(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff
(Harrisburg, Pa.) Act 59 of 2022 referred to as “Deana’s Law” amends the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code by increasing the grading for certain DUI offenses, requiring consecutive sentencing for certain repeat DUI offenders, and imposing an 18-month driving privilege suspension for a DUI conviction graded as a felony of the second degree.
Under the new law, an individual charged with DUI who refuses a breath or chemical test or who is charged with DUI with a BAC of .16 and has prior offenses would faces a A third degree felony charge for their third offense, which carries a maximum prison sentence of not more than seven years. A Second Degree Felony Charge would be assessed for a fourth or higher offense and that is punishable by a maxim term of not more than ten years in prison.
Another change is that a sentence imposed on an individual for a DUI offense who has two or more prior offenses shall be served consecutively to any other sentence the individual is serving or any other sentence imposed by the court, except for violations that are required to be merged. In addition, the law provides for a sentencing enhancement in cases where an individual has four or more prior DUI offenses.

(File Photo)
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania elections officials say “a handful” of counties haven’t fully reported results from this month’s election, at least in part because organized efforts to seek recounts are pending in court. The Department of State declined to say Tuesday how many of the state’s 67 counties failed to meet the deadline for certification. That deadline was by the end of the day Monday. Challenges organized or supported by Republican and other conservative groups are being pursued weeks after the election was held without evidence emerging of problems that might change the results. The Department of State needs certified election results from all counties so it can compile the official results.

In this Friday, May 14, 2021 photo, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner speaks during a news conference where the Guardian Civic League and Club Valiants, the fraternal organizations that represent Black and Latino police and firefighters, endorsed him for the upcoming Democratic primary, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Claudia Lauer)
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania state Senate is beginning what could be a long and partisan process of considering whether to force Philadelphia Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner from office. Members of the Republican-controlled Senate were to formally receive articles of impeachment from the House on Wednesday. The impeachment is part of a wave of efforts around the country to remove progressive prosecutors. The impeachment trial was scheduled to start Jan. 18. Krasner calls his impeachment “pure politics” while Democrats call it an abuse of legislative power. The vote to impeach Krasner in the Republican-controlled House was nearly along party lines. A Senate vote to convict will require cooperation from Democrats.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

With December just a day away, the Christmas season will be flanked by those reviewing the year and releasing their year-end lists. Beaver County has received such a list–but theirs is for 2023, instead.

Before the Thanksgiving break, the Beaver County Commissioners attended the CCAP (County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania) Fall conference, in which Beaver County learned of its list of the CCAP Top 6 Priorities for 2023. Commissioner Jack Manning revealed the list, as follows:

1. 911 Reauthorization Funding (set to expire in 2024)
2. County Inmate Mental Health Issues
3. Increase General Mental Health Funding
4. Complex Behavioral Health Issues
5. Broadband Access
6. Election Integrity

Manning found it interesting that half of the list came from the mental health category, but understood why this was the case. “Beaver County has just as many issues as any other county in the country, quite frankly,” he stated. “[We] struggle with, particularly in the jails, in our inability to really have the right resources to that stuff.” Conversely, Manning felt that the county had a “pretty good handle” on Election Integrity, as he announced that Beaver County officially had certified their 2022 Election Results.

The future was also the focus of Brenda Applegate, who announced at Wednesday’s work session that moves were being made in the restoration of the porch at the Vicary Mansion in Freedom. The Executive Director of the Beaver County Historical Landmarks & Research Foundation revealed that Somerset-based Landmarks SGA to be the architects to spearhead the porch restoration project, chosen due to its Western Pennsylvania origins, presentation to the BCHRLF, and prior works and connections to Beaver County. Applegate also announced that the BCHRLF is seeking additional grant funding for the porch through State Representative Rob Matzie.

The next Commissioners’ work session is scheduled for December 7 at 10:00 AM.

(File Photo of Kings Logo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County News
(Center Twp., Beaver County, Pa,)  After recent reports on social media Beaver County Radio spoke with the manager of the King’s Family Restaurant located on Brodhead Road Wednesday morning and he said that the reported that the restaurant location closed permanently at 3 PM on Tuesday.  The unnamed manager said that the lease was up and due to COVID-19 the  popular eatery closed, Former employees can  transfer to  another King’s if they so desire, but there are not any close to our area any more. An attempt was made to contact King’s Marketing Department in North  Versailles, PA but it was unsuccessful. Center Township  officials said they  weren’t notified  concerning  the business’s closing .

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(North Beaver Twp., Lawrence County, Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they were dispatched to a location on West Poland Rd in North Beaver Twp., Lawrence County for a reported Domestic Disturbance.
The incident occurred at 6:42 PM on Monday Evening. Upon arriving and investigating Troopers learned that a 32-year-old female from Bessemer and a 34-year-old male from New Galilee were involved in an argument that became physical when they struck each other.
Troopers have filed Harassment with Physical Contact Charges against both of them at the local magistrates office.

(photo provided with release)

Keystone State News Connection

Danielle Smith

In just two months, it should be easier for providers of children’s services in Pennsylvania’s child-welfare and foster-care system to get the liability insurance they need. Governor Tom Wolf signed a bill into law that outlines who takes responsibility when an incident or accident occurs in the child-welfare system.

Some counties’ contracts require the private children’s service provider to take full responsibility, even when they are not at fault.

Samea Kim, vice president for Legal & Public Affairs at the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth & Family Services said as a result, the private providers have had trouble getting affordable, quality liability coverage – and this should make it easier for them to do so.

“This bill would allow the agency to take ownership of something that may have come up, if it was within the scope of what they did. Otherwise, if it was something related to the county, then the county would be able to take responsibility for their own actions,” Kim said.

Kim added under the current system, providers were making insurance payouts even in cases when they were not at fault, because the county contract requires the provider to take liability. The new law goes into effect February 1. There are nearly 15,000 children in Pennsylvania’s child-welfare system.

Laura Maines, CEO of Every Child, Inc., a nonprofit adoption and foster care organization based in Pittsburgh, said groups like hers have faced limited liability insurance coverage options and high premium costs, driven in part by the contracts that require private providers to indemnify government agencies in any situation. So, they advocated for House Bill 2214.

“This is about fairness,” Maines said. “This is about accountability. This is really about partnership and service continuity. And so, what [HB] 2214 does is it says if there is any language in a public foster care contract or child welfare contract that seeks to transfer 100% of the risk to the private agency, it’s unenforceable.”

Maines added professional liability insurance protects the agency if something happens to a child and there is a claim brought against their agency.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Us . District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed a sentence of 60 months imprisonment and eight years supervised release on 34-year-old Christopher A. Sennett, from Coraopolis, after his conviction for possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor..
Sennett had previously pleaded guilty at a hearing after he was found, by authorities, on Sept. 26, 2018 in possession of 120 videos and nine still images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors and determined to have distributed one such video over “Motherless.com”, an infamous pornography website.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon emphasized the dangerous nature of Sennett’s conduct and stated that she hoped that he would take advantage of sex offender treatment while incarcerated. Judge Bissoon further ordered Sennett to pay a $5000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.