Category: News

Man accused of trying to run over 6 nonuniformed Pa troopers

Man accused of trying to run over 6 nonuniformed troopers
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State police say a Harrisburg man is accused of trying to run over nonuniformed state troopers who were attending a promotional exam in the city. Forty-five-year-old Jamal Kimani Crummel faces six counts of aggravated assault. He is also charged with reckless endangerment, driving under the influence and motor vehicle offenses. The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon. Police say Crummel accelerated toward the troopers and drove his vehicle into the grass off the street. The troopers, who were in business attire, were able to dive out of the way and no one was hurt. Crummel doesn’t have a lawyer listed in court records. He’s jailed with bail set at $150,000.

McKees Rocks Bridge Lane Restrictions Tonight in Allegheny County

​Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT is announcing lane restrictions on the McKees Rocks Bridge (Route 3104) in Stowe Township, Allegheny County will occur tonight, Thursday night, September 16 weather permitting.

A single-lane restriction and traffic shifts will occur on the bridge between the Ohio River and the Helen Street ramps from 8 p.m. Thursday night to 12:30 a.m. Friday morning. Crews will conduct debris removal operations and net repair work.

Motorists are advised to use caution and expect changing traffic patterns when traveling through the area.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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.

Americans have little trust in online security: AP-NORC poll

Americans have little trust in online security: AP-NORC poll
By MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writer
A poll shows that most Americans don’t believe their personal information is secure online and they aren’t satisfied with the federal government’s efforts to protect their digital privacy. The poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and MeriTalk shows that about half of Americans believe that their private text conversations lack security, and they’re even less confident about the security of their social media activity or physical location. Nearly three-quarters of Americans say they support establishing national standards for how companies can collect, process and share personal data.

US Unemployment Claims Rise after Hitting Pandemic Low

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits moved up last week to 332,000 from a pandemic low, a sign that worsening COVID-19 infections may have slightly increased layoffs. Applications for jobless aid rose from 312,000 the week before, the Labor Department said Thursday. Jobless claims, which generally track the pace of layoffs, have fallen steadily for two months as many employers, struggling to fill jobs, have held onto their employees. Two weeks ago, jobless claims reached their lowest level since March 2020.

Contest Winners, Health Worker Orbiting World in SpaceX 1st

Contest winners, health worker orbiting world in SpaceX 1st
By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The four people on SpaceX’s first private flight are fairly ordinary, down-to-Earth types brought together by chance. Two are contest winners. One is a childhood cancer survivor who works as a physician assistant. The sponsor of the trip struck it rich with the payment-processing business he started in his parents’  basement in his teens. The four rocketed into orbit Wednesday night from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They’ll circle Earth for three days at an unusually high altitude before splashing down this weekend off the Florida coast.

Pittsburgh Pirates Catcher and Roberto Clemente Award Nominee Names Fill the Stadium as Charity of Choice

Jacob Stallings, Nominated for Prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, Pledges to Donate to Compassion’s ‘Fill the Stadium’ Initiative

PITTSBURGH, PA — Every year, Major League Baseball (MLB) grants the Roberto Clemente Award to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team,” as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. The award is one of the most esteemed awards in MLB. This year, the Pittsburgh Pirates are represented by catcher Jacob Stallings, who has helped numbers of fans throughout the recent pandemic with virtual events as well as his work with the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County.

 

Every year, the winner of the award chooses a charity of his choice that will receive a donation, and for Stallings, the choice was clear. Naming Compassion International and its Fill the Stadium (FtS, fillthestadium.com) initiative as his charity, Stallings solidified his dedication to helping children in need. Fill the Stadium is providing essential food, medical care and support to 70,000 children and their families who are in need.

 

Compassion’s CEO Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado is resolved to achieve Fill the Stadium’s goal of helping 70,000 children in crisis, or enough to fill a stadium. The team has raised over $31 million so far, reaching more than 62,000 kids and their families, but they must “fill the stadium”—and reach all 70,000 kids at grave risk of hunger, or worse.

 

CEO Mellado explains, “We are committed to caring for 70,000 children who were not sponsored due to the pandemic, which is enough children to fill an average NFL football stadium. At Compassion, we believe the empty stadiums last season were a sobering reminder of those who still need essential food, health care, and support as this crisis continues.”

 

In the COVID-19 era, “We have all experienced the reality of empty stadiums,” says the Fill the Stadium team. “The average NFL stadium holds 70,000 seats. We need to reach that many kids. This effort desperately needs a caring, prayerful, and thoughtful community to join together in this critical relief.”

 

Those holding co-leadership roles in this charitable team effort are Alyssa Naeher, a member of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team (which won a Bronze Medal in Tokyo); Nick Foles, professional football MVP quarterback; Adam Engel of the Chicago White Sox; Sam Burns, PGA TOUR golfer; Nick Ahmed of the Arizona Diamondbacks; Jordy Nelson, former professional wide receiver; Devin and Jason McCourty, NFL defensive backs; Nate Solder of the New York Giants; Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes; Brock Huard, FOX sports broadcaster and former professional quarterback; and many others. Steve Stenstrom, president of Pro Athletes Outreach, is also playing a lead role in the effort.

 

To learn more about this effort, visit the Fill the Stadium website, as well as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

Founded in 1952, Compassion International is a Christian child development organization that works to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Compassion revolutionized the fight against global poverty by working exclusively with the Church to lift children out of spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty. Compassion partners with more than 8,000 churches in 25 countries to deliver its holistic child development program to over 2 million babies, children, and young adults. Its child sponsorship program has been validated through independent, empirical research.

 

GESA CEO DISCUSSES FACILITY MODERNIZATION IN ALIQUIPPA SCHOOL

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Troy Geanopulos, CEO of GESA  discussed facility modernization at  Wednesday night’s Aliquippa School Board meeting, Geanopulos told  board members his firm is a  sister of Duquesne Light Holdings.  He said that projects are funded primarily by significant  energy savings. Dr. Phillip K. Woods told the board that ESSR  funds  can be used  for the projects. The company is the largest energy saving company in western PA. Dr. Woods told the board that State Rep. Rob Matzie introduced him to Geanopulos following a discussion the 2 men had  concerning how he could help the Aliquippa School District.

Aliquippa School Board Approves Purchase of i-Pads and Chrome Books

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa School Board approved the purchase of   iPads for elementary students  at a cost of $29,400, to be paid from ESR funds and 100 chrome books, at a cost of $23,700  and the district will be reimbursed with a grant.

Fifteen students’ applications  to be home schooled were approved based on Superintendent Dr. Phillip K. Woods’ recommendation..
Dr. Woods will attend  3 sessions  at the  New Superintendent Academy in Harrisburg. Cost for the 3 overnight sessions is $381 plus expenses.

Pa State Trooper Arrested For Forgery and Tampering with Records

(Photo Courtesy Of PSP)
 
Harrisburg, PA ­– Pennsylvania State Trooper Jamhal Simon was arrested today for crimes related to forgery and tampering with records. The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) filed the charges following an investigation by the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division.
Trooper Simon is accused of altering military orders he received as a member of the Ohio Air National Guard and forging the signature of a non-commissioned officer.
The following misdemeanor charges were filed in District Court 35-3-02:
  • Forgery
  • Tampering with records or identification
PSP notified his military chain of command.
Trooper Simon enlisted in the PSP in March 2015 and graduated as a member of the 142nd cadet class. He is assigned to the patrol section of Troop D, Mercer. Trooper Simon is currently suspended without pay pending resolution of the criminal charges against him.

Wolf Administration Warns of Student Loan Forgiveness Scams

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) are warning consumers of a surge in student loan forgiveness scams.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial struggles for many borrowers who are seeking relief. If a student or borrower receives an email, letter, or call about student loan debt forgiveness, they should pause before sending or confirming any personal information.

“With the continuing pandemic, many consumers have been in search of financial relief,” said Secretary of Banking and Securities Richard Vague. “Like other scams, these perpetrators prey upon the hope and vulnerability of people, creating an ideal scenario to take advantage of them.”

The recent pandemic-related pause in student loan payments, the public calls for broad-based student loan forgiveness, and various executive actions and benefits and concerning loan balances are causing an uptick in scams from individuals and companies who are taking advantage of the confusion surrounding the changing landscape.

“Many students and families across Pennsylvania borrow funds to help finance postsecondary education, resulting in debt that may take years to pay off,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Noe Ortega. “It’s important for borrowers who are seeking student loan debt relief to be aware of the associated scams and avoid them at all costs.”

The department warns borrowers to take the following actions to help safeguard against these types of scams:

  • Be skeptical. Scammers often obtain student loan information illegally. Just because someone has information about your loans, doesn’t mean they are to be trusted.
  • Research the company. Check the validity of the company contacting you as many “companies” run by scammers do not actually exist.
  • Do your due diligence. Check what program is being offered to you. Some scams offer to enroll you in programs like the “CARES Act loan forgiveness” or the “Biden forgiveness program,” neither of which exist.
  • Verify that email address. Ensure that emails being sent to you about your student loans are from a dot-gov (.gov) email address.
  • Be aware of what legitimate programs will and won’t ask you for. Proceed with caution before sharing any of your sensitive or financial information like a Social Security Number or credit and bank information. If in doubt, hang up and call your servicer directly.
  • Pause before taking action. Confirm any correspondence or calls with your servicer before taking any action.

What should you do if you suspect you’ve already been scammed?:

  • Close Accounts/Stop Payment: If you shared your bank account or credit card information with a scammer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to close your accounts or stop payments.
  • Alert your servicer. If you suspect you’ve been the victim of a student loan forgiveness scam, call your servicer so that they can monitor your account.
  • Monitor your credit report. Check for suspicious activity. Scammers don’t always use your information right away. It can be weeks, months, or even years before your information is used for fraudulent activity. You might also consider freezing your credit in an abundance of caution.
  • Report the scam. You can report a student loan forgiveness scam to:

Student loan forgiveness is not the only financial COVID-19 related scam. Consumers should be cautious and never share financial or other sensitive information with anyone contacting them unsolicited.

Anyone can contact DoBS at 1-800-PA-BANKS or 1-800-722-2657 to ask questions or file complaints about financial transactions, companies, or products.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit the website or follow PDE on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Pinterest.