(Big Beaver, Pa.) Pa State Police in Gibsonia are reporting that they were dispatched to the scene of a one vehicle accident at the Beaver Valley Interchange at 8:55 AM on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
Upon arriving on the scene and investigating Troopers stated via release that 63-year-old James Johnson from Salem Ohio lost control of the 2006 International Harvester Truck that he was driving on the on ramp when he was not able to properly negotiate the curve at a safe speed causing the truck to roll over on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Troopers stated that Johnson was not transported to the hospital but did suffer suspected minor injuries.
He was issued a written warning for not driving properly on roadways laned for traffic.

(North Sewickley, Pa.) Pa State Police in Gibsonia are reporting that they were dispatched to the scene of a one vehicle accident on the Pa Turnpike Eastbound at mile marker 17.8 yesterday at 6:17 AM.

Troopers report via release that upon arriving on the scene and investigating it was learned that 25-year- old Vance Shuler of Koppel was operating a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer Eastbound when he lost control of the vehicle while rounding a sharp bend on the wet roadway. Shuler attempted to correct the vehicle and regain control and then his truck struck the concrete barrier on the shoulder of the road with the front end and then spun causing the rear end to also contact the barrier.

Shuler’s vehicle sustained disabling damage and had to be towed from the scene.

Shuler was not injured in the accident but was issued a written warning by Troopers for not driving a vehicle at a safe speed.

LAMB INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROVIDE TAX DEDUCTION FOR PRE-K TEACHER EXPENSES

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) was joined by Representatives Tom Reed (NY-23), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and Jackie Walorski (IN-02) to introduce the bipartisan Supporting Early-Childhood Educators through Deductions (SEED) Act to allow early childhood educators to claim the existing above-the-line $250 tax deduction for K-12 teachers.  The deduction would help pre-K teachers defray the cost of providing supplies for their classrooms, whether they itemize or take the standard deduction.

“The work that pre-K teachers do is critical to starting kids off on the right foot and Congress needs to ensure that all teachers have the tools they need to support their students,” said Lamb.  “Pre-K teachers should be focused on their work in the classroom, they shouldn’t have to worry about out-of-pocket costs for materials and supplies.”

“We are proud to support our pre-K teachers and all they do to provide high-quality education for our children.  We backed this bipartisan plan to ensure that these valued members of our education system are reimbursed for the supplies they need to better help our children grow and learn,” said Reed.

“Many educators across our nation, especially those teaching at the pre-K level, give so much to their students through their service, including the purchasing of supplies with their own money,” said Panetta.  “This legislation would make those teachers eligible for the $250 teacher tax deduction, reducing their tax liability when they provide school supplies for their students.  Those in our communities that care for and teach our youngest deserve the same benefits that are provided to primary and secondary school teachers across our country.”

“In Indiana and across the country, early-childhood educators are vital to the growth and success of our kids,” said Walorski.  “The bipartisan SEED Act will help to eliminate burdens and provide these hardworking educators with the tools that they need to equip the next generation, which will pave the way for more successful communities and a stronger nation.  I’m proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to serve our kids and educators.”

Studies have shown that teachers spent an average of $530 of their own money in the classroom.  In 2002, Congress created an above-the-line educator expense deduction to allow qualifying K-12 teachers and other eligible educators such as counselors and principals to deduct up to $250 of expenses incurred for books, supplies, and other supplementary materials.  Pre-K teachers are not covered by the educator expense deduction currently, although they earn significantly less than their peers who teach in the K-12 system.

Additionally, teachers in high-poverty schools spent nearly 40 percent more than their peers elsewhere, with one in 10 spending $1,000 or more.  In some cases, educators in low-income districts buy clothing and personal hygiene products, in addition to school supplies, for kids who are especially in need.

The SEED Act is endorsed by the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC), Pennsylvania Head Start Association (PHSA), Allegheny County Department of Children Initiatives, Trying Together, A Plus Schools, Boys & Girls Club of Western PA, Asset Inc. and the Latino Community Center Pittsburgh

Visit Lamb’s website for more information on the SEED Act.

Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

HARRISBURG, Pa. — More than 200 high earners have written a letter urging Congress to raise taxes to help support social safety-net programs that would have a major impact on Pennsylvania.

The $3.5 trillion budget plan unveiled by House Democrats would increase taxes on the country’s wealthiest to help fund the Biden administration’s Build Back Better agenda, which would lower costs on child care and health care, and also create jobs to tackle climate change.

Ashley McBride, state director of For Our Future Pennsylvania, said the plan is ambitious but necessary to move the state and nation forward.

“This idea of folks paying their fair share, it doesn’t seem like rocket science,” McBride contended. “It is something that we should want to do in communities in which we live because we know when our neighbors thrive, it also means that we thrive. We still know that there are millions upon millions of Americans and folks across the Commonwealth who could still benefit greatly from their prescription-drug costs being lower.”

Nine Pennsylvanians were among those who signed the letter addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. A recent poll showed Americans overwhelmingly support raising taxes on the wealthy instead of borrowing and increasing debt.

Sandra Fluke, president of Voices for Progress, the lead organizer behind the letter, said investments in the Build Back Better plan are key to rebuilding the economy and dealing with the climate crisis.

“And we only have to look out of our window to see what is happening in terms of the severe weather being caused by climate change,” Fluke observed. “So we gotta make those investments and not be giving away tax cuts to corporations that are actually lower than they even asked for.”

House Democrats’ new proposal calls for a corporate tax rate of 26.5% and an individual tax rate of 39.6%. The Biden administration has pledged to not increase taxes for anyone making under $400,000 annually.

(Story & photos by Matt Drzik, additional photos courtesy of Tenaris)

The steel industry has been through a history of ups and downs that parallel the up-and-down trajectories of Beaver County and the United States. An announcement Wednesday is pushing that trajectory upwards.

Tenaris, who locally own and operate steel plants in Koppel and Ambridge, announced that their plans would be opening back up to its employees after time off during the pandemic. The announcement came via a press conference led by Tenaris US Division President Luca Zanotti, and US Congressman Conor Lamb.

“This is a product we really need, it makes a lot of sense to make in the United States, and it makes the most sense of all to make it here in Western Pennsylvania,” Lamb said. “I really believe there is no place in the United States that blends the old-world economy with the new-world economy better than Western Pennsylvania.”

Lamb spoke at the Koppel plant on Wednesday, and was joined by fellow constituents in Senator Elder Vogel, State Representative Aaron Bernstine, State Representative Jim Marshall, and County Commissioner Dan Camp among others. Preceding Lamb in the press conference was Zanotti, who spoke highly of the employment that Tenaris will retain and continue adding to.

“This means that we added to our staff almost 300 employees,” spoke Zanotti. “I’m very proud to say that, if we consider the entire industrial footprint that we have in the United States, we will be adding more than 1100 employees. Out of the 1100, 850-900 are already with the company, and the rest will join us by the end of the year.”

To check out photos from the press conference, scroll down below:

GOP lawmakers vote for subpoena seeking voter information
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans in Pennsylvania’s state Senate are preparing to test how far they can go in pursuing what the GOP calls a “forensic investigation” of last year’s presidential election. The Republican-controlled Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee met Wednesday for a party-line vote on a subpoena for detailed information on who voted in last year’s presidential election, including their driver’s license number and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Democrats say Republicans are helping perpetuate baseless claims that former President Donald Trump was cheated out of victory. They are vowing to challenge the subpoena in court, and it’s not clear whether Wolf’s administration can be forced to produce the information.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the third of four northbound weekend closures on the I-79 Neville Island Bridge in Glenfield Borough and Robinson and Neville townships, Allegheny County, will occur Friday night, September 17 through Monday morning, September 20 weather permitting.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell Twp., Pa) Hopewell School Board held  its work session in person and via ZOOM Tuesday night accepting the swim coach Alaina Marsha’s and assistant coach Mark Elder’s resignations effective September 1, 2021.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Aliquippa  Police  were dispatched by 9-1-1 at 4:33 a.m. last Friday, September 10, 2021,  for a burglar alarm  at  the Dollar General Store at 601  Franklin Avenue . . When enroot they were advised by dispatch that  the defendant, caught on the security camera  a female , often mistaken as a male had  knocked in a glass  panel on the right front entry door.. The security company advised that the female, Taniya Nytese Pugh, 25 , had  a donation box containing   funds for literacy.