(Scott Twp., Lawrence County, Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they were dispatched to the scene of a one vehicle accident on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, on Rose Point Harlensburg Road in Scott Twp., Lawrence County around 5:54 PM.
Troopers stated via release that upon arriving on the scene and investigating they determined that 24-year-old Kayla Haswell from Ellwood City was operating a 1996 Jeep Cherokee at and unsafe speed around the bend and lost control of her vehicle causing it to roll over and come to rest on its right side facing north.
Haswell was not injured and requested that EMS not respond. She was cited for driving a vehicle at an unsafe speed and her vehicle was towed from the scene.
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf is committed to a fair and transparent redistricting process and today signed an executive order creating the Pennsylvania Redistricting Advisory Council. The six-member council, comprised of redistricting experts, will provide guidance to the governor to assist his review of the congressional redistricting plan which will be passed by the General Assembly later this year. In addition, the governor announced the opening of a redistricting website at which members of the public can submit proposed maps, outline communities of interest, and submit comments to help shape the outcome of this critical part of our democratic process.
“We must bring more fairness and transparency to the redistricting process, so every Pennsylvanian is assured their voice is heard,” said Gov. Wolf. “I have long believed that gerrymandering is wrong, and politicians should not use the redistricting process to choose their own voters. Our commonwealth and our nation were founded on the ideals that voters freely select their own elected leaders.
“The decisions that are made through the drawing of new district boundaries will affect every person and community in Pennsylvania for the next decade. It is one of my most important acts as governor and I take that responsibility extremely seriously. That is why I have tasked this advisory council with listening to the people of Pennsylvania and providing their expert advice so that I can better evaluate the maps in the best interest of all Pennsylvanians.”
Executive Order 2021-05 creates the council that will review processes in other states that reduce gerrymandering, develop factors to determine if a plan improves the integrity and fairness and prevents the dilution of a person’s vote and offer recommendations to ensure that districts are compact and contiguous to keep communities together and ensure people are proportionally represented.
The council members have expertise in redistricting, political science and mapmaking:
Tabatha Abu El-Haj, Ph.D. J.D., professor of law, Drexel University
Lee Ann Banaszak, PhD., political scientist, Penn State University
Beth Campbell Ph.D., mathematician, Gettysburg College
Christopher S. Fowler, PhD., geographer, Penn State University
John J. Kennedy, Ph.D., political scientist, West Chester University
Sozi Tulante, J.D., former Philadelphia City Solicitor
The council will engage the public, redistricting experts, and other stakeholders to make holistic recommendations and emphasize integrity and fairness when drawing boundaries for Pennsylvania’s congressional map.
Voters’ voices and opinions should have a key role in redistricting decisions. In order to provide direct opportunities for the public weigh in and have their voices heard, the Wolf Administration today opened a new redistricting website at which members of the public can submit proposed district maps, outline communities of interest they believe should be given special consideration in the redistricting process and submit comments to be considered by the governor and Redistricting Advisory Council.
“As this critically important process kicks off in Pennsylvania, we want to hear from you,” said Gov. Wolf. “Your vote and your voice matter. So please, take some time to share your thoughts with us.”
Gov. Wolf has long fought to modernize our elections to remove barriers to voting and improve the process for citizens and election officials.
In 2019, the governor signed a landmark law with the most significant improvement to Pennsylvania’s elections in more than 80 years. The law created the extremely popular option to cast a ballot by mail without an excuse and provided more time to register to vote, among other enhancements.
During this term, the governor also helped to secure $90 million to counties with purchasing new voting systems with a paper trail and modern security. The Wolf Administration also created the option for people to register to vote or update their registration online for the first time, which more than 3 million people have used.
Next week, participating McDonald’s restaurants across the tri-state area are saying thank you to healthcare workers for their fortitude throughout the lengthy pandemic.
Starting Sunday, September 19 and continuing through Saturday, September 25, healthcare workers can enjoy a free small Hot or Ice Coffee with any $1 purchase from McDonald’s global mobile app. The special offer is available through the McDonald’s app at more than 200 restaurants in PA, WV, OH and MD.
This special thank you to local medical professionals is part of McDonald’s Community Champions program, an ongoing initiative to demonstrate gratitude for community leaders who provide selfless service to local neighborhoods. The McDonald’s Community Champions program recognizes a different community group each quarter. Other honorees this year include teachers, first responders and law enforcement officials.
“Our restaurants have always been a place for the community to come together and share everyday feel-good moments with family, friends and neighbors,” said McDonald’s Owner/Operator Dan Delligatti. “We are honored to show healthcare workers how much they are appreciated.”
The McDonald’s Community Champions program is a local extension of “Thank You Meal” program offered at McDonald’s restaurants across the country last spring. That initiative served more than 10 million meals to workers serving in frontline positions during the pandemic.
Monaca, PA – Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) proudly introduces CCBC Community Classrooms, a new initiative to support our community members who have been most adversely impacted by COVID-19. Beginning in the Fall, CCBC Community Classrooms will provide personalized concierge-style career and education services to prospective students from Aliquippa and Ambridge. CCBC Community Classrooms will be located at local libraries throughout Beaver County, including B.F. Jones Memorial and Laughlin Memorial Library.
“The stated mission of CCBC is to transform lives through personalized education, dynamic partnerships, and high impact practices,” said Dr. Roger W. Davis, president, CCBC. “In pursuit of this mission, we are pleased to offer this unique learning experience to residents. The word community is in our name. CCBC Community Classrooms activates our mission by providing tailored career and education services to our neighbors who need it most.”
CCBC Community Classroom Offerings
Starting in the second seven weeks of the fall semester, CCBC will offer two three-credit courses, College Success and Writing 101. The 90-minute courses will be held back-to-back simultaneously at Aliquippa and Ambridge libraries on an evening or early Saturday. Both courses will highlight employment opportunities, dream jobs and upskilling within the various lectures and assignments.
“We are happy to be part of this new initiative. We have a strong partnership with CCBC in sharing resources and providing programs,” said Jodi L. Oliver, director, Beaver County Library System. “We are looking forward to working with the College to provide Community Classrooms in our libraries which will give students the opportunity to continue their education in spaces that may be more flexible, comfortable, and convenient for students to access.”
CCBC Community Liaison and Assistant Director of Outreach
Anitre Bell
Demonstrating the College’s commitment to this program, CCBC hired Anitre Bell as Community Liaison and Assistant Director of Outreach to lead this initiative. She will work collaboratively with a wide variety of administrative and academic departments across the college to support adult learners and other community members experiencing barriers to success including finances, childcare, transportation, and academic and career coaching. She will work with a diverse student body, including traditional learners, adult learners, international students, visiting students, and high-performing high school students to navigate the enrollment process, find the career that is right for them, and provide academic support throughout the term.
High Tech and High Touch
Community classrooms students can take advantage of the College’s unique, hybrid format, which is a blend of face-to-face and distance learning. Students have hands-on time with faculty by visiting the Community Classroom once each week, and they also have flexibility by working online.
Access to each library’s computer labs and co-programming such as story hours will also launch throughout the term for students with families.
New Student Orientation
An orientation will be held one week in advance of the first day of class. This will offer students a chance to meet their classmates and instructors, familiarize themselves with the library and the technology it offers, and to practice accessing CCBC email and other CCBC online programs they will need during the term.
Market Research
CCBC completed substantial market research to help identify the barriers facing potential students in the traditionally underserved communities of Ambridge and Aliquippa in Beaver County, Pa. These findings provided insight into strategies and programs for CCBC to mitigate or remove those barriers.
During the first step of the research process, CCBC obtained a thorough understanding of the existing demographic make-up of the communities and the details of similar higher education outreach programs nationwide. The second step involved soliciting feedback regarding CCBC, continuing education and adult education from adults residing within the targeted communities.
Findings indicated that they desire affordability, streamlined application process, specifically designed support services, flexible options that fit their lives, career relevant programs, and a short time to completion. Finances, advances in technology, a sense of belonging, and fear of new teaching and learning formats were cited as barriers.
Biden to survey wildfire damage, make case for spending plan
By AAMER MADHANI and ALEXANDRA JAFFE Associated Press
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden will promote his administration’s use of the Defense Production Act to aid in wildfire preparedness during a western swing in which he’ll survey wildfire damage in Idaho and California. Biden is aiming to drum up support for his massive $3.5 trillion spending plan by linking it to wildfires and social programs while visiting those two states and Colorado. Biden’s trek on Monday and Tuesday also coincides with the recall election of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The president is set to appear with Newsom on the eve of Tuesday’s vote.
Tropical Storm Nicholas threatens Gulf Coast with heavy rain
HOUSTON (AP) — Tropical Storm Nicholas is strengthening just off the Gulf Coast and could make landfall in Texas as a hurricane as it brings heavy rain and floods to coastal areas from Mexico to storm-battered Louisiana. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami say top sustained winds reached 60 mph. It was traveling north-northwest at 14 mph on a forecast track to pass near the South Texas coast later Monday, then move onshore along the coast of south or central Texas by Monday evening. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says the state has placed rescue teams and resources in the Houston area and along the Texas Gulf Coast. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency.
(Photo from Beaver County Radio 70th Anniversary Celebration in May of 2018 as Faiella performs with Jimmie Ross and the Jaggerz)
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) During the Jaggerz appearance at the Turners on Friday night it is being reported by band mates that Benny Faiella suffered a mild heart attack while on stage. After the show on Friday band member Hermi Granati posted a message on his Facebook page saying Please everyone say some prayers for Benny “Eugene” Faiella from The Jaggerz who endured a mild heart attack on stage at the Beaver Falls Turners last night, but like the tough West Aliquippa Paisano he is, he played it out and hit every note!
Granati’s post went on to say that:
“He is in good spirits at Heritage Valley Hospital in Brighton Twp and the doctors will figure out if it is a blockage of some kind – I and many other people love this guy like family – we lift him in faith for a full recovery – praise God Almighty”
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf sent a letter to Senate and House leadership and chairs of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee in response to their request seeking data on COVID-19 from the Department of Health.
“My administration is committed to transparency and we have released a historic amount of public data throughout this pandemic,” Gov. Wolf said. “I appreciate the leaders’ concerns and we will provide the General Assembly with additional data, including data by legislative district.”
The governor said the Wolf Administration will be releasing vaccination reports by legislative district so that the General Assembly and public can better understand how well each member’s district is performing.
As the voters of Pennsylvania have asked the legislature to play a greater role in the management of emergencies, the governor also urged the General Assembly to create a frequently updated dashboard to track efforts by legislative district to help encourage vaccinations.
“We must work together to stop the spread of this terrible virus; therefore, in return, I am asking the General Assembly to share this forthcoming data with their constituents, so Pennsylvanians have another resource on the impact of COVID-19 in their communities,” Gov. Wolf said. “I once again encourage all legislators to join me in urging all eligible Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated.”
The Department of Health’s COVID-19 Dashboard and Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard already provide significant state and county level case data, and the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard provides statewide and county level vaccination information. The Department of Health provides updates to these data points and more daily.
The Department of Health has publicly released a historic amount of data on COVID-19 details and demographics to help inform the General Assembly and the general public throughout the pandemic, and they continue to do so. We are happy to provide more information regarding your specific requests as follows:
Case count data for individuals 0-18 years old is available, though this information will be updated weekly rather than daily.
We are finalizing information for public release early next week on post-vaccine cases, but also for hospitalizations and deaths.
The Department relies upon multiple experts to forecast COVID-19 metrics, many of which are compiled by the CDC. We would encourage you to utilize the CDC’s publicly available compilation of forecasting to find and monitor projected data for the weeks and months ahead.
I very much appreciate your concern about making sure Pennsylvanians are vaccinated. Unfortunately, as you can see from the Department of Health’s data dashboard, we continue to lag significantly in many areas of the state. Sadly, this is holding us all back, and, in part, leads to having to issue school mask mandates to protect our children and keep our classrooms open as part of the broader effort to keep Pennsylvanians on the job to fuel our economic recovery.
Together, the Vaccine Task Force has helped make Pennsylvania a national leader on vaccines. However, we need efforts from every member of the General Assembly to continue to improve vaccination outcomes. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing vaccination reports by legislative district so that the General Assembly and public can better understand how well each member’s district is performing.
In July, I wrote the General Assembly a letter asking for help in getting individuals vaccinated. As the voters of Pennsylvania have asked the legislature to play a greater role in the management of emergencies, I am asking you to create a frequently updated dashboard to track efforts by each member of the General Assembly to help encourage vaccinations. This should include information such as how many vaccination clinics have been publicized or facilitated by each member of the legislature, what vaccination outreach has taken place through various media forums, and efforts members plan to take to educate parents and students about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine as we anticipate its approval for younger ages in the coming months. Information to assist members in these efforts can be found on the Commonwealth’s PA Unites Against COVID website.
Our goal should be to strive to be the best state in the country on vaccinations, and your partnership is critical. Thank you again for your interest in this vitally important effort.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The National Association of State Foresters was formed in 1920, with its first meeting in Harrisburg amid an increase in large wildfires throughout the country. One hundred and one years later, it met back in Pennsylvania to learn best practices to help fight forest-health issues similar to what they saw a century ago.
Because of the pandemic, last year’s conference went virtual. State foresters just wrapped up their 2021 in-person meeting in Pittsburgh with the last 100 years on their mind.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the state battled many wildfires, reducing the extent of once common tree species. State forester Ellen Shultzabarger said the lessons of the past can help inform the future of how we maintain forests.
“So we were talking about forest health 100 years ago,” said Shultzabarger. “Forests and these pests and these issues don’t just stay within boundaries, and it’s extremely important for us to work with our neighboring states and with our partners to really be effective in having good forest management moving forward.”
Forests cover nearly 60% of Pennsylvania. The state recently released its once-a-decade Forest Action Plan that assessed forest conditions and long-term sustainability goals.
Connecticut State Forester Chris Martin said the collaboration between state foresters is critical for preparing for extreme weather events as they become more common.
Martin said foresters in the Northeast learned from those in the South about their Urban Forestry Strike Teams, which deploy arborists to evaluate trees hit by storms to help FEMA make decisions on whether damaged trees need to be removed or will recover on their own.
“That’s a huge benefit financially to FEMA,” said Martin. “Because when you take a tree down, it’s far more expensive than if you have to take a couple limbs off and to make it safe and let the tree respond healthily. That’s been something that’s been working in southern states for several years, one of my takeaways that I wanna see happen in the Northeast.”
Among the policy decisions made at the conference include the approval of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, to protect forests from threatening invasive species.
