Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw speaks to reporters, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, near the site where a freight train derailed Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The CEO of Norfolk Southern railroad will testify in Congress next week about last month’s fiery Ohio derailment and the precautions the railroad takes to prevent similar crashes. The railroad said Wednesday that Alan Shaw will appear before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works next Thursday. Already, several lawmakers have proposed a series of rail safety reforms in response to the Feb. 3 derailment that forced the evacuation of half the town of East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border. The National Transportation Safety Board has said that an overheating bearing likely caused the derailment that sent 38 cars, including 11 carrying hazardous materials, off the tracks.

FILE – Shown is the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Jan. 5, 2021, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. Six weeks after Pennsylvania state representatives elected a Democratic speaker and have not returned to session, the Republican leader on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 warned of chaos when they reconvene next week. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania lobbyist is naming the Democratic state representative who she says sexually harassed her. Service Employees International Union lobbyist Andi Perez said in a statement Wednesday that she was sexually harassed by state Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County four years ago. She’s calling on Zabel to resign. Zabel didn’t respond to several messages seeking comment in recent days. He was among those who voted Wednesday for new House rules with an expanded section on handling sexual misconduct allegations. The expansion was prompted in part by Perez’ story. Perez went public with Zabel’s name a few hours later, after it was published by a conservative news and opinion outlet.

FILE – Bryan Kohberger, left, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, looks toward his attorney, public defender Anne Taylor, right, during a hearing in Latah County District Court, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Law enforcement officials seized dark clothing, medical gloves, a flashlight and other items from a Pennsylvania home where they arrested Kohberger, a graduate student charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death, according to newly unsealed court documents. The records were made public Tuesday, Feb. 28. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, Pool, File)

STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Law enforcement officials have revealed more details regarding items seized from the Pennsylvania home where they arrested a graduate student charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death. Additional court documents made public Thursday stated that a knife, a pocketknife, and a Glock 22 handgun with three empty magazines were found at the home of Bryan Kohberger’s parents. The home, Kohberger’s car, the garage and a shed on the property were all searched when he was arrested there Dec. 30. Kohberger, a 28-year-old doctoral student at Washington State University, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the stabbing deaths in Moscow, Idaho.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 2, 2023 11:49 A.M.  

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police Chief John Lane reported on Thursday multiple arrests were made in the recent car thefts. He added that all those arrested are juveniles. The thefts all occurred within 48 hours.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 2, 2023. 8:27 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Reverend Steven McKeown, Aliquippa Police chaplain will conduct  a memorial service on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the police department for fallen Police Chief Robert Sealock and Patrolman James Naim.  Chief Sealock’s wife Donna won’t be in attendance, but Naim’s brother Paul will attend, according to Police Chief John Lane.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 2, 2023 8:24 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) At the end of December 2023 Aliquippa will exit Act 47 status, according to Act 47 coordinator Debbie Grass who presented her report at Wednesday night’s city council meeting. In June there will be a financial Condition-Recision report. From July through August it will be the public notice period and the coordinator’s report will be filed with the city and DCED. In September public notices, a DCED public hearing will take place within 30 days, and a coordinator’s public hearing, with revisions if necessary. October-December the Secretary of DCED reviews the termination, and a determination is to be made in 90 days. On December 30, 2023 a certificate is to be signed by DCED Secretary affirming termination of Act 47 status. Ms. Grass told council that they’ve done good, and it’s with a celebration. She confirmed that DCED will still be in contact with the city following the exit from Act 47.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 2, 2023 7:26 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Mayor Dwan b. Walker told council Wednesday night “Parents have to take ownership of their kids, be vigilant, be safe, if you see something, say something. With reference to car thefts he said, “You’re messing with other people’s lives.” Kids are out between 1- 3 a.m. in his neighborhood. Seven cars have been stolen in the last 48 hours. Police Chief John Lane repeated what he said earlier this week, park in lighted areas, lock your vehicles!!. Chief Lane also reported that Sgt. Steven Roberts retired earlier this month, he served 25 years on the force. Chief Lane added that required trainings have been attended by the police officers and himself.
Code and zoning officer Jim Bologna reported that the Blight Task Force is coming back, and he’ll announce the plans soon.
Street superintendent Alex Scott announced that recycling pickup resumes next week, if residents have an overflow of items they place them in the proper base next to their recycling containers.
Fire Chief Dave Foringer reported that his department has had a large number of overdose calls.

This airport surveillance camera image released in an FBI affidavit shows alleged suspect Marc Muffley at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pa., on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. Muffley was arrested Monday after an explosive was found in a bag checked onto a Florida-bound flight, federal authorities said. (FBI via AP)

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a man was arrested after an explosive was found in a bag checked onto a Florida-bound flight at an eastern Pennsylvania airport. Forty-year-old Marc Muffley is charged with possessing an explosive in an airport and possessing or attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft, according to a criminal complaint. Prosecutors allege that a suitcase he checked in Monday at Lehigh Valley International Airport to a flight bound for Orlando contained a compound suspected to be that used in commercial grade fireworks as well as flash powder. It’s unclear whether Muffley has an attorney. A working phone number for him couldn’t be found Wednesday.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The first work session for the Beaver County Commissioners during March 2023 came in like a lamb and went out like a lion.

Things started on a relatively positive note with a pair of announcements from Parks and Recreation director Tony Caltury. The surface area of the Dek Hockey rink has been completed, and according to Caltury should be operating “very, very shortly”. He also requested a resolution to finalize the transfer of services and operations of Old Economy Pool to the YMCA. In previous years, the county would pay for the operations and receive commissions.

“The biggest thing is that the pool’s gonna be open,” stated Commissioner Tony Amadio. The other two Commissioners agreed, albeit with a caveat to add an addendum to the future resolution that approval will come pending an inspection and clearance for operation. Commissioner Camp also mentioned to Caltury–for further research–inquiries from citizens wondering if/when Brush Creek Park will have their own pickleball court(s).

Emergency Management Services director Eric Brewer gave the latest updates on the County’s assistance with the East Palestine train derailment, noting that there will be a meeting for first responders in East Palestine on Wednesday night. Brewer mentioned that information regarding the latest updates can be found on the PEMA website.

The majority of the work session became focused on the concerns and complaints of civil engineer Curtis Green III, who felt that his business was denied opportunity by Beaver County to work on projects in different municipalities following grants from the ARPA allotment. “I’d like to try to meet and try to resolve this,” Green said, “but other than that, I was told to go and file a discrimination claim against the county and your departments–especially the departments that get federal funds.”

The board was very defiant to those claims of discrimination by Green, pointing out that the County is following orders from the federal government in regards to how the ARPA money is spent, and that there were no acts of discrimination or bias towards any project that has taken place in the county. Private meetings between the board and Green were established following the conclusion of the work session.

The next work session for the Beaver County Commissioners is scheduled for March 8 at 10:00 AM.

HARRISBURG – Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry today offered the following statement regarding the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3, 2023, and announced the office’s new hotline to accept complaints from those who might be experiencing lasting impact from the catastrophe.

 

“Pennsylvanians have a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, and I am committed to defending that right,” said Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry. “The derailment of this train, including multiple rail cars carrying hazardous materials, has the potential to impact Pennsylvania, as the site is less than one mile from the Pennsylvania border. I am thankful for the leadership of Governor Shapiro on this matter and I encourage impacted citizens to reach out to my Office to report concerns.”

 

The Office of Attorney General has created a hotline for citizens to call regarding the derailment. The hotline number is (724) 858-4689, citizens may also email derailment@attorneygeneral.gov, or visit https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/norfolk-southern-derailment/.

 

 Visit the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s (PEMA) online train derailment dashboard for more details about the derailment response, including resources on air and water testing, health assessments, and cleaning services.