(McKees Rocks, PA)  Governor Tom Wolf announced today a $2 million investment in Allegheny County to support blight remediation in McKees Rocks. Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Dennis Davin joined Sen. Wayne Fontana, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, McKees Rocks Mayor Jack Muhr, McKees Rocks CDC President Taris Vrcek, and others for a press conference in McKees Rocks.

“Since taking office, I’ve repeatedly stressed the need to strategically invest in our communities to allow them to tackle blight and bring unused or abandoned spaces back into productive use,” said Gov. Wolf. “McKees Rocks is a great example of the positive outcomes that can be achieved by supporting communities in an intentional and meaningful way, which improves the quality of life for residents, attracts new businesses, and creates new opportunities for the region.”

In addition to $1 million in Industrial Sites Reuse Program (ISRP) funding and $1 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding announced today, McKees Rocks was approved for $300,000 in Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) funding to address blight.

“Blight is a big issue in communities throughout the commonwealth. This funding will serve as a catalyst to combat blighted housing and create new affordable home ownership opportunities for residents; it also allows the community to continue improvements along Chartiers Avenue at the bank building,” said Sec. Davin. “This $2.3 million investment is a continuation of the support the Wolf administration has provided since the governor took office in 2015, and I want to thank and applaud our local partners for all of their efforts to put this funding to good use in their community.”

This month, the McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation (MRCDC) was approved for $1 million in ISRP grant funding to remediate the former Cathode Ray Tube facility site located at 602 Chartiers Avenue. The site consists of one building totaling 27,000 square feet over four floors and a basement. The overwhelming concern at the property is the large volume of waste in the building primarily comprised of old and decomposed Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) television sets. The funds will be used for the removal and disposal of old television sets and asbestos abatement.

“I’ve always been a proud advocate for McKees Rocks and have always been supportive of their efforts to secure state funding to advance this great neighborhood,” said Sen. Fontana. “There has been significant investment made in recent years to remake industrial sites, revamp the business district and grow housing stock and I look forward to continue supporting these initiatives.”

In December 2020, McKees Rocks was approved for $1 million in RACP funding as part of Phase I of a community-wide blight property rehabilitation plan. More than 50 vacant properties have been identified that need remediation. After further research which included physical visits to each home, the borough has narrowed the list of properties down to 10 initial homes as the priorities for Phase I of this project which include interior demolition and stabilization of the properties.

Additionally, at the May 25, 2021 CFA Board meeting, the borough was approved for $300,000 in Blight Remediation Program funding to acquire and rehabilitate a property, and the borough plans to purchase up to 10 properties for rehabilitation and ultimate resale as affordable housing.  The proposed remediation project is in line with an existing blight remediation plan. The funds will be used for acquisition, renovation, engineering, and infrastructure costs.

“For the first time in six decades, Allegheny County is growing. We have been successful because there are opportunities here. We offer a great quality of life, affordability and are a welcoming community,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “Now is the time to build on that momentum, and this investment in McKees Rocks allows the borough and the county to do exactly that as we work collectively to showcase the community and all of the opportunity that exists within it. Thank you to Governor Wolf, Secretary Davin and Senator Fontana for their continued commitment to expanding opportunities and growing wealth in each municipality.”

“These are strategic investments that will enable a transformative impact in our community by improving public safety, downtown and neighborhood vibrancy, and providing pathways into homeownership for our residents,” said Taris A. Vrcek, Executive Director, McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation.  “We are deeply grateful to the elected officials and PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development for working hand in hand with us over the many years of hard work and diligence it’s taken to get us here. It’s now incumbent upon us as a community to come together and leverage this opportunity so that the community can derive the maximum benefit from these hard earned dollars.”

“We’re moving forward in the community,” said Mayor John “Jack” Muhr, who noted that several new businesses have opened in McKees Rocks recently. “We’re very appreciative of all of the hard work that went into obtaining these grants.”

Last week the governor visited Aliquippa to discuss his administration’s $11 million investment in the Beaver County community that will encourage business development to strengthen the regional economy and benefit working families.

For more information on blight and community assistance, visit the DCED website, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Carbon monoxide poisoning suspected in deaths of couple
NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected in the deaths of an elderly couple in western Pennsylvania. The Westmoreland County coroner’s office said the bodies of 88-year-old Joseph Polinski and 88-year-old Freda Polinski were found late Thursday night after a relative unable to contact them went to their North Huntingdon Township home. Authorities said emergency responders confirmed carbon monoxide levels within the residence. Toxicology tests are being done to confirm the cause of death, but that will take several weeks.

(HARRISBURG,Pa) State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) and state Rep. Carol Hill-Evans (D-York) today introduced legislation to establish a property tax and rent relief rebate program for Pennsylvania’s recent veterans.

The Recent Veteran Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program would provide much-needed relief to Pennsylvania veterans ending active service and entering civilian life within the past three years. The program is modeled after the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program available to senior citizens through the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with Rep. Hill-Evans on this important proposal to provide property tax and rent relief to our recent veteran population – regardless of age,” Muth said. “Veteran homelessness and veterans living in poverty are real, pressing issues in our Commonwealth and this program would help ease some of their financial burden as they transition back into civilian life. We can and we must do more to support the brave men and women that serve and protect our country.”

The Recent Veteran Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program would provide standard rebates of up to $650 on property taxes and rent paid for recent veterans who have a household income of less than $35,000. Veterans who have ended active service or have been honorably discharged within the past three years would be eligible to apply for financial relief.

“I’m very excited to introduce companion legislation with Senator Katie Muth for the Veterans Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program,” Hill-Evans added. “This is an opportunity to give back to our Veterans who have given so much for our freedom. The bill will provide a rebate, increased housing stability, and peace of mind for recently separated Veterans.”

Sen. Muth and Rep. Hill-Evans introduced companion versions of the legislation in the Senate and House, respectively. Both legislators agree that supporting Pennsylvania veterans must be a priority of the legislature and hope for swift action on their legislation.

Dogs intended as dinner now have loving Pennsylvania homes
By MIKE ARGENTO, York Daily Record undefined
YORK, Pa. (AP) — When Meghan Kahler and Steven Halstead adopted the Japanese mastiff, he came with the name Daniel. He is a big, old goofy dog, emphasis on big. Daniel didn’t seem to be a good name, so they changed it. They named him Ham “like Christmas ham,” Meghan said. It made sense. They adopted Ham around Christmas 2020. And just a few months before that, Ham was destined to become ham, having been rescued from a South Korean farm where dogs were bred and raised to be food.  “We think we’re funny,” Steven said. “For a meat market dog, it’s a great name.”

(Aliquippa, Pa.) PA State Police  reported that at 12:30 a.m. Friday morning, August 20, 2021,  Aliquippa Police responded to call for shots fired around the Valley Terrace Housing Complex.  Upon arrival, officers found a male suffering from a gunshot wound. inside an apartment. He was identified at Gamal Rodgers age 27.  He was transported to  to Heritage Valley Sewickley where he was pronounced dead.

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania is behind on its goal to reduce pollution into Chesapeake Bay, and clean-water proponents say legislation in Harrisburg focused on sustainable agriculture could help the state get on track.

One step PA could take would be establishing an Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program, which would fund projects for farmers to plant trees or bushes next to streams or waterways near their land.

Half of the fresh water that flows into the bay comes from Pennsylvania, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Pennsylvania Executive Director Shannon Gority said these so-called riparian buffers could help filter out nitrogen and phosphorous from the farms before they reach the local water and, ultimately, the bay.

“But having the funding to train the people,” said Gority, “to implement and then be able to reimburse the farmers for some of their expenses in operating it, is pretty much the only thing that’s going to get us to where we need to be with respect to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous in our local waters and in the bay.”

The Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program, or A-CAP, was introduced by State Sen. Gene Yaw – R-Williamsport. It was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee in June.

Gority said other pieces of legislation that could help the state reach the necessary blueprint milestones, include U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s REVIVE the CCC Act, which would bring back the 1930s work relief program to address the climate crisis.

Yaw has also proposed a Clean Streams Fund, which would use a portion of the state’s American Rescue Plan funds for the A-CAP program.

“It’s really important that all of the watershed work together to protect the waters in the bay,” said Gority. “Because not only is it saving the bay, but when we save all the local waters that go into the bay, we’re impacting our own water quality, our own environment, our local environment.”

According to the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, which was signed by the six states that are part of the watershed, Pennsylvania is required to have a pollution reduction plan in place by 2025.

(Chippewa Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reported via release yesterday that they were called to the scene of a one vehicle accident on Interstate 376 in Chippewa Twp.  at 1:13 PM August 18, 2021.

Troopers stated in the release that a 2015 Nissan Sentra that was being operated by 21-year-old Alyssa Rhodes of Beaver Falls lost control on the wet roadway and struck the cable guide wire located in the median. After striking the guide wire the car flipped around and tangled into the guide wire coming to a final rest. Rhodes was not injured in the accident but was charged with not driving properly on roadways laned for traffic.