What Benefits Do Veterans Have?: A Discussion With Cullen Wright & Christina Lonigro

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

With Veterans’ Day being celebrated, many veterans in Western Pennsylvania and across the nation still have to deal with the confusion and misinformation that might lead them to live a life with fewer benefits than they realize they have access to.

To wade through the confusion and tumult, Christina Lonigro and Cullen Wright came on the November 10 edition of A.M. Beaver County to discuss the different “baskets” of healthcare options that veterans have. Wright is a retired US Army Colonel, now serving as Director of the Veterans Initiatives Program with Advocate Health Advisors.

“Our main message is that these systems–there’s four systems with VA, CHAMPVA, TriCare For Life, and Medicare–they can co-exist,” Wright stated. “And they can co-exist without impacting those military benefits negatively.” Wright stated that one of the biggest concerns and desires for veterans is to have dental coverage, and that it can belong in a plan with the right execution and organization.

The local Advocate Health Advisor service is the Mike Namath Agency, with whom Lonigro is associated. Veterans or other individuals that would like to know the ins, outs and whereabouts of Medicare in their plans can contact the Namath Agency by calling 724-847-3290.

To listen to the full conversation with Cullen and Christina, hit the play button below!

10th Street Bypass to Close Next Week in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that the 10th Street Bypass (Route 2128) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will close to traffic Monday morning, November 14 through Thursday morning, November 17 weather permitting.

The 10th Street Bypass will close to traffic between I-279 Parkway North/Fort Duquesne Bridge and Fort Duquesne Boulevard to allow crews to install a gas line as part of the Roberto Clemente 6th Street Bridge rehabilitation project.  The closure will occur from 6 a.m. Monday morning continuously through 6 a.m. Thursday morning. Additionally, the ramps from northbound and southbound I-279 to the 10th Street Bypass will close.

All traffic will be detoured.  Motorists should use Fort Duquesne Boulevard to detour around the closure.  Motorists on I-279 should use the ramps to Fort Duquesne Boulevard.

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.

Biden tightens methane emissions rule amid push for more oil

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — The Biden administration is ramping up efforts to reduce methane emissions, targeting the oil and gas industry for its role in global warming even as President Joe Biden has pressed energy producers for more oil drilling to lower prices at the gasoline pump. Biden was set to announce at a global climate conference in Egypt on Friday a supplemental rule cracking down on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The new Environmental Protection Agency rule follows up on a methane rule the Democratic president announced last year. The White House’s national climate adviser says the administration will embark on “a relentless focus to root out emissions.”

Wall Street adds to week’s big gain; crypto falls again

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is tacking a bit more onto its stupendous surge from a day before to keep it on track for a strong gain for the week. The S&P 500 was 0.6%, higher Friday, a day after soaring to its best day in more than two years. The Dow was down modestly. Markets got a boost after China relaxed some of its strict anti-COVID measures, while a report suggested inflation expectations among U.S. households haven’t moved much. Bond trading was closed for Veterans Day, while crypto prices sank again after a major trading exchange filed for bankruptcy protection.

First lady hosts Veterans Day breakfast, supports caregivers

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Jill Biden has hosted a Veterans Day breakfast at the White House. She also announced new support for the Hidden Helpers Coalition, which works with children who live with wounded service members and veterans. After Friday’s breakfast, the first lady will join Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, at Arlington National Cemetery. President Joe Biden recorded a video message thanking veterans and acknowledging that “so many still carry the physical wounds and invisible scars of their service.” He is in Egypt at a United Nations conference on climate change.

Close races put Pennsylvania House majority control in limbo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Partisan control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives remains up in the air, two days after 101 Democrats and 100 Republicans were elected. As of Thursday there are two races in swing districts still unresolved. Both of the seats are held by Republicans in the General Assembly session that ends this month. It may be weeks before county elections officials finish vote counting to determine winners. If Republicans control the chamber, incumbent Republican Speaker Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County is likely to keep the top job. But House Democratic floor leader Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia is predicting she’s going to become the Legislature’s first female speaker.

Famed painting ‘The Scream’ targeted by climate activists

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Two people have tried in vain to glue themselves to Edvard Munch’s 1893 masterpiece “The Scream” at a museum in Norway’s capital. Police said no harm was reported to the painting of a waif-like figure appearing to scream. They said three people were detained in connection with Friday’s episode at the National Museum of Norway. Activists from the Norwegian organization Stop Oil Exploration say their group was behind the action. Climate activists have targeted famous paintings at other European museums in recent months.

Local Teams Looking For Victories In WPIAL Football Quarterfinals

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

After tonight, the “final four” will be set in Class 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A. In order to be part of that, local teams will either have to knock off the rust from the bye week or carry their momentum from last week to land themselves in the WPIAL semifinals.

Tonight on Beaver County Radio, #2 seed Beaver Falls (9-1) comes off their bye week in the Class 2A playoffs to host #7 Ligonier Valley (8-3) at Reeves Field in the WPIAL Quarterfinals. The Tigers’ last game was a 42-8 win over Western Beaver at Reeves Field, a match that would have taken place again tonight if not for the result of the Rams’ last game–a victory over the #10 Golden Beavers by a tally of 27-20 at Greensburg-Salem. Coverage on 95.7 FM, 99.3 FM, 1230 WBVP & 1460 WMBA along with the Trib Live High School Sports Network begins with pre-game at 6:30 and kickoff from Reeves Field at 7:00 PM.

Here’s a full list of tonight’s WPIAL Quarterfinal Matchups. All games are at 7:00 PM.

Class 1A
#9 Clairton at #1 Bishop Canevin
#10 Union vs. #2 Laurel (at Shenango)
#14 Rochester vs. #6 Fort Cherry (at South Fayette)
#5 South Side Beaver vs. #4 Mapletown (at Waynesburg Central)

Class 2A
#7 Ligonier Valley at #2 Beaver Falls (95.7 FM/WMBA/99.3 FM/WBVP)
#8 McGuffey at #1 Steel Valley
#12 Washington at #4 Neshannock
#6 Keystone Oaks at #3 Sto-Rox

Class 3A
#9 East Allegheny at #1 Belle Vernon
#7 Beaver at #2 Avonworth
#6 Shady Side Academy at #3 Elizabeth Forward
#5 West Mifflin at #4 Freeport

Class 4A
#8 Montour vs. #1 Aliquippa (at Freedom)
#7 Laurel Highlands at #2 Central Valley
#11 Greater Latrobe at #3 Thomas Jefferson
#5 McKeesport at #4 Armstrong

After all the games are over, make sure to tune in to the Trib Live HSSN Scoreboard show up until 11:00 PM on Beaver County Radio.

Beaver County Veterans Day Parade Still On, Butler Cancels

(New Brighton, PA)  If you are planning on heading out to honor veterans today, the Beaver County Veterans Day parade will take place in New Brighton this year, kicking off at 10:30 Friday morning on 3rd Avenue.
Butler County Organizers announced that their parade has been cancelled due to weather.

AAA AWARDS LOCAL POLICE FOR SAFETY EFFORTS

 

AAA East Central honored local police departments today for their outstanding efforts to increase road safety for all motorists.  59 Western Pennsylvania departments received Platinum Awards, while an additional 48 departments were honored with Gold, Silver, or Bronze awards.

“We are honored to recognize these local departments for their efforts in the Community Traffic Safety Program,” said Terri Rae Anthony, safety advisor, AAA East Central. “Each organization has gone above and beyond their call of duty to make their community a safer place for motorists and residents.”

The Platinum awards were given to “Commendable Leaders” for their safety efforts and enforcement activities geared towards making communities safer. The recipients of the prestigious awards were police departments in: Allegheny County, Baldwin, Beaver, Bethel Park, Brentwood, Cambridge Springs, Canonsburg, Castle Shannon, Cecil, City of Pittsburgh, Clairton, Cranberry Township, Edgewood, Elizabeth Township, Etna, Findlay Township, Greensburg, Grove City, Hermitage, Homestead, Hopewell, Indiana, Jefferson Hills, McCandless, McDonald, Meadville, Millcreek Township, Moon Township, Mount Lebanon, Munhall, Neshannock, New Brighton, New Sewickley Township, Northern Regional, North Strabane Township, Ohio Township, Penn Hills, Peters Township, Pleasant Hills, Plum, Punxsutawney, Rochester, Shaler Township, Shenango, South Fayette, South Strabane Township, South Park, Swissvale, Upper St. Clair, Washington, and West View.  Sherriff’s Departments in the following counties were awarded with Platinum awards: Crawford, Allegheny, Washington; and Pennsylvania State Police Troops A (Greensburg), B (Washington), D (Butler), E (Meadville) and T (Somerset). 

Gold awards, the second highest recognition to be given, were awarded to police departments in: Butler, Chartiers Township, Cochranton, Connellsville, Clarion, Erie, Hampton Township, Heidelberg, Indiana County Sheriff’s Department, Linesville, Monessen, Rankin, Scott Township, South Buffalo Township, Southwest Greensburg, and Worthington.  

Silver awards were given to police departments in: Aliquippa, Allegheny County Port Authority, Beaver Falls, Bridgeville, Bridgewater, Carroll Township, Chatham University, Greentree, Monroeville, New Castle, North Huntingdon Township, University of Pittsburgh, and Waynesburg.  Sherriff’s Departments in the following counties were given silver awards: Greene and Venango.

Bronze awards were given to police departments in: Cumberland Township and Wilkinsburg.

AAA East Central conducts a variety of free highway safety programs throughout Pennsylvania focusing on all age groups.  The Club also partners with law enforcement and safety agencies on initiatives to improve the safety of the community and local highways.