(Photo Courtesy of AHN)

WEXFORD, Pa. (Sept. 29, 2021) – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) announced today that AHN Wexford Hospital will officially open to patients tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 30 at 9 AM. The state-of-the-art, all-private 160-bed hospital will bring a full range of high-quality, innovative health care services to residents of communities north of Pittsburgh.

Located along U.S. Route 19, the 345,000-square-foot hospital includes a 24-bed emergency department including pediatric capable rooms with dedicated pediatric hospitalists, state-of-the-art operating rooms with minimally invasive robotic surgery capabilities, a cardiac catheterization lab and hybrid OR for advanced surgical procedures, a short-stay observation unit, an adult intensive care unit, advanced diagnostic imaging, and more.

 

AHN Wexford will also provide comprehensive women’s and infants’ care, including the only labor and delivery unit based in northern Allegheny County, as well as high-risk obstetrical services and a Level II neonatal intensive care unit. Other services for women include gynecological oncology, advanced breast care, urogynecology and minimally invasive techniques for women’s surgical procedures.

 

The hospital will also offer specialty care in cancer, neurology, cardiology, radiology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, endocrinology and orthopaedics, among other disciplines. Its large, all-private patient rooms include recumbent sleeping options for loved ones and plenty of natural light. Patients also can control their own room temperature, lighting and entertainment with the touch of a button, and select their meals from a room service menu.

 

AHN Wexford is connected to the AHN Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion which offers a wide array of outpatient health services, including primary care and multiple medical and surgical specialties. The pavilion hosts comprehensive centers for cancer treatment and women’s health. It also includes an ambulatory surgery center, breast center, comprehensive cardiovascular services, advanced imaging and laboratory testing, walk-in express care and an onsite pharmacy.

 

To learn more about AHN Wexford Hospital, visit www.ahn.org/wexford.

(Photo Provided by PSP-New Castle)

(Shenango Twp., Pa) Two people have been arrested in the assault that occurred Monday afternoon in Shenango Twp.
According to Pennsylvania State Police in new Castle, Shenango Township Police were dispatched to the scene of a possible assault a little after 1 p.m. on Monday in 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in the township.
When police arrived and investigated they found that 38-year-old Vincent Perotta from New Castle and 38-year-old Charles Trot also of New Castle had been assaulted with blunt objects and edged weapons.
Trott was flown to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown and is in critical condition.

Perotta sought treatment at UPMC Jameson Hospital in New Castle and is in stable condition.

Troopers filed criminal charges and arrest warrants for 26- year-old Cassie Marie Lutz and 55-year-old Michael Caccia both of New Castle.

Troopers reported via release that both suspects were in custody as of 4:25 PM yesterday

eystone State News Connection

September 29, 2021

Emily Scott

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Congress is expected to vote on the Biden administration’s Build Back Better agenda, which includes creating clean energy jobs to tackle the climate crisis.

Leaders of small and large businesses, in Pennsylvania and beyond, are asking representatives to vote in favor of the plan.

A letter from the American Sustainable Business Council is signed by 300 companies in support of the overall plan that includes upgrading both physical infrastructure and social programs.

Bill Wollrab, founder of the e-commerce marketplace AllPeople, signed the letter. He said fighting climate change also falls on corporations, and customers can hold them accountable.

“The consumers hold the power,” Wollrab asserted. “Customers are the lifeblood of any company, and for corporations to not listen to feedback from their customers, and if their customers are saying, ‘We want you to reduce your carbon footprint,’ those companies will eventually lose.”

Also among Pennsylvania businesses that signed the letter, were the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and BioEconomy Partners. Some Democrats have voiced their support of the Build Back Better agenda, including Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Pa., who represent the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions, respectively.

Wollrab pointed out his online marketplace is working toward being 100% owned by customers and employees. It also uses carbon-neutral shipping for its products. He thinks the letter shows, despite some large corporations lobbying against Build Back Better, many businesses are concerned about the impact the changing climate will have on their livelihoods.

“So, if you’ve got numerous companies and millions of consumers that all believe that climate change is real and that it should be addressed, then you’ve got a very powerful ecosystem that can demand that our politicians listen to us rather than ignore us,” Wollrab contended.

In the last month, the effects of climate change have cost Pennsylvania more than $100 million after Tropical Storm Ida caused major flood damage.

Pennsylvania eyes $500M from feds for environmental program
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state Senate committee in Pennsylvania is approving legislation to use federal coronavirus relief aid to revive a program designed to help clean up waterways, improve outdoor recreation and preserve open space. The bill, approved 10-1, on Tuesday, would inject the Growing Greener program with $500 million from the American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joe Biden in March. The bill still requires approval from the full Senate and House before it could go to Gov. Tom Wolf. The money likely would have to come out of the $2.4 billion left over from the American Rescue Plan Act. That had been set aside to balance next year’s budget.

Mask opt-out bill for students clears Senate committee
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
A bill that would allow parents in Pennsylvania to exempt their children from wearing a mask at school has cleared a state Senate committee as Republican lawmakers work to counter the governor’s statewide mask mandate. The legislation would hand the ultimate decision on masking at school to parents and guardians. It would allow them to overrule any face-covering mandate imposed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, a local health department or a school board. The Senate Education Committee approved the bill on a party-line vote. It would have to pass the full Senate and the House before going to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who would almost certainly veto it.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Beaver Falls, PA)  “This is the biggest thing to happen in Beaver Falls since the mills shut down”. Those were the words of Mayor Quay after City Council approved a 41.25 million dollar asset purchase agreement with Aqua Pennsylvania at Tuesday nights council meeting.  Discussions of selling the Beaver Falls Sanitary Sewer system began in early 2020 when the city took part in the Commonwealth Strategic Management Planning Program to assess current and future financial sustainability.  The city was faced with the inevitable fact that sooner or later they would have to sell the sewer system, and they determined that it would be better to sell it now, before they are forced to.  “We own a valuable asset that we cant make money on” Kevin Kunselman said.  It is expected that over half of the sale proceeds will go into an interest-bearing trust that will generate annual revenue and a portion will be used as a rainy day fund.  The city is estimating that they will bring in $1,120,000 in annual positive cash flow as a result of the deal.  Aqua will also contribute $1,250,000 to various charitable activities within the city for things like a new firetruck and improvements to the Carnegie Library.  Beaver Falls will begin a new plan called Beaver Falls Revive as well, which will fund blight removal and improve recreation, playgrounds, and the downtown streetscape.  The city is also slated to decrease property taxes by 5 mills.  The current monthly sewage rate of of 38.34 is expected to remain the same through 2025.  Their best case scenario estimates it will be at $58.18 in 2025, and the worst case scenario puts it at $83.12.   It was also noted that the Beaver Falls Water System itself is not being sold.  All 7 Sewer System employees will be retained, as part of the contract.  Other actions that took place at the meeting were the hiring of new accountant Sandra Wilkins, a Department of Public Works budget transfer of $7,090.93, and the paying of general fund expenditures at a total of $131,094.76.

Aqua Pennsylvania currently operates in 33 counties, serving 1.4 million.

(Photos used with permission from New Brighton Area Volunteer Fire Department)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Bridgewater, Pa.) Bridgewater Police Chief Paul Smith reported to Beaver County Radio that a fully loaded cement truck  that was traveling down  Beaner Hollow Road over turned  onto Sharon Road  in Bridgewater Monday morning at 7:30 AM. The driver was trapped in the vehicle. Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department were assisted on the scene by New Brighton Volunteer Fire Department Rescue 84 and Engine 84. They were the first arriving rescue and engine on the scene and starting stabilization and extrication of the victim. New Brighton Fire Department reported on their Facebook Page that “thanks to a team effort between all departments, the patient was extricated from the vehicle in 9 minutes”. The Driver sustained unknown injuries and was air-lifted to Allegheny   General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Chief Smith said the accident’s cause is still under investigation.