EPA: New pollution limits proposed for US coal, gas power plants reflect ‘urgency’ of climate crisis

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan speaks about new proposed limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants during an event at the University of Maryland on Thursday, May 11, 2023, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is proposing new limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants. It’s the most ambitious effort yet to reduce planet-warming pollution from the nation’s second-largest contributor to climate change. The plan could force power plants to capture smokestack emissions using technology that isn’t widely used in the U.S. and would be the first time the federal government has restricted carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. President Joe Biden calls the plan “a major step forward in the climate crisis and protecting public health.” Industry groups and Republican-leaning states accuse the Democratic administration of overreach on environmental regulations.

Banning gun sales to young American adults under 21 is unconstitutional, judge rules

FILE – Displayed is a Glock 17 pistol fitted a with a cable style gun lock in Philadelphia, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that a law banning licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to young adults under 21 violates the Second Amendment and is unconstitutional. The ruling Wednesday, May 11, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Payne in Richmond, if not overturned, would prevent dealers from selling handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that a law banning licensed federal firearms dealers from selling handguns to young adults under 21 violates the Second Amendment and is unconstitutional. The ruling came Wednesday. It would allow dealers to sell handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds. Four plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the 1968 law and associated regulations from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after they were turned down when they tried to buy handguns. Wednesday’s ruling is the latest decision striking down gun laws in the wake of a landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling. That ruling changed the test courts have long used to evaluate challenges to firearm restrictions.

Air Force One doubles as a campaign jet for Biden’s reelection run. Who pays what?

FILE – President Joe Biden waves as he boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, en route to Florida. When Joe Biden was running for president three years ago, he flew on a white private jet with his campaign logo painted on the side. Now he has a larger, more recognizable ride as he seeks a second term. Like his predecessors, he’ll be crisscrossing the country on Air Force One. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — When Joe Biden was running for president three years ago, he flew on a white private jet with his campaign logo painted on the side. Now he has a larger, more recognizable ride as he seeks a second term. Like his predecessors, he’ll be crisscrossing the country in Air Force One. Every president blends their governmental and political duties, but never more than when they’re running for reelection. “Official” events can sound especially political, while “political” events can delve deeply into the policy initiatives of the day. And decisions on how to divvy up the costs of a president’s travels between taxpayers and the campaign can be opaque. Biden made his first such trip this week.

Title 42 has ended. Here’s what it did, and how US immigration policy is changing

FILE – (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is putting new restrictions into place at its southern border to try to to stop migrants from crossing illegally and encourage them instead to apply for asylum online through a new process. The new rules come with the end of coronavirus restrictions on asylum that have allowed the U.S. to quickly expel migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border for the last three years. Those restrictions have often been referred to as Title 42, because the authority comes from Title 42 of a 1944 public health law allowing curbs on migration in the name of protecting public health. Disinformation has swirled and confusion has set in during the transition.

Reports: NBC Universal executive will take over as the new CEO of Twitter

FILE – (Patrick Pleul/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Elon Musk said he has found a new CEO for Twitter, or X Corp. as it’s now called, and multiple media reports identify her as Linda Yaccarino, an executive with NBCUniversal. Musk did not name Yaccarino, but on Friday NBCUniversal said that she would be stepping down from the company as chairwoman for global advertising and partnerships. Yaccarino interviewed Musk on a Miami stage last month in front of hundreds of advertisers.

McDonald’s found liable for hot Chicken McNugget that burned girl

Philana Holmes and her daughter Olivia Caraballo, 7 listen to the final witness in their case at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday May 10, 2023. McDonald’s and a franchise holder are at fault after a hot Chicken McNugget from a Happy Meal fell on the girl’s leg and caused second-degree burns, a jury in South Florida has found, Thursday, May 11. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A jury in Florida says McDonald’s and a franchise holder are fault after a hot Chicken McNugget from a Happy Meal fell on a little girl’s leg and caused second-degree burns. Thursday’s split decision found the franchise holder liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food. It found McDonald’s USA liable for failing to provide instructions for safe handling of the food. The girl’s mother ordered Happy Meals from a drive-thru in 2019. A nugget fell onto her 4-year-old daughter’s leg. A second jury determine how much McDonald’s USA and franchise holder Upchurch Foods will have to pay the family.

MONACA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LAUNCHES MONACA BUSINESS FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM

MONACA, PA (May 11, 2023) – The Monaca Community Development Corporation (Monaca CDC) is excited to announce the launch of its Monaca Business Façade Grant (MBFG) program. The program was created to encourage the revitalization of business building facades and support owners of Monaca businesses and business properties in their façade improvement efforts. 

 

The Monaca CDC will administer this program in alignment with its mission to help create a vibrant and sustainable community where businesses, individuals, and families can thrive.

 

The MBFG program was established by a $50,000 donation from the Borough of Monaca which was sourced from American Rescue Plan Act COVID-19 relief funds received by the Borough. The MBFG program received an additional $45,000 grant allocation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, PA Department of Community & Economic Development’s Keystone Communities Program (KCP). 

 

Funds provided by Monaca Borough may be awarded for eligible projects anywhere within Monaca Borough, while funds allocated by the KCP may be awarded for eligible projects within the core downtown Monaca business district. 

 

MBFG awards are provided as reimbursements after project completion. Each award is limited to no more than 50% of the total cost of eligible projects, with a maximum award of $5,000 per project.

 

The MBFG application packet, including eligibility criteria and guidelines, can be found at MonacaCDC.org and questions can be directed to the Monaca CDC via email at info@monacacdc.org

New Brighton Memorial Day Association looking for volunteers

(New Brighton, PA) The New Brighton Memorial Day Association is looking for volunteers to help in placing flags on the gravesites of veterans buried at Grove Cemetery and Our Lady of the Valley Cemetery.  Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to meet at Grove Cemetery at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 20.

Vogel to Host 12th Annual Kid’s Extravaganza on May 13

ROCHESTER, PA – Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) will be hosting his 12th Annual Kid’s Extravaganza on Saturday, May 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at CCBC – Athletics and Events Center, 1 Campus Drive, Monaca.

This event is free and open to the public for families to enjoy fun activities as well as receive information from local organizations regarding services available to them.

Organizations participating in this event include the American Red Cross; Arise; Armstrong (Sponsor); Beaver County Association for the Blind; Beaver County Conservation District; Beaver County CYS Foster Care Program; Beaver County District Attorney; Beaver County Emergency Service; Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation; Beaver County Junior Grange; Beaver County Library System; Beaver County YMCA; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County; Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe (Sponsor); Center Township Fire Department; Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania (Sponsor); Giant Eagle Pharmacy; Girl Scouts Western PA; Heritage Valley Health System (Sponsor); Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Highmark Wholecare; Hookstown Fair; Junior Achievement of Western PA; Keystone Wellness Programs; Lifesteps Early Head Start; Medic Rescue; PA Distance Learning Charter School; PA Office of Attorney General – Safe2Say Something PA; Penn State Extension – Beaver County; The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School; Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency; Pennsylvania State Police; Pennsylvania State Treasury; The Prevention Network; Private Industry Council – Head Start/Early Head Start Division; Private Industry Council – Pre-K Counts; Provident Charter School (Sponsor); Raccoon Creek State Park; Riders Advocating Against Child Abuse; Riverside Family Chiropractic (Sponsor); Rosalind Candy Castle (Sponsor); Spokane Orthodontics (Sponsor); Tiny Tot Child Development Center; Trying Together; Women’s Center of Beaver County; and YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer.

2 fishermen caught cheating at Ohio tournament sentenced to 10-day jail terms, forfeit of $100k boat

CLEVELAND (AP) — Two men who admitted stuffing fish with lead weights and fish fillets in an attempt to win thousands of dollars in an Ohio fishing tournament last fall have been sentenced to ten-day jail terms and other penalties, including the forfeiture of a boat valued at $100,000. The cheating allegations surfaced in September when the Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament director became suspicious of fish turned in by Jacob Runyan, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Chase Cominsky, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, were significantly heavier than typical walleye. A crowd of people at Gordon Park in Cleveland watched as Fischer cut the walleye open, and found weights and walleye fillets stuffed inside. The two men were sentenced Thursday.