AHN Penn West president Dr. Brian Johnson and Joe Kirk–the CEO/Founder of the Point Of Pittsburgh Sailing League–talk about their work and their life journeys with host Jim Roddey on this week’s episode of “Heroes.”

“Heroes” is presented by Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the Allegheny Health Network, airing Saturdays at 10:00 AM and Sundays at 12:30 PM on Beaver County Radio. Archived editions of “Heroes” can be heard at the Beaver County Radio Podcast Library.

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(Adams Twp., Pa.) The driver of a Waste Management garbage truck was seriously injured early this morning after his truck collided with another garbage truck from Vogel Disposal and then slammed into a building in the 400 block of Mars Valencia Road in Adams Township.
The Waste Management truck driver was trapped in the vehicle and had to be rescued by emergency crews. Once rescued he was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
The Vogel Disposal Truck was on the side of the road when crews arrived and does not appear that he is injured.
Part of Mars Valencia Road is expected to be shut down for at least 4 to 5 hours as The Butler County structural collapse team is at the scene and state police are investigating.

(McKees Rocks, Pa.) Police have finally caught up with the grandmother who was wanted in connection with her 10-month-old grandchild’s overdose in McKees Rocks.
47-year-old Robbie Boyer was arrested in McKees Rocks on yesterday.
She is being charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police also obtained an additional warrant for her after a 9-year-old girl that she was caring for tested positive for cocaine metabolites and a 3-year-old boy that she ws also caring for tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl.
Boyer is currently in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting arraignment.

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(Union Twp., Pa.) We have an update now on that head on crash that occurred on Route 422 in Lawrence County early yesterday morning.
Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they were dispatched to the scene of of a wrong way head on crash on Route 422 just before the intersection of Interstate 376.
Troopers said that 42-year-old Dwayne Howell of Pittsburgh was driving a 2010 Acura TL Eastbound in the Westbound lanes when his vehicle collided a red 2002 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck being driven by a 45-year-old Ellwood City man. Howell fled the scene but was able to be located by State Police. Howell was arrested by Troopers on an outstanding warrant for possession of Marijuana originating from Mercer County. He was also additionally arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and hit and run of an attended vehicle Among several other violations.
No one was injured in the accident and Howell is currently being housed in the Lawrence County Jail.

(Photo of Governor Wolf Provided by Commonwealth Media Services)

Pittsburgh, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today that ElevateBio, a technology-driven company focused on powering transformative cell and gene therapies, will be investing in its first Pennsylvania operation through the buildout of an ElevateBio Base Camp biomanufacturing facility with the University of Pittsburgh and creating 172 new, six-figure jobs in Pittsburgh.
“When I first took office, I promised to support Pennsylvanians with a strong business economy by creating and retaining good jobs that pay well. This investment in ElevateBio is just the latest fulfillment of that promise,” said Gov. Wolf. “I’m thrilled to welcome ElevateBio to the commonwealth, where they’re joining a $50 billion life sciences ecosystem.”
ElevateBio received a funding proposal coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team (GAT) for an $860,000 Pennsylvania First grant and is encouraged to apply for the department’s Manufacturing Tax Credit, Research and Development Tax Credit, and Enterprise Zone Tax Credit programs. ElevateBio will be making significant investments in the build-out and operations of the biomanufacturing facility, including $35 million in capital expenditures, as well as investments in the training of 172 new full-time jobs paying more than $105,000 annually within five years of the start of construction.
The ElevateBio BaseCamp facility will be dedicated to developing and manufacturing cell and gene therapies and will be located in the Pitt BioForge Biomanufacturing Center at Hazelwood Green.
ElevateBio is a technology-driven company built to power the development of transformative cell and gene therapies today and for many decades to come. Pennsylvania is home to a nearly $50 billion life sciences ecosystem driven by world-class R&D institutions, top-notch universities – like the University of Pittsburgh – and strategic investments in venture capital, technology, and infrastructure.
“ElevateBio’s mission is to enable the entire cell and gene therapy industry to accelerate the development of life-saving therapies for many decades to come,” said David Hallal, chairman and chief executive officer of ElevateBio. “We thank Gov. Wolf for his support and are excited that Pittsburgh will be home to one of our BaseCamp facilities so that we can enable greater access to our next-generation enabling technologies and end-to-end capabilities for local, national, and global scientific innovators.”
The University of Pittsburgh will finance the build out of the anticipated 80,000-square-foot ElevateBio BaseCamp biomanufacturing facility and ElevateBio will commit to a long-term lease with extensions. Construction is expected to begin in 2023 and the University of Pittsburgh and ElevateBio estimate that it will take three to four years to complete construction, fit-out and qualification as a biomanufacturing facility for cell and gene therapies.
“Western Pennsylvania is on course to become a leader in both driving and commercializing life sciences discoveries, and we have taken one giant leap forward in realizing this vision today,”
said Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. “The University of Pittsburgh is honored to partner with ElevateBio and the commonwealth on this journey, which will see us leveraging lessons from the lab – in new and exciting ways – for the benefit of the region, research and humankind.
“We are excited to welcome ElevateBio to our region as the most recent addition to our life sciences ecosystem,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “We are proud of Pittsburgh’s ability to attract new and emerging life science companies and fortunate to have magnets like the University of Pittsburgh and its medical school. Along with this region’s quality of life and investment in innovation, we continue to see businesses choosing Pittsburgh and providing great career opportunities for talent to fill jobs across the ecosystem’s pipeline. We look forward to all that ElevateBio will do here.”
Through GAT, Gov. Wolf has invested nearly $17.8 billion over the past seven years to partner with nearly 430 companies to create and retain more than 191,000 jobs for Pennsylvanians.
Knowing that creating good paying jobs is only one piece of the puzzle, Gov. Wolf has also prioritized improving STEM education and manufacturing training opportunities across the commonwealth to ensure that Pennsylvanians have the necessary skills to succeed in the jobs being created. In 2018, he launched PA Smart to expand STEM education and make computer science available to all students.
Gov. Wolf’s investments in manufacturing, STEM, and education to ensure worker
success include:
• A historic $3.7 billion increase in education funding
• A $40 billion investment in STEM education
• A $28 million investment in apprenticeship training through PASmart
• $16.9 million invested in manufacturing training-to-career programs through
his Manufacturing PA Initiative
For more information about the Governor’s Action Team or the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit the DCED website

(Photo courtesy of Pa Media Services)

Gibsonia, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined the PA Vegetable Growers
Association today at Harvest Valley Farms, a fourth-generation vegetable farm and PA
Preferred® on-farm market, to highlight investments strengthening fruit and vegetable production and to encourage Pennsylvanians to shop locally this harvest season.
“As we celebrate Pennsylvania Produce Month this August, we are reminded of fruit and vegetable growers – like Harvest Valley Farms – who go the extra mile for the communities they serve,” said Redding. “It is demonstrated through charitable food donation, conservation work, and the connections made by bringing food from field to table. This harvest season, join me in supporting Pennsylvania farmers by shopping locally and buying PA Preferred®. It is a great way to say, ‘thank you’ to all those who help bring food to our tables.”
According to the 2021 Pennsylvania agriculture economic impact update, Pennsylvania fruit and vegetable production supports more than 7,200 family farms, 31,000 jobs, and contributes more than $6.1 billion to the state economy annually.
To grow on-farm opportunities and ensure fresh foods remain available, accessible, and affordable, Governor Wolf developed the Pennsylvania Farm Bill. Since 2019, this historic package of legislation has invested more than $76 million in Pennsylvania agriculture, including dollars to support PA Preferred and grow the commonwealth’s specialty crop industry.
Many on-farm markets like Harvest Valley Farms and farmers market vendors are members of the PA Preferred program or carry PA Preferred products. PA Preferred is the statewide branding program for agricultural products grown, produced, and processed in Pennsylvania.
When purchasing items with the PA Preferred checkmark, consumers are supporting locally grown and processed Pennsylvania agricultural products and directly supporting Pennsylvania farmers.
For more information about PA Preferred, including where to find in-season produce,
visit agriculture.pa.gov.

Pastor Dave Grove talks about the one and only source of truth through scripture and prayer on this week’s edition of “Wake Up Beaver Valley”.

“Wake Up Beaver Valley” airs every Saturday morning from 9 AM to 10 AM on Beaver County Radio and is presented by the Church of The Redeemed of Beaver Valley. Archived editions of “Wake Up Beaver Valley” can be heard at the Beaver County Radio Podcast Library.

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(Pittsburgh, Pa.) The University of Pittsburgh will distribute $7.5 million to more than 20,000 in-state students on all five campuses, the University announced today. These funds represent 100% of Pitt’s one-time state allocation of COVID-19 relief money that was recently granted by Governor Tom Wolf’s office.

Pitt estimates in-state undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled at least half-time will receive grants of approximately $350. The final dollar amount will be determined based on in-state student enrollment numbers following the end of the drop/add period for the fall term, which concludes on Sept. 9.

“We remain grateful for the support of the legislature and Governor Wolf for preserving both the University’s longstanding partnership with the commonwealth and the in-state tuition rate that our partnership supports. This is a powerful benefit—and a lifechanging one—for Pitt students and families throughout Pennsylvania,” said David Brown, Vice Chancellor of Government Relations and Advocacy.

In late September, eligible in-state students will receive an email informing them when the grant amount has posted to their account in PittPAY, the University’s online student billing and payment system. The money will be refunded directly to the bank account students have designated on the eRefunds tab. Students are reminded to confirm they have designated an active and valid bank account.

Additional state funding will support rural education

Pitt also received $167,000 in state funding to support rural education outreach. This funding will be distributed to the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford to deliver educational services to the most rural populations in Pennsylvania. Through this program Pitt-Bradford will support the region’s special post-secondary training and business needs.

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Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News
(Center Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) Beaver County District Attorney David J. Lozier issued a press release Wednesday night with the details on the shooting that took place at approximately 10 a.m. last  Saturday morning on Cedar Ridge Drive in Center Township, Beaver County.