Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 15, 2024 3:26 P.M.

(Rochester, Pa) At 7:30am Rochester Police responded to 2 accidents, one on the Rochester-Monaca Bridge, and one on the East Rochester-Monaca Bridge.  A police spokesman said the drivers will possibly receive citations due to the rainy conditions and driver error. Both bridges were reopened after the accidents were cleared.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane restrictions in the Fort Pitt Tunnel (I-376) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur Sunday and Monday nights, March 17-18.

A single-lane restriction will occur in the Fort Pitt Tunnel from 9:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. each night according to the following schedule:

• Sunday night, March 17 – Inbound (eastbound)
• Monday night, March 18 – Outbound (westbound)

PennDOT crews will conduct lighting repair work.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania National Guard and Pennsylvania American Legion, has begun accepting applications for its annual youth camp. The Elmer Hafer-American Legion-State Police-National Guard Youth Camp will be held June 9-15, 2024, at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County.

The six-day summer leadership camp is for teenagers, ages 15 to 17, interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or the military. The camp, formerly known as State Police Youth Week, works to improve the relationship between Pennsylvania’s youth and the law enforcement community. This year marks the 52nd camp held since its inception in 1970.

“This camp and others like it, including our Camp Cadet programs, offer young people a chance to build confidence and enhance leadership skills.” said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “Attendees will make memories that will last a lifetime while getting a chance to see firsthand what a career in law enforcement or the military can offer.”

Members of the PSP, the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and the American Legion staff the week-long camp. Cadets work on team-building exercises, physical fitness training, classroom activities involving police and military careers, and a marksmanship course. Cadets also visit the State Police Academy in Hershey and Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center in Lebanon County. The camp offers three $1,000 scholarship awards at the conclusion of the week.

“Considering a career of service to our commonwealth or nation is a big choice for teens and their families,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “Programs like this allow teens to explore their interest and provide a closer look at what a future with the PSP or the PANG might look like. We are thrilled to continue this partnership and opportunity for young Pennsylvanians.”

Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 17 prior to entering the camp and not reach age 18 during the camp. Cadets who previously attended the camp are not eligible to apply again. Applicants should be physically fit, in good health, and have a good academic record. There is no cost to participants, as their local American Legion post sponsors their attendance.

Interested applicants can read more about the camp by visiting pa-legion.com. Applications are available on the legion’s application page.

Additionally, State Police personnel host regional camp cadet programs. The week-long camp cadet programs are for Pennsylvanians ages 11-15. To inquire about availability of a camp cadet near you, contact your local Troop Community Services Officer.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 15, 2024 3:23 P.M.

(Monaca, Pa) Monaca Borough Council accepted a bid for its streetscape project at their meeting this week. Bronder Technical Service, inc’s bid is for $6,668,510.83.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) recognized the impact of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to help make internet more affordable and available to his constituents in Western Pennsylvania. The program is set to end by May 2024 unless Congress replenishes the appropriate funding.

“From programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program to fighting corporate rip-off junk fees, I’m fighting in Congress to lower costs for the American people,” said Rep. Deluzio. “Since the Affordable Connectivity Program began, it has helped more than 29,800 of my constituents save up to $30 a month on their internet bills. However, the program will soon run out of funding unless Congress acts. I call on congressional leadership to pass the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act and invest to make internet affordable for all Americans—no matter where they live or how much money they make.”

“Over the past three years, more than 8,800 low-income households in Beaver County have subscribed to a federal government program (ACP) that helps them pay for reliable home internet access,” said Lance Grable, Director of the Beaver County Office of Planning and Redevelopment. “Thanks to ACP-funded connectivity, these households can go to school online when needed, can access vital information about their health care and jobs, and get assistance with food and heating bills. The internet connects them to essential government services and to information about what’s going on in our County.”

According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 1 in 5 U.S. households are not connected to the internet. Moreover, 44% of households earning less than $30,000 each year do not have broadband, according to the White House. As of February 2024, 29,826 households in Pennsylvania’s 17^th Congressional District enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, and the district received a total of $14,976,583 from the program.

The American Rescue Plan initially created the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which expanded into the Affordable Connectivity Program under President Biden’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and offered discounted or free internet broadband to low-income households. Without additional funding, April 2024 will be the last fully funded month for the ACP discount and the Federal Communications Commission has stopped accepting new ACP applications and enrollments. Households that were approved and enrolled with an internet provider will continue to receive their ACP discounts during the wind-down period until the ACP ends.

Congressman Deluzio is a cosponsor of the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 that would fund the ACP with $7 billion and continue the payments for eligible households. The legislation is supported by both Democrats and Republicans, led by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY-06) in the House and by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), JD Vance (R-OH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in the Senate.

AMBRIDGE, March 14 – A $148,500 grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development will assist the city of Aliquippa as it emerges from Act 47 status and works to achieve long-term sustainability, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, announced today.

“It took decades of work and collaboration and faith in our city, but together with support from the commonwealth and city leadership led by Mayor Dwan Walker, we had the resolve to do it, and we built back,” Matzie said. “The city strengthened infrastructure, paid off debt and shored up finances to get to a position where they can chart their own future.

“The project funding from DCED will help us develop long-range plans for the future and keep the city moving on a new, independent path.”