(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

On Friday afternoon, a meet-and-greet event was held at Irvine Park in Beaver featuring Jeff Coleman, a candidate for the Republican Primary for the Lieutenant Governor seat in Pennsylvania. Coleman was joined at the event by State Representative Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington). Prior to the event, Coleman spoke with A.M. Beaver County’s Matt Drzik about what led him to run for the seat.

Coleman is a former State Representative himself, representing Armstrong and Indiana counties from 2000 until 2007. “My focus there–and still is–having civil  discourse,” Coleman said, “making sure that we’re fighting the good fights, but doing it in the right way.” When asked what those “good fights” were, Coleman talked about believing in the sanctity of life, lower taxes, smaller government, parental choice, and local control of schools among them.

“[I’m] a traditional conservative,” Coleman added, “but someone who really believes that you’ve got to do it in a no-drama way. The theatrics of politics often are what hurt the message for people who care about these issues.”

As to the particular decision to run for Lieutenant Governor, he sees the position as an opportunity for more civil debates and discourse: “I see the opportunity to turn the country and the state around when it comes to how we do battle.” Coleman wants “more debates, not less, more debates happening in the building and in the Capitol, less on social media…if we continue to go down this road, I think we’re in very bad shape; especially going into the next presidential election. I saw lieutenant governor as the only place you can really have that discussion.”

Coleman sees the Lieutenant Governor position as a “switchboard” for the different branches of the commonwealth’s government, adding “When there’s communication between those branches of government, you have a real opportunity for a functioning government.”

Coleman is one of nine current candidates for the Republican Primary in the race for lieutenant governor, which is set to be held May 17.

(Photo of 1300 block of 6th Ave. in Beaver Falls where shooting occurred Thursday afternoon taken by Frank Sparks) 

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Beaver Falls Police are searching for 20-year-old Gage Michael Smith, of New Castle, PA , in  connection with a shooting that occurred in Beaver Falls Thursday afternoon. According to a press release, from the Beaver Falls Police Department, officers were dispatched  to a shooting incident in the 600 block of 13th Street.at 4:20 PM.  As the officers were investigating, it was determined that Smith fired  several shots from a moving vehicle, and multiple vehicles were struck in the area. No one was shot in the incident. Smith  is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, firearm not to be carried without a license, , propulsion of missiles into an occupied vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, and simple assault.   A felony warrant has been issued by Beaver Falls PD, and police want to locate him. Police are also looking for a 2005 white Chevy Malibu  with PA registration LWY-5553 in connection with the shooting incident.
Smith is described as  a white male approximately  5 feet five inches tall, weighing around 150 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes.
Police request that no resident  approach or attempt to apprehend Smith. Notify your local law enforcement if Smith’s whereabouts are known. You can call Call 724-775-0880 or 9-1-1.
Chief Johnson said this is an active investigation, and no further information is available.

(Pittsburgh, PA ) PennDOT District 11 is announcing a southbound lane restriction on Route 51 (Stoops Ferry Road) in Moon Township, Allegheny County will occur Saturday, April 30 weather permitting.

(File Photo)

(AMBRIDGE, Pa.) Three grants totaling nearly $440,000 will help Beaver County communities continue successful recycling programs, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced this week.

Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the Recycling Development and Implementation grants include $350,000 to Beaver County, $70,000 to Aliquippa City, and nearly $20,000 to Rochester Township.

“Recycling programs are energy-savers, job-creators and sensible ways to preserve the resources we hold dear,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding is going to keep these programs running for the residents and small businesses that benefit from them.”

Communities can use the funding for projects including operating leaf compost facilities, developing web-based programs on recycling for consumers, expanding recycling processing facilities, installing data-collection systems on recycling vehicles, continuing and creating curbside recycling programs, and developing educational materials to encourage residents to properly recycle.

Through the grant program, municipalities and counties in Pennsylvania are eligible for up to 90% funding of approved recycling program costs. Municipalities that are designated financially distressed under the Financial Distressed Communities Act are eligible to receive funding for an additional 10% of approved costs. Grants were also awarded based on programs designed to meet current market demands for recyclable goods.

(File Photo)

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano is reporting that for the second time in a week, in the area of Sheffield and Franklin Avenues in Aliquippa two water line breaks occurred late Thursday. Water service was restored early Friday morning, and crews are still working, according to a spokesperson.
Aliquippa schools were dismissed earlier than usual due to the breaks, according to a district spokesperson.

(File Photo)

Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, Pa.) At Wednesday night’s work session via ZOOM  city council approved  the  proposed land development plan  for a solar array submitted  by the Cronimet Corporation. Cronimet owns property in the city’s industrial park on Pilarsky Way. A spokesperson for the firm  told council that  being located in Aliquippa  is one of our best experiences in a long time.”

(Harrisburg, Pa.) The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the death sentence of a man convicted in the 2017 murder of New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw.
A Westmoreland County jury in 2019 had recommended the death penalty for Rahmael Holt after convicting him of murder of a law enforcement officer in the first degree.
Shaw, 25, was shot during a foot pursuit after a traffic stop on Leishman Avenue in New Kensington on Nov. 17, 2017.
Prosecutors said Holt was a passenger in the vehicle, and that he shot Shaw while running from the traffic stop.
Holt won’t be put to death anytime soon as there is currently a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania by order of Gov. Tom Wolf.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
By DAVID SHARP Associated Press
California and 15 other states that want the U.S. Postal Service to buy electric-powered delivery vehicles are suing to halt purchases of thousands of gas-powered trucks. Three lawsuits, filed Thursday in New York and California by the states and environmental groups, demand that the Postal Service conduct a more thorough environmental review before moving forward with the next-generation vehicle program. Plaintiffs said emissions from gasoline-powered delivery vehicles would cause environmental harm for decades to come. All told, the Postal Service’s fleet includes 190,000 local delivery vehicles, most of which went into service between 1987 and 1994. The Postal Service plans to buy up to 165,000 new vehicles over the next 10 years.