(File Photo)

(PITTSBURGH, PA) – Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) is now accepting submissions for the 2022 Congressional Art Competition.  Open to all high school students in grades 9-12 living in Pennsylvania’s 17^th Congressional District, the annual nationwide competition is sponsored by the Congressional Institute and recognizes young artists across the nation.  All submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 2, 2022, via e-mail to PA17ArtComp@mail.house.gov.

“The Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity to showcase the creativity and passion of our PA-17 student artists,” said Lamb.  “I look forward to seeing the submissions for this year’s competition.”

The PA-17 winner’s artwork will be displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.  Students should submit their artwork as a JPEG clearly showing the entire work of art.  Entries must be e-mailed to PA17ArtComp@mail.house.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 2, 2022.  The email should also include a copy of the Student Information and Release Form, which should be signed by the student, an art teacher and/or a parent/guardian as designated.

Artwork submitted for consideration in the contest must be two-dimensional and may be up to 26 inches (high) by 26 inches (wide) by up to 4 inches (deep), and cannot weigh more than 15 pounds, including the frame.  Accepted mediums are as follows:

• Paintings: including oil, acrylics, and watercolor;
• Drawings: including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers;
• Collages: must be two-dimensional;
• Prints: including lithographs, silk screen, and block prints;
• Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil ink, watercolor, etc.;
• Computer Generated Art; and
• Photography.

The 2021 Congressional Art Competition winner from PA-17 was Pine-Richland High School student, Ayla Chandola, for her computer generated and mixed media artwork “Nature’s Power,” which is currently on display in the U.S. Capitol, along with more than 400 other winning works from every congressional district in the country.

For more information about the competition, please visit Lamb’s website or send an email to PA17ArtComp@mail.house.gov.

(File Photo)

Story by Frank Sparks, Beaver County Radio News/Program Director
(Baden, Pa.) A Baden man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of child pornography.
The one count indictment named 34-yer-old Andrew Kincaid as the sole defendant in the case.
According to US Probation Officers on or about March 16, 2021 a federal probation compliance inspection discovered explicit content on a computer in violation of the federal law and Kincaid’s supervised release. In 2009 Kincaid pleaded guilty to one count of possession of materials depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. he was sentenced to to 36 months in prison and supervised release for 10 years. Since his release from federal prison Kincaid violated the terms of his release on at least four occasions engaging in child pornography related conduct.
If convicted Kincaid faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, a fine, or a combination of both.

(File Photo of the main entrance of Rochester School District taken by Curtis Walsh)

Story by Frank Sparks, Beaver County Radio

(Rochester, Beaver County, Pa.)  A Beaver County Radio listener made Beaver County Radio News aware of a letter that was sent to parents in the Rochester Area School District about a reported attempted child luring as an elementary school student was on their way home from school on Tuesday Afternoon.
The letter said the incident occurred along Heller Street and a man in late 40’s or early 50’s approached the student and attempted to grab them.
The district said in the letter that the incident was reported to Rochester Borough police and school officials and that police will continue to patrol neighborhoods and that school staff and security will be patrolling the school campus.
Dr. Jane Bovalino, School Superintendent, said in the letter that ” As a school community, the safety of our children is of utmost importance. Please remind your children to always be alert of their surroundings. Children should also practice the buddy system and always walk with a friend. Please remind your children to never approach strangers.”
No arrests have been announced as officials are continuing to investigate.

You can see a copy of the letter below:

 

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

As the initial hubbub from the bidding wars dies down, it’s now down to a matter of numbers for Beaver County in the case of purchasing new radio equipment. The preliminary estimates for each municipality were released on Wednesday at the Commissioners’ work session, presented by Solicitor Garen Fedeles.

“Some of these amounts,” Fedeles stated, “especially for the fire departments, are between twenty and forty-some thousand dollars for the various departments. I don’t know if, once they see the number, if this is something that they’re going to stick with.”

Fedeles said that the law department will be seeking responses from municipalities with a tentative deadline of the end of May.

(File Photo)

(Allegheny County, Pa.) Today, Pennsylvania State Senator Wayne Fontana commended the Department of Environmental Protection for investing in electric vehicles for use in Allegheny County. Across the commonwealth, funding went to 13 municipalities and businesses for 15 projects, including a $52,500 investment in electric pickup trucks and cars that will be used by Allegheny County police, park rangers, and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

“I’m proud to see state funds support local efforts to reduce harmful emissions and build environments that are healthier to breathe in,” said Sen. Fontana. “The DEP reports transportation generates 47% of nitrogen oxides emissions in Pennsylvania. This is bad for the planet but also the health of young people, older people, and those with lung conditions like asthma or emphysema. These grants provide multiple benefits for Allegheny County, allowing us to take action against climate change, provide healthier communities, and reduce our dependence on gas.”

Grants awarded to Allegheny County included:

• $45,000 for four electric pickup trucks and two electric cars for use by Allegheny County police, park rangers, and facilities management staff.

 

• $7,500 for an electric car for the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

The grants were awarded by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program. The program supports a move toward zero- and low-emission transportation in Pennsylvania by providing funding to help municipalities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations replace older gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles with electric, renewable natural gas, compressed natural gas (CNG), ethanol, biodiesel, or propane gas fueled vehicles.

A list of all grant recipients can be found online.

(Pittsburgh, Pa.)  Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Center for Inclusion Health, led by internist Elizabeth Cuevas, MD, has been recognized by the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) with its 2022 Quality and Practice Innovation Award. Dr. Cuevas was recently presented with the award in Orlando, Fla. at the society’s annual meeting.

AHN’s Center for Inclusion Health (CIH), part of the AHN Medicine Institute, was formed in 2014 as one of the nation’s first comprehensive programs of its kind focused on meeting the health care needs of individuals in underserved or marginalized populations. Through a coordinated and compassionate care delivery model, and using evidence-based interventions, its programs address obstacles that can make it difficult for people to access care, including addiction, food insecurity, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, gender diversity, incarceration, immigration, and more.

Dr. Cuevas was instrumental in launching the Center and was named its division chief in 2020. As part of her role, she works to ensure consistent delivery of CIH’s mission to provide compassionate, accessible care to individuals with unmet health and wellness needs.

According to SGIM, the Quality and Practice Innovation Award recognizes general internists and their organization that have successfully developed and implemented innovative systems of practice improvement in ambulatory and/or inpatient clinical practice.

“Congratulations to Dr. Cuevas and to the entire team for this much deserved recognition. The CIH team’s highly skilled, selfless approach to caregiving impacts their patients’ lives beyond measure, and is a shining example for how health care can and should transform lives,” Susan Manzi, MD, MPH, chair of the AHN Medicine Institute.

To learn more about the AHN Center for Inclusion Health, visit www.ahn.org/center-for-inclusion-health.

(Allegheny County, Pa.) PennDOT is announcing short-term traffic stoppages on northbound Interstate 79 in Glenfield Borough and Aleppo Township beginning today.
Short-term traffic stoppages of 15 minutes or less will occur on northbound between the Neville Island Bridge and the Kilbuck Street on-ramp to northbound I-79. Work will occur weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through mid-May. Crews will conduct bridge jacking operations for bearing pad replacement work.
The work is part of the $26.49 million I-79 improvement project. Future improvements include four bridge deck replacements, one bridge preservation, milling and resurfacing, preservation work on seven sign structures, installation of five new ITS signs, guide rail improvements, signage updates, and pavement marking installation. Crossovers will occur on I-79 in 2022 and 2023 for bridge deck replacement work. The majority of the project will conclude in the fall of 2023.

(McKees Rocks, Pa.) A 26-year-old man was shot multiple times last night at the corner of Helen and Ella streets in McKees Rocks.
The Allegheny County Police Department said that
first responders found the victim shot multiple times. The victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. No other information is available as Police Officers are investigating.

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Corbin Burnes struck out 10 and allowed two runs in seven innings to earn his first win of the season as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. The Brewers won their third straight despite getting held to a season-low three hits. The Pirates had a season-low four hits. Rowdy Tellez and Hunter Renfroe homered for the Brewers. Daniel Vogelbach and Josh VanMeter had solo shots for the Pirates. Burnes gave up four hits and didn’t walk anybody.

(Photo provided with release)

Keystone State News Connection

April 20, 2022

Available files: mp3 wav jpg

Emily Scott

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has confirmed a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a flock of commercial layer chickens in Lancaster County.

Also known as “high path AI”, there is no immediate public health concern since no human cases of avian influenza have been detected in the United States. However, it can cause sudden death, lack of energy and appetite, decreased egg production and more in infected birds.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said an interagency task force is working to address the threat from the disease and protect the state’s $7.1 billion poultry industry.

“Biosecurity is most important for anyone who owns or works with poultry,” he said. “Anyone visiting a farm should be aware that your vehicles and shoes may carry the virus from other places you have traveled. Clean them thoroughly and stay away from the poultry barns unless you have to be there.”

This is the first positive case of high-path AI in commercial poultry in the state since an outbreak in 1983 and 1984. Infections in commercial and backyard poultry flocks have been confirmed in 29 states, including most surrounding Pennsylvania.

The Department of Agriculture has quarantined the farm and all commercial poultry facilities within a 10-kilometer radius of the infected flock. Jeff Warner, acting deputy secretary of animal health and food safety, said it’s important for poultry producers in the state to ensure biosecurity practices are part of their daily routine.

“The ability to identify where poultry flocks are located in a disease outbreak is important to help animal-health officials stop the spread of the disease quickly, he said. “Using premises’ ID, state officials can quickly notify all flock owners of a dangerous disease in their area and recommend testing if needed to rule out the disease.”