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Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa Fire Chief Dave Foringer  informed  council  Wednesday  night  that the department  received 147 calls for service in November including 2  or 3 Covid-19 cases a day, and over a dozen in the last 5 or 6  days . He said the fire department is doing the best they can when dealing with the  public relating to the COVID-19 calls  and are wearing their masks. He told council, “I think  it’s going to rise.!  He said 2 firefighters are quarantined.

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Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) One person is dead after a pedestrian was hit by a train Wednesday evening  in Beaver Falls. Jeff DeGraff from  Norfolk Southern’s media relations department reported that   at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday an eastbound train struck an individual who was on the tracks near the 7th Avenue Bridge in Beaver Falls. DeGraff said unfortunately  the individual suffered fatal injuries.  The man was identified as being in his 30’s, and further identification would come from law enforcement, Mr.DeGraff said.

AAA: Motorists Urged to Keep Cool this Holiday Season
New AAA data show a high prevalence of aggressive driving

Nearly 80% of drivers expressed anger, aggression or road range behind the wheel at least once in the past year, according to data gathered by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Speeding tops the list, with men being the biggest culprit, though women are not far behind. With everyday stress already compounded by the pandemic and now the holiday season, which can elevate tensions on the road, AAA East Central urges motorists to keep their cool and avoid dangerous driving habits.

“While it may not feel like it in the moment, aggressive driving habits like speeding, running red lights, and cutting others off can be deadly,” says Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central. “Taking steps like leaving early, being patient and kind, and obeying traffic laws will go a long way towards keeping you and your family safe.”

Aggressive Driving Behaviors among Male and Female U.S. Drivers, 2019:

AAA Rules of the Road:
Contrary to common perception, speeding does not save time on the road. The average amount saved on a 5-mile trip, driving 65 mph on a 45 mph posted road, is only 1.9 minutes. AAA encourages motorists to slow down and follow these important rules:

• Follow posted speed limits.
• Maintain an adequate following distance.
• Use turn signals.
• Allow others to merge.
• Use your high beams responsibly.
• Be considerate in parking lots—Park in one spot, not across multiple spaces. Be careful not to hit cars next to you with your door.

A driver may be stressed or react wrongly to another driver’s action on any given day, and the holidays can add to the strain and anxiety. Introduce the pressures and concerns tied to a global pandemic, and even the calmest, most safety-conscious drivers can find themselves frustrated by other motorists. If you encounter an aggressive driver on the road or find your temper rising, remember to slow yourself down, breathe deeply, and safely create distance between you and other motorists.

AAA offers these tips to help drivers manage aggressive driving scenarios:  

• Don’t Offend: Never cause another driver to change their speed or direction. That means not forcing another driver to use their brakes or turn the steering wheel in response to something you have done.
• Be Tolerant and Forgiving: The other driver may just be having a really bad day. Assume that it’s not personal.
• Do Not Respond: Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, maintain space around your vehicle, and contact 9-1-1 if needed.

For more information, visit www.aaa.com/preventroadrage.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 73 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Phishing ploy targets COVID-19 vaccine distribution effort
By FRANK BAJAK AP Technology Writer
BOSTON (AP) — IBM security researchers say they have detected a cyberespionage effort that used targeted phishing emails to try to collect vital information associated with a U.N. initiative for distributing coronavirus vaccine to developing countries. IBM says it can’t be sure who is behind the campaign. But it says that the precise and careful targeting _ of companies in countries including Germany, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan _ suggest a nation-state is behind the campaign. Targets that included solar panel and petrochemical companies got phishing emails from someone posing as an executive with a key Chinese supplier.

US lawmakers unveil anti-slavery constitutional amendment
By AARON MORRISON Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Democrats in the House and Senate introduced a joint resolution Wednesday aimed at amending the 13th Amendment’s ban on chattel enslavement. The move would expressly prohibit the use of involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. The original amendment has permitted exploitation of labor by convicted felons for over 155 years since the abolition of slavery. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon tells The Associated Press that the 13th Amendment is in part responsible for the historic mistreatment of Black Americans through the nation’s penal systems. Constitutional amendments are rare, and require approval by two-thirds of the House and Senate, as well as ratification by three-quarters of state legislatures.

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and PA DUI Association discussed public safety during the holiday season and provided a brief demonstration of how law enforcement train to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) to protect everyone on the road from impaired drivers.

“Over the years, impaired driving has continued to be a very serious crime that law enforcement faces much too often,” said Craig Amos, Regional DUI Program Administrator with the PA DUI Association. “It’s an extremely dangerous behavior and as long as there are impaired drivers on the road, we will continue to train and be vigilant.”

The safety partners warned motorists to the dangers of operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol and explained such substances weaken a person’s judgement, balance, vision, reaction time and decision-making abilities, creating a dangerous situation on the roadway.

Usually, this time of year brings holiday parties, family gatherings and large community celebrations. Although people may not gather the same way this season, impairment may still be an option. If drinking becomes part of the plan for celebrating, it is important to never get behind the wheel impaired.

Law enforcement will continue to patrol throughout the holiday season, looking to take impaired drivers off the road and save lives. In order to do this in the safest way, officers participate in SFST training. The training is conducted to prepare law enforcement and other qualified personnel to safely and effectively identify individuals suspected of operating a vehicle while under the influence.

“The holiday season is historically a time when impaired driving increases,” said Amos. “We want to change this trend in order to save lives and allow everyone to focus on positive behaviors.”

According to 2019 PennDOT data, there were 1,361 crashes in Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence counties during the month of December. Of these crashes, at least 127 were drug- or alcohol-related.

Motorists practicing responsible driving is key to significantly reducing impaired driving crashes and fatalities, which are 100 percent preventable. There is no excuse for driving under the influence.

For more information on impaired driving, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety.

For regional twitter updates, visit www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Moon Twp., Pa.) Duquesne Light  experienced issues with 2 transformers  at office buildings on Rouser Road in Moon Township.  The utility company said  in  a statement,”Our crews are working quickly to restore service to the 2 office buildings that lost power. Ashley  Macik, associate manager of external communications  said in a statement, “We expect service to be fully restored by 6 p.m. tonight.  No residential customers have been impacted. The volunteer fire department couldn’t be reached for comment.