AP source: Garland to announce Minneapolis police probe
By MICHAEL BALSAMO and AMY FORLITI Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to announce the Justice Department is opening a sweeping investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis after the guilty verdict in George Floyd’s death. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The announcement comes a day after ex-officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s 2020 death, setting off a wave of relief but also sadness across the country. Bystander video showed Floyd handcuffed behind his back and gasping repeatedly, “I can’t breathe,” as Chauvin pressed his knee on or close to Floyd’s neck for several minutes. The Black man’s death prompted mass protests.

Gov. Wolf Orders Flags to Half-Staff to Honor
Former Vice President Walter Mondale 

Harrisburg, Pa. – In honor of former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, Governor Tom Wolf has ordered all United States and Commonwealth flags on the Capitol Complex and Commonwealth facilities throughout the state lowered to half-staff immediately. Mondale passed away yesterday at 93 years of age.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to the Mondale family, and to all those grieving the loss of former Vice President Mondale,” said Gov. Wolf. “He was a giant in American politics, one who transformed the nature of the vice presidency and reminded all of us that government should be a force for good in the lives of the American people.”

The United States Flag shall be lowered to half-staff and remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been announced. The Commonwealth flag has flown at half-staff since Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in honor of the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and should continue to fly at half-staff until further notice.

All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute.

Ex-cop guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd case
By AMY FORLITI, STEPHEN GROVES and TAMMY WEBBER Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, the explosive case that triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S. The jury deliberated about 10 hours over two days in a city on edge against another outbreak of unrest. Floyd died last May after Chauvin, a white officer, pinned his knee on or close to the 46-year-old Black man’s neck for about 9 1/2 minutes.

Governor Tom Wolf received his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
at the Family First Health Center in downtown York on Monday afternoon.

Dr. Asceline Go, vice president of Medical Services at Family First Health, administered the vaccine.

“I was happy to wait until every Pennsylvanian who wants a vaccine was eligible to get my own, and I was really pleased to get my first dose today at Family First Health, a federally qualified health center,” Gov. Wolf said. “I hope my vaccination sets an example for those who might still be considering getting a COVID-19 vaccine and encourages them to make the decision to make an appointment today to get vaccinated.”

The governor had his second dose appointment scheduled while at Family First Health today. To schedule an appointment, visit the provider map here.
To date, more than 7.1 million vaccine doses have been administered in Pennsylvania and the state ranks 10th among all 50 states for first doses administered

Fatalities continue to trend downward in PA thanks to education, innovation, enforcement

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that in 2020, statewide traffic deaths increased to 1,129 from the record low of 1,059 in 2019. Last year was the second-lowest number of highway fatalities recorded and overall fatalities continue to trend downward.

“Even one life lost is one too many, and Pennsylvania is committed to moving toward zero deaths,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Our biggest priority continues to be safe travel regardless of the mode you use, and we continue to work with our partners to decrease fatalities through educational outreach, the latest innovations, effective enforcement and low-cost safety improvements.”

Pennsylvania roadway deaths were up about 6 percent in 2020 despite an approximate 20 percent reduction in traffic counts statewide last year when compared to 2019. This increase is in line with a recently released report from the National Safety Council, showing preliminary data estimates national motor-vehicle deaths are up 8 percent.

“We cannot definitively say why fatalities increased during the COVID-19 pandemic even though it certainly had an impact on traffic volumes statewide,” said Gramian. “Over the long term, traffic fatalities are still trending down, but we must continue to work together to make our roads safer for all drivers.

“Motorists are our most important partners in road safety – we can only get to zero fatalities with your help. We urge all Pennsylvanians to always wear their seat belts, never drive impaired or distracted, and always follow the speed limit.”

While the overall number of highway deaths increased last year, decreases in fatalities were noted in crashes involving drivers aged 65 or older, head on/opposite direction side swipes, crashes involving distracted drivers, and pedestrian crashes. Fatalities in drivers 65 years old or older dropped from 281 in 2019 to 243 in 2020. Head on crashes/opposite direction side swipe fatalities also decreased from 158 in 2019 to 128 last year. There were 47 fatalities in 2020 crashes involving distracted drivers compared to 62 in 2019.

Additionally, the year-to-year longer-term trends also continue to decrease. For example, compared to 2016, there were 59 fewer total traffic deaths, 86 fewer deaths in lane departure crashes, and 60 fewer fatalities involving unrestrained occupants in crashes.

The following crash types saw fatality increases in 2020:

• Crashes involving single vehicle run-off-the-road – 506 fatalities, up from 447 in 2019;
• Crashes involving local roads – 224 fatalities, up from 186 in 2019;
• Crashes involving motorcycles – 217 fatalities, up from 174 in 2019; and
• Crashes involving speeding – 188 fatalities, up from 162 in 2019.

According to national data, over 90 percent of crashes are caused by driver behavior. For this reason, PennDOT focuses on data trends to drive enforcement and education improvements and invests $18 million annually in federal grant funds statewide to support these behavioral safety programs.

In addition to behavioral safety, PennDOT focuses on infrastructure improvements to roadways in an effort to further reduce fatalities and serious injuries. Approximately $477 million in Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds has been invested in 444 unique safety projects from 2015 to 2019. During that same timeframe, another $50 million of state funds was invested in low-cost safety improvements at approximately 3,000 locations. Examples of low-cost safety countermeasures include centerline and edge-line rumble strips and signing and pavement markings.

For more information on reportable crash data, visit PennDOT’s Pennsylvania Crash Information Tool (PCIT) website, www.crashinfo.penndot.gov. Under “Crash Downloads,” the “Reportable Crash Fatality Statistics” spreadsheet is updated with 2020 fatalities; 2020 crash statistics and suspected serious injury statistics are not yet available. The “Custom Query Tool” and additional crash downloads will be available later this month.

For more information on the department’s highway safety initiatives, visit PennDOT.gov/safety.

PennDOT’s media center offers resources for safety organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders. Social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving and distracted driving can be found online at www.PennDOT.gov in the “Media Center” under the “About Us” footer.

Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts at www.penndot.gov/news or choose a region under “Regional Offices.” Information about the state’s infrastructure and results the department is delivering for Pennsylvanians can be found at www.penndot.gov/results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews, like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation and Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot.

(Monaca, PA)  Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) today announced that President Dr. Roger Davis and Associate Dean Dr. Chester (Chet) Thompson, have been named New Pittsburgh Courier Class of 2021 Men of Excellence Award recipients. This honor recognizes Dr. Davis’s and Dr. Thompson’s many distinguished professional and philanthropic achievements. 

The New Pittsburgh Courier bestows this prominent award annually to accomplished men who inspire others through their vision, leadership and dedication to the community. 

CCBC President Dr. Roger Davis

Dr. Davis is the ninth president of CCBC and the College’s first African American president. Under his leadership, Dr. Davis has transformed the College’s culture and strengthened its status as one of the region’s most respected community colleges. Notably, his strategic leadership of the CCBC Foundation has resulted in more than $8 million in grants and gifts. 

“I am proud and humbled to be named among the Class of 2021 Men of Excellence,” said Dr. Davis. “It is truly a privilege to be included among this group of exemplary individuals who do so much for our community. To be recognized by the New Pittsburgh Courier, one of the most historic and prestigious black newspapers in the country, is incredibly special.”

An active community member, Dr. Davis serves as a board member for many local organizations including Beaver County’s March of Dimes, Chamber of Commerce, Educational Trust, the United Way and The Franklin Center. He also serves as a committee member for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and as a board member for EntreEd.

Dr. Davis earned a doctoral degree in Urban Educational Leadership from Morgan State University; a Master of Science degree in Adult Education with Honors from Coppin State College; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In 2020, he published the book “The 30 Most Powerful Words in the English Language.”

Dr. Chester (Chet) Thompson

Dr. Thompson joined CCBC in 2019 to help lead the School of Business, Arts, Sciences, and Technology. He also is Chair of the college’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. A successful, highly motivated academic, business, and civic-minded professional, Associate Dean Thompson has extensive experience educating and mentoring students, and has received multiple awards and recognition for outstanding business, education, and community performance. 

“There is no greater honor and privilege than receiving the respect of the Community College of Beaver County’s (CCBC) colleagues, students, constituents and the Pittsburgh community at large,” said Dr. Thomson. “I am very grateful to the New Pittsburgh Courier for this honor and recognition.”

Dr. Thompson’s extensive community service includes serving as a committee member of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Big Brother through the Mark Twain School’s Big Brothers Program, a Board Member for the Beaver County YMCA, a Trustee of the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, Vice Chair of the Franklin Center of Beaver County and, most recently, as a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Pittsburgh African American Alumni Council. 

Dr. Thompson earned a Doctor of Science degree in Information Systems and Communications from Robert Morris University; a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Maryland. 

“We are delighted to award Dr. Davis and Dr. Thompson as New Pittsburgh Courier Class of 2021 Men of Excellence,” said Rod Doss, editor and publisher, New Pittsburgh Courier. “Each of the men selected excel at encouraging others through their leadership, making achievements professionally, in and outside of the board room, as well as positively impacting their communities. These exemplary men are lauded as role models for the next generation of excellence and are our business leaders, husbands, fathers, mentors and community champions.”

Dr. Davis and Dr. Thompson, along with their fellow Men of Excellence awardees, are featured in the New Pittsburgh Courier’s April 14, 2021 Men of Excellence Commemorative Edition, and they also will be celebrated in a virtual ceremony on Friday, May 21, 2021.

The New Pittsburgh Courier is one of the oldest and most prestigious Black newspapers in the United States, with a rich and storied history. 

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they have charged 52-year-old Brian Mathews of Beaver Falls with Driving Under the Influence after a traffic stop at the intersection of 8^th Avenue and 13^th Street in Beaver Falls on April 17, 2021 at 2:55 AM

Troopers didn’t report why Mathews was stopped while driving a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze but stated via release that during the stop it was determined that he was under the influence. Charges are pending at the local Magistrate Office.

(Photo provided by Phipps)

Pittsburgh, PA —  Starting Sat., May 1, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens invites guests on a magical adventure at Summer Flower Show: The Hidden Life of Trolls. This immersive, interactive exhibit is unlike anything Phipps has displayed before and is sure to delight guests of all ages with massive, one-of-a-kind displays that offer a glimpse into the mysterious lives of the mythical creatures inspired by Scandinavian folklore and popular culture.

As guests enter the show, two friendly animatronic trolls will prepare them for the adventure ahead, introducing each unique troll to come and giving tips for how to handle the most mischievous, starting with a six-eyed topiary troll in Palm Court. Standing at 6 feet tall and made of grasses and dried plant materials, this garden guardian holds a flickering lantern as he emerges from his troll hut.

In the Victoria Room, an island planted with buttonwood trees, willow trees and a variety of flowers and grassy plants floats atop a pond. This seemingly calm feature will come alive upon closer inspection as it is revealed to be a troll living under the water! Guests can interact with this troll and watch him growl and shoot water in the air.

The whimsical troll in the South Conservatory is taking forest bathing to a new level as he washes up in a pond in the forest. Four massive muddy footprints lead to the bank of the pond, where the troll sits at 12 feet tall, scratching his back with the broken-off branch of a nearby tree. His body is made of dried plant materials sourced from Phipps’ gardens, while fluffy ferns create his hair and beard.

The adventure continues in the Serpentine Room as guests pass under a rustic, ivy-covered stone bridge where an animatronic troll crouches by a fire, asking riddles which guests must answer before allowing them to pass. This troll has stored trinkets throughout the room, and clever guests may notice that the answers to the riddles are hidden among the treasures.

All of the trolls in this show are completely unique to Phipps — imagined and created by Phipps staff and local manufacturers, and brought to life with plant material from Phipps’ own gardens. Interactive elements and massive original displays combine to create an immersive fantasy experience beyond compare that can’t be found anywhere else.

Summer Flower Show: The Hidden Life of Trolls, designed by Associate Director of Exhibits Jordyn Melino, opens Sat., May 1. Visit Phipps’ website for daily hours. Timed tickets must be reserved in advance and all guests must follow safety protocols. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit phipps.conservatory.org/Tickets.