FILE – A Union Pacific train travels through Union, Neb., July 31, 2018. The federal government has joined a number of former workers in suing Union Pacific over the way it used its own vision test to disqualify workers the railroad believed were color blind and might have trouble reading signals telling them to stop a train. The new lawsuit was announced Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The federal government has joined 21 former rail workers in suing Union Pacific over the way it used a vision test to disqualify workers the railroad believed were color blind and might have trouble reading signals telling them to stop a train. The lawsuit announced Monday by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the first by the government in what could eventually be hundreds — if not thousands — of lawsuits over the way Union Pacific disqualified people with a variety of health issues. Union Pacific has vigorously defended itself in court, arguing it needs to disqualify these workers to preserve rail safety.

Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Federal authorities have revealed a reason for the unusual secrecy surrounding a Pennsylvania man’s guilty plea and prison sentence for attacking police during the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. In a court filing on Monday, Justice Department prosecutors say Samuel Lazar supplied the government with information as part of a plea agreement that remained under seal for months. Prosecutors want to keep details of Samuel Lazar’s cooperation under wraps. A coalition of media outlets, including The Associated Press, has asked a judge to unseal records of Lazar’s guilty plea and 30-month prison sentence. But prosecutors say releasing information that Lazar provided to the government could interfere with ongoing investigations.

Photos and information provided by Alzheimer’s Association 

(Beaver, Pa) Around 150 people participated in this year’s Beaver/Lawrence County Walk to End Alzheimer’s^® at Irvine Park on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Participants raised over $27,600 to support the care, support and research programs of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Happy Helen was the top fundraising team at this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising more than $2,300. Brenda Dhayer, Team Captain, started the team to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of her mother.

Fundraising for the Beaver/Lawrence County Walk to End Alzheimer’s continues through December 31.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Pennsylvania alone, there are more than 280,000 people living with the disease and 400,000 caregivers.

Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s^®

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.  Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk^®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s Association^®

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

 

Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt today reminded registered Pennsylvania voters that they have until 5 p.m. Oct.  31 to apply for a mail ballot for the Nov. 7 municipal election. Ensuring that our elections are conducted securely, freely, and fairly – and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard – are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.

“Voting by mail is a safe, secure, and convenient way to make your voice heard in the upcoming election,” Schmidt said. “Voters can apply online for a mail-in or absentee ballot, or they can apply in person at their county board of elections office.

“I encourage all voters to take time today to request their mail ballot so they have plenty of time to receive it and then return the voted ballot before the deadline, which is 8 p.m. on Nov. 7.”

As soon as voters receive their mail ballot, they should:

• Read the instructions carefully.
• Fill out the ballot, being sure to follow instructions on how to mark selections.
• Seal the ballot in the inner secrecy envelope marked “Official Election Ballot.” Be careful not to make any stray marks on the envelope.
• Seal the secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope.
• Complete the voter’s declaration on the outer envelope by signing and writing the current date.
• Affix a postage stamp to the outer envelope before mailing.

Voted mail ballots must be received by a voter’s county board of elections by 8 p.m. Nov. 7, Election Day. Mail ballots received after that time do not count, even if they contain a postmark before the deadline. Some counties may provide drop boxes or drop-off sites for mail ballots. Voters should check their county’s website for information on locations.

Pennsylvanians can also request their mail ballot, complete it, and return it in one visit to their county election office until 5 p.m. Oct. 31. Voters are encouraged to check their county election office hours before making the trip.

Pennsylvania voters also have the option of voting in person on Election Day at the polls, which will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 7. Voters can find their polling place on vote.pa.gov.

Voters who received an absentee or mail-in ballot may vote in person on Election Day if they bring their mail ballot and outer return envelope with them to be voided. After they surrender those materials and sign a declaration, they can then vote on a regular ballot.

Voters who requested a mail ballot and did not receive it or do not have it to surrender may vote by provisional ballot at their polling place. The provisional ballot will be reviewed by the county board of elections after Election Day to determine whether it can be counted.

“Whichever voting option you choose – by mail ballot or in person at the polls on Election Day – the important thing is to exercise your constitutional right to vote and let your voice be heard,” Schmidt said.

For more information on voting in Pennsylvania, call the Department of State’s year-round voter hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA, visit vote.pa.gov, or follow #ReadytoVotePA on social media. Vote.pa.gov is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese and offers online voter registration, a polling place locator, and county boards of elections contact information. It also includes voting tips for first-time voters and members of the military.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published October 3, 2023 9:38 A.M.

(Midland, Pa) Beaver County 9-1-1 reported Tuesday morning that firefighters were called to a fire at the corner of Fourth Street and Ohio Avenue in Midland at 1 a.m. Tuesday.
As of 8:30 a.m. there was no update available on the fire. Beaver County Radio is working to get more information.

BEAVER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, Oct. 2, 2023 – Beaver County, along with hundreds of communities and  organizations nationwide, is celebrating Digital Inclusion Week 2023 (Oct. 2-6) by prioritizing equitable home  Internet access through computer training and support programs. The Connect Beaver County Broadband Program  is working to close the digital divide and address roadblocks citizens may face when accessing the Internet and  computer devices. 

“We recognize that having access to an Internet connection is only the first step to ensure all residents can fully  participate in our digital economy,” said Lance Grable, director of Beaver County’s Office of Planning and  Redevelopment. “The Connect Beaver County Broadband Program also invested in a digital navigator program to  better understand how we can leverage county resources to help aid residents with their digital proficiency.” 

Beaver County residents face several obstacles and barriers to digital inclusion, including issues with transportation  and mobility, limited access to affordable Internet and computing devices, and a need for more awareness  regarding digital inclusion services. Beaver County’s Connect Beaver County broadband initiatives identified these  challenges that impact residents beyond infrastructure alone.  

Digital navigators are available to help users become familiar with available technology and learn how to access  information and opportunities through the Internet. The Beaver County Digital Coach program, also known as the  Digital Coach, helps Beaver County residents who need access to the Internet and the necessary skills to use it  effectively. The program aims to bridge the gap for those left behind in the digital age, providing support with  tasks such as email services, telehealth, job application portals, and basic computing software.  

The efforts throughout 2022-2023 to develop a digital navigator program have worked for the County to understand its many partners who provide digital access and support, identify where more capacity is needed, and  establish a path forward to help connect residents to the skills and technical support they need. In partnership  with Tech2Elevate, Digital Coach Programs aim to provide a physical and accessible community space to conduct  digital literacy training, one-on-one assistance, and a lending library for devices to enhance access to high-speed  Internet for the community. 

Examples of Beaver County’s efforts to increase digital inclusion: 

• In June, the Beaver County Office of Planning and Redevelopment announced that Verizon had  been selected to deploy high-speed fiber-optic broadband service to eligible locations lacking  connection.  
• Two Early Action Projects with Internet service providers Armstrong and Windstream are  underway. Residents are expected to receive new service options as early as 2024. 
• Tech2Elevate has received funding for three AmeriCorps fellows who started in September and  have begun offering digital coaching through tech2elevate.org. The County and its partners continue  to seek long-term funding sources for its digital navigator program. 

• The County developed an Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) tutorial video and a PDF to help  guide residents through the ACP enrollment process. The ACP offers eligible households $30 toward  their monthly Internet bill and up to $100 on the purchase of a computer or Internet-enabled device. 

Learn more about the Digital Navigator Program and more at www.ConnectBeaverCounty.com. 

Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) is an annual event highlighting communities’ work elevating digital inclusion efforts.  DIW seeks to raise awareness of solutions addressing home Internet access, personal devices, and local technology  training and support programs. For more information, visit www.DigitalInclusion.org. 

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is remaining noncommittal on a strategy to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gases after a task force he appointed on climate change policy came to an uncertain conclusion. Shapiro’s administration said Friday that the task force had finished its work. Shapiro appointed the task force to consider former Gov. Tom Wolf’s regulation to make Pennsylvania the first major fossil fuel state to adopt carbon pricing over power plant emissions. However, the 17-member task force could come to no consensus on it. Wolf’s regulation remains hung up in the courts, and Shapiro isn’t saying whether he’d carry out the carbon pricing policy should it survive the legal challenge.

FILE – Former President Donald Trump speaks at the National Rifle Association Convention in Indianapolis, on April 14, 2023.(AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump has Pennsylvania’s voting rules in his sights, and it’s a familiar target. Trump has never stopped attacking mail-in ballot changes made through the courts during the pandemic and he falsely claimed it was one reason for his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the battleground state. Now the former president is seizing on a decision by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro to bypass the Pennsylvania Legislature and start automatic voter registration. Shapiro’s recent executive order has drawn complaints from Republicans. They’re concerned about non-US citizens and minors being able to register. Trump has called the move a “scam.”

Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Connection

As the November 7 municipal elections fast approach, there’s a push for voter education in the Keystone State.

The Commonwealth is home to more than 1.7 million K-12 students in 500 school districts.

Amy McGahran is a volunteer with the League of Women Voters Central Bucks County. She said five seats are open for the school board race, and 10 people are running.

She said the district is facing challenges – based on policies that have been put in place by a majority of the existing school board that don’t fairly represent the community and, as she said, are “discriminatory” and hurtful to the students.

“One of those policies being a library-book restriction policy,” said McGahran, “which is basically a book ban, to remove books from our library that have already been selected and on the shelves by our library staff.”

McGahran pointed out they also have a censorship policy that limits what can be taught in classrooms.

Therefore, she said the League – along with other advocacy groups – are hosting a webinar on censorship in schools and the actions that Pennsylvanians can take in their communities. It’s Tuesday at 7 p.m.

McGahran said they want to bring common sense and compassion back to the school board. She added they are also concerned with what she calls “wasteful spending” by the Central Bucks County school district.

“Based on the book-ban policy, the school district hired a PR firm,” said McGahran, “And also based on the ACLU complaint, there was a Philadelphia lawyer hired, a very expensive Philadelphia law firm that did a report for the school district that cost the taxpayers over $1.4 million.”

She said the Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union – acting on a complaint – has taken legal action, and filed a suit with the Pennsylvania Department of Education against the Central Bucks School District for discrimination and harassment of LGBTQ students.

Elizabeth Downing chairs the educational advocacy committee for the League of Women Voters of Bucks County.

She said recent decisions by the school board have led to the removal of sex-education programs, leaving students without vital information and resources.

She emphasized the importance of civic engagement, stating – “Your vote counts.”

“The super number one thing we are telling everyone is please, please, please vote,” said Downing. “And even more importantly, be an informed voter – go to VOTE411.org and other information sites that will tell you where your candidate stands on these sorts of issues.”

The last day to register to vote in the General Election is October 23.

October 31 is the last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot. These ballots must be received by the county board of elections by 8 p.m. on election day.

As the cold wintry months approach, AAA braces for an increase in Roadside Assistance calls for dead batteries. According to data from 2022, AAA East Central contractors responded to 270,985 battery-related calls and replaced 53,847.To avoid potential breakdowns, especially during the colder months, vehicle owners should consider having their batteries tested sooner rather than later.

“Our number one service call during the winter is assisting members with dead batteries,” says Mike Hoshaw, vice president of automotive services, AAA East Central. “In addition to addressing a car’s fall and winter maintenance needs, we advise motorists to focus on the health of their battery today, not when it’s too late.”

October is AAA Car Care Month, and it’s the perfect time for vehicle owners to ensure their batteries are ready for winter. Batteries often work under huge temperature extremes and stand up to constant shock and vibrations. Intense summer heat can cause corrosion and fluid evaporation, leaving a vehicle’s battery more vulnerable to the rigors of winter. Even the tiny amount of power required to maintain clocks, alarm systems, and computer memories will gradually discharge a battery over time.

AAA East Central advises motorists visit a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility to have their entire charging system and battery tested, especially if the battery is more than three years old. AAA members can request battery service on-the-spot as part of their membership. This includes battery testing and, if need be, replacement with a competitively-priced AAA battery. Service can be requested by calling 800-AAA-HELP.

Other items on AAA’s Car Care Month Checklist include:

• Tire Type and Tread: In areas with heavy winter weather, changing to snow tires on all four wheels will provide the best winter traction. Testing tire’s tread is easy: insert a quarter into a tread groove with the top of George Washington’s head facing down. If you can see the top of Washington’s head, it’s time to start shopping for new tires.
• Tire Pressure: Typically, tire pressure decreases 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit that the temperature drops, putting owners at risk for a flat tire. The proper tire pressure levels can be found on a sticker located on the driver’s side door jamb. (Don’t forget to check the spare!)
• Wiper Blades: Replace blades that leave streaks or miss spots. Consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade in a rubber boot to prevent ice and snow buildup.
• Washer Fluid: Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a cleaning solution that has antifreeze components.
• Coolant Levels: If your engine coolant level is low, add the recommended coolant to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability.