A view of the scene Feb. 24, 2023, as the cleanup continues at the site of of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday, March 6, 2023 that Norfolk Southern has pledged several million dollars to cover the cost of the response and recovery in Pennsylvania after last month’s derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals just across the border in Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, file)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal investigators have announced a special investigation into railroad Norfolk Southern. The move follows a fiery derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border in February and several other accidents. The most recent accident led to a train conductor’s death early Tuesday. The National Transportation Safety Board says it will begin a broad look at the railroad’s safety culture. It says it has sent investigation teams to look into five significant accidents involving Norfolk Southern since December 2021. The agency also says it was urging the company to take immediate action to review and assess its safety practices.

FILE – Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. Shapiro unveils his first budget next week, poor districts that won a landmark school-funding lawsuit want him to propose a significant down payment and a plan to overhaul how Pennsylvania pays for K-12 education. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Rep. Jim Marshall (R-Beaver) issued the following statement regarding Gov. Josh Shapiro’s address on his proposed $45.8 billion budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year:
“This is the starting point of crafting a budget that considers the needs of our residents. In this proposal, Beaver County Public Schools will see increased funding, Pennsylvanians will see no new tax increases and this proposal also recognizes the value of our first responders and reduces the burdens they face.
“I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues on reaching a final agreement that grows our economy while being mindful of taxpayers and job creators.”

State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address Tuesday:

“As always, the governor’s budget proposal acts as a framework to be debated and negotiated in the coming months. But, in my judgment, it’s a solid foundation with several key areas that I support.

“This budget calls for no new taxes, cuts business taxes and eliminates the cell phone tax. It expands eligibility and increases rebate amounts for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. It contains significant funding opportunities and increases for police, fire and EMS. It implements a new tax credit for those who want to become cops, nurses and teaches, and would also raise the state’s minimum wage.

“Perhaps most importantly, there are education increases across the board, from pre-K through higher ed, that would bring tens of millions of additional dollars to Beaver County schools. All while keeping $5 billion in the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

“I was further encouraged to hear the governor highlight his support for bringing a hydrogen hub to Southwest PA and reaffirm his commitment to assisting those affected by – and holding Norfolk Southern accountable for – the recent train derailment.

“Again, this is just the first step in what may be a long process, but it’s a good first step that would bring real investments and improvements to Beaver County and our communities.”

State Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) issued the following statement on the 2023-24 state budget plan announced by Gov. Josh Shapiro today:
“I am looking forward to working with Gov. Shapiro and his administration going into this budget season. I think there is a lot of work to be done and we need to be very careful. Yes, we are at our strongest financial position in decades. However, the non-partisan Independent Fiscal Office projects a structural imbalance of $1.5 billion to more than $3 billion every year beginning next year. It is important to note that the spending level proposed in Gov. Shapiro’s plan is not sustainable in future years and would almost completely deplete the state’s Rainy Day Fund by 2027-28. His own acting Revenue Secretary has been warning us for years, while he was the Senate Appropriations Chairman, of the structural deficit and dangers of using the Rainy Day Fund as a piggy bank.

Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) issued the following statement regarding Gov. Josh Shapiro’s address on his proposed state budget for fiscal year 2023-24, which spends 5.9% more than the current year:
“Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal calls for massive spending and bigger government. His $45.8 billion proposal is a slap in the face to taxpayers who are already feeling the pain of skyrocketing inflation and price increases.
“Additionally, minimum wage hikes, marijuana legalization and the rest of Shapiro’s far-left wish list will only serve to further crush our small businesses and erode our communities. The state’s economy is on the fast track to billion-dollar deficits. Now is the time to practice fiscal responsibility, not take taxpayers on a reckless spending spree.”

FILE – A sign in front of the Food and Drug Administration building is seen on Dec. 10, 2020, in Silver Spring, Md. U.S. health officials are alerting consumers about two more recalls of eyedrops due to contamination risks that could lead to vision problems and serious injury. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials are alerting consumers about two more recalls of eyedrops due to contamination risks that could lead to vision problems and serious injury. The announcements follow a recall last month of eyedrops made in India that were linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections. There’s no indication the latest recalls are related to those products. The Food and Drug Administration posted separate recall notices for certain eyedrops distributed by Pharmedica and Apotex after the companies announced they are voluntarily pulling several lots from the market.

Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who was sentenced to 25 years in the United States, speaks to the media prior to an opening ceremony of the exhibition of his artworks at the Mosfilm studio in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Bout has been brought back to Russia as a result of an agreement to exchange him for US basketball player Brittney Griner. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

MOSCOW (AP) — Viktor Bout, a former Russian arms dealer who was released from a U.S. prison in a swap for WNBA star Brittney Griner in December, has unveiled an exhibition of his artworks in Moscow. Bout, widely known abroad as the “Merchant of Death,” was convicted in 2011 on terrorism charges with prosecutors saying that he was ready to sell up to $20 million in weapons, including surface-to-air missiles to shoot down U.S. helicopters. He strongly denied the charges and proclaimed his innocence, describing himself as a legitimate entrepreneur who didn’t sell any weapons. Russian officials have cast him as a victim of a nefarious U.S. sting operation and demanded his release for many years. His exhibition opened Tuesday.

People walk past the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are falling on Wall Street after the head of the Federal Reserve warned it could speed up its economy-rattling hikes to interest rates if pressure stays high on inflation. The S&P 500 was 1.6% lower in Tuesday afternoon trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 560 points. They had been nearly flat just before Fed Chair Jerome Pokwell said the central bank is ready to get more aggressive on rate hikes if warranted. Treasury yields also swung following the comments, which were made in Powell’s testimony before a Senate committee. The two-year yield is near its highest level since 2007.

This image provided by The Hershey Company shows the company’s new plant-based Reese’s peanut butter cups. Hershey said Tuesday, March 7, 2023, that Reese’s plant-based peanut butter cups will be its first plant-based chocolate sold nationally when they go on sale in March. A second vegan offering, Hershey’s plant-based extra creamy with almonds and sea salt, will follow in April. (The Hershey Company via AP)

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are getting the vegan treatment. Hershey says its Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups, which go on sale this month, will be its first vegan chocolates sold nationally. A second plant-based offering, Hershey’s Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt, will follow in April. The chocolates are made with oats instead of milk. Hershey says consumers want choice and are looking for products they consider healthier or with fewer ingredients, including reduced sugar and plant-based options.

A member of the Mexican security forces stands next to a white minivan with North Carolina plates and several bullet holes, at the crime scene where gunmen kidnapped four U.S. citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas, Friday, March 3, 2023. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the four Americans were going to buy medicine and were caught in the crossfire between two armed groups after they had entered Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, on Friday. (AP Photo)

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — A Mexican official says two U.S. citizens missing since their violent abduction last week in the northern Mexican border city of Matamoros have been found dead. Two others have been found alive, with one wounded. Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal announced on Tuesday that they had been located. A relative of one of them said Monday that the group had traveled together from South Carolina so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a doctor in the border city of Matamoros. The surviving Americans were sped to the border near Brownsville, the southernmost tip of Texas. The convoy of ambulances and SUVs was escorted by Mexican security forces.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Allegheny Health Network’s Cancer Institute has created a new multidisciplinary clinic for patients who may have an increased risk for pancreatic cancer.

The High-Risk Pancreas Clinic is now accepting patients who have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer over the course of their lifetimes. Patients are categorized as “high-risk” if they have a family history of pancreatic cancer, known genetic mutations, or underlying medical conditions such as heredity pancreatitis or sudden-onset diabetes.

Patients will undergo a multidisciplinary risk assessment, completed by clinicians with surgical oncology, gastroenterology, and genetic counseling.

“In the initial stages, pancreatic cancer often does not cause any signs or symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach to customize a surveillance plan allows for close monitoring and earlier identification in patients with an elevated risk,” said Suzanne Schiffman, MD, surgical oncologist and director of the High-Risk Pancreas Clinic.

“As with other types of cancers, pancreatic cancer has a better prognosis if detected and treated in its early stages. We hope this proactive, all-inclusive clinic will provide patients with the resources they need to remain vigilant of their health.”

After the risk assessment is complete, the patient will undergo a screening, which includes imaging studies and/or endoscopic studies for early detection of pancreatic changes that may be cancerous or precancerous. Genetic testing will also be conducted, followed by counseling and a custom surveillance plan developed for ongoing patient monitoring.

Life-long surveillance is recommended for individuals at elevated risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The goal of pancreatic surveillance is to reduce mortality through early detection by allowing for identification of cancer at earlier stages (stage 1) or identification of noninvasive precursor lesions (high-grade dysplasia), which has been associated with improved survival.

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 64,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the U.S. in 2023, and 51,000 will die from the disease, including 2,000 in Pennsylvania. Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the U.S. and about 7% of all cancer deaths. It is slightly more common in men than in women.

The new clinic is the latest example of AHN’s caregivers finding new and innovative approaches to implement the organization’s Living Health model, providing efficient and effective care to patients, and employing preventive measures to proactively manage chronic and costly diseases.

“The AHN Cancer Institute utilizes the latest techniques and technologies to address various types of cancer, but for optimal results, those tools must be combined with proactive measures to catch cancer early and improve outcomes for our patients,” said David Bartlett, MD, Cancer Institute chair. “The High-Risk Pancreas Clinic showcases our network’s determination to find new ways to fight cancer and prioritize our patients’ health through collaborative efforts.”

The clinic will be held monthly at AHN Allegheny General Hospital and AHN Wexford Hospital for pre-scheduled appointments. Patients interested in the clinic can call 412-359-3115 to schedule an appointment.

 

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Amid a federal corruption case, a company that owns nuclear plants in Pennsylvania and northern Ohio will be sold for more than $3.4 billion to a Texas-based company. Under the deal announced Monday, Ohio-based Energy Harbor will become part of a newly formed Vistra subsidiary called Vistra Vision. According to the statement announcing the deal, both companies’ boards of directors have approved the deal and a majority of Energy Harbor stockholders support the move. According to the release, Vistra won’t be buying Energy Harbor’s two coal plants along the Ohio River. Energy Harbor is at the center of an alleged $60 million bribery scheme that federal prosecutors call the largest corruption case in Ohio history.

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Tune into Beaver County Radio starting this Friday for your chance to win a half pint of Pennsylvania Pure Maple Syrup and a pair of tickets to the Beaver County Maple Syrup and Music Festival that is happening on April 22 and 23 at Brady’s Run Park.

All you have to do is tune into Beaver County Radio on Friday mornings starting this Friday, March 10, 2023 from 6:30 AM to Noon and listen for either Mike Romigh or Eddy Crow to give you the cue to call in and win. We will be giving away two pair of tickets and maple syrup every Friday through April 14, 2023.

Keep an eye on our Facebook Page as well for your chance to win at https://www.facebook.com/beavercountyradio.

It’s all being brought to you by PUSH Beaver County and Beaver County Radio 95.7 and 99.3 FM along with 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA and beavercountyradio.com