures from the Fall Fest, check out the pictures below!

On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern to conduct additional cleanup and sheen investigations in Leslie Run and Sulphur Run creeks in East Palestine and the surrounding areas. 

This comprehensive study under the Clean Water Act calls for the investigation of oily sheens and sediments among water surfaces in the area, to be conducted alongside regular surface water checks that have been happening since February.

According to the EPA press release, the study does not cover drinking water, as there is no indication of risk to private wells or public water consumption in East Palestine.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two more people have been charged in connection with the airport parking garage shooting that killed a Philadelphia police officer and wounded another last week, authorities announced Wednesday, saying they now have in custody all three suspects who were sought in the attack. A fourth suspect was killed.

Alexander Batista-Polanco, 21, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Hendrick Peña-Fernandez, 21, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, First Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said at a news conference.

It was unclear if the suspects have attorneys. No listed telephone numbers for them could be found Wednesday and a spokesperson for the Defender Association of Philadelphia declined to comment.

A third suspect, 18-year-old Yobranny Martinez Fernandez, was arrested on Monday, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and brought to Philadelphia, authorities said. Martinez Fernandez is from Camden County, New Jersey, and was being held in that state on a fugitive warrant. All three suspects were charged with murder and attempted murder, according to Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore.

A fourth suspect, 18-year-old Jesus Herman Madera Duran, was shot during the confrontation and died at a hospital after being dropped off by his cohorts, police said.

Officers Richard Mendez and Raul Ortiz had just started their shift about 11 p.m. last Thursday when they heard breaking glass and saw several people breaking into a car in the parking lot at Philadelphia International Airport. A confrontation ensued, and the two officers and one of the suspects were shot.

Mendez, 50, who had been on the force for more than two decades, was shot four times and pronounced dead at a hospital. His handcuffs were placed on Martinez Fernandez at the time of the suspect’s arrest, a symbolic practice used when officers are killed. Ortiz, a 20-year veteran of the force, was shot once in the arm and was released from the hospital on Saturday.

The suspects fled in an SUV reported stolen a week ago that was later seen at a hospital Thursday dropping off Madera Duran, who had been shot in the chest, abdomen and left arm. He was later pronounced dead.

In addition to the three prime suspects, police are pursuing others who either assisted the suspects or tried to obstruct the investigation, Vanore said.

“We had people burning a vehicle. … We had people who helped rent hotel rooms that weren’t the people staying in them, and we had people who knew where people were and didn’t tell us,” he said.

Police believe one of the suspects alone was responsible for firing the bullets that hit the two officers and Madera Duran, Vanore said, but he said it would be up to the district attorney to confirm the information after investigating the evidence further. He said police believe the person fired his gun as the officers were trying to detain at least one of the other suspects.

“Someone came behind (Mendez) and fired a weapon,” he said.

Investigators are still searching for the slain officer’s gun, which they don’t believe was fired, Vanore said.

In a statement read aloud by family friend and Philadelphia City Council member Quetcy Lozada, relatives of Mendez said they were “relieved and grateful” for the arrests.

“As a family, we are grieving and are facing personal trauma through this murder, as are the officers who worked with Ritchie … and as we do, each officer of the 25th police district and the airport unit as well as across the city continue to put their uniforms on every day and continue to protect and serve our city.”

Police had offered a reward of at least $237,400 for information leading to arrests in the case, including $30,000 from two local police unions, $20,000 from the city, and funds from businesses and other police groups. Authorities will comb through the tips they received to determine how the money will be disbursed, said Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford.

Stanford noted last week that the shooting came amid the unrelated deaths of two other officers and only a week after three other officers were shot and wounded while responding to a call. He called last week’s shooting “a numb, numb moment for us.”

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro will sign budget-related legislation passed Wednesday to boost Medicaid subsidies for Pennsylvania’s hospitals and ambulance services, provisions that have been stuck in a wider monthslong stalemate.

The bill headed to Shapiro’s desk after passing the House 199-4, a day after it passed the Senate unanimously Tuesday. The votes came amid ongoing partisan disputes since July over some remaining elements of the state’s $45 billion budget plan.

Shapiro’s office said the Democrat will sign the bill to deliver “critical funding” for emergency management services, hospitals and nursing homes.

Under the bill, lawmakers reauthorized an assessment on hospitals that’s expected to draw down roughly $1.4 billion in matching federal Medicaid dollars this year. It then redistributes the money to favor hospitals that treat higher proportions of Medicaid enrollees.

Meanwhile, the bill boosts Medicaid reimbursements for ambulance services by a projected $126 million a year in federal and state aid. The reimbursement includes ground and air transportation.

Under the provision, the state must start reimbursing emergency medical service agencies for every mile traveled with a patient who is covered by Medicaid. Currently, the state reimburses for travel only beyond 20 miles with a Medicaid enrollee.

The state also will boost Medicaid reimbursements for ambulance services to the Medicare rate, if that rate is higher than the Medicaid rate. In some cases, that could mean more than doubling the current $4 per mile reimbursement rate, lawmakers said.

The bill also provides a legislative fix to Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes that the facilities had sought to avoid volatility in new rates set by the state. Nursing home advocates have warned that the new reimbursement rates could put some facilities out of business.