MIDLAND, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced that his office, in collaboration with Midland municipal government, secured an agreement from Norfolk Southern Railroad to provide an easement on land in Midland, Pennsylvania, adjacent to the Ohio River and a Norfolk Southern rail line. This easement will allow the Beaver County borough to make needed repairs to the century-old stormwater pipes that process the borough’s stormwater and release it into the river.

A critical concern to Midland Borough since May 2022, water leaking from a hole in the terracotta stormwater pipe is eroding the hillside next to the river and is undermining the stability of the riverbank. Federal laws from over a hundred years ago prioritize railroad transportation land use over local and state use, and because the location of the pipe was in Norfolk Southern’s right-of-way, the borough had to obtain a land easement to legally access the pipe for repairs.

Midland Borough first requested the easement from Norfolk Southern in November 2022, but construction stalled for ten months as the railroad refused to move forward on granting the borough the necessary repair permission. Today, Congressman Deluzio shared that his office, along with Midland Borough government, successfully secured this needed land easement from Norfolk Southern Railroad.

“I am proud to have worked with the good people of Midland Borough government to secure this land easement from the railroad to protect the Ohio River, stop concerning hillside erosion, and allow Midland to repair their stormwater management system,” said Rep. Deluzio. “After causing our community so much pain in the wake of their devastating derailment, I will continue to push Norfolk Southern to operate as a strong partner in Western Pennsylvania communities like Midland.”

“Repairing the stormwater pipe and putting a stop to this concerning erosion is really important to our community, but it was stalled for ten months because Norfolk Southern would not grant us the land easement,” said Midland Council President David Trevino. “After such a delay, it is thanks to Congressman Deluzio and his team that we now have the land easement we need from the railroad to move forward on repairs and consequently protect our hillside and the river. We are grateful that Congressman Deluzio worked so hard to make this happen.”

Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Joshua Palacios, right, and center fielder Jack Suwinski celebrate the team’s 13-7 win over the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

CHICAGO (AP) — Joshua Palacios hit a three-run homer in a seven-run fourth inning and the Chicago Cubs’ postseason drive remained stalled with their sixth loss in seven games, 13-7 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Connor Joe hit a two-run homer in the sixth as All-Star Justin Steele lost his second straight start, allowing six runs and eight hits in three-plus innings. Chicago, which has lost nine of 12, remained a half-game ahead of Miami for the third NL wild card spot, with Cincinnati another half-game back.

FILE – David McCormick speaks during a campaign stop in Lititz, Pa., on May 13, 2022. McCormick is expected to announce that he’ll enter Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race in his second bid for the office, this time to take on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey after losing in last year’s Republican primary. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican David McCormick is expected to announce that he’ll enter Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race in his second bid for the office, this time to take on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey after losing in last year’s Republican primary. McCormick’s aides have sent invites to a “special announcement” Thursday by McCormick at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh at 5 p.m. ET. Senate candidates in Pennsylvania will share a ticket with candidates for president next year in a state that’s critical to whether Democrats can maintain control of the White House and the Senate. A race between Casey and McCormick could be one of the nation’s most expensive and closely watched.

FILE – A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains, Feb. 6, 2023. Norfolk Southern announced new details Monday, Sept. 18, about its plan to compensate East Palestine residents for lost home values since the fiery derailment disrupted life in the eastern Ohio town in February. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The railroad industry is trying to make sure that emergency responders can quickly look up what is on a train quickly when they respond to a derailment. In the chaos after a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in East Palestine in February, firefighters couldn’t find that information for roughly 45 minutes. The railroads are now making the AskRail app they developed for firefighters available to emergency dispatch centers. The industry has also made that train information available through the chemical industry hotlines that first responders call to get advice on how to deal with specific chemicals. So the AskRail information that 40,000 users had signed up for by the end of last year is now available to more than 2 million first responders.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania state government will prepare to use artificial intelligence in its operations, as states are increasingly trying to gauge the impact of AI and how to regulate it. Gov. Josh Shapiro said Wednesday that his administration is convening an AI governing board, publishing principles on the use of AI and developing training programs for state employees. Shapiro says Pennsylvanians expect state government to understand AI, adapt to AI and ensure it’s being used safely in the private sector. Shapiro says the state’s public safety agencies have begun consulting with AI experts.

DRAVOSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a crash involving a school van and a car in western Pennsylvania left a teenage girl dead and sent three other juveniles and two critically-injured adults to area hospitals. Allegheny County police said the Serra Catholic High School van was trying to make a left turn when it was struck by the sedan shortly before 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in Dravosburg. The county medical examiner’s office said a 15-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The Catholic Dioceses of Pittsburgh identified the juvenile victims as students at Serra Catholic High School in nearby McKeesport and said the injured students were in stable condition.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 21, 2023 9:07 A.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Special Education Director Jason Guzie’s resignation is effective on October 4, 2023,  and Amanda Lane resigned effective October 2023. She was the high school music teacher. Second grade teacher Ashley Heinlein resigned effective October 27, 2023. Curriculum Coordinator Beth Smith will assume the duties  of Special Education Coordinator, she will be paid $20,000 a year. Amy Frank was hired as an elementary school guidance counselor, she will be paid $47,205. Her hiring was effective on September 4, 2023. Vernita Solomon as high school discipline secretary  beginning on October 4, 2023, she will be paid $25,000 a year Tanya Roberts was hired as a junior/senior high school science teacher. She will be paid $52,199.00. She begins her duty son Monday, September 25, 2023.

FILE – An early election ballot completion area is prepared at a collection location inside the North Park Ice Skating Rink Lodge area, Oct. 9, 2020, in McCandless, Pa. Pennsylvania’s state Senate approved a bill Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, to move up the state’s 2024 primary election by five weeks to March 19, aiming to avoid a conflict with the Jewish holiday of Passover and give voters more of a say in deciding presidential nominees. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s state Senate wants to move up the state’s 2024 primary election by five weeks to March 19. Lawmakers touted the move as a way to avoid a conflict with the Jewish holiday of Passover and to give voters more of a say in deciding presidential nominees. The bill passed Wednesday, 45-to-2, although it still requires passage in the state House of Representatives. Under the bill, the primary election would move from April 23 to March 19. That date falls after primaries in other big delegate states. Pennsylvania is a premier battleground in presidential elections, but it hasn’t hosted a competitive presidential primary since 2008.