(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

New Brighton borough manager Tom Albanese previewed a “full agenda” at the council’s February 16 meeting, and full it was–including the official ceremony for the council to be full once again.

The meeting began with a presentation by Ron Bogolea of Legacies Alive, who presented the council with an opportunity for the borough to show “storyboards” of fallen soldiers in designated areas, using a fiberglass base for the display. Albanese asked to continue discussions with Bogolea about the proposition following the presentation.

The council then voted unanimously to appoint Julie Martin of North Sixteenth Avenue to fill the Fifth Ward position on Council following the passing of council member Nick Campagna on January 21. Martin was sworn in by Mayor Tom Albanese and officially joined the New Brighton Council.

Coincidentally, the council then hired J. Martin & Associates as borough auditors for the calendar year of 2023 at a cost of $17,900 (the accounting firm was in no relation to the newest council member just sworn in minutes prior).

Much of the agenda focused on police and patrol measures, beginning with the hiring of Alexander Bitts as a full-time patrol officer in accordance with the Civil Service rules and regulations. The council then unanimously voted for a request to the Civil Services Commission to provide an eligibility list for school resource officer and patrol officer following the testing of candidates, along with testing for the positions of Sergeant and Corporal. Officer Keith Smith was reinstated to full Civil Service status following a successful one-year probation.

The 1995 Chevrolet G-30 van that was up for sale after being used by the New Brighton Public Works had its sale to Florida resident Dan Johnson approved by the council at an amount of $3,336. Youngblood Paving in Wampum was awarded a contract for the borough’s paving program this year, at an amount of $228,613.14. Of that total, $67,198.57 will be reimbursed by Pulaski Township for road work in the township.

Oak Hill Field will be the practice field for the New Brighton Little Lions following a unanimous vote by council, as was the closure of segments along 10th Street (from 3rd Avenue to 4th Avenue) and 11th Street (from 3rd to 5th) for a “Wine Walk” event to be held by the New Brighton Public Library on June 30.

The next New Brighton Council meeting is scheduled for March 16 at 7:00 PM.

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Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Shapiro Administration announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be conducting independent water sampling to closely monitor water contamination risks related to the East Palestine train derailment that took place on February 3, 2023. In addition, DEP is assisting concerned public water suppliers in evaluating their source water at the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority’s surface water intake on the Beaver River.

“My Administration is taking steps to independently verify the safety of Pennsylvanians’ water — and will continue to do so in the months to come,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “As we work to learn more about this incident and hold Norfolk Southern accountable, the Commonwealth will also lead the way so that Pennsylvanians are aware of and protected from any threats to their safety and resources that may arise. Our independent testing will ensure the data we are receiving is accurate and timely so we can partner effectively with local communities to provide the information Pennsylvanians need and deserve.”

“Keeping Pennsylvanians safe is our top priority,” said Rich Negrin, Acting Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. “Leading our own independent testing now will give us a necessary baseline so that we can track any changes to Pennsylvanians’ water in the months ahead. We will continue to do our part to test the water to determine the impacts of this train derailment, and keep Pennsylvanians informed and safe.”

DEP will be taking independent samples from Norfolk Southern sampling sites for examination by the DEP Bureau of Laboratories. DEP will also be taking independent water samples in Pennsylvania within a 2-mile radius of the derailment site. Samples will be taken monthly to watch for any long-term impacts.

DEP’s Bureau of Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields has performed a basic evaluation of the groundwater flow and geology near the derailment site and believes that there is not likely to be any contamination of water wells in Pennsylvania. Residents with concerns about private well water should contact the DEP Southwest Regional Office at 412-442-4000 for more information about well testing.

A Beaver Falls Municipal Authority water treatment plant is located 11 miles from the train derailment site. The closest Community Public Water Supply is PA American Ellwood City, which is 10.5 miles from the site. DEP is also investigating a small public water supply that is located along the Little Beaver River that utilizes spring sources.

Pennsylvania continues to see no concerning air or water quality readings following this incident. Based on the air monitoring results at the time of the incident at the site as well as the perimeter air monitoring, DEP has not observed any contaminants of concern leaving a 2-mile area around the derailment site and entering into Pennsylvania. DEP is coordinating with Ohio EPA, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), Federal EPA, and Norfolk Southern’s contractor, CTEH, to review sample information for surface waters.

Earlier this week Governor Josh Shapiro issued a letter to Norfolk Southern raising questions about the emergency response that was undertaken in the immediate aftermath of the derailment and vowing to hold the company accountable. The Shapiro Administration has also highlighted further information about air and water quality, which can be found here.

Visit here for more information about DEP’s sampling efforts and other details about the derailment. For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, please visit the website or follow DEP on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman’s Chief of Staff, Adam Jentleson, on Thursday released the following statement

“Last night, Senator John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to receive treatment for clinical depression. While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks.

“On Monday, John was evaluated by Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress. Yesterday, Dr. Monahan recommended inpatient care at Walter Reed. John agreed, and he is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis.

“After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a parents rights rally Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence says he’ll challenge a subpoena by the special counsel overseeing investigations into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Pence says the subpoena to a vice president is unprecedented and unconstitutional. And he says he’s prepared to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court. Pence is basing his challenge on constitutional grounds, namely the separation of power among the branches of government. The potential 2024 presidential candidate spoke Wednesday in Minneapolis as well as in Iowa, a key early-voting state on the presidential primary calendar.

FILE – The screen at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans honors Tyre Nichols before an NBA basketball game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Washington Wizards, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. Officials said late Wednesday, Feb. 15, that two sheriff’s deputies who have been suspended for five days for their role in the arrest of Nichols failed to keep their body cameras activated after they went to the location where Nichols had been beaten by five Memphis police officers. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton, File)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities say two sheriff’s deputies who have been suspended for five days for their role in the arrest of Tyre Nichols failed to keep their body cameras activated after they went to the location where Nichols had been beaten by five Memphis police officers. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said late Wednesday that deputies Jeremy Watkins and Johntavious Bowers each violated multiple policies after they reported to the location of Nichols’ violent arrest on Jan. 7. Nichols had fled a traffic stop but was caught by Memphis Police Department officers who punched him, kicked him and hit him with a baton.

File – A consist of John Deere tractors sit in Norfolk Southern’s Conway Yard in Conway, Pa., Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. On Thursday, the Labor Department releases the producer price index for January, an indicator of inflation at the wholesale level that’s closely monitored by the Federal Reserve. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices in the United States reaccelerated in January, indicating that inflation pressures continue to underlie the U.S. economy despite longer-term signs of improvement. From December to January, the government’s producer price index jumped 0.7%, driven up in part by a 5% surge in energy prices. That surge compared with a 0.2% drop from November to December, and it was nearly twice the increase that economists had been expecting. The producer price data can provide an early sign of how fast consumer inflation will rise. While the monthly inflation surge was worse than expected, price increases measured over the past 12 months continued to show a slowdown.

FILE – This July 8, 2018, file photo shows Tesla 2018 Model 3 sedans sitting on display outside a Tesla showroom in Littleton, Colo. The U.S. government has opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot partially automated driving system, saying it has trouble spotting parked emergency vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the action Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, in a posting on its website. (AP Photo/David Zalubowsi, File)

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla is recalling nearly 363,000 vehicles with its “Full Self-Driving” system to fix problems with the way it behaves around intersections and following posted speed limits. The recall came after U.S. safety regulators expressed concerns about the way Tesla’s system responds in four areas along roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Thursday on its website that Tesla will fix the concerns with an online software update in the coming weeks. The documents say Tesla is doing the recall but does not agree with an agency analysis of the problem.

FILE – Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 28, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. Trump and his allies have been put on notice by a prosecutor, but the warning didn’t come from anyone at the Justice Department. It’s from a Georgia prosecutor who indicates she is likely to seek criminal charges soon in a two-year election subversion probe. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

ATLANTA (AP) — A special grand jury that investigated efforts by then-President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his election loss in Georgia is expressing concerns that “one or more witnesses” called to testify may have lied under oath. The panel recommends that the district attorney “seek appropriate indictments for such crimes where the evidence is compelling.” But the report does not name the people who are alleged to have lied. In addition to the section on perjury, the report’s introduction and conclusion were released Thursday. But any recommendations on potential criminal charges for specific people will remain under wraps for now.

WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is prepared for spring break travelers and offers a few travel tips for the most efficient checkpoint experience. The spring break travel season begins around Feb. 17 and continues through April 21. TSA anticipates that its Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) will screen increasing numbers of passengers at airport checkpoints as travel volumes may exceed pre-pandemic levels.

“In January, we experienced our first full month where travel volumes exceeded the same month in 2019. We fully expect to see an upward trend in travel volumes throughout 2023, including during the spring break period,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “We coordinate closely with airports and air carriers to prepare for the projected increase in travel volumes and we expect to meet our wait time standards of 30 minutes or less in standard lanes and 10 minutes or less in TSA PreCheck^® lanes. However, there may be some situations where the capacity of a checkpoint is exceeded.”

TSA continues to make progress on investments and policies that enhance security, advance checkpoint efficiency and improve the passenger experience, including:

• Maintaining a near constant recruiting effort to hire and train new officers on the frontline, needed to accommodate growing passenger volumes.
• Increasing signage, public awareness and civil penalties of up to nearly $15,000 in an effort to reduce the number of firearms at TSA checkpoints.
• Investing in technology deployments that improve identity verification, prohibited items detection and an algorithm update on the Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) that will substantially reduce false alarms and the number of unnecessary pat-downs.

TSA recommends the following top six travel tips to help spring break travelers arrive prepared for the most efficient TSA checkpoint experience:

Tip 1: Pack smart – start with an empty bag and ensure you do not have any prohibited items. Do not attempt to bring a firearm through a TSA checkpoint; doing so compromises the safety and security of other passengers and our officers in the checkpoint. Passengers who attempt to bring a firearm through a checkpoint will receive a civil penalty (fines may be as high as $15,000) and lose eligibility for TSA PreCheck. Additionally, local law enforcement will be called and because these passengers may present additional risk beyond the firearm, they may receive enhanced screening. Other prohibited items include explosives, flammables, knives, razors, replica weapons and more. To avoid delays, passengers should view TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” page and begin packing with a bag that is empty.        

Tip 2: Remember the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule. Passengers may bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes through the checkpoint as long as each item is 3.4 ounces or less. Liquids over 3.4 ounces must be packed in a checked bag. Sunscreen in a container larger than 3.4 ounces is commonly available, but is not considered to be medically necessary as a carry-on item. Larger quantities of sunscreen are allowed in checked bags. Any liquid, aerosol, gel, cream or paste that alarms during screening will require additional screening.

Alcoholic beverages with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to five liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging. Alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations in checked bags. For carry-on bags, passengers are limited to containers of 3.4 ounces or less that can fit comfortably in one quart-sized, clear, zip-top bag.  FAA regulations prohibit travelers from consuming alcohol on an aircraft unless served by a flight attendant. Additionally, flight attendants are not permitted to serve a passenger who appears to be intoxicated.

Medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols over 3.4 ounces are allowed in reasonable quantities, but they must be declared at the checkpoint for inspection. TSA allows one liquid hand sanitizer container up to 12 ounces per passenger in carry-on bags until further notice. These containers will need to be screened separately, which will add some time to the checkpoint screening experience.

Tip 3: Enroll in TSA PreCheck. First trip without the parents? Get your own TSA PreCheck membership. In January 2023, 92% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than five minutes at TSA checkpoints nationwide. Traveling with the kids? Children 12 and under may join a parent/guardian with TSA PreCheck in the dedicated lanes. Most new enrollees receive a Known Traveler Number (commonly referred to as “KTN”) within five days, and membership lasts for five years. The enrollment fee for five years is $78; online renewals are $70. Don’t delay, enroll in TSA PreCheck today.

Tip 4: Ask TSA before you travel. Contact TSA’s travel security experts over social media by sending a message to @AskTSA on Twitter or Facebook Messenger. Passengers may also send a text directly to 275-872 (“AskTSA”) on any mobile device. An automated virtual assistant is available 24/7 to answer common questions and AskTSA staff is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST daily, including holidays and weekends for more complicated questions. Travelers may also reach the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST on weekends/holidays. An automated service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Tip 5: Arrive early and carry on kindly. Spring break travelers should give themselves plenty of time to account for traffic, parking, rental car returns, airline check-in, security and making any airport purchases before boarding a flight. Avoid consuming excessive amounts of alcohol prior to boarding, as flight attendants and gate agents may deny boarding to intoxicated passengers. Passengers who engage in unruly behavior at the checkpoint or inflight may face substantial penalties and possible prosecution on criminal charges.

Tip 6: Be checkpoint ready. Arrive at the checkpoint lane with a mobile or printed boarding pass and valid ID readily available. When approaching the screening area, remember to empty pockets and place the contents in a bin or carry-on bag. Those without TSA PreCheck must remove large electronics and 3-1-1 liquids from carry-ons. All travelers will be asked to remove outerwear prior to screening. Listen closely and follow instructions of the TSA officer for guidance through the screening process.

TSA encourages all passengers to remain vigilant. If You See Something. Say Something®. Those traveling abroad for spring break should check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Know Before You Go page to learn about required documentation.

For more information about TSA screening procedures, visit the customer service page and read the frequently asked questions or watch TSA’s travel tips videos.