Multiple people shot at Minnesota clinic; 1 arrested

Police: Multiple people shot at Minnesota clinic; 1 arrested
By MOHAMED IBRAHIM and GRETCHEN EHLKE Associated Press
BUFFALO, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say multiple people were shot at a Minnesota health clinic and a suspect was taken into custody afterward. Kelly Prestidge, an office manager for the Buffalo Police Department, says the shooting happened Tuesday at an Allina clinic in Buffalo, about 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis, and that one person was taken into custody. She says she doesn’t know how many people were shot or if anyone was killed. Police Chief Pat Budke says the situation was contained and there is no further threat. Gov. Tim Walz says improvised explosive devices were part of the attack, but he didn’t say whether any were detonated.

Pennsylvania State Police Announces On-Duty Death

Harrisburg, PA – With a heavy heart, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Robert Evanchick announced that a Pennsylvania State Trooper died after suffering a medical emergency while on duty.
Trooper Monty Mitchell was assigned to the Patrol Section of Troop C, DuBois. He suffered a medical emergency in the station parking lot during his shift at approximately 9:00 PM on February 8, 2021. Station personnel attempted life-saving measures and called 911 but attempts to revive Trooper Mitchell were unsuccessful. He was pronounced deceased at Penn Highlands DuBois Hospital at 10:00 PM.
“Our department today feels the heartache of the sudden loss of a colleague and friend,” said Colonel Evanchick. “We ask Pennsylvanians to keep Trooper Mitchell and his loved ones in their thoughts during this difficult time.”
Trooper Mitchell enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in November 2007. In addition to Troop C, DuBois, he had also been assigned to Troop G, Huntingdon and Troop C, Ridgway during his career with the department.
A graduate of the 126th cadet class, Trooper Mitchell was 45 years old.

Department of Health Launches “Your Turn” Vaccine Eligibility Tool to Aid in Vaccination Process Across Commonwealth

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today launched a new tool called Your Turn to help Pennsylvanians understand where they fall in the vaccine prioritization effort and to be alerted when it is their turn to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Since all seniors are currently eligible to be vaccinated, Pennsylvanians younger than 65 can use this tool to determine if it is their turn to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “When it is your turn, we will direct you on how to find a vaccine provider. If it is not your turn yet, you will be able to enter contact information to receive updates about vaccine distribution in Pennsylvania and for us to let you know when it is your turn to get vaccinated.

If an individual does not have internet access or is unable to use the Your Turn tool, they can call 877-PA-HEALTH and speak with a representative to determine eligibility. If an individual is eligible, the representative will help the individual locate nearby vaccine providers and provide contact information so the individual can make a vaccine appointment directly with a provider.

With initial supplies extremely limited, the COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed in phases. Qualifying for a vaccine does not guarantee available doses or appointments. If someone does qualify, they can then visit the vaccine provider map to set up an appointment with a provider or get on that provider’s contact list.

Your Turn will be used for the sole purpose of determining eligibility for receiving a COVID-19 vaccination in Pennsylvania and will replace the current eligibility quiz on pa.gov. Using the tool does not register an individual to receive a vaccine and does not guarantee a vaccination appointment. Eligibility is based on prioritizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which have been implemented in the commonwealth’s COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan.

“We are working to vaccinate everyone in Pennsylvania who wishes to receive a vaccination,” Acting Secretary Beam said. “While you are waiting for your turn to receive a vaccine, you can visit the provider map to view vaccine providers around you, but remember, please do not register with a vaccine provider until it is your turn. As we wait for more vaccine to become available, make sure you continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance, download COVID Alert PA and visit the department’s website to stay updated. These mitigation efforts are still important even for those who are vaccinated.”

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Pennsylvania hospitals began receiving shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 14 and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 21. Please note that this does include vaccine administration through CVS as part of the Federal Pharmacy Partnership, which is vaccinating people in long-term care facilities. Vaccination numbers for Pennsylvania do not include Philadelphia, which is its own jurisdiction, or federal facilities, which are working directly with the federal government.

Through Feb. 13:

  • 2,439,550 doses of the vaccine will have been allocated/received by providers.
    • 175,175 first doses will have been allocated this week.
      • 1,426,600 first doses will have been allocated in total.
    • 143,275 second doses will have been allocated this week.
      • 1,012,950 second doses will have been allocated in total.

Through Feb. 8:

  • 1,352,248 doses of the vaccine have been administered to 1,049,609 people.
    • 1,049,609, or 74 percent, of people have received their first dose of vaccine.
    • 302,639, or 30 percent, of people have received their second dose of vaccine.

While vaccine supply from the federal government remains limited, the Department of Health is working to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient.

 

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean surfaces frequently.
  • Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
  • If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
  • Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa”.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

A TELEFORUM TRAFFIC STUDY

On Thursday’s Teleforum, Eddy poses a simple question; how are the parking and driving changes on 7th avenue working out so far? Recent events and the time lapsed since the big changes allows for learned consideration of the issue’ so;  Is 7th avenue better or worse when than it used to be when comes to getting around Beaver Falls? Teleforum starts at 9:10 every weekday morning on Beaver County Radio.

Wolf Administration Announces Creation of COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force with Legislature

Wolf Administration Announces Creation of COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force with Legislature

Harrisburg, PA – While conversations with the entire General Assembly on the state’s vaccine plan will remain ongoing, Governor Tom Wolf’s Administration also sought to provide a mechanism for accurate, timely information sharing via a streamlined set of communicators between these two branches of state government. As such, today the Wolf Administration announced that it is establishing a joint task force with members from each legislative caucus who can share vaccine information and communicate issues and solutions expediently on behalf of and to the broader General Assembly.

“We have a good working relationship with our legislators, and we know they are the eyes, ears, and voices for Pennsylvanians,” Gov. Wolf said. “The feedback they receive from their local communities is extremely important, particularly as the commonwealth continues to improve upon this once-in-a-generation vaccine rollout. Working with leaders from each caucus in the General Assembly, we are creating a task force to ensure collaboration and strengthen communications about the state’s vaccine plan.”

Task force members will represent their caucus’s point-of-view and work to streamline conversations to focus and drive issues of importance. Wolf Administration members will serve as task force members with the subject matter expertise to listen, collaborate and provide information, answers and suggestions to solve problems in a timely manner.

Members of the task force include co-chairs Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam and Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Randy Padfield; for the Senate Democratic Caucus, Sen. Art Haywood; for the House Democratic Caucus, Rep. Bridget Kosierowski; for the Senate Republican Caucus, Sen. Ryan Aument; and for the House Republican Caucus, Rep. Tim O’Neal.

The task force will be meeting as needed and providing updates to the full General Assembly via each of the task force members.

Speed Limit Restrictions Lifted as Snow Moves out of the Area

Speed Limits Restored on Roadways in the Region

 

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT has lifted the speed limit restrictions that were in place on several roadways in the region.

Due to the winter storm impacting the region, speed limits were reduced this morning to 45 mph on all interstates and several other routes in the region. All speeds are restored to their usual posted limits.

PennDOT is continuing to treat roadways in the area and will continue until roads are clear.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.PennDOT.gov.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh

Kobe Bryant crash pilot disoriented in clouds, agency says

Kobe Bryant crash pilot disoriented in clouds, agency says
By STEFANIE DAZIO and BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Safety investigators say the pilot of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter flew through the clouds in an apparent violation of federal standards, and likely became disoriented. Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said Tuesday that pilot Ara Zobayan was flying under visual flight rules, which means he needed to be able to see where he was going. Zobayan piloted the aircraft to climb sharply and had nearly broken through the clouds when the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into the hills below, killing all aboard. The helicopter did not have the so-called “black box” recording devices, which were not required.

Marty Schottenheimer, NFL coach with 200 wins, dies at 77

Marty Schottenheimer, NFL coach with 200 wins, dies at 77
By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer
The longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer has died. Family friend and former Kansas City Chiefs publicist Bob Moore says Schottenheimer died late Monday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. He was moved to a hospice on Jan. 30. Schottenheimer won 200 regular-season games with four NFL teams thanks to his “Martyball” brand of smash-mouth football but regularly fell short in the playoffs. He was the eighth-winningest coach in NFL history. He went 200-126-1 in 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington and San Diego Chargers. His success was rooted in “Martyball,” a conservative approach that featured a strong running game and tough defense. Marty Schotenheimer was 77.

Firefighters battle blaze, partial collapse on Southside of Pittsburgh

Firefighters battle blaze, partial collapse in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Fire and a partial collapse has demolished at least part of a multistory building on Pittsburgh’s South Side built at least 141 years ago. Fire crews fought for hours to contain the blaze reported at about 2:30 p.m. that sent flames and smoke poured from the building. At one point, the side of the building facing 11th street collapsed. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the first floor of the building houses a barber shop and the South Side Welcome Center, which is home to the South Side Chamber of Commerce. The other floors contain residential units. No injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the blaze wasn’t immediately clear.