PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Monaca, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal narcotics law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

The one-count Indictment named Martinis Ramon Lee, 36, formerly of Monaca, PA, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment presented to the court, on or about July 19, 2022, Lee possessed with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance; fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance; and fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analog and a Schedule I controlled substance. The Indictment also alleges that Lee possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of crack cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $10,000,000, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin C. Dobkin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the
investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

(AP) A rare blue supermoon could raise tides above normal just as Hurricane Idalia takes aim at Florida’s west coast, exacerbating flooding from the storm.

The moon will be closest to the Earth on Wednesday, the same day Idalia is expected to make landfall in Florida. While a supermoon can make for a spectacular backdrop in photos of landmarks around the world, its intensified gravitational pull also makes tides higher.

“I would say the timing is pretty bad for this one,” said Brian Haines, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina.

It’s expected to make tidal flooding worse not only in Florida, but in states such as Georgia and South Carolina, where Haines’ office has been warning residents that parts of Charleston could be under water by Wednesday night.

When the moon is full, the sun and the moon are pulling in the same direction, which has the effect of increasing tides above normal ranges, said Kerry Emanuel, professor emeritus of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The moon’s gravitational pulls are even stronger when it’s closer to Earth, so the tides are even higher.

The storm surge is often the greatest killer when hurricanes strike. The ocean water pouring onto land could be up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) along parts of Florida’s west coast, the National Hurricane Center projected in its latest briefings Tuesday. Farther south, up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) of storm surge is expected in the Tampa Bay area.

Storm surge that can be taller than a person is a concern with any major hurricane. The tides and the influence of a supermoon can increase that somewhat.

“There’s a saying that you hide from the wind and run from the water, and hopefully people are heeding that advice,” said Brian Tang, associate professor of atmospheric science at University at Albany in New York.

The part of northwest Florida that could be hit by Idalia is especially vulnerable to storm surge because of the region’s geography. The continental shelf extends so far out from the coast and has a gradual slope, allowing the ocean to grow higher as hurricane winds drive the water onto land, Tang said. The shape of the coast in that region – known as Florida’s Big Bend area – is also curved inward, which can focus the storm surge to make it even more dangerous, he said.

In South Carolina, there’s concern that Idalia’s path will take it near the historic city of Charleston and the surrounding area known as the Low Country. That would add water to the high tide that’s in the forecast, Haines said.

“Wednesday evening looks really nasty for coastal flooding here,” he said.

The weather service is forecasting an 8.2-foot (2.5 meter) tide in Charleston Wednesday evening, which could produce widespread flooding in downtown Charleston, Haines said. Even with a 7.5 foot tide (2.3 meters), some roads in the city flood and become impassible, he said.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a two-run homer with two out in the eighth inning, helping rally the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

Hayes hit his 11th homer of the season 424 feet to left-center to erase a one-run deficit. In the ninth inning, Liover Peguero added a three-run homer and Jack Suwinski scored on a Kansas City error.

“It feels great,” Hayes said. “Those are the type of moments you grow up playing the game for — late in the game tying the game up or taking the lead.”

The Pirates won the series opener 5-0 on Monday and will try to win three in a row on Wednesday for only the second time since the All-Star break. Pittsburgh hasn’t swept a series since June 27-29 against San Diego.

Luis Ortiz (3-4) allowed just one run on three hits in five innings of relief to get the victory.

“Ortiz was outstanding,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. “He was totally in control of his delivery. The big inning was when he got out of the bases-loaded jam. He gave up one run, but he stayed composed and did a nice job.”

Carlos Hernandez (1-9), one of five Kansas City pitchers, gave up the home run to Hayes and took the loss.

The Royals lost a series for the seventh time in eight tries and would need to go 16-12 in their final 28 games to avoid matching the franchise record of 106 losses from 2005.

Kansas City squandered a solid effort by starter Cole Ragans, who allowed three hits, struck out nine and walked one in carrying a shutout through seven innings. With the nine strikeouts, he finished the month of August with 53 Ks, the second-most in Royals history behind Dennis Leonard’s 55 in June 1977. He has a 1.73 ERA in seven starts with the Royals since being acquired in mid-July from Texas for Aroldis Chapman.

Shelton gave credit to Ragans when asked what changed after seven fruitless innings on offense.

“Ragans was out of the game, quite honestly,” he said. “That’s really good stuff, a left-handed fastball at 99 and a change-up and a cutter. That’s a good young pitcher.”

Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro was equally impressed.

“(A) continuation of what he’s been doing,” he said. “All his pitches (were) effective, around the zone, in the zone, getting chase when he needed it, swing-and-miss in the zone. I would guess he might say it wasn’t his best command. He lost some balls arm-side, but was able to correct. But, his stuff’s so good that even when he was behind in the count he would get swing and miss.”

The first hit of the game came with no outs in the bottom of the fourth, when Bobby Witt Jr. lined a single into left field. Salvador Perez then lined a single off the glove of Hayes, sending Witt to third with no outs. After striking out MJ Melendez, Ortiz walked Nelson Velazquez, loading the bases. Drew Waters hit a line drive that tipped off Connor Joe’s glove at first. Waters was retired, 4-3, but he picked up the game’s first RBI.

Ragans allowed his first baserunner on a leadoff walk to Joe in the fifth. He later gave up a two-out single to Peguero, ending his no-hit bid. He struck out Jack Suwinski to end the threat.

Steven Cruz made his MLB debut Tuesday for Kansas City. He was acquired in the offseason in a trade for Michael A Taylor from the Twins. He became the 34th pitcher to appear in a game this season for Kansas City, extending a club record set last year at 32.

The Royals added two runs in the ninth on an RBI single by Freddy Fermin.

(AP) After receiving two buyout offers in the past month, U.S. Steel said Tuesday it is in the process of reviewing multiple offers for the storied company and symbol of American industrialization.

U.S. Steel rejected a $7.3 billion buyout proposal from rival Cleveland-Cliffs two weeks ago, and that offer was followed by $7.8 billion bid from the industrial conglomerate Esmark. Shares of the Pittsburgh steelmaker soared more than 30% on speculation that a deal was imminent.

In a letter to shareholders Tuesday, U.S. Steel said it had entered into confidentiality agreements with “numerous” third parties and was beginning to share due diligence information with potential buyers.

“Our number one obligation is to uphold our fiduciary duties,” the company wrote in the letter. “This means that we are focused on the path forward for our Company that drives the most value for you — our stockholders.”

It’s shares climbed another 3% Tuesday.

The proposal by Cleveland-Cliffs, first made on July 28, would create a company that would be among the 10 biggest steelmakers in the world and one of the top four outside of China, which dominates global steel production today. Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves said a tie-up between the two U.S. steelmakers would create “lower-cost, more innovative and stronger domestic supplier for our customers.”

Goncalves has said that he’s ready to continue talks with 122-year-old U.S. Steel despite the rejection of its initial offer.

Soaring prices have helped fuel consolidation in the steel industry this decade. Steel prices more than quadrupled near the start of the pandemic to near $2,000 per metric ton by the summer of 2021 as supply chains experienced gridlock, a symptom of surging demand for goods and the lack of anticipation of that demand.

Cleveland Cliffs acquired AK Steel in 2019 right before steel prices began to spike and within a year, it acquired ArcelorMittal USA in 2020 for $1.4 billion. U.S. Steel bought Big River Steel the following year.

Prices have settled back to around $800 per metric ton, but that remains at the top end of the spectrum for steel prices over the past six years.

U.S. Steel has been a symbol of industrialization since it was founded in 1901 by J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie and others, and the domestic steel industry dominated globally before Japan, then China, became the preeminent steelmakers over the past 40 years.

Eddy Crow and Frank Sparks are off to 1973 in Ray Rotuna’s Ambassador this Friday on the Time Machine from 9 to Noon this Friday on Beaver County Radio

(Car and Photos courtesy of Ray Rotuna)

(Brighton Twp., Pa.) It’s that time of the month again this Friday morning as the Time Machine will be making its monthly appearance from 9:00 AM to Noon. Hosts Eddy Crow and Frank Sparks will be jumping back to 1973. They will have the top 15 songs of that year as well as talk about life in the early 70’s when they were kids growing up.

Make sure you tune into 95.7 and 99.3 FM along with 1230 WBVP and 1460 WMBA for all of the fun. You can also listen online at beavercountyradio.com or you can download our free apps at the Google Play and Apple I-tunes store.

Join the fun and don’t cheat and see if you can guess the number one song from the clues that Eddy and Frank give. Whoever guesses the correct answer gets to pick where The Time Machine Travels to next month.

 

CARNEGIE, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced $170,000 in new federal funding for K9 units in Allegheny County’s North Hills. This grant funding will go to the Northern Regional Police Department (230 Pierce Mill Road Wexford, PA 15090) and comes from the Department of Justice’s Byrne Discretionary Grants program.

“K9 units are a valuable tool for cops to help keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Chris Deluzio. “I’m proud to help bring this federal funding back to the North Hills for law enforcement in their mission to keep us safe. No matter what, I will keep fighting for a safer, stronger Western Pennsylvania.”

The funding will support the continued existence and enhancement of the Police K9 Program in the Allegheny County communities of Marshall, Pine, and Richland Townships, along with Bradford Woods Borough. Project activities include securing a K9 dog, K9/handler training, two specialized K9 patrol units, vehicle upfitting, and the necessary support equipment for the program. Expected outcomes include maintaining a K9 officer to support effective community policing and crime prevention, support the tracking and location of missing persons, and provide a K9 that is trained in explosives detection.

(Sandy Giordano/Beaver County Radio)

A West Mifflin man was arrested following a traffic violation on Monday night. 21-year-old Drew Gordon was pulled over along Interstate 376 eastbound in Hopewell Township, where Pennsylvania State Police found a small amount of marijuana in Gordon’s possession.

Charges against Gordon are pending.

An Ambridge man is in custody following an armed altercation Sunday morning. 

38-year-old Jeffrey Harris had been attempting to enter into the Great Dominion Church on the corner of Melrose Avenue and 4th Street, when he approached two women on the corner of 4th Street and Duss Avenue and pointed a gun at them. He entered a local business where police gained custody of him and placed him under arrest.

Harris had with him a 12-gauge shotgun with several rounds, and police determined that he was also possessing crystal meth at the time of the arrest. Police also searched Harris’ home, which was declared to have been designed ready for a police standoff.

Bond for Harris was set at $975,000, and his preliminary hearing is set for September 5.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, September 2, 2023, through Monday, September 4, 2023, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.

Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2023 is available online. If you are planning to visit one of PennDOT’s On-Line Messenger Service Centers, please call ahead for hours of operation during holidays.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following Twitter regional alerts.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.