(Center Twp, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver reported that they responded to an accident Monday night, September 20, 2021, on Interstate 376 west bound near mile marker 44.3 in between the Center and Aliquippa exits.
This was the second serious accident in the same area in the last few days.
Troopers stated via release that upon arriving on the scene and investigating they learned that a 1992 Ford that was being operated by 60-year-old Peter Giancola of New Castle was traveling west bound when his vehicle drove off of the roadway thru the grass median striking the guide rail for the east bound lanes. The truck overturned on its side coming to a final rest on its side in the east bound lanes.
Giancola was transported via ambulance to UPMC Presbyterian for his injuries as state police continue to investigate.

(Hopewell, Pa.) The Beaver County Conservation District’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Control Program will be conducting a truck-mounted, Ultra Low Volume spray event on Tuesday, September 21th, 2021 between 8pm and 11pm to decrease mosquito populations and reduce the risk of West Nile virus transmission. In case of inclement weather, the rain date will be Thursday, September 23rd.

Areas of focus will be the town of West Aliquippa and the surrounding area. Recent mosquito samples from this location have tested positive for the West Nile Virus.

The pesticide being applied is Aqua Duet and is designed to provide quick, effective control of adult mosquito populations. Aquaduet has a very low toxicity profile to mammals and has little to no impact on non-target insects and the environment. It will be released at 1.33 ounces per acre.

Keystone State News Connection

September 20, 2021

Emily Scott

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A new Redistricting Advisory Council announced last week by Gov. Tom Wolf’s office will focus on reducing gerrymandering as new voting-district maps are redrawn.

The council is made up of six academics and political experts from throughout the state, each with knowledge of redistricting. They will provide recommendations to the governor when he reviews the new congressional-district maps approved by the state Legislature later this year.

Khalif Ali, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, said he hopes the new council ensures the people of the Commonwealth come first.

“Drawing maps is a process that requires some expertise,” said Ali. “I don’t think that the science and logic of drawing maps should supersede the desires and wishes of the citizens of Pennsylvania, as long as they’re within reason.”

The governor’s office also announced a new website where Pennsylvanians can offer feedback on the congressional redistricting process, submit their own proposed maps, and outline communities of interest.

PA’s population grew by only 2.4% in the last decade, and so the state will lose a U.S. House seat.

Pennsylvania’s Legislative Reapportionment Commission, which helps create the state House and Senate district maps, is having an additional public comment hearing tomorrow in Harrisburg, that will be livestreamed.

Maria Gutierrez, director of membership of the Latino grassroots organization CASA, said these hearings give people a chance to share why they think it’s important to keep communities together.

“Our communities want to express that they want not to be divided,” said Gutierrez. “They want to be count[ed] as part of a great community, and not to be divided in sections so their political power be diminished.”

The House State Government Committee has also rescheduled its three redistricting hearings, to be held in October instead of this month, to accommodate state lawmakers’ early return to the Capitol.

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) and House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), held a press conference Monday morning discussing the legislative agenda for the House of Representatives for the next few weeks.

According to Benninghoff, the House will be addressing issues relative to the Tropical Storm Ida disaster emergency declaration, regulatory reform stemming from pandemic-related waivers and suspensions, outstanding legislative issues dealing with the opioid epidemic, and asserting local control in public health decisions.

“The people of Pennsylvania expect their state government—in particular their state legislature—to work for them and respond quickly to rising issues. Several weeks ago, when the decision was made to return to session earlier than planned, we were at a confluence of events that required us to update our calendar to address acute matters for those we represent,” Benninghoff said.

“I am proud of our members’ ability to lead on long-term issues for the people of Pennsylvania while also being reactive to new issues that pop up. The essence of leadership is being able to advance and realize a vision while not losing sight of what is in front of you. House Republicans are a dynamic caucus with an innovative approach to how Pennsylvania can be the Envy of the East.”

Speaker Cutler echoed the House’s earlier-than-planned return to session will be used to address pressing matters for the people of Pennsylvania.

“This fall Pennsylvanians continue to face a number of challenges beyond their control,” Cutler said. “Our residents are rebuilding after a storm, recovering from the pandemic and still dealing with statewide mandates from an over-reaching executive branch. Our members have heard from frustrated people in all corners of our Commonwealth, and we are ready to carry those messages into the work we do in Harrisburg.”

The House will be in session Monday through Wednesday for the next three consecutive weeks.

Harrisburg, PA – Continuing his commitment to combatting campus sexual assault, Governor Tom Wolf announced that $1 million in It’s On Us PA grants are available to colleges, universities, and other postsecondary schools in Pennsylvania. Launched by Governor Wolf in 2016 with the support of education leaders across the commonwealth, including school superintendents and college presidents, It’s On Us PA is a statewide campaign that invites education leaders and all Pennsylvanians to be part of the solution to protect students from sexual violence.

“Pennsylvania’s college and university campuses must be safe places for all students,” said Governor Wolf. “Sexual assault cannot be tolerated, and we all have a responsibility to promote healthy relationships. My administration created the It’s On Us PA grant program to create pathways to tools and training to change campus culture. This year’s grant funding will continue to support this important work on campuses across the commonwealth.”

Since 2016, the Wolf Administration has awarded over 190 It’s On Us PA grants totaling nearly $5 million to more than 75 postsecondary institutions, including public and private two-year and four-year colleges and universities.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education will accept applications for grants of up to $30,000 through October 20, 2021. Grant applications are available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s website.

“Students deserve safe environments where their academic, social, emotional, and professional opportunities can flourish,” said Education Secretary Dr. Noe Ortega. “I am thankful to Governor Wolf for establishing the It’s On Us PA grant program, and proud of our postsecondary partners for building awareness, developing solutions, and working to help keep people safe from sexual assault.”

The institutions use grant funds to implement strategies on their campuses to address goals of the Governor’s It’s On Us PA campaign, which include:

1. Improve awareness, prevention, reporting, and response systems regarding sexual violence in schools, colleges, and universities to better serve all students.
2. Remove or reduce barriers that prevent survivors of sexual violence from reporting and/or accessing vital resources by creating a more consistent, empowering reporting process for student survivors of gender-based violence.
3. Demonstrate significant, proactive, and sustainable leadership to change campus culture by challenging Pennsylvania’s education leaders – including college and university presidents – as well as students, teachers, faculty, staff, families, and communities to pledge to improve their institutions’ climate.

The national It’s On Us campaign was created by the Obama Administration to raise awareness about sexual assault, teach participants that assault includes non-consensual sex, advise them on how to identify dangerous situations, empower them to intervene, and urge them to create an environment of support for victims and survivors.

Governor Wolf signed a bill in June 2019 creating the first new state laws to address campus sexual violence. One law requires postsecondary institutions to offer online, anonymous options for students to report sexual assaults. The other law protects students reporting sexual assault from being disciplined for violating school drug, alcohol, or other policies.

Braddock, PA — Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fetterman on Monday issued the following statement after it was reported that Sen. Joe Manchin thinks Congress should take a “strategic pause” until 2022 before voting on President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda:

“I’ve read the room at every event from Butler County to Bucks County and every county in between, I have not once heard from our voters that Democrats in Washington should slow down. There are no filibuster stans.

“What I am hearing from voters is if Democrats don’t deliver now, when will they, given the Republicans are gleefully setting the table for 2022 and 2024.”

York, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today visited Rivas Deli Grocery II in York, an upcoming COVID-19 vaccine site, to encourage eligible Pennsylvanians who are not yet vaccinated to take advantage of their local community vaccine clinics.

“For people with irregular or unpredictable work hours, limited mobility, language barriers, and other challenges, hosting vaccine clinics where and when people shop for groceries is an excellent opportunity for vulnerable populations to get vaccinated,” said Gov. Wolf. “This upcoming clinic is a great example of how trusted community leaders and organizations can make a difference when they get involved in the vaccination effort.”

On Thursday, September 23, COVID-19 vaccinations will be offered by Family First Health from 12pm – 4pm at Rivas Deli Grocery II, 174 S. Pine St. York, PA 17403.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced that, since January 2021, 97 percent of COVID-19-related deaths and 95 percent of reported hospitalizations due to COVID-19 were in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people.

“Getting vaccinated is our way out of the pandemic. My administration will continue to work with trusted community partners to make vaccines easily accessible for the people who need them,” said Gov. Wolf. “I encourage everyone who is not yet vaccinated to take advantage of this opportunity on Thursday, September 23, at Rivas Deli Grocery II.”

To find local vaccine clinics near you, visit vaccines.gov.

WASHINGTON — The National Institutes of Health director says a government advisory panel’s decision to limit Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots to Americans 65 and older as well as those at high risk of severe disease is a preliminary step and predicts broader approval for most Americans “in the next few weeks.”

Dr. Francis Collins told “Fox News Sunday” that the panel’s recommendation Friday was correct based on a “snapshot” of available data on the effectiveness of Pfizer’s two-shot regimen over time. But he said real-time data from the U.S. and Israel continue to come in showing waning efficacy among broader groups of people that will need to be addressed soon.

Collins, who also appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” said: “I think there will be a decision in the coming weeks to extend boosters beyond the list that they approved on Friday.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, on Sunday praised the advisory board’s plan for covering a “good chunk” of Americans. But he stressed that “this is not the end of the story” based on evolving data and said the recommendations will likely be expanded in the coming weeks to months.

The Food and Drug Administration will consider the advisory group’s advice and make its own decision, probably within days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also is set to weigh in this week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate’s nonpartisan parliamentarian says Democrats can’t use their $3.5 trillion package bolstering social and climate programs to give millions of immigrants a chance to become citizens. The decision by the parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, deals a blow to what was Democrats’ clearest pathway in years to attaining that long-sought goal. And it’s a disheartening setback for President Joe Biden, congressional Democrats and their allies in the pro-immigration and progressive communities. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Senate Democrats are disappointed with the decision but have prepared alternate proposals.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of the United Nations is warning of a potential new Cold War if the United States and China don’t repair their relationship. He calls that relationship between the two large and deeply influential countries “completely dysfunctional.” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to The Associated Press this weekend ahead of this week’s annual United Nations gathering of world leaders. He said the world’s two major economic powers should be cooperating on climate and negotiating more robustly on trade and technology. He says they should be working together even given persisting disputes about human rights, economics, online security and disputes over sovereignty in the South China Sea.