WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) joined the bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus. Consisting of equal number of Representatives from both parties, this bipartisan group comes together to combat the nationwide spike in fentanyl-related overdoses and drug poisonings. Led by Congressmembers Joe Neguse, Madeleine Dean, Darrell Issa, and Ken Calvert, the Caucus meets with prevention and awareness groups, as well federal and local law enforcement, to continually monitor, research, and work to address the threat of fentanyl.

“Fatal overdoses from fentanyl have destroyed the lives, dreams, and loved ones of so many in Western Pennsylvania,” said Congressman Deluzio. “And unfortunately, in our community and across the country, the death toll keeps rising. Congress must tackle fentanyl abuse like the public health crisis that it is—fighting from all angles to keep this deadly drug out of our communities, address root issues, support addiction services and recovery, and save lives.”

Deaths from opioids are not limited to specific geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic boundaries. They require coordinated efforts like those this caucus is spearheading and at the state and local level to comprehensively take on this crisis.

In Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, the morbidity rate from opioid overdoses consistently exceeds the national average. Statewide, Allegheny and Beaver counties rank among the highest areas in Pennsylvania for fatal overdoses and drug poisonings. In both counties, fentanyl has exponentially become the most frequently reported drug category in drug related overdose decedents. According to the most recent year’s data from the University of Pittsburgh’s Overdose Free PA, fentanyl was present in 70% of overdose deaths.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for February 2023.

 

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.4% in February. The U.S. unemployment rate was up two-tenths of a percentage point from January to 3.6 The commonwealth’s unemployment rate matched its February 2022 level, and the national rate was down 0.2 percentage points over the year.

 

As of January 2023, Pennsylvania has recovered more than 100% of the 1.1 million jobs lost in the first two months of the pandemic. Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – was up 8,000 over the month due to increases in both employment and unemployment.

 

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 5,600 over the month to a new record high of 6,094,400 in February. Jobs increased from January in six of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest gain in leisure & hospitality (+3,000). Trade, transportation & utilities jobs remained at a record high level.

 

Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 164,800 with gains in all 11 supersectors. Education & health services (+53,600) had the largest volume over-the-year gain among supersectors with three other supersectors adding over 19,000 each.

 

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 24, 2023 9:44 A.M.   

(Aliquippa, PA) Sheffield Avenue from Towne Tower Apartments to the police department is closed. Fire Chief Dave Forninger said the road department is working  to determine the cause of flooding in that area.  Drivers are asked to use an alternate route to their destination.

Spring is finally here and that can mean only one thing…
The Monaca Cornet Band begins rehearsing for the 2023 concert season, starting Tuesday April 4, from 7pm to 8:30pm, in the Monaca Cornet Bandroom, 1199 Pacific Avenue, Monaca, PA 15061. There’s ample parking in the lot across the street.
The year 2023 marks the 125th anniversary of the Monaca Cornet Band! Director Jean Busack and assistant director Devin Householder stated that there are already pending concert dates. Details will be provided in the near future.
If you would like to play in the Monaca Cornet Band, simply email monacacornet@gmail.com for additional information, or just show up at the April 4 rehearsal.
URGENT! The Monaca Cornet Band is in need of woodwind players — carinets, flutes and alto saxes, but all other musicians are welcome as well. Auditioning is not mandatory. Bring your instrument and don’t forget your music stand.
“This Could Be the Start of Something Big!”

(Midland, Pennsylvania) Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, the tri-state region’s top entertainment venue and Beaver County’s number one tourism destination, has gifted an in-kind donation of $203,137.86 to its neighboring Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School. The donation is forgiveness of half the sum of custodial, utility, and maintenance services the Center provided to the charter school over the past few
years.
“The Board provided this gift so that the charter school could continue to uphold its mission of offering educational opportunities in an arts-infused learning environment for children in grades 7 through 12 from across southwestern Pennsylvania,” stated Richard Corradi, President of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center’s Board of Directors. “The vote to provide the gift was unanimous,” according to Corradi.
“This is just another example of how the Center’s presence, involvement, and dedication allow young talented people to be immersed in the arts and affords them the opportunity to work alongside entertainment industry professionals,” added Chris Shovlin, Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. “It truly is the Center that distinguishes LPPACS from every other traditional high
school.”
The Center features two state-of-the-art theaters; a 750-seat proscenium MainStage theater and a 175-seat BlackBox Theater in which students work with professional actors, musicians, technicians, and others in a real-world setting in Broadway-style productions. Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center also hosts concerts,
lectures, exhibits, and other events. The mission of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center is to strengthen the cultural, educational, and economic
vitality of the communities it serves by making high-quality arts and education programs available, accessible, and affordable for everyone. For more information regarding Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, visit
www.lincolnparkarts.org.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of a portion of Brush Creek Road (Route 1019) in Marion Township, Beaver County, will begin Monday, March 27 weather permitting.

Slide repair and roadway paving requiring the closure of a portion of Brush Creek Road between Mecklem Road and Route 588 will begin at 6 a.m. Monday. Through traffic will be prohibited around-the-clock as crews conduct the slide remediation work through late July. Traffic will be detoured.

Posted Detours

South of the Closure

• From Brush Creek Road, take Mellon Road (Route 1018) eastbound
• Turn left onto Ridge Road (Route 1017)
• Turn left onto Route 588
• End detour

North of the Closure

• Same detour in the opposite direction

Crews from Thomas Construction, Inc. will conduct the work on this $1.11 million project.

Please use caution when traveling in this area.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 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 regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published March 24, 2023 9:16 A.M.

(Chippewa Township, PA) Blackhawk High School has filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern. Attorney Tom King announced the lawsuit. King spoke to Beaver County Radio Friday morning during “Live Mic”. King says this large plume of toxic material traveled through the area resulting in the district being hit by the materials and chemicals and people need to be concerned about what these chemicals can do. The intentional explosion wasn’t made aware to the superintendent until the day of the explosion. School was terminated and students were sent home when they were informed. The school was never advised what to do to protect students, buildings, or property. The district is faced with having been exposed on two occasions to the chemicals. King says, “Norfolk Southern should do right thing to completely investigate what toxins are in the school and what the kids have been exposed to”, in addition to paying for continuing monitoring. He says “There was negligence on their part for the first one, the second was intentional. These aren’t expenses that should be incurred by the tax payers of the district.” He also doesn’t think the EPA intends to come and test the Blackhawk school district property. The district wants the best medical care possible.

Blackhawk is first school to file a suit in regards to the derailment. It is also the first case in the western district of Pennsylvania in the federal court system.  Norfolk Southern has stepped up recently with helping the East Palestine School District. King said “We wouldn’t have given the advice to the board if there wasn’t substantial evidence. The basic facts are known.”

He says the purpose of the lawsuit is to identify the things we need to do to protect students, staff, community, and provide the funding necessary to take precaution, and the best outcome would be that nothing is wrong and no child is at risk to harm.  He ended by saying “We need the experts to come in and Norfolk Southern needs to pay for it.

(Mugshot of Daniel Tweedlie shown above)
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Director. Published March 24, 2023 7:24 A.M.   

(New Castle, PA) A 20 year old New Brighton man who was accused of shooting and killing a Beaver Falls man in New Castle in 2021 has been sentenced to 2 ½ to 5 years in a state prison, with 5 years probation following. Tweedlie was credited 355 days he has already been in jail to his sentence time.
Daniel Tweedlie, of New Brighton, has been in the Lawrence County jail with no bond since his 2021 arrest in the homicide of 21 year old Devon Thompson of Beaver Falls. Tweedlie was reportedly supposed to sell Thompson shoes and a gun before ultimately killing Thompson on Oct. 24, 2021. Thompson’s mother passed away of a heart attack 5 months after his death.
Tweedlie is said to have used a “Ghost” gun, which are untraceable guns sold in parts online. Tweedlie had a past conviction of illegal possession of a firearm by a minor when he was 17 and was not allowed to have a gun at the time of the shooting. He was 18 when he was arrested for the shooting.