HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss has been named as co-vice chair of a new Task Force on Natural Gas Resource Planning established by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

Launched this summer, the new national task force will assist state regulators in developing their own planning roadmaps related to gas distribution infrastructure planning and future technology investment options to achieve utility decarbonization in the coming decades.

“It is an honor to be named co-vice chair of the Task Force on Natural Gas Resource Planning,” Commissioner Zerfuss said.  “Many states are facing new and complex challenges, and this type of collaboration and cooperation among state regulatory commissions can be a tremendous benefit as we explore potential solutions and investment options surrounding gas infrastructure planning.

“I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners from across the country to facilitate the development of roadmaps focused on state planning approaches.”

Commissioner Zerfuss added that over the next two years, the task force will move through a two-phase effort to develop and provide technical and policy guidance along with the needed tools to assist regulators – including, but not limited to, a toolkit with strategic and tactical resources that can be immediately used by state commissions.  The first meeting of the task force is scheduled for November 12, 2023.

The Task Force of Natural Gas Resource Planning is chaired by Commissioner Fitz Johnson (GA) with Commissioner Tammy Cordova (NV) joining Commissioner Zerfuss as co-vice chair.  Other task force members include the following state commissioners:  Megan Gilman (CO), Emile Thompson (District of Columbia), Gabriella Passidomo (FL), Stacey Paradis (IL), Wesley Bennett (IN), Josh Byrnes (IA), Eric Skrmetta (LA), James Van Nostrand (MA), Alessandra Carreon (MI), Valerie Means (MN), James Ellison (NM), Diane Burman (NY), Kim David (OK), Lawrence Friedeman (OH), Abigail Anthony (RI), Milt Doumit (WA) and Rebecca Valcq (WI).

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 12, 2023 1:44 P.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) Beginning, November 6, 2023, Beaver County Times subscribers will receive their newspapers by mail. A letter to customers states that they will try to have the Sunday edition in the Saturday mail delivery. The reimagined edition is supposed to have enhanced news coverage. Due to using mail delievery, there is a possibility that the paper may not arrive the day it is published.

(Beaver County Radio General Manager, Frank Sparks will serve as  moderator for the Beaver County Commissioners Debate on November 3, 2023. Sparks was also the moderator for the debate in November of 2019)

(Brighton Twp., Pa.) Beaver County Radio 1230 WBVP and 99.3 FM is proud to announce that we will be hosting a Beaver County Commissioners Candidates Debate on Friday, November 3, 2023 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.

The Debate will be broadcast live on WBVP and 99.3 FM as well as streamed on the Beaver County Radio Facebook Page and You Tube Channel.

Beaver County Radio General Manager, Frank Sparks will be the moderator. The panel will consist of Beaver County Radio’s Mike Romigh, Beaver County Chamber President Donna Lee Siple, and from the Franklin Center in Aliquippa, Dr. Cheryl King.

The candidates that are running for the Commissioners are current Beaver County Commissioners Chairman Dan Camp, Current Commissioners Tony Amadio and Jack Manning, and newcomer Julian Taylor.

Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio as more information about the debate will be released soon.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 12, 2023 10:29 A.M.

(Midland, Pa) A  final agreement was ratified by the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School Board of Directors at Monday night’s meeting for the purchase of the former DL Williams Funeral Home at 848 Midland Avenue. The cost of the purchase was $325,000. The board authorized CEO Patrick Poling to take any necessary action, including the signing of the documents to effectuate the purchase of the property.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of the Sewickley Bridge (Route 4025) in Moon Township and Sewickley Borough, Allegheny County will occur Friday through Monday, October 13-16 weather permitting.

The Sewickley Bridge will close to traffic in both directions from 9 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Monday morning. The bridge will reopen to traffic once the repair has been completed.

Crews from JET Excavating Company will conduct repair work on an expansion dam on the bridge. All bridge traffic will be detoured.

Detours

From Sewickley

• Motorists will take Route 65 southbound
• Take the left-hand ramp to I-79 toward Erie/Washington
• Take the left-hand ramp to South I-79 toward Washington
• Merge onto southbound I-79 and cross the Neville Island Bridge
• Take the Neville Island to Route 51 (Exit 65) off-ramp
• Turn left onto Grand Avenue
• Cross the Coraopolis Bridge
• Turn right onto northbound Route 51 (Fourth Avenue)
• Follow northbound Route 51 back to the Sewickley Bridge
• End detour

From Moon Township

• Motorists will take Route 51 southbound
• Take the ramp to northbound I-79 toward Erie
• Merge onto northbound I-79 and cross the Neville Island Bridge
• Take the ramp to Route 65 toward Emsworth/Sewickley (Exit 66)
• Continue following the ramp to Route 65 toward Emsworth/Sewickley
• Take the ramp to North 65 toward Sewickley
• Merge onto northbound Route 65 and follow back to the Sewickley Bridge
• End detour

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 12, 2023 10:24 A.M.

(Ambridge, Pa) Garrett Kimmel’s resignation from the police department was accepted effective September 26, 2023. He accepted a position in the Aliquippa Police Department. Taquel Branchik’s resignation was accepted from the Civil Service Board, Carol Dingfelder was appointed to fulfill Raquel Branchik’s unexpired term which expires December 31, 2026. An alternate position which expires December 31, 2024 will be advertised.

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) seized approximately $21.2 million in cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin, fentanyl, marijuana, and other prohibited drugs during the third quarter of 2023.

Troopers from July 1 to September 30 seized 318 pounds of cocaine, 183 pounds of methamphetamines, 141 pounds of fentanyl, 8 pounds of heroin, 2,175 pounds of processed marijuana, and 62,597 pills of assorted narcotics.

The PSP also collected 698 pounds of prescription medication in the third quarter of 2023 as part of its Prescription Drug Takeback Program. Sixty-five state police stations offer boxes for disposing of unused or unwanted medications 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Table 1: Amount and value of prohibited drugs seized by PSP in the third quarter of 2023

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published October 11, 2023 2:53 P.M.  

(Industry, Pa) Residents are showing support for the installation of lights at the Western Beaver Football Field. The Golden Beavers  have long been used to playing day games at home on Saturdays and being unable to host events at the field at night.  A petition was started on October 8th to allow the community to show support in having lights installed to encourage more use out of the stadium. The petition on Change.org, had 735 signatures as of October 11th.  The organizers of the petition state that if enough signatures are obtained, they will be able to approach the school board to discuss possibilities.

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) announced $10 million for Pittsburgh-based Catalyst Connection to support small manufacturers in the region expand and succeed in the clean energy and green technology sectors. With this funding, Catalyst Connection, a non-profit organization that provides consulting and training services for small manufacturers, will collaborate with organizations in New York, Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia to strengthen the burgeoning clean energy industry. The funding will be used to provide training and supply chain mapping, as well as guidance on factory upgrades to support manufacturing of renewable energy, hydrogen power, low-carbon and decarbonized power, smart grid improvements, electric vehicles, and green buildings. This award from the Appalachian Regional Commission is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will help strengthen American manufacturing, creating jobs and boosting the region’s economy while protecting our environment for generations to come.

“The infrastructure law is helping America take control of its future and become the manufacturing powerhouse we know we can be,” Senator Casey said. “This funding will help Catalyst Connection expand their work to help more small manufacturers build the technologies and economy of tomorrow. Catalyst embodies the ingenuity and fighting spirit of Southwestern Pennsylvania and I’m proud to support their work.”

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in announcing this important funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for development right here in western Pennsylvania,” Senator Fetterman said. “This investment will help create jobs in our region, and it’s exactly the kind of funding we need to expand American manufacturing, innovation, and production.”

“I believe in my bones that Western Pennsylvania and America will be better off when we make more here at home—and transformational federal investments like President Biden’s Infrastructure Law are helping us get it done,” said Rep. Chris Deluzio. “With grants like the $10 million announced today for Catalyst Connection, we can bolster American competitiveness in the clean energy and green technology industries, driven by strong growth by small manufacturers. Let’s grow and create solid jobs, secure our energy future, and show the world that American manufacturing is second to none.”

“Catalyst Connection is proud to be selected to spearhead a vital initiative supporting small and mid-sized manufacturers across 5 states and 156 counties as they navigate the new energy economy and we’re grateful for the support we’ve received from Appalachian Regional Commission, Senator Bob Casey, and the surrounding states,” said Catalyst Connection President and CEO Petra Mitchell. “This ARC ARISE grant will allow us to support manufacturers with outreach, assessment, and implementation and financial assistance as they map new supply chains and retool their factories to create a vibrant clean energy industry will reinvigorate the Appalachian economy and uplift families across the region.”