Pa State Senator Elder Vogel Named 2022 Rural Health Legislator of the Year

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(Harrisburg, Pa.) In recognition of his exemplary contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania, Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47) has been named the 2022 Rural Health Legislator of the Year by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Vogel, who serves as the majority chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. “Health care concerns and the need for greater access to care are issues that are important regardless of your zip code, but often rural areas aren’t given as high a priority in
policymaking because of the sparseness in populations. I continue to be focused on ensuring the voices of our rural areas are heard and understood.”
The Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award recognizes a Pennsylvania legislator for outstanding work and support of rural health initiatives that address an identified need in their district or across the state.
Vogel was nominated for the award by Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, who recognized the senator’s work recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of the agricultural community, as well as his advocacy for telemedicine for agricultural and rural communities.
“Telemedicine is vital for patients who suffer from chronic illness and families who live in rural areas where they would have to travel very far to receive medical care,” noted Vogel, who has long been a proponent of telemedicine to help overcome barriers to quality patient care created by distance and reduce the cost of those
services.
Vogel added: “As a fourth-generation farmer and chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, I can attest to the fact that farming, by its nature, can be extremely stressful, even during the best of times. Mental health, for farmers as well as all those who live in Pennsylvania’s rural areas, remains an issue in need of more attention from both policymakers and health care providers.”
The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) is one of the 50 state offices of rural health and is a partnership between the United States federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State University. PORH is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance and networking; partnership development; and assisting in the recruitment and retention of health care providers.

Pennsylvania House Tees up Vote to Remove Philly Prosecutor

In this Friday, May 14, 2021 photo, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner speaks during a news conference where the Guardian Civic League and Club Valiants, the fraternal organizations that represent Black and Latino police and firefighters, endorsed him for the upcoming Democratic primary, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Claudia Lauer)
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania House Republicans are teeing up a vote to impeach Democratic Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. Republican leaders said after a committee vote Tuesday that a full floor vote to send it to the Senate for trial is expected Wednesday. The Judiciary Committee voted on party lines to advance two impeachment articles against Krasner. GOP lawmakers are blaming him for crime problems in the state’s most populous city. Krasner’s office put out a statement defending his record and saying House Republicans are showing they don’t want to govern responsibly.

Pennsylvania Senate Picks First Woman as Top-ranking Member

(File Photo of Kim Ward’s official photo)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Republican state Sen. Kim Ward will become the first woman to serve as the chamber’s highest-ranking member. Republicans said Tuesday that they selected Ward to become president pro tempore when the new two-year legislative session starts in January. The 66-year-old Ward, of Westmoreland County, became the first female majority leader in the chamber last year. Republicans will have a 28-22 majority in the chamber. She’ll succeed Sen. Jake Corman of Centre County. He’s finishing a 24-year Senate career after a failed run for governor. Freshman Sen. Joe Pittman of Indiana County was picked by Republicans to succeed Ward as the GOP’s majority leader.

Trump Seeks White House Again Amid GOP Losses, Legal Probes

FILE – Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Mar-a-lago on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump is preparing to launch his third campaign for the White House with an announcement Tuesday night, Nov. 15. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
By JILL COLVIN Associated Press
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has launched another run for the presidency, promising supporters he will “make America great and glorious again.” Trump made his plans official Tuesday night after teasing the potential of a comeback since before he even left the White House in 2021. He had hoped to piggyback off expected Republican gains in last week’s midterm elections and stave off potential challengers. Instead, Trump is facing blame for the party’s underwhelming performance, with many seeing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a rising alternative. If Trump is ultimately successful, he would be just the second president in U.S. history to serve two nonconsecutive terms.

NASA’s Mightiest Rocket Lifts off 50 years after Apollo

NASA’s new moon rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s new moon rocket has blasted off on its debut flight with three test dummies aboard. Wednesday’s Florida launch brings the U.S. a big step closer to putting astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago. If all goes well with the three-week flight, the crew capsule will be propelled into a wide orbit around the moon, before returning to Earth with a Pacific splashdown in December. NASA hopes to send four astronauts around the moon on the next flight, in 2024, and land humans there as early as 2025.

Mercer Road Closure Begins Wednesday in Franklin Township, Beaver County

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​(Pittsburgh, PA ) PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of a portion of Mercer Road (Route 1006) in Franklin Township, Beaver County, will begin Wednesday, November 16 weather permitting.

A portion of Mercer Road will close to traffic beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning continuously through Friday afternoon, November 25. Crews will conduct roadway repair work under the railroad bridge located between Burke Street and Harmony Fisher Avenue. Mercer Road will close to through traffic. Motorists will be detoured via Route 65 and Route 288.

Crews from JET Excavating Company will conduct the work.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 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 regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

New Castle Man Charged with Attempted Possession

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(Pittsburgh, Pa.) A New Castle man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced.
The one-count Indictment, returned on Nov. 1 and unsealed yesterday following his arrest, named 34-year-old Brandon Leroy McConnell as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about May 14, 2021, McConnell did knowingly attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. McConnell was the intended recipient of a United States Postal Service parcel that contained the cocaine.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000.

Church Van Stolen in Franklin Twp., Butler County

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Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Franklin Twp., Butler County, Pa.) Pa State Police in Butler are reporting that they were called to the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Franklin Twp., Butler County at 9:43 AM yesterday, November 16, 2022, for reports of a burglary.
Troopers said that they were informed by Church Pastor Benjamin Osterling that an unknown actor entered the church through an unlocked window and gained access to vehicle keys before stealing the church van overnight. The stolen vehicle is a white Chevrolet Express G3500 with Pa registration plate JXV-3689. The van also has Mount Zion Baptist Church written on the side and back of the van.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Pa. State Police in Butler.

State Police Investigating After Three Female Students Accuse Male Staff Member of Invasion of Privacy

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(North Beaver Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle said they started investigating last Friday after three female students at Mohawk Junior/Senior High School alleged an invasion of their privacy against an unnamed male school district staff member.
Troopers did not detail the allegations but did say the investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio for updates as they become available.

Route 65 Ohio River Boulevard Single-lane Restrictions This Week in Haysville

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing single-lane restrictions are underway on Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in Haysville Borough, Allegheny County.

Single-lane restrictions will occur on Route 65 in both directions at the intersection with River Road from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, November 18. Crews will conduct pole removal and sign installation work.

Lindy Paving is performing the work.

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.