Secretary of Health Dr. Debra L. Bogen

Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration today announced Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen is being honored as 2023 Pediatrician of the Year by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP). The chapter gives this award annually to recognize a pediatric fellow who exemplifies the ideals of the profession and advocates for children’s health and increased access to health services.

“Congratulations Dr. Bogen for being honored as the 2023 Pediatrician of the Year,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Dr. Bogen has dedicated her career to caring for children and their families, a task she continues to carry on now as Acting Secretary of Health for all Pennsylvanians. She is a shining example of the commitment to excellence I looked for in appointing qualified cabinet members dedicated to serving our residents.”

Before joining the Commonwealth, Dr. Bogen was the Director of the Allegheny County Health Department. Prior to that appointment, she was a member of the Pittsburgh region medical and research community for more than two decades. She held a primary academic appointment as Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, and secondary appointments in psychiatry and clinical and translational science. Dr. Bogen also served as the Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Pediatrics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She was one of the founders of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank and served as the organization’s Volunteer Medical Director until assuming her role at the state.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 12, 2023 9:48 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Beaver County 9-1-1 reported that just after midnight there was a call to the Eleanor Roosevelt Apartments after a body had been found there.  The apartment complex is located off of Sheffield Avenue in the city.

(Patterson Township, PA)  Once a household name known for his family restaurants in the region, Lou Pappan has passed away. According to Scott Tady of the Beaver County Times, Pappan passed away at his home in Patterson Heights, surrounded by family. Many will be able to recall seeing Pappan appearing in his own commercials. After starting his restaurant business in Beaver Falls, he opened the first Pappan’s Family Restaurant in New Brighton in the mid 1960s. Pappan was 92 years old.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The Beaver Falls City Council reunited for their April 11 meeting, and in doing so welcomed some new faces to the city.

One of those faces was Curt Friehs, who was announced as the new director of the Carnegie Free Library on 7th Avenue. Friehs, who most recently was working with a library in Evans City, was formally introduced by previous interim director Ray Gutowski. “He’s also very interested in community activities, and keeping the library involved in all of the activities we have here in town,” Gutowski stated. Friehs himself complimented the city for its “wonderful” people and businesses and “looks forward to working with Beaver Falls.”

Another new face to Beaver Falls is police officer Tyler Ursida, who was unanimously hired by council following submission for approval by Beaver Falls police chief David Johnson. Ursida, a West Mayfield native and graduate of Blackhawk High School, joins the Beaver Falls Department following a stint with the Beaver Borough Police Department. “I’m excited,” Ursida exclaimed; his start date with the Beaver Falls unit will be April 17.

Following a previous hold on the cementing of a new era of government in Beaver Falls, the council finally approved the Administrative Code & Operations for the city as a Home Rule municipality. Though the voters of the city approved the measure during the 2021 election to move to home rule charter, the final approval took place Tuesday night.

“To be quite honest,” spoke Mayor Kenya Johns, “it’s already been in effect for the city for a year and a half now. It’s just officially documented.”

Also officially documented was the approval of general fund expenditures at a total of $670,331.18, the agreement for security services for the Beaver Falls Car Cruise on June 10, and the resignation of Chris Quinn from the city’s Recreation Board–all three of which were unanimously approved by council.

Community Development leader Rochelle Burks spoke about the input of students in the Big Beaver Falls Area School District as to what the new name of Library Park should be. Burks stated that there were stops made at the High School and Central Elementary, and that a future trip to the Middle School is planned. Mayor Johns reiterated that all of the collected data, from students and citizens alike, will be narrowed down to five names as finalists. The citizens will then select the new name of Library Park–set to open in Summer 2023–from the five finalists.

The next scheduled Beaver Falls City Council meeting is scheduled for April 25 at 7:00 PM.

FILE – President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in the State Dining Room of the White House on April 4, 2023, in Washington. The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday, April 10, as Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. On Monday, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring the national emergency to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. The national emergency allowed the government to take sweeping steps to respond to the virus and support the country’s economic, health and welfare systems. Some of the emergency measures have already been successfully wound-down, while others are still being phased out. The public health emergency underpins tough immigration restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, and is set to expire on May 11.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published April 11, 2023 11:47 A.M.

(West Mifflin, PA) Fire crews responded to the abandoned Century III Mall Tuesday Morning.  It has been reported that a fire broke out inside a portion of the building. The cause is not known at this time.  A haze of smoke is said to have been apparent in the surrounding areas. The last remaining store in the mall closed in 2019.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 11, 2023 11:19 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) The School to Work program is in place at the Hopewell  Township Municipal Building.  Twenty year old Gianni Rubino is shown in the photos with his Job Coach Amy and  Program Specialist Jessica at a luncheon at the township building last week. Also joining the group for lunch was Township Manager Jamie Yurcina, and Community Outreach Coordinator Nora Janicki and Police Chief Donald Sedlacek, and several employees.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today the number of firearms purchase denials and subsequent investigations for the first quarter of 2023.

The Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) is used by county sheriffs, chiefs of police of first-class cities, and licensed firearms dealers to determine an individual’s legal ability to acquire a license to carry firearms or obtain a firearm through a purchase or transfer. When an individual attempts to provide false information on a state or federal form, an investigation is initiated, and an investigation referral is sent to a law enforcement agency.

According to Pennsylvania law, a person commits a felony of the third degree if they make a false oral or written statement on any federal or state agency form or willfully present false identification that is likely to deceive the seller, licensed dealer or licensed manufacturer. During the PICS process, some individuals are identified as having an active warrant for their arrest.

In the first quarter, the following investigations were initiated by the PSP Firearms Division and referred to PSP Troops, municipal police departments, or the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Table 1: First quarter PICS statistics

Source: Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Records and Identification, Firearms Division, April 2023

For more information on PICS and carrying firearms in Pennsylvania, visit psp.pa.gov.

Annville, PA – Pennsylvania veterans and their advocates should be aware of scammers looking to poach their military pensions, warns the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). Pension Poaching is financial exploitation often targeting veterans who are age 65 or older, or veterans who are disabled and may be receiving monthly pension payments from the DMVA and\or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“Older veterans may be the prime target for scammers, but all veterans and their advocates should be vigilant when seeking assistance with benefits earned through military service,” said Joel Mutschler, director, DMVA Bureau of Veterans Programs, Initiatives, Reintegration and Outreach. “The best way to avoid being scammed is for veterans to use an accredited veteran service officer when applying for benefits. These trusted counselors do not charge for their services, and always look after the best interest of veterans.”

Veteran pension poaching occurs when scammers, unscrupulous players or dishonest financial planners charge veterans or their advocates for assistance in applying for or submitting applications for military pensions. The scheme often involves financial maneuvers such as advising claimants to hide their assets in trusts or annuity products sometimes resulting in lost investments and lucrative fees paid to the advisor.

Mutschler said veterans and advocates should be especially vigilant now about PACT Act-related scams. The new PACT Act law expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

Here is how veterans and advocates can protect against PACT Act scams:

• Do not provide personal, medical, financial or VA benefit information online or over the phone. Federal agencies will not contact you unless you make a request.
• Do not click on online ads or engage with social media that seems suspicious.
• Look for “https://” at the start of website addresses; that means they’re more likely to be legitimate. Enable multi-factor authentication on all accounts, if possible.
• Never share your VA login information or deposit VA benefits directly into a third-party bank account unless the person is court appointed or a VA fiduciary.
• Work with veterans service providers you already know.
• Report any suspected fraud to ftc.gov.

Mutschler said he wants to make clear that veterans or their advocates should never pay for the following:

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and/or PA DMVA forms
• Pension application fees
• Restructuring assets in order to “qualify”
• The promise of eligibility for a pension
• Lump sum payment on a pension

There are approximately 200 veteran service officers in Pennsylvania who work within organizations such as the DMVA, county veterans affairs offices and several veterans service organizations.

Contact information for County Directors of Veterans Affairs as well as contact information for Veteran Service Officers can be found on DMVA’s website.

Experienced or suspect a pension scam? Call (717) 783-1944, email PAvets@attorneygeneral.gov, or submit a complaint online at www.attorneygeneral.gov. You can also report any VA-related scam to the VA benefits hotline at 800-827-1000.

To learn more about the DMVA, visit us online at www.dmva.pa.gov or follow us at www.facebook.com/padmva or www.twitter.com/padmva.

The image above shows Congressman Chris Deluzio speaking at the event (Curtis Walsh)
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published April 11, 2023 10:50 A.M.

(Monaca, PA)  Beaver County Chamber of Commerce members, along with numerous other guests and sponsors met at the Monaca Hilton Garden Inn Tuesday Morning for a congressional breakfast with Congressman Chris Deluzio.  Chamber President , Donna Lee Siple kicked off the event handing over the mic to Heritage Valley Health System CEO, Norm Mitry, for some opening remarks before Scott Monit introduced the Congressman.

When Deluzio took to the podium, he gave a roughly 15 minute speech on progress in the county.  The congressman had a focus on bringing more jobs back to the county, saying that Beaver County is a place to work, raise families, and retire. One of his goals is to complete the task is producing more apprenticeship and skill teaching programs to enable more union jobs.  Other talking points for Deluzio included helping nonprofits, universities, and small businesses, as well as broadband connectivity and railway safety.  Deluzio stated that congress is working on holding Norfolk Southern accountable along with regulating two person train staffs in addition to changing classification rules for hazardous trains and adding transparency to what is being hauled on the trains moving through our communities.

The congressman spent the rest of the event fielding questions from attendees. When asked about school and gun violence, he stated political moves in Harrisburg and Washington will hopefully result in gun reform with a focus on mental health.  Norm Mitry of Heritage Valley asked about money that is being taken back from health systems following the Covid pandemic. Deluzio expressed interest in talking with him further on the subject.  The final question was in regards to Tik Tok, and what approach the Congressman had on the subject. He said he wants to make sure Tik Tok isn’t an espionage tool, stating that there is a bipartisan interest overall on antitrust with tech and bigtech companies.

More photos from the event: