The state DEP is declaring a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for all of Pennsylvania. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is again lingering in parts of the U.S., increasing the level of fine particulate matter in the atmosphere. Sensitive individuals like older adults, young children, and those suffering from respiratory diseases should not spend a lot of time outdoors. Local Air Quality Index ratings can be found by searching air-now-dot-gov.
Pennsylvania State Police in Butler County are offering a reward for information that will help solve a cold case homicide. Back in 1981, 22-year-old Vicki Sinz was last seen walking on State Route 8 from the Rusty Nail Pub in Butler Township. Over a week later, her body was found under Brook Devore Road in Summit Township. A five-thousand-dollar reward is now being offered for information that leads to an arrest or the solving of the cold case. Information can be reported to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers.
Pennsylvania Senators have passed legislation that would require school districts to give out free student ID kits to first grade students. Supporters say the proposal would help law enforcement if a child goes missing. Kits provided in the so-called Child Reunification Act would include fingerprinting materials, DNA collection swabs and identifiable information about a child that parents would store securely in their homes. It would not be entered into a state or national database. The legislation passed the state Senate Tuesday on a 34-15 vote and now heads to the House for consideration.
A poll released Wednesday poses a hypothetical rematch between President Biden and former President Trump Pennsylvania. Promoters for the Quinnipiac University poll say results for an election for the present and former presidents would be too close to call if the election were held right now in the battleground state. Some 47-percent of registered voters said they would support Trump, while 46-percent support Biden. Independent voters favored the former president by a 51-to-37 margin.
A senate veterans’ affairs committee has proposed a bill that would give veteran-owned businesses special recognition. The Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Monday approved a measure that would create a special logo to advertise businesses that are veteran-owned. To display such a logo, a business would need to be registered with the State Department and be at least 51-percent veteran-owned. Half of the annual fees for the logo would go to the state veterans’ trust fund.
The state’s strongest-ever protections for LGBTQ people are slated to take effect August 31st. The new regulations bar discrimination in employment, education, housing, commercial property and public accommodations. They also provide protections for people based on their race, such as for hair styles. The regulations were drawn up by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission originally and drew pushback from opponents who said such issues should be left to the state legislature.
An Allegheny County Emergency Services worker has been placed on unpaid leave following his arrest on charges involving child pornography. Authorities report finding child porn on electronic devices yesterday at the home of 46-year-old Robert Bookshar during the execution of a search warrant. Bookshar was arrested and taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
The 166th Big Butler Fair opens today. The Butler County event is billed as the largest fair in Western Pennsylvania and promises fun including fireworks, rides, demolition derbies, concerts and truck pulls. The Big Butler Fair runs through July 8th.
Kennywood is going to be closed on Tuesdays for most of the remaining season. The park’s online calendar shows the location shut down each Tuesday starting on July eleventh. Operators say the Kennywood season passes will still be good at Sandcastle and Idlewild on those dates. The full schedule, and other information, is available by visiting kennywood-dot-com.