(File Photo; Courtesy of PA. Media Services)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — State police have opened a driving under the influence investigation following the deaths of two Pennsylvania troopers and a civilian struck by a vehicle on an interstate in Philadelphia early Monday. Police said Trooper Martin F. Mack III and Trooper Branden T. Sisca were trying to get a pedestrian off I-95 when all three were struck by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The troopers and the civilian were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the driver remained at the scene and a DUI-related investigation was opened. Gov. Tom Wolf ordered state flags to fly at half-staff in the troopers’ honor.

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh, pa.) Pa State Police at the Rivers Casino is reporting that they have charged 22-year-old Walter Gorton of Moon Twp with Disorderly conduct and public drunkenness after an incident that occurred at the Rivers Casino in the Parking Garage on Saturday night around 9:50 PM.
Troopers said in a release that Gorton made unreasonable noise, used obscene Language, and made obscene gestures for no legitimate purpose and caused a public annoyance. Troopers charged Gorton after he was given reasonable warning and he persisted with the inappropriate conduct.

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, rejected legal challenges to new state House and Senate maps last week, finalizing the legislative redistricting process.

The chair of the commission tasked with drafting the maps said he believes the districts fairly represent residents. The Legislative Reapportionment Commission, in a 4 to 1 bipartisan vote in February, approved the maps, which include 203 House districts and 50 Senate districts.

Mark Nordenberg, nonpartisan chair of the panel, said the commission made an effort to host a record number of public hearings, despite delays in receiving U.S. Census data.

“I do think that these maps will serve the people of the Commonwealth well for the next decade,” Nordenberg asserted. “That seems to be the consensus view from the good-government groups and the leaders of minority groups, too.”

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre/Mifflin, is a member of the commission who voted against the maps. He said in a statement the court decision will “artificially create a Democrat majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives through deliberate racial and political gerrymandering.”

The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced the 2020 census undercounted Black people and Native Americans, with Latinos having a net undercount rate of nearly 5%.

Nordenberg acknowledged some undercounts were expected because of the pandemic, but are still disappointing.

“You work hard to key your redistricting efforts to the census results that come from the federal government,” Nordenberg explained. “We are required to do that. That news makes it all the more important that we did try to create minority-influence districts.”

The new maps created majority-Latino districts in Philadelphia, Reading and Allentown. The state’s Latino population grew by 45% between 2010 and 2020, according to census data, and its Asian population grew by 46%.

Candidates running for legislative office in Pennsylvania have until next Monday to submit their nomination petitions.

(Koppel, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver have released the name of the victim in a early Monday morning, March 21, 2022, fatal motorcycle accident that occurred at the intersection of Route 18 and 351 in Koppel.

Troopers said via release that they were dispatched to the scene of the accident at approximately 7:30 AM. Upon arriving it was determined 29-year-old Jacob Watts of Beaver Falls was traveling north bound on 18 on his 2004 Yamaha  when   51 year-old Michelle Stevens of New Castle who was driving a 2012 Ford F-350 pick-up south bound on 18 and turned left in front of Watts. Troopers said in the release that she did not have enough clearance to turn and turned into the path of Watts. Troopers said that Watts succumbed to his injuries and Stevens was not injured in the accident.

The release also stated that Watts was improperly wearing a helmet.

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano

(Koppel, Pa.) PA State Police in Beaver are reporting that they were called to the scene of a fatal accident involving  motorcycle shortly after 7:00 AM on Monday morning at the intersection of Route 18 and 351 in Koppel. The accident was in front of the Al’s corner, a popular eatery.

Troopers have not said what happened at this point and have not released the names and/or conditions of the victim or victims involved in the accident.

A State Police Spokesperson said more information will be released as the investigation continues.

(Pa State Troopers Martin F. Mack III (Left) and Brandon. T. Sisca (Right) were killed in the line of duty early Monday morning while assisting a pedestrian on I-95 in Philadelphia. Photos courtesy of Pa. Media Services.) 

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Commissioner Robert Evanchick confirmed today that Trooper Martin F. Mack III, 33, and Trooper Branden T. Sisca, 29, were struck and killed by a driver earlier this morning on I-95 south in the area of milepost 18 in Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County. A male pedestrian was also struck and killed at the same time.
The troopers were dispatched after receiving reports of a man walking on I-95 south. As they were helping him into the back of their cruiser, the female suspect attempted to drive past the scene. She fatally struck all three and the cruiser just before 1:00 a.m. and remained at the scene. “Our department is heartbroken with the tragedy that occurred early this morning in Philadelphia,” said Colonel Evanchick. “We ask our fellow Pennsylvanians to keep the families of our troopers and the
pedestrian in their thoughts. This is an extremely difficult time.”
Mack enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in November 2014 and graduated as a member of the 141st cadet class. Sisca enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in February 2021 and graduated as a member of the 161st cadet class. Both troopers spent their entire careers assigned to the Patrol Section of Troop K, Philadelphia.
Governor Tom Wolf ordered the commonwealth flag on all commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds fly at half-staff to honor Trooper Mack and Trooper Sisca. The commonwealth flag shall be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Friday, March 25, 2022, as well as on the day(s) of their funerals which have not
yet been announced. The United States flag is to remain at full-staff through this tribute. All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy that occurred while these troopers were protecting and serving,” said Gov. Wolf. “This mournful incident is a stark reminder of the risks—and sacrifices—our law enforcement officers undertake every day to keep us safe. My heart goes out to their families and the communities they lived in
and served.”

Story by Sandy Giordano

(Beaver Pa.) Beaver Police reported that a tractor trailer lost control in industry at 9 :50 a.m. striking the awning at JR”s Pizza  Police and paramedics were on scene. One person was sent to the hospital for evaluation,  Route 68 east and westbound is closed while crews clear the  scene.

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer
The Pittsburgh Penguins have shored up their depth at defense by acquiring Nathan Beaulieu from the Winnipeg Jets to open the NHL’s final day of trading. The Jets acquired a conditional seventh-round pick in this year’s draft for Beaulieu, who is in the final year of his contract. The Penguins sit third in the Metropolitan Division standings and made the move with an eye on the playoffs. Beaulieu is sidelined by a lower-body injury sustained earlier this month and will remain on long-term injured reserve.

(File Photo)

(Chippewa Township, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they have charges 34-year-old Raymond Cox of Industry with Driving under the Influence of a controlled substance after an incident that took place at the Get Go in Chippewa on Thursday, March 11, 2022.
Troopers said via release that Cox backed the 1995 Ford F-350 truck he was driving into a 2020 Hyundai Sonata that was sitting at a gas pump while 81-year-old Gerard Sommer was pumping gas into it causing major damage to the side and rear of the vehicle. Cox then fled the scene in an unknown direction. No Injuries were reported and no further information was released about the incident.