2 tornados confirmed in Pennsylvania; some buildings damaged

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — The National Weather Service has confirmed that at least two tornadoes touched down briefly in south-central Pennsylvania last week, and one damaged some buildings, but no injuries were reported. Forecasters in State College say one tornado touched down just before noon Friday near New Franklin in southern Franklin County. They say the EF-0 tornado had peak winds of about 70 mph. Forecasters say another tornado touched down shortly after 2 p.m. Friday in Kirkwood in eastern Lancaster County. They said the tornado had estimated wind speeds of about 105 mph and did “extensive damage to several buildings.”

Christian nationalism on the rise in some GOP campaigns

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A movement known as Christian nationalism is making its presence known in many Republican primary races this year. Most prominent is the campaign of Doug Mastriano, who easily won the Republican nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. He has made his faith central to his personal story and has woven his conservative Christian beliefs and symbols into his campaign. Mastriano and many other candidates reject the label of Christian nationalist. They say they’re applying their values to their politics, just as any citizen would. But scholars say the label fits those who support a fusion of American and Christian values, symbols and identity.

Small plane crash critically injures pilot, authorities say

ELIZABETH, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a small plane crashed into a wooded area of western Pennsylvania, critically injuring the pilot. Authorities in Allegheny County and federal officials said the single-engine Aeronica 7 Champion aircraft went down in Elizabeth Township less than a mile from Rostraver Airport shortly before 7 p.m. Friday. Chief Ken Honick of the township’s police force said the pilot was flown to Allegheny General Hospital in critical condition. He said the pilot was conscious, alert and talking to first responders. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

FBI records on search for fabled gold raise more questions

A scientific analysis commissioned by the FBI shortly before agents went digging for buried treasure suggests that a huge quantity of gold could be below the surface of a rural site in western Pennsylvania. That’s according to newly released government documents and photos that deepen the mystery of the 2018 dig at Dent’s Run. The report was authored by a geophysicist who performed testing at the site. The government has long claimed its excavation did not yield any of the Civil War-era gold that legend says was buried there. The newly revealed geophysical survey was part of a court-ordered release of government records on the FBI’s treasure hunt.

1-year-old shot, killed in downtown Pittsburgh drive-by

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh police say a 1-year-old child has been killed in an apparent drive-by shooting in downtown. Officers were called to an intersection not far from Market Square and the PPG Place complex at around 2:45 p.m. Sunday on a report that an infant had been shot. Cmdr. Cristyn Zett said shorty afterward there were “numerous 911 calls for shots fired in the area.” Zett said the baby boy was pronounced dead at the scene. She said the child’s mother was present, but it was not immediately clear whether there was any connection between the shooter and the child.

Governors diverge on gun control, school security efforts

The nation’s governors are diverging over how to respond to mass shootings such as the one that killed 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. Democrats are amplifying their calls for greater restrictions on guns. Many Republican governors are instead emphasizing more security at schools. The Associated Press surveyed governors after Tuesday’s attack in Texas. Democratic governors generally supported proposals to limit ammunition magazines to 10 bullets and prohibit people younger than 21 from buying semiautomatic weapons. Most Republicans did not. No Democratic governors told the AP they supported arming teachers, but Republican governors backed a wide array of potential school security steps.

Richland Township Hosting Annual Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony On Monday

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“This is a traditional Memorial Day service that we’ve had at our post for many, many years; [it] goes back to when I was a kid.”

Bob Schleiden is no longer a kid, but as a member of American Legion Post #548 in Richland Township he still participates heavily in the Memorial Day Festivities. This year’s annual parade and ceremony will be held at the Richland Township Park on Monday, May 30 beginning at 9:45.

“The parade continues to grow,” Schleiden said to Matt Drzik on the May 27 edition of A.M. Beaver County. “It starts off with the Air Force Junior ROTC as the color guards, and we have elements of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts…and they’re followed by our first responders.” According to Schleiden, the parade also includes antique cars, old war Jeeps, the Pine-Richland marching bad, and horses from Babcock Stables.

Following the parade, a formal ceremony takes place that features patriotic music, awards, presentations, and it culminates with a “Final Roll Call” that honors service members from the area that have been lost to war or have recently passed on as veterans. “It certainly is a moment of healing,” Schleiden said.

To listen to the full interview, click on the player below!

Single Vehicle Accident Reported in Little Beaver Township

(Little Beaver Township, PA) State Police in New Castle are reporting a crash that took place Tuesday morning in Little Beaver Township in Lawrence County. A 28 year old female Driver, Dusty Adams lost control of her 2001 Buick Century while traveling northbound on State Route 551, went into the southbound lane of travel, back into the northbound lane, and spun out striking a utility pole. Adams came to a stop in the south bound lane facing the northern direction.

Senators talk expanded gun background checks, red flag laws

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of senators is considering how Congress should respond to the horrific shooting of 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. The senators are restarting gun control talks that have broken down many times before. The Democrats and Republicans say they hope to find consensus on legislation that could help reduce the number of mass shootings in the United States. The senators have narrowed the discussion to a few ideas, some of them based on legislation they have been working on for years, such as expanded background checks or red flag laws that keep guns away from people who could do harm.

At long last, jury gets closing arguments in Depp trial

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — A jury is set to hear closing arguments in Johnny Depp’s high-profile libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard. Each side will have two hours Friday to summarize their case in a trial that has stretched on for six weeks. Depp is suing Heard in Virginia’s Fairfax County Circuit Court over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” His lawyers say he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned his name. Heard filed a $100 million counterclaim against Depp after his lawyer called her allegations a hoax.