(Photo of Terrance A. Smith provided with release)

(MIDLAND, PA)  Terrence A. Smith has been named Principal / Head of School at Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School. Mr. Smith has already assumed his role and is working with school leaders and organizers in developing curriculum, building the school schedule, and hiring faculty.
Mr. Smith comes from the Woodland Hills School District in suburban Pittsburgh where he worked in a variety of administrative positions since 2015 including Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and, most recently, Principal of the Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy. Prior to his years at Woodland Hills, he served at the Southwestern Institute For Technology, Community College of Allegheny County, Mercy Behavioral Health Systems, the Wilkinsburg and Sto-Rox school districts, and at Summit Academy. A native of Aliquippa, he is a 1987 graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania where he played and coached basketball. He earned his Master of Education Administration at the University of Pittsburgh in 2009.
Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School is southwestern Pennsylvania’s newest free public high school dedicated to authentic, hands-on learning in its four collaborative academies and nine career pathways. The school will open in September and will welcome students in grades 9 through 12 in the ultramodern C. J. Betters Innovation Center in Midland, Beaver County. The academies include the PGT Trucking Transportation + Logistics Academy, the Cyril H. Wecht Forensic Science + Justice Academy, the MITCS Community Development + Sustainability Academy, and the MITCS Skilled Trades + Technical Careers Academy. Prime benefactors include prominent developer Chuck Betters, who donated the property on which MITCS is built and guided the construction project. Pat Gallagher of PGT Trucking gifted the
funds to establish the transportation and logistics academy named for his company. Dr. Cyril H. Wecht provided curriculum that will be used to teach in the forensic science and justice academy that bears his name. Students will be able to earn certifications, licensing, and even college credit while being taught by PA-certified teachers and industry trades experts in a safe learning environment. MITCS is being built on an axiom of diversity by design in that it welcomes children from all communities seeking to be job ready the day they graduate and set on building better futures. Students can begin the enrollment process by visiting
www.mitcharterschool.org.

(Kyodo News via AP)
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, CHISATO TANAKA and FOSTER KLUG Associated Press
NARA, Japan (AP) — Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, one of Japan’s most powerful politicians, has died after being shot during a campaign speech. Abe was shot from behind minutes after he started his speech Friday in Nara in western Japan. He was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment but was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He was pronounced dead later at the hospital. The 67-year-old Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader before stepping down for health reasons in 2020. Police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of the attack, which shocked people in a country known as one of the world’s safest.

(File Photo of Josh Kail)

(Harrisburg, Pa.)  Rep. Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) announced the 2022-23 budget, which totals $42.8 billion, passed the House Thursday. He released the following statement on how this budget stands up for taxpayers:

“As we prepare for an incoming recession and look to alleviate financial pressures from Pennsylvania families, we must use funding wisely so we can invest in our communities without sacrificing our future. I am pleased to report there will be no new taxes and fees after we deposited $2.1 billion into the Rainy Day Fund, bringing the total to a historic $5 billion, as well as preserve $3.6 billion in the General Fund for future budgets.

“In order for Pennsylvania to be open for business, this budget will officially reduce the Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) from a job-crushing 9.99% to 8.99% this year and 0.5% each year until it reaches 4.99%. Earlier this year, the House passed my momentous legislation addressing this very issue, one which hasn’t seen a cut since 1995. Time and time again, Pennsylvania has missed out on opportunities to attract new employers due to poor policies. This measure puts us closer to where our economy needs to be.

“As a father and member of the House Education Committee, I will never stop fighting for our students so they can receive the best education this Commonwealth has to offer. This budget features historic to basic education. It also sets aside $405 million, a 45% increase, for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) so kids have better educational opportunities. The budget also addresses school safety and security; mental health; charter school regulations; early childhood education; special education; and low-performing schools, among others.

“Pennsylvanians will also see relief as this budget creates the first state child care tax credit to support working families, a one-time 70% enhancement of the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program for seniors, and additional money for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to assist with higher energy costs and inflation. We continue to support our state’s top industry, agriculture, by adding $2 million to increase the PA State Food Purchase Program.

“This budget is responsible and forward thinking. It helps job creators, allows children to properly acquire education and protects our families. And though it is certainly not a perfect budget, I am pleased to see bipartisan support on this measure.”

(File Photo of Aaron Bernstine)

(Harrisburg, Pa.)  Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Beaver/Lawrence) today voted “no” on the state budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23. Bernstine issued the following statement regarding his negative vote.

“As Pennsylvania families struggle with record inflation and rising prices of gas and groceries, I will not support a state budget that spends 10.7% more than last year. Taxpayers deserve fiscal responsibility from Harrisburg during these difficult economic times. Unchecked government spending only paves the way for future tax hikes and more reckless borrowing.”

(File Photo)

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.
Shaun Tedrow, age 40, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy.
According to information presented to the court during the guilty plea hearing, on May 1, 2020, Tedrow, who was on parole from a prior conviction for Indecent Assault, was found in possession of hundreds of videos and digital photographs depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, many of whom were under the age of 12 years.
Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for November 10, 2022. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Tedrow has been ordered by the court to remain in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the
government. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

(Photo of Maliyah Streit provide by Patterson Twp. Police)

(Patterson Twp., Beaver County, Pa.)  Patterson Township Police Department have located a 13-year-old white female named Maliyah Streit.  Police sent out a release early Thursday morning stating that Striet’s was last seen in the Patterson Township / Beaver Falls Area on 07/06/2022 at 9:00pm and that she was possibly endangered.

Police said late Thursday afternoon said via release that she was located and is safe.

No other information about the incident has been released.

(Photo and Story by Sandy Giordano)

(Photo and Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio)

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa City Council issued a letter  of support to nonprofits working with youth this summer at Wednesday night’s meeting.  Summer Learning Week is July 11-15, 2022