Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing a portion of Bocktown Road (Route 3094) in Crescent Township, Allegheny County, has closed to traffic due to a slide.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing drilling operations on Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 51) in Monaca Borough, Beaver County will begin Monday, February 20 weather permitting. Drilling work requiring lane restrictions will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays through Friday, February 24 on Pennsylvania Avenue between 16th Street and 17th Street. Crews from Armstrong Drilling will conduct the work. Please use caution if traveling in the area.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published February 17, 2023

(Rochester Township, PA) Rochester Township Police and the Beaver County ESU  were asked to assist  state parole board officials at 11:15 a.m. Thursday when they came to serve papers on a township resident. When the man saw multiple officers he had a lead on officers and he slipped  out from the ESU unit’s sights, according to Rochester. Twp. Police Sgt.  Kevin Foltz.  Sgt. Foltz said a search of the roads and neighborhoods in the township was unsuccessful even with the use of a K-9. to track the  parolee. As of 3:45 p.m. Thursday the search had ended and the subject wasn’t in custody according to Beaver County 9-1-1.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published February 17, 2023 11:15 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Calvin Graham  received a standing ovation by the Aliquippa School Board and public Wednesday night. He was recently inducted into the Gannon  University Basketball Hall of Fame jersey #25 was retired. Dr. Phillip K. Woods  commented “There is so much positivity in the school district.”.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published February 17, 2023 11:13 A.M.

(Center Township, PA) The school board met Thursday night and approved the calendar for the next school year. MHY Family Services was approved for the 2022-23 school year to meet a’ student’s needs when referred by the school district. Cost is $150- $225 a day. Paraprofessional Jacqulyn Golightly resigned effective February 3, 2023. Roxanne Delon was hired as the head boys’ tennis coach. She will be paid a $2,600 stipend. The softball team will attend spring training in  Myrtle Beach  from March 29 to April 2, 2023. The band will take a trip to Chicago, Ill.  from March 16-19, 2023.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing roadway repair work on Monaca Road (Route 3001) in the City of Aliquippa, Beaver County will begin Monday, February 20 weather permitting.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

New Brighton borough manager Tom Albanese previewed a “full agenda” at the council’s February 16 meeting, and full it was–including the official ceremony for the council to be full once again.

The meeting began with a presentation by Ron Bogolea of Legacies Alive, who presented the council with an opportunity for the borough to show “storyboards” of fallen soldiers in designated areas, using a fiberglass base for the display. Albanese asked to continue discussions with Bogolea about the proposition following the presentation.

The council then voted unanimously to appoint Julie Martin of North Sixteenth Avenue to fill the Fifth Ward position on Council following the passing of council member Nick Campagna on January 21. Martin was sworn in by Mayor Tom Albanese and officially joined the New Brighton Council.

Coincidentally, the council then hired J. Martin & Associates as borough auditors for the calendar year of 2023 at a cost of $17,900 (the accounting firm was in no relation to the newest council member just sworn in minutes prior).

Much of the agenda focused on police and patrol measures, beginning with the hiring of Alexander Bitts as a full-time patrol officer in accordance with the Civil Service rules and regulations. The council then unanimously voted for a request to the Civil Services Commission to provide an eligibility list for school resource officer and patrol officer following the testing of candidates, along with testing for the positions of Sergeant and Corporal. Officer Keith Smith was reinstated to full Civil Service status following a successful one-year probation.

The 1995 Chevrolet G-30 van that was up for sale after being used by the New Brighton Public Works had its sale to Florida resident Dan Johnson approved by the council at an amount of $3,336. Youngblood Paving in Wampum was awarded a contract for the borough’s paving program this year, at an amount of $228,613.14. Of that total, $67,198.57 will be reimbursed by Pulaski Township for road work in the township.

Oak Hill Field will be the practice field for the New Brighton Little Lions following a unanimous vote by council, as was the closure of segments along 10th Street (from 3rd Avenue to 4th Avenue) and 11th Street (from 3rd to 5th) for a “Wine Walk” event to be held by the New Brighton Public Library on June 30.

The next New Brighton Council meeting is scheduled for March 16 at 7:00 PM.

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Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Shapiro Administration announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be conducting independent water sampling to closely monitor water contamination risks related to the East Palestine train derailment that took place on February 3, 2023. In addition, DEP is assisting concerned public water suppliers in evaluating their source water at the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority’s surface water intake on the Beaver River.

“My Administration is taking steps to independently verify the safety of Pennsylvanians’ water — and will continue to do so in the months to come,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “As we work to learn more about this incident and hold Norfolk Southern accountable, the Commonwealth will also lead the way so that Pennsylvanians are aware of and protected from any threats to their safety and resources that may arise. Our independent testing will ensure the data we are receiving is accurate and timely so we can partner effectively with local communities to provide the information Pennsylvanians need and deserve.”

“Keeping Pennsylvanians safe is our top priority,” said Rich Negrin, Acting Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. “Leading our own independent testing now will give us a necessary baseline so that we can track any changes to Pennsylvanians’ water in the months ahead. We will continue to do our part to test the water to determine the impacts of this train derailment, and keep Pennsylvanians informed and safe.”

DEP will be taking independent samples from Norfolk Southern sampling sites for examination by the DEP Bureau of Laboratories. DEP will also be taking independent water samples in Pennsylvania within a 2-mile radius of the derailment site. Samples will be taken monthly to watch for any long-term impacts.

DEP’s Bureau of Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields has performed a basic evaluation of the groundwater flow and geology near the derailment site and believes that there is not likely to be any contamination of water wells in Pennsylvania. Residents with concerns about private well water should contact the DEP Southwest Regional Office at 412-442-4000 for more information about well testing.

A Beaver Falls Municipal Authority water treatment plant is located 11 miles from the train derailment site. The closest Community Public Water Supply is PA American Ellwood City, which is 10.5 miles from the site. DEP is also investigating a small public water supply that is located along the Little Beaver River that utilizes spring sources.

Pennsylvania continues to see no concerning air or water quality readings following this incident. Based on the air monitoring results at the time of the incident at the site as well as the perimeter air monitoring, DEP has not observed any contaminants of concern leaving a 2-mile area around the derailment site and entering into Pennsylvania. DEP is coordinating with Ohio EPA, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), Federal EPA, and Norfolk Southern’s contractor, CTEH, to review sample information for surface waters.

Earlier this week Governor Josh Shapiro issued a letter to Norfolk Southern raising questions about the emergency response that was undertaken in the immediate aftermath of the derailment and vowing to hold the company accountable. The Shapiro Administration has also highlighted further information about air and water quality, which can be found here.

Visit here for more information about DEP’s sampling efforts and other details about the derailment. For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, please visit the website or follow DEP on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman’s Chief of Staff, Adam Jentleson, on Thursday released the following statement

“Last night, Senator John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to receive treatment for clinical depression. While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks.

“On Monday, John was evaluated by Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress. Yesterday, Dr. Monahan recommended inpatient care at Walter Reed. John agreed, and he is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis.

“After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself.”