Betty Rivas prepares breakfast for her family Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, in Commerce City, Colo. Rivas was startled by a letter telling her that the drinking fountains her 8-year-old used at school weren’t safe. PFAS stories had been in the local news and the school district told families to use bottled water. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose restrictions on harmful “forever chemicals” in drinking water after finding they are dangerous in amounts so small as to be undetectable. But experts say removing them will cost billions, a burden that will fall hardest on small communities with few resources. Concerned about the chemicals’ ability to weaken children’s immune systems, the EPA said last year that PFAS could cause harm at levels “much lower than previously understood.” The expected announcement is intended to address this growing gap between health science and regulation.

FILE – Former President Donald Trump speaks at the East Palestine Fire Department as he visits the area in the aftermath of the Norfolk Southern train derailment Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Trump’s lawyers in Georgia are criticizing the Fulton County investigation into potential illegal election meddling after the foreperson of the special grand jury seated to help the probe went public this week. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says former President Donald Trump can be sued by injured Capitol Police officers and Democratic lawmakers over the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The department’s position that Trump was not immune from suit was laid out in a filing before a federal appeals court. The brief was filed by lawyers in the Justice Department’s Civil Division and has no bearing on a separate criminal investigation by a department special counsel into whether Trump can be criminally charged over efforts to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election ahead of the Capitol riot.

FILE – Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. Shapiro unveils his first budget next week, poor districts that won a landmark school-funding lawsuit want him to propose a significant down payment and a plan to overhaul how Pennsylvania pays for K-12 education. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — When Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro unveils his first budget next week, poor districts that won a landmark school-funding lawsuit want him to propose a significant down payment and a plan to overhaul how the state pays for K-12 education. Lawyers for the districts tell The Associated Press they think $2 billion in additional education funding would be a good start toward billions more the poorest school districts need. One attorney says they also hope Shapiro presents a plan for developing a system that funds schools based on what students need. So far, Shapiro has said little about how he’ll respond to the court decision.

Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw speaks to reporters, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, near the site where a freight train derailed Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The CEO of Norfolk Southern railroad will testify in Congress next week about last month’s fiery Ohio derailment and the precautions the railroad takes to prevent similar crashes. The railroad said Wednesday that Alan Shaw will appear before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works next Thursday. Already, several lawmakers have proposed a series of rail safety reforms in response to the Feb. 3 derailment that forced the evacuation of half the town of East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border. The National Transportation Safety Board has said that an overheating bearing likely caused the derailment that sent 38 cars, including 11 carrying hazardous materials, off the tracks.

FILE – Shown is the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Jan. 5, 2021, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. Six weeks after Pennsylvania state representatives elected a Democratic speaker and have not returned to session, the Republican leader on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 warned of chaos when they reconvene next week. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania lobbyist is naming the Democratic state representative who she says sexually harassed her. Service Employees International Union lobbyist Andi Perez said in a statement Wednesday that she was sexually harassed by state Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County four years ago. She’s calling on Zabel to resign. Zabel didn’t respond to several messages seeking comment in recent days. He was among those who voted Wednesday for new House rules with an expanded section on handling sexual misconduct allegations. The expansion was prompted in part by Perez’ story. Perez went public with Zabel’s name a few hours later, after it was published by a conservative news and opinion outlet.

FILE – Bryan Kohberger, left, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, looks toward his attorney, public defender Anne Taylor, right, during a hearing in Latah County District Court, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Law enforcement officials seized dark clothing, medical gloves, a flashlight and other items from a Pennsylvania home where they arrested Kohberger, a graduate student charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death, according to newly unsealed court documents. The records were made public Tuesday, Feb. 28. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, Pool, File)

STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Law enforcement officials have revealed more details regarding items seized from the Pennsylvania home where they arrested a graduate student charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death. Additional court documents made public Thursday stated that a knife, a pocketknife, and a Glock 22 handgun with three empty magazines were found at the home of Bryan Kohberger’s parents. The home, Kohberger’s car, the garage and a shed on the property were all searched when he was arrested there Dec. 30. Kohberger, a 28-year-old doctoral student at Washington State University, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the stabbing deaths in Moscow, Idaho.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 2, 2023 11:49 A.M.  

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police Chief John Lane reported on Thursday multiple arrests were made in the recent car thefts. He added that all those arrested are juveniles. The thefts all occurred within 48 hours.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 2, 2023. 8:27 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Reverend Steven McKeown, Aliquippa Police chaplain will conduct  a memorial service on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the police department for fallen Police Chief Robert Sealock and Patrolman James Naim.  Chief Sealock’s wife Donna won’t be in attendance, but Naim’s brother Paul will attend, according to Police Chief John Lane.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published March 2, 2023 8:24 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) At the end of December 2023 Aliquippa will exit Act 47 status, according to Act 47 coordinator Debbie Grass who presented her report at Wednesday night’s city council meeting. In June there will be a financial Condition-Recision report. From July through August it will be the public notice period and the coordinator’s report will be filed with the city and DCED. In September public notices, a DCED public hearing will take place within 30 days, and a coordinator’s public hearing, with revisions if necessary. October-December the Secretary of DCED reviews the termination, and a determination is to be made in 90 days. On December 30, 2023 a certificate is to be signed by DCED Secretary affirming termination of Act 47 status. Ms. Grass told council that they’ve done good, and it’s with a celebration. She confirmed that DCED will still be in contact with the city following the exit from Act 47.