Pennsylvania decertifies county’s voting system after audit
By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s top election official has decertified the voting machines of a small southern county that disclosed that it had agreed to requests by local Republican lawmakers and allowed a software firm to inspect the machines as part of an “audit” after the 2020 presidential election. The action by Acting Secretary of State Veronica Degraffenreid almost certainly means that Fulton County will have to buy new voting machines or, as it did in the May primary election, lease new ones. Degraffenreid notified Fulton County officials in a letter Wednesday that the inspection by a firm with “no knowledge or expertise in election technology” violated state law.

(Beaver, Pa.) Sheldon Jeter Jr. was sentenced Wednesday morning to life in prison without parole for killing a childhood friend and roommate Tyric Pugh. Jeter was convicted of the May 2020 killing of Pugh. Earlier in the day a judge denied Shelton Jeter Jr’s lawyers motion for a mistrial. Jeter was convicted by a jury for the May 2020 murder of his lifelong friend and roommate Tyric Pugh.

The defense asked for a mistrial over what they are calling two acts of misconduct by a juror.
The alleged misconduct is that juror number three never revealed that she lived next door to Rachel DelTondo. DelTondo was murdered in front of her parents’ house on Mother’s Day in 2018, and Jeter was a person of interest in that case.
The defense also alleged that the juror violated the judge’s instructions and discussed the case with her father after the judge repeatedly told jurors not to discuss the case even with family members.

(Beaver, Pa.) A Beaver County judge has denied Shelton Jeter Jr’s lawyers motion for a mistrial. Jeter was convicted last month by a jury for the May 2020 murder of his lifelong friend and roommate Tyric Pugh.

The defense asked for a mistrial today over what they are calling two acts of misconduct by a juror.
The alleged misconduct is that juror number three never revealed that she lived next door to Rachel DelTondo. DelTondo was murdered in front of her parents’ house on Mother’s Day in 2018, and Jeter was a person of interest in that case.
The defense also alleges that the juror violated the judges instructions and discussed the case with her father after the judge repeatedly told jurors not to discuss the case even with family members.

Today’s sentencing hearing will continue, and we will let you know as soon as Jeter is sentenced.

(Butler, Pa.) Pa State Police in Butler are reporting today that they have charged an unidentified 35-year-old man from Newville, Pa with Reckless endangerment after Troopers say he drove his Kia through a crowd of people at the Butler Fair Grounds on July 3, 2021, around 5 PM. The release states that the suspect did not hit anyone, and he was placed under arrest and charged with recklessly endangering another person, simple assault by physical menace, and disorderly conduct. The suspect is currently being lodged in the Butler County Jail awaiting his preliminary hearing.

(Pulaski Twp., Pa.) Fire Crews in New Brighton are on the scene of a fire in Pulaski Twp. this. Beaver County Emergency Services said the fire is at 3308 Sunflower Road which is Zirat Auto Electric. Dispatch told Beaver County Radio that crews were starting to be released from the scene as of 7:55 AM.. Please avoid the area while crews are working on the scene. A listener reported that New Brighton Police have Sunflower Road currently block at the intersection with Penn Ave. Stay tune to Beaver County Radio as we will update you as the story continues to develop.

(Beaver, Pa.) Sheldon Jeter Jr is scheduled to be sentenced in Beaver County Court today. Jeter was convicted by a jury of the murder of his life long friend and room mate Tyric Pugh in May of 2020.
According to reports the defense is expected to ask for a mistrial today over what they are calling two acts of misconduct by a juror.
The alleged misconduct is that juror number three never revealed that she lived next door to Rachel DelTondo. DelTondo was murdered in front of her parents house on Mother’s Day in 2018, and Jeter was a person of interest in that case.
The defense also alleges that the juror violated the judges instructions and discussed the case with her father after the judge repeatedly told jurors not to discuss the case even with family members.

(BUTLER, PA) Screening increases the chances that cancer will be caught at its earliest stages, when it is most curable. Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cancer Institute will offer the third in a series of free cancer screenings on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 at AHN Cancer Institute – Butler, located at 160 Hollywood Dr., Butler PA 16001.

Due to limited openings, registration is required and may be made by calling 412-359-6665. Deadline for registration is Aug. 6.

Screenings will be available for breast cancer (for ages 40-plus), cervical cancer (ages 21-65), colorectal cancers (age 50+), head and neck cancers (age 18+), lung cancer (ages 50-80 with a history of smoking), prostate cancer (ages 45+) and skin cancer (ages 18+). The event is open to AHN and non-AHN patients, and health insurance is not required.

Screenings for breast and lung cancer will take place at AHN’s Wexford Health & Wellness Pavilion, 12311 Perry Highway, Wexford.

“In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are very concerned that many people have missed regular cancer screenings due to fears of contracting the virus in a health care setting,” said David Bartlett, MD, Chair, AHN Cancer Institute. “The upcoming event at AHN Cancer Institute – Butler is a great opportunity for residents of Butler County and surrounding areas to conveniently schedule important screening tests that can help us detect early-stage cancers.”

The American Cancer Society urges all people to follow recommendations for regular cancer screenings and to take steps to prevent cancer, including not smoking, exercising, staying at a healthy weight, following a healthy diet and limiting alcohol consumption.

AHN is taking numerous steps to help patients stay safe in its facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic including around-the-clock disinfecting and screening, spaced appointments, distancing in waiting areas and use of personal protective equipment. All patients attending the Butler County event will be screened for COVID-19 on the day before the event and on arrival at either facility.

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new report demonstrates why the last decade’s natural-gas boom in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia fell below expectations and did not generate a large growth in jobs or incomes throughout the region.

A companion report examines a model in Washington state from which local leaders in the region can learn to help transition their economies.

Sean O’Leary, senior researcher at the Ohio River Valley Institute, which produced both reports, said as the mining sector increased and local GDP skyrocketed, jobs in the so-called “Frackalachia” area increased by just 1.6%, combined with a population loss of 37,000.

“It means that not only has the natural gas industry not produced jobs and prosperity to a significant degree so far, but that it is structurally incapable of doing so in the future as well,” O’Leary asserted.

According to the report, the gas industry lacked impact on these communities because not much of the money invested and earned ever entered local economies, because of the natural-gas sector’s lack of labor-intensive jobs, and royalties from leased properties which were less than expected.

The second report focused on Centralia, Washington. After the town’s coal-fired power plant announced a 2025 retirement, its owner pledged to fund a plan to support economic and clean-energy transition. Since then, the town’s economy has grown at twice the rate of the country and has added more than 2,000 jobs.

O’Leary argued as federal proposals focused on clean energy and energy transition are on the horizon, it’s a moment for states such as Pennsylvania to learn from Centralia.

“Will we use it to pursue a Centralia-like strategy, or will we use it to continue chasing the past of fossil-fuel and related industries?” O’Leary questioned.

One county which could potentially benefit from this model is Greene County in southwestern Pennsylvania. The county was part of the natural-gas boom, but still has seen a steady population decrease and lack of job growth.

Mike Belding, chairman of the board of commissioners for Greene County, said he thinks the Centralia model would have a positive impact on Greene County. He pointed out the region is a great place to live, but there’s a need to adapt to the changing economy.

“We’re currently working on broadband, we’re working on recreation, we’re working on those,” Belding outlined. “But there’s really been a 25-year or longer lapse of substantial initiatives to change those attributes in Greene County.”

Belding added the county is opening a startup incubator to provide academic coaching and financial backing to non-fossil-related companies.