The featured image above shows two women holding their signs for the rally outside the Beaver County Courthouse 
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published May 12, 2022 10:22 P.M.

(Beaver, PA)  County residents gathered at the courthouse Thursday Evening for a rally to protect reproductive rights in Pennsylvania.  The rally was hosted by the Beaver County Democratic Committee, Beaver County Young Democrats, and Voices for Change Beaver.  An organizer of the event, Erin Gabriel, told Beaver County Radio that the main purpose of the rally was “A calling to gather”.  The rally featured multiple guest speakers including Democratic Candidate for Congress Chris Deluzio.  Deluzio said “We need federal protection”, and “They’ve got to hear us loud and clear”.  Bruce Carper, State House Candidate for District 14 said “This is just the beginning, this is one right, what is going to happen next?”.  Speakers also read letters sent from Conor Lamb and John Fetterman with Lamb saying that the current events are “appalling” and he “will protect Roe”, while Fetterman said “lives will be in danger, we can’t afford to wait” in regards to self-induced abortions.  Other guest speakers shared stories of their own while attendees held signs and listened on the courthouse steps.
View photos from the rally below:

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
(Photos by Matt Drzik)

“Why not try and bring a hotel back to Rochester?”

Those words from Kenneth Majors sparked a project that lasted for half a decade, and culminated in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on Thursday afternoon at the Rochester Hotel on West Washington Avenue. The ceremony was co-hosted by the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce inside the renovated Diamond Lounge area.

Majors, along with Brian York, bought the property on April 1, 2017 after seeing it abandoned for several years, and “took two years to gut it and three to get where we are now,” he told Beaver County Radio. “Thanks to COVID, it took a three-year project and turned it into a five-year project.”

The pandemic was not the only obstacle for the new facility, as York explained: “Politically, it’s been an uphill battle. Rochester has been supporting us; we need more support from the local area to use this facility and grow up the area around Rochester.”

The hotel, which occupies the same residence as the former Penn Beaver hotel, has fully opened with 54 rooms of hotel space, a newly renovated bar and lounge known as the Diamond Lounge (where the ceremony took place), and the Penn Beaver restaurant–a nod to the hotel that preceded it.

Also in attendance at the ribbon-cutting were Rochester mayor Keith Jackson, Rochester councilman Rico Elmore, Beaver County Commissioner Jack Manning, and outgoing Beaver County Chamber of Commerce president Helen Kissick.

“This is, to me, the biggest development that’s gone on in Rochester in 40 years,” York said. “This is very, very good for Beaver County.”

(Neshannock Twp., Pa.) We have an update for you on a story we first told you about Wednesday after Pa. State police arrested Shane McDevitt after a high speed chase and crash on Route 28 near the Springdale, Cheswick exit. McDevitt was wanted in connection with the homicide of 65-year-old Cecelia Liposky, of New Castle whose body was found in a home on the 2800 block of Mercer Road in Neshannock Township Lawrence County. Police are now saying that McDevitt is Liposky’s son.
McDevitt is being charged with Criminal Homicide and possessing a Instruments of Crime. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 18, 2022. Bail for McDevitt was denied.

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

More than 60 businesses across Pennsylvania signed a letter to legislative leaders, calling on them to focus on improving the economic climate and abandon efforts making it harder for people to vote.

The letter calls attention to the state’s no-excuse mail voting law passed in 2019. It has faced legal challenges after a Commonwealth Court judge sided earlier this year with some Republican lawmakers, who believe it violates the state Constitution.

Richard Eidlin, national policy director at Business for America, said some businesses feel there’s been an unnecessary amount of attention on relitigating the 2020 election.

“We feel that the Legislature has failed to address more important problems like recovering from the pandemic,” Eidlin asserted. “So our intent with the letter was to make it known that the business community really expects Democrats and Republicans to find ways to work together.”

The voting law is awaiting a decision by the state Supreme Court and is in place for next Tuesday’s primary election. Eidlin pointed out Business for America has brought together Republican and Democratic leaders for a series of dialogues to find common ground on voting rights and election integrity and security.

Jabari Jones, president of the West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative, a business association, said 92% of its businesses temporarily closed during the pandemic. He added he would like to see the state ensure more American Rescue Plan dollars reach businesses.

“We did a survey of about 100 companies in our district and found that the average business had about $9,000 in unpaid back-due expenses that are wrapped up from the pandemic,” Jones observed. “So there was an opportunity to invest some of the disaster relief money to helping businesses get caught up.”

Dennis Guy, CEO of First Sip Brew Box, a craft beer media company in Pittsburgh, said allocating funds for programs to drive revenue is key for businesses still recovering from the pandemic.

“Our electric bill needs to be paid at the end of the month,” Guy stressed. “I need to be able to be a part of a program where you’re actually creating assets, a tangible result for that business so that they can be around six months from now.”

Pennsylvania has $1.7 billion in unused American Rescue Plan dollars to spend by 2024.

(Photo provided with release)

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

Pennsylvania lawmakers and community leaders gathered in Montgomery County Wednesday, urging the General Assembly to use $204 million in unspent American Rescue Plan funds to help older adults through property tax and rent rebates.

Pennsylvania’s Property Tax Rent Rebate Program has delivered more than $7 billion to older adults and people with disabilities for more than 50 years.

Rep. Steve Malagari, D-Montgomery, said his older constituents are facing many financial challenges, including rising prescription drug costs. He emphasized increasing the rebate could be a lifeline for them.

“Too many are struggling to stay in their homes and stay connected to the neighbors they call friends because their property tax bills or rent payments are rising beyond their control,” Malagari observed. “I know how critical the Property Tax Rent Rebate Program is in Pennsylvania and how critical it is to the seniors living here.”

The investment would be a one-time bonus, doubling existing rebates, with an estimated 466,000 Pennsylvanians receiving an additional average rebate of $475.

Gazi Razzak has lived in Lansdale for 24 years and is a recipient of the rebate program. He said any increases to the program will be helpful, especially for seniors like him, who are on a limited income.

“Right now, it is very tough because prices are rising. Food prices are record high,” Razzak pointed out. “Support for expanding the rebate is needed more than ever.”

Sen. Maria Collett, D-Montgomery, has introduced Senate Bill 1187, which would create the one-time bonus rebate. It was referred to the Urban Affairs and Housing Committee in April.

In Montgomery County, the Property Tax Rent Rebate program benefited more than 13,000 residents who received a total of $6.4 million dollars. Nearly 75% of the recipients were age 65 and older.

(Hopewell Twp., Beaver County, Pa.) The Hopewell School Board held its work session Tuesday night  and some parents feel there is not enough emphasis on the band students, and more on sports.  One parent told the board, “They are just as important as sports teams. “The board approved the purchase of 150 uniforms at a cost of $77,046.55 from Demoulin Brothers and Company through the COSTARS Cooperative Purchasing Program, and funds will be taken from the capital reserve fund.

(Imperial, Pa.) A student at West Allegheny high school is facing multiple charges after police said they found a loaded AR-15 with a full magazine of bullets inside his vehicle after a search warrant was issued for his vehicle on May 10, 2022.
The incident started when West Allegheny High School received reports of a smell of marijuana on 18-year-old Ja’Shon Spencer.
The school resource officer spoke with Spencer and could smell marijuana emanating from him. The student denied using any illegal substances.
Spencer’s probation officer arrived at the school and aided the resource officer in looking for Spencer’s 2017 Ford Escape. Officers said that when the pair found the vehicle they also found a girl sitting in the passenger seat who did not attend the high school.
Officers also found a small bag of marijuana and a vape that contained THC in the vehicle during the search.
Spencer is facing charges of possession, possession of a weapon on school property, corruption of a minor and possession of marijuana.

(Zelienople, Pa.) Zelienople Borough Police have arrested Michael Shipley after at least four businesses were burglarized and vandalized last weekend in Cranberry Township.
Reports say that Shipley broke into Tony’s Exxon along Route 19 on Friday night. He had broken a door’s glass, the front window was smashed, and the inside was ransacked, all while a worker was in in the building.
Hours later on Saturday morning, police said Shipley then targeted other businesses along Main Street by throwing a table through the front door of Fisher’s Bar and Grill and spray-painting graffiti on the building at Sarah II Nails salon next door to the bar.
Police say they identified Shipley through video, license plate readers and traffic cameras in Butler County.
Shipley is facing several charges but told police he was being set up and denies the allegations.