Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025
Why we chose to highlight this story: Monday marked two years since a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Many residents still claim to be suffering from the derailment's effects. In fact, a new lawsuit claims Norfolk Southern is responsible for the deaths of seven people, including a 1-week-old baby,
Read the article from WESA here.
Why we chose to highlight this story: Some businesses and organizations in Pittsburgh closed on Monday to celebrate "A Day Without Immigrants," which seeks to demonstrate how essential immigrants are to the economy. This is especially poignant given President Donald Trump's recent executive orders about immigration, which are causing many local refugees and immigrants to feel fear and uncertainty.
Read the article from Pittsburgh Latino Magazine here. Read more about the immigration-related executive orders via NPR here.
Why we chose to highlight this story: Pa. Governor Josh Shapiro on Thursday announced a new plan will update energy tax credits, cut red tape for state approval processes, and offer rebates to residents who purchase energy-efficient appliances, and more.
Alex Bomstein, executive director of Clean Air Council, issued the following statement about the plan:
“There is much to like in Governor Shapiro’s ambitious energy plan, such as its support for renewable energy development and modernizing energy standards. At the same time, fossil fuels compete with renewables, and the details of some of these proposals will be critical to ensure they help more than they harm. We must take every available action to ensure Pennsylvania doesn’t lose out on this opportunity to create jobs, lower energy costs, diversify our energy mix, and cut harmful pollution by boosting cheap and abundant renewables.”
Read the full article more from AP here.
Why we chose to highlight this story: More green spaces means more opportunities for recreation, beautification, environmental stewardship, and much more. Check out the article in The Times here to see if updates are coming to a green space near you.
The "Voices of Healing and Hope" event at the Beaver Falls High School on Saturday at 4 p.m. seeks to provide an opportunity for residents to stand in unity in the wake of recent violence in some of our local communities.
Tree & Tea: Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Digital Detox: Feb. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Tree ID Walk: Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Learn more about Reforest Our Future's "Wander the Winter Woods" events and register on their website here.
February is Black History Month.
Check out these opportunities in Pittsburgh via Pittsburgh Magazine here.
Visit The Cornerstone of Beaver County's resources webpage here to find local warming centers, mental health and crisis hotlines, community meals, food banks, legal assistance, social services, and more.
George Melvin Walker was the first Black mayor in Beaver County, serving Rochester Borough in the early 2000s. He worked in local drug and alcohol counseling for many years, and was heavily involved in his church. He died in 2019 at the age of 80.
Read more about Walker in an article from the New Pittsburgh Courier here.
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Owen Rossi-Keen
Owen Rossi-Keen is the Founder and Principal Software Engineer at Iliad.dev, LLC, a web development agency focused on delivering enterprise-grade customization without the enterprise price-tag.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania