U.S. Steel Tower stands tall 50 years after its dedication
By MARK BELKO, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette undefined
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Fifty years later, it’s still the king of the Downtown skyline. The U.S. Steel Tower remains Pittsburgh’s tallest building as it marks the golden anniversary of its dedication. Over the years, the brawny 64-story skyscraper has survived the hometown collapse of the very industry that brought it life, not to mention the recessions; the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; the vagaries of the real estate market; and a pandemic that virtually emptied its offices. It has celebrated six Super Bowl championships, two World Series titles and five Stanley Cups.

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

HARRISBURG, Pa. — With just two weeks until the state Senate reconvenes, Pennsylvania lawmakers appear to have two different sets of priorities.

Republicans are working to access subpoenaed voter records for what they’re calling a “forensic audit” into the 2020 election. Democrats are focused on changing Senate rules to increase transparency.

Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Allegheny, said lawmakers in her party have introduced 14 amendments to the Senate rules. They would require advance public notice of committee hearings, equal party representation at hearings, and more.

“There are millions of Pennsylvanians that are represented by the minority party,” Williams noted. “And so, it is important that we have a voice within our own chamber to raise issues that we’re hearing about in the district. And right now, we’re held back from that because of the way the rules are functioning.”

Republicans hold the majority in both the state House and Senate, and have not responded to the Democrats’ proposals so far. Earlier this year, the majority-Republican Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee was given subpoena power without any public notice, which Williams cites as one reason for proposing the changes.

In recent years, the group Fair Districts PA worked to get a bill passed to form an independent commission to draw House and Senate voting-district maps, rather than lawmakers. The bill received more than 100 co-sponsors, but powerful committee chairs never brought it to a vote.

Rachel Sorokin Goff, a volunteer with Fair Districts PA, said she’d like to see that change.

“The rules give enormous control to a few people, and the good folks you send to our legislature — and there’s lots of ’em in both parties who you send, who want to work for their communities — really have no voice,” Sorokin Goff asserted. “Most of them can never get a bill passed. They can’t act.”

Senators will also be asked to give minority-party chairs the power to hold committee hearings, and to add legislation to a committee’s agenda.

In another move toward accountability, the Senate began posting detailed expense reports online publicly for the first time last month.

(Photos provided by AHN)

(WEXFORD, Pa)  Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and the greater Pine Township community today are celebrating the birth of the first baby to be born at AHN’s new Wexford Hospital which opened on September 30.  Madison and Tyler Dischinger of Mars, Pa welcomed a healthy baby boy, Ford Dischinger, at 6:29 p.m. on Thursday marking an exciting grand opening milestone for the hospital and its state-of-the-art labor and delivery (L&D) program for women and their families who live in the growing northern region of Allegheny County as well as the adjacent communities of Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties.

As the first baby born, Ford will receive one year of free diapers from the Western PA Diaper Bank, a luxury suite for one Pittsburgh Pirates game in September for the first 10 years of his life, a Mario Lemieux autographed mini hockey stick from the Mario Lemieux Foundation and comfort items from Little Moo. Parents delivering at AHN Wexford within the first year will all go home with fully stocked AHN diaper bags, Chick-fil-A gift cards and baby’s very first birthday cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes, among other celebratory gifts.

 

“Nothing signifies the birth of a new hospital like the welcoming of our first baby into the world,” said Allan Klapper, MD, AHN Wexford president. “At a time when many community hospitals around the country have closed their obstetric programs and many large health systems have consolidated their programs to one or two locations, Highmark Health and AHN have made a choice to expand access to these vital programs for women and families. We knew from the start that AHN Wexford would be our network’s fifth obstetrical hospital, and today, with the birth of baby Ford and the many others who will celebrate their birthdays with us in the years ahead, we see just how important and precious that commitment is to a community and its people.”

The AHN Wexford L&D unit is located on the third floor of the hospital and consists of six L&D rooms, 10 postpartum suites, a private triage area, four Level II neonatal intensive care (NICU) suites, a nursery and two operating rooms designated for patients in labor. The unit’s waiting area also includes an Austin’s Playroom established by the Mario Lemieux Foundation.

The hospital’s large patient rooms are flooded with natural light with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the hospital’s rooftop garden and the Mario Lemieux Foundation Healing Terrace. All suites are private to offer families maximum comfort, security and bonding with baby throughout their stay. Spacious floor plans allow for sleeper couches, plush recliners, birthing beds, bedside fetal monitoring equipment, infant warmers and specialized equipment for infant resuscitation and stabilization.

Patient rooms also include ‘hotel-like’ bathrooms featuring sweeping ceramic tile, walk-in showers and, in certain rooms, grand jacuzzi tubs. Bedside iPads give patients the ability to control their own room temperature, lighting and entertainment with the touch of a button, as well as select their meals from a 24/7 room service menu.

The labor and delivery unit is designed around two central care team stations which are situated to allow for more direct patient access. Centralized fetal monitoring at the care stations provides constant surveillance of mother and baby, so families can rest assured knowing their newest addition is always under careful clinical supervision.

In addition to providing high-risk obstetrical care for moms, AHN Wexford offers four Level II NICU suites for babies in need of heightened care levels. The large, single-bed private rooms allow for parents to stay overnight and in the same room with their baby, even following mom’s discharge, with in-room couches, rocker recliners, refrigeration and bottle warming stations. The AHN Wexford NICU is tied into AHN’s highest level NICU (Level III) located at AHN West Penn for those babies who need an even higher level of care, and is accessible via telemedicine, air or ground transport.

Two dedicated operating rooms are located on the hospital’s third floor and are reserved for cesarean-sections and emergency procedures. Each room offers expansive space for surgical teams, newborns and designated loved ones. Obstetric anesthesia and pain management is also offered 24/7.

“Patient-centered design is evident throughout the entire hospital including the labor & delivery floor at AHN Wexford. The operating rooms feature specialized emerald lighting to promote tranquility and adjacent waiting rooms allow for the expectant mother’s designated loved one to be readily available to enter the O-R following procedure preparation,” said Katie Farah, MD, chief medical officer at AHN Wexford. “From both a patient and caregiver perspective, it’s notable that the entire patient experience from initial triage through labor, delivery and postpartum care – including any required procedures – all takes place on the same floor. The convenience afforded by the space’s design is truly remarkable.”

AHN obstetrician-gynecologists are onsite at the hospital around-the-clock. The AHN clinical team also includes maternal-fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, obstetric anesthesiologists, nurses and nurse practitioners, physician assistants, lactation consultants, social workers, nutritionists, geneticists and genetic counselors and psychiatrists, among others. Premier Women’s Health, Cypher OBGYN and Northern Regional OB/GYN are the core practices delivering at AHN Wexford.

In addition to advanced pregnancy services at the hospital, patients have access to specialists in OB/GYN, maternal-fetal medicine, urogynecology, minimally invasive women’s surgery, behavioral health, gynecologic oncology, midlife health as well as comprehensive breast care, onsite diagnostic imaging and women’s fitness classes at the connected AHN Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion.

“AHN’s commitment to women’s health is comprehensive and addresses every stage of her life. At AHN Wexford and the Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion, we accomplish that goal by offering a vast array of highly specialized, holistic services,” said Marcia Klein-Patel, MD, PhD, chair of AHN Women’s Institute. “As we open the doors to our latest obstetrics program in the region, we not only celebrate the birthdays of today and tomorrow, but also the latest proof point in our organization’s efforts to transforming women’s and infant care, by making it more innovative, more patient-centered and more readily available closer to home.”

AHN Wexford joins AHN West Penn, AHN Forbes in Monroeville, AHN Jefferson in Jefferson Hills and AHN Saint Vincent in Erie as the network’s obstetrical hospitals. These hospitals welcomed approximately 7,800 babies into the world last year.

(Ambridge, Pa.) More than $140,000 in grant funding will help close connectivity gaps for students in the Ambridge Area School District by ensuring all students have access to internet and technology resources, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the funding from the Emergency Connectivity Fund will help schools and libraries ensure students have equal access to tech tools that are so important for off-campus learning.

“Digital access is key to helping reinforce what kids learn in the classroom, but for some, access to those tools is not a given,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help us close the digital divide and ensure all kids have the access they need to achieve, regardless of household income.”

Matzie said the program will help schools and libraries cover costs associated with digital devices such as laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, educators and library patrons who currently lack sufficient access to broadband and connected devices.

The funding is part of a package of $20 million in funding to school districts statewide under the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a temporary fund created through the American Rescue Plan and administered by the Federal Communications Commission.

More about the awards is available here.

The grant is part of the first wave of ECF funding. A second application window is now open, and eligible schools and libraries can apply at www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org.

(Ellwood City, Pa.) Working to assist people in the 10^th Legislative District who are seeking employment, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will be hosting a job fair on Tuesday, Oct. 19, from 3-7 p.m. at the Butler County PennDOT offices located at 351 New Castle Road in Butler.

Those interested in a career with PennDOT are encouraged to attend the event to learn about the various seasonal opportunities available. District employees will be on-hand to answer questions regarding job opportunities and assist those interested with employment applications.

“PennDOT offers competitive wages, a rewarding career, and the opportunity for full-time permanent employment,” said Bernstine. “These employment opportunities can help you build skills and experience that will last throughout your career, even if you change careers later in life.”

Bernstine notes that a person may apply online at https://www.employment.pa.gov/Pages/jobopportunities.aspx.  CDL Medical Certification and drug and alcohol testing are required.

Attendees to the event will be able to apply, interview and road test (if eligible).

For more information about this, or any state-related issue, contact Bernstine’s district office in Ellwood City located at 438 Line Ave. The phone number is 724-752-2120. Information can also be found on online at RepBernstine.com.

(Washington, D.C.) The CDC has released new guidance ahead of the holiday season, adding what they say you can do in order to keep your friends and family safe and healthy.

The Delta variant of COVID-19 remains a big concern, so the CDC is saying if you’re not vaccinated, there are things you should do to make sure you’re protecting your loved ones.

The agency says the safest way to celebrate the holidays is by having virtual celebrations, gathering outside in a socially distanced way, and by celebrating only with people who live in the same household.

If you are gathering indoors, make sure your windows and doors are open for better ventilation, and follow CDC guidelines like wearing a mask indoors if there are a lot of people at the gathering.

It’s also suggested to hold off on holiday travel like flying if possible, unless you’re fully vaccinated. If you’re not fully vaccinated and you’re traveling with children, choose otherways to get to your destination, like driving.

Looking past Thanksgiving, Dr. Anthony Fauci said it’s too soon to tell how things will look by Christmas time.

(Beaver Falls, PA) Photos and story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published October 3, 2021 at 12:41 A.M.

In the featured photo, Cheryl Johnston from Geneva College joins Beaver County Radio’s Frank Sparks during a live remote broadcast held on campus as part of homecoming festivities 2021.
Geneva College started their 2021 Homecoming celebration with a parade through Beaver Falls on Saturday morning. The Golden Tornado Marching Band could be heard throughout downtown as student and other community based organizations followed them as the parade made its way from 12th street to the Geneva campus.  The parade wouldn’t have been complete without the Beaver County Radio fleet also making an appearance. Station Manager Mark Peterson, a Geneva graduate, led the fleet of station vehicles customized with signage from Signs Made Fast .

Once the parade wrapped up, Beaver County Radio’s Frank Sparks and Curtis Walsh maintained a position at the entrance of Reeves Field to give away prizes and conduct  interviews with many Geneva College representatives.  Throughout the afternoon,  Frank Sparks spoke with Geneva staff members Cheryl Johnston, Van Zanic, Dr. Anthony Comer, Dave Layton, Dr. Gordy Richards, President Dr. Calvin Troup, Judy Wilson, and Sarah Faulkner.  Students Mattie Burleigh, Julia Gallagher, Grant Dieter, and Manny Bravo were interviewed as well. Overall the day was a big success and Geneva College enjoyed a well deserved celebration. Photos from the day can be seen below:

 

 

The National Aviary in Pittsburgh continues to get closer in our efforts to bringing Kody home. Thanks to a sighting of Kody in the North Park area, our team was able to identify and find Kody’s location, where he was roosting at the highest point of one of the tallest trees. This team of animal care experts as well as our Executive Director camped out to monitor Kody’s roost throughout the night. Through their observations, they were able to confirm that Kody is still in excellent health and body condition. The Aviary team placed food to encourage Kody to fly towards them; unfortunately earlier this morning Kody did not come down, and was last sighted flying towards North Park.

We are extremely grateful to the community for their support in sharing their sightings of Kody with us. Having had this experience, we are more hopeful that Kody will come home soon, though obviously disappointed that today is so far, not the day. We believe Kody is spending time between North Park, Riverview Park, and may return to Northside areas. If you see Kody, please call the National Aviary at 412-323-7235 right away. Thank you.