Darlington, PA – The Shapiro Administration will hold a Small Business Resource Fair on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 in Darlington Township, Beaver County. This is an opportunity for small businesses, farmers, and residents to receive the resources they need as they recover from the impacts of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The resource fair will be open from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

 

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Small Business Ombudsman’s Office and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will be joined by local partners to connect residents and small businesses with information on grant and loan opportunities and other state resources.

 

“We want to help the residents of this community get their lives back to what they were before the Norfolk Southern train derailment,” said Acting DEP Secretary Rich Negrin. “This resource fair demonstrates the Shapiro Administration’s continued commitment to the people affected by the derailment. From environmental sampling, to health screenings, and – now – small business assistance, the Commonwealth is standing behind Beaver and Lawrence counties.”

 

“The Shapiro Administration has been a united front in directly addressing the concerns of Pennsylvanians whose lives and businesses were upended when the train derailed,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “We are working together diligently to provide and verify the test results they need to restore their families’ and customers’ confidence in the safety of food grown and produced in the region, to connect Pennsylvanians with the resources they need, and to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for the costs.”

 

The Small Business Resource Fair is open to the public. More information on the programs offered can be found here 

 

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published May 16, 2023 8:55 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) Community Discussions in regards to the March swatting scare are taking place in Hopewell. One will be held tonight in a high school classroom at 6p.m. On Wednesday, May 17, 2023 the discussion will be held at Independence Elementary School in the library at 6 p.m. The last of the community sessions is scheduled for Thursday, May 25 in the Margaret Ross Elementary School Library at 6 p.m.

President Joe Biden attends his granddaughter Maisy Biden’s commencement ceremony with first lady Jill Biden and children Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Monday, May 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joe Biden took a break from being president on Monday to focus on just being “pop” at his granddaughter Maisy Biden’s graduation from the University of Pennsylvania. The president’s grandchildren call him “pop.” Maisy is the youngest daughter of Biden’s son Hunter. Other than a few waves to students who waved at him and took photos, President Biden was just another face in the crowd. Also attending the ceremony were first lady Jill Biden, Maisy’s older sisters, Naomi and Finnegan, and the Bidens’ daughter Ashley Biden. The family went to lunch afterward at a Vietnamese restaurant in Philadelphia.

(Ambridge, PA) – To celebrate the reopening of the Fine Wine & Good Spirits (FW&GS) at 999 Merchant St., Ambridge, Beaver County, all in-store wines, spirits and accessories will be 10% off during regular business hours from Monday, May 15, through Wednesday, May 18.

Store hours will be Monday and Tuesday, 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., and Wednesday through Saturday, 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. The store phone number is 724.624.9601.

Additional locations and store hours can be found at FWGS.com.

The store closed for renovations on Saturday, April 22. The 10% off sale is only on items in this store during these three days.

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates 600 wine and spirits stores statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and store profits – totaling nearly $19.5 billion since the agency’s inception – are returned to Pennsylvania’s General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania’s schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state. For more information about the PLCB, visit lcb.pa.gov.

AAA projects 42.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend*, a 7% increase from 2022. This year, 2.7 million more people will travel for the unofficial start of summer compared to last year. This is expected to be the third-busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when AAA started tracking holiday travel.

“The world has reopened and there is a lot of pent-up demand for travel,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “From unique destinations like Egypt to the always popular beach trips and cruises, more Americans are planning those special vacations this summer with family and friends.”

Nearly 3.4 million travelers are expected to fly to their destinations this Memorial Day, an increase of 11% from last year. Air travel over the holiday weekend is projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels, with 170,000 more passengers – or 5.4% more – than in 2019. Despite high ticket prices, demand for flights is skyrocketing. This Memorial Day weekend could be the busiest at airports since 2005.

Memorial Day road trips are up 6% from last year. More than 37 million Americans will drive to their destinations, an increase of more than 2 million. Gas prices are lower this holiday compared to last year, when the national average was more than $4 a gallon. Despite the lower prices at the pump, car travel this holiday will be shy of pre-pandemic numbers by about 500,000 travelers.

More people this holiday are taking other modes of transportation, such as buses and trains. These travelers are expected to total 1.85 million, an increase of 20.6% from 2022.
Mid-Atlantic Region Memorial Day Forecast Highlights:
*Region includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Method of Travel	Total Travelers	Increase from 2022
Automobile	4.5 million	6.0%
Air travel	342,000	8.9%
Other (bus, train, ship, etc.)	124,000	8.7%
Region Total	4.9 million	6.2%

Best/Worst Times to Travel and Peak Congestion by Metro
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Friday, May 26 to be the busiest day on the roads during the long Memorial Day weekend. The best times to travel by car are in the morning or evening after 6 p.m. The lightest traffic days will be Saturday and Sunday. Major metro areas like Boston, New York, Seattle and Tampa will likely see travel times double compared to normal.

Top Destinations
AAA booking data for the Memorial Day weekend shows tourist hotspots like Orlando, New York City and Las Vegas are top domestic destinations. Cruise port cities in Florida and Alaska, as well as Seattle, are high on the list with a 50% increase in domestic cruise bookings compared to last year. Other popular U.S. cities this Memorial Day include Denver, Boston, Anaheim and Canton, Ohio – home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Travelers are paying more for Memorial Day trips this year, in large part due to the rising cost of airline tickets. AAA booking data shows a 40% increase in airfare to this year’s top destinations. But that’s not stopping travelers from booking flights abroad. International travel is surging with bookings 250% higher this holiday weekend compared to 2022. European cities are the most popular, including Rome, Paris, Dublin, London, Barcelona and Athens. International car rentals are up more than 80% from 2022. AAA reports strong sales for International Driving Permits this year, almost double what they were last year. The passport courier service RushMyPassport is also seeing an unprecedented number of applications for expedited passport and visa services this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be Road-Ready
For the 37.1 million Americans hitting the road, it’s always advisable to get vehicles road-trip ready with a full-vehicle inspection. AAA expects to respond to more than 480,000 calls for help over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Have key vehicle components checked like the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels and make sure to have a fully stocked vehicle-emergency kit.

 

Holiday Forecast Methodology

Travel Forecast
In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic-travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from S&P Global Market Intelligence’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing-market indicators and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel and hotel stays. AAA and S&P Global Market Intelligence have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/Monitor^SM. The PERFORMANCE/Monitor^SM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts more than 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends and forecast U.S. travel behavior — all after the trips have been taken.

The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday-travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of April 17, 2023.

*Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period
For purposes of this forecast, the Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as the five-day period from Thursday, May 25 to Monday, May 29. The five-day holiday length is consistent with previous holiday periods.

About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com.

About DKSA
DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding more than 60,000 traveling households annually and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.

About INRIX  

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic-signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last-mile delivery or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 69 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) introduced the Build, Utilize, Invest, Learn, and Deliver (BUILD) for Veterans Act of 2023—commonsense legislation to modernize and streamline the delivery of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities and other infrastructure projects, bolster its workforce, and save public money by expediting the disposal or repurposing of unused and vacant buildings owned by the VA.

“Getting my fellow veterans their earned healthcare and benefits starts with ensuring the VA has the high-quality infrastructure in place to provide the care and services veterans depend on,” said Rep. Deluzio. “As the VA is poised to welcome in so many more veterans due to the PACT Act’s implementation, we need to be investing in our VA healthcare facilities. The BUILD for Veterans Act will help in this effort by strengthening VA’s capacity to deliver veterans state-of-the-art care and saving public money in the process.”

“Getting our veterans the access to healthcare they deserve starts with bolstering the Department of Veterans Affairs’ infrastructure,” said Ranking Member Takano. “With many VA facilities over 50 years old, veterans know how hard it can be to get an appointment booked, access a facility nearby their homes, and receive all of the healthcare services they need. By modernizing the systems and infrastructure through the implementation of the BUILD for Veterans Act, our veterans will receive better care and have a more streamlined experience with VA.”

Rep. Mrvan stated, “Thank you to Rep. Deluzio for his leadership to advance the BUILD for Veterans Act and improve the capabilities of our VA healthcare infrastructure. I look forward to continuing to work with all of my colleagues to advance this critical initiative to ensure the VA has the infrastructure in place to provide all of our selfless veterans with the care they have earned.”

Currently, the VA is facing challenges retaining the workers and consistent funding to initiate the building or remodeling of facilities identified by the Department. To overcome this hurdle the BUILD for Veterans Act would strengthen the Department’s ability to initiate critical projects to better meet the need of current and future veterans—including women veterans, veterans in need of long-term care services, and veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases. Among its many provisions, the bill would require VA to implement a more concrete schedule to eliminate or repurpose unused and vacant buildings, develop and execute a plan to hire construction personnel, examine infrastructure budgeting strategies and identify required reforms, and provide annual budget requirements over a 10-year period.

Veterans’ advocates threw their support behind the Congressman’s efforts to strengthen and modernize the delivery of VA infrastructure:

“The VFW fully supports the BUILD for Veterans Act which would improve VA’s facilities around the country,” said Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) National Legislative Director Pat Murray. “VA infrastructure has been underprioritized for far too long and left without a plan for addressing many of the outdated buildings or the backlog of work. The BUILD for Veterans Act will require VA to develop and implement plans, to remedy this problem that has plagued VA for years. We are grateful for Congressman Deluzio’s efforts to deliver infrastructure solutions to VA and for bringing attention to this often-overlooked problem.”

“With the growing number of veterans expected to enter the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care system in the coming decades, it has become increasingly imperative that Congress take the lead in strengthening VA’s health care infrastructure, and Rep. Deluzio’s BUILD for Veterans Act is a critical first step toward achieving that goal,” said Joy Ilem, National Legislative Director of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). This legislation would strengthen VA’s ability to construct, manage and maintain hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities across the country. DAV strongly supports the BUILD for Veterans Act and commends Rep. Deluzio for his continued leadership and commitment to the men and women who served, particularly those injured, made ill or disabled from their service.”

“VA’s specialized health care services for veterans with catastrophic disabilities are crucial to meeting their lifelong unique health care needs,” said Paralyzed Veterans of America Associate Executive Director for Government Relations Heather Ansley. “The BUILD for Veterans Act represents a comprehensive approach to addressing problems with VA’s internal processes that have historically inhibited its ability to ensure the department’s infrastructure can meet the ever-increasing demand for not only acute health care services but also facility-based long-term care. We appreciate Rep. Deluzio introducing this important legislation in the House and urge its swift passage.”

“A top priority of The American Legion is ensuring VA has state-of-the-art facilities to support veterans medical and mental healthcare needs,” said The American Legion National Commander Vincent J. Troiola. “Robustly investing in and revitalizing the aging VA infrastructure is critical to the VA healthcare systems overall success. We must ensure VA is properly resourced and structured to manage the infrastructure of the largest integrated healthcare network in the U.S. By improving VA capital asset programs and increasing congressional oversight, the BUILD for Veterans Act will assist in establishing a foundation for VA’s infrastructure modernization efforts. We greatly appreciate Congressmen Deluzio and Mrvan’s leadership on this issue.”

“The BUILD for Veterans Act is a commonsense approach toward modernizing VA facilities that is not only a good deal for veterans but for the taxpaying Americans who want to see us get world-class care at the VA,” said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America’s CEO Allison Jaslow. “The BUILD for Veterans Act provides badly needed reforms to enable the VA to modernize facilities and strengthen oversight and management of the agency’s capital asset program and project execution. We commend Representative Deluzio for his leadership on behalf of his fellow veterans, and for making VA’s infrastructure a priority.”

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published May 15, 2023 10:59 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Leaders from Brooklyn, New York-based 72 Steel, LLC will join leaders and officials from Beaver County and southwestern Pennsylvania to announce a major economic development project for Aliquippa Tuesday.  The site of the former J&L Steel Corporation will serve as a new steel mill.  Groundbreaking is set for Tuesday morning, and the project is expected to be complete by 2025. Rob Matzie, Dan Camp, and Chuck Betters are expected to take part in the event. Beaver County Radio will be providing live updates from the site Tuesday as we learn more on this major new development for Aliquippa and the rest of the county.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing drilling operations on Golf Course Road (Route 3014) in Hopewell Township, Beaver County will occur Monday, May 15 weather permitting.

Single-lane alternating traffic on Golf Course Road will occur between the dead end and Crissman Drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.  Crews will conduct drilling work.

Please use caution if traveling in the area.