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The Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives have unanimously approved legislation which will help provide the Pennsylvania State Police with additional help searching for Eric Frein, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson). Eric Frein is wanted by authorities for the alleged murder of Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Corporal Bryon K. Dickson II, and the alleged attempted murder of PSP Trooper Alex Douglass in Pike County on September 12, 2014. Scarnati, who strongly supported Senate Bill 720, explained that the bill was amended to extend the powers of arrest for out-of-state law enforcement personnel. This will allow State Police from surrounding states to help with the search for Frein, provided the Governor makes an emergency declaration. “Pennsylvanians expect and deserve the assurance that state government is doing all that we can to bring Eric Frein to justice,” Scarnati said. “This legislation is an important way that we are working together to pr...

RIDGWAY - Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) joined Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley in Elk County today to meet with local officials and emergency management personnel to assess local flood damage. During a tour of the region, Senator Scarnati and Lt. Gov. Cawley were also joined by Rep. Matt Gabler, to view and evaluate areas affected by the severe flooding which began impacting the region last Wednesday. “I want to express my gratitude for the quick response and tireless efforts of emergency responders, local police, local firemen, municipal workers, local officials and area volunteers who have been working to help victims recover from this disaster,” Scarnati stated. “Last year communities within our region also experienced terrible flooding. While we cannot stop these occurrences, we will continue to work together to re-build and return our community to normal as quickly as possible.” Scarnati explained that damage assessments by PEMA already began last w...

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-Jefferson, Indiana, Armstrong) joined Governor Tom Corbett in DuBois City and Jefferson and Clearfield Counties today to meet with local officials and emergency management personnel to assess local flood damage. During a tour of the region, Senator Scarnati, Representative Smith and Governor Corbett were accompanied by Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director, Glenn Cannon, and Adjutant General, Wesley Craig. The group was able to view and evaluate areas affected by the severe thunderstorms and flooding which began impacting the region on Thursday. Scarnati and Smith expressed their gratitude for the quick response and tireless efforts of emergency responders, water rescue crews, local police, municipal workers, local officials and area volunteers who have been working tirelessly to help victims recover from this disaster. DuBois City has sustained the most si...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Pennsylvania National Guard's Black Hawk helicopter today took Governor Tom Corbett, House Speaker Sam Smith and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati over areas damaged by Thursday’s flooding. Those areas included Jefferson County, where Scarnati and Smith both live, as well as Clearfield and Clinton counties. During a news conference in DuBois, one of the hardest hit places, Corbett said the three state leaders had a chance to see some of the damage close up. “Obviously it doesn’t look the same after the fact, when the waters have receded,” Corbett said, adding that he and everyone else was watching the skies, hoping they didn’t see a repeat. Rumbles of thunder could be heard during the news conference and a flood advisory is in effect for that area until 10:30 tonight. Corbett said the state would do everything possible to help the areas get federal aid. Glenn Cannon, head of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, s...

Two state senators are calling on the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to conduct an immediate review of a critical communications breakdown that occurred in Beaver and Lawrence Counties following the illegal dumping of thousands of gallons of fracking wastewater in Ohio. Senator Lisa Baker (R-20), chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, and Senator Elder Vogel Jr. (R-47) wrote to PEMA last week asking for answers to why local officials and the public were not informed about the possible threat to drinking water downstream from the dumping. "While a long list of agencies, including PEMA and the PA State Police were notified of the illegal dumping in Ohio near the Pennsylvania border, no one took the all-important step of sharing this critical information with other relevant agencies," the senators wrote in their letter to PEMA Director Glenn Cannon. They said that neither the Department of Environmental Protection nor tw...

If anyone has pictures, feel free to post them on our Facebook page or send them to news@wesb.com PEMA has been notified UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: Wildfire specialists continue to battle the fire. Route 120 is closed to everything except emergency vehicles. Firefighters from across the region are battling a wildfire near Sinnemahoning. An air tanker has been called in to help fight what’s being called a rapidly spreading forest fire. The plane made its first water drop at just after 6 p.m. DCNR personnel, besides those on the plane, are on the scene as well. Firefighters are also concerned about fire spreading to buildings, and smaller fires starting. Cameron, Potter, McKean, Elk and Clinton county firefighters are responding. The Red Cross is assisting the firefighters. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Harrisburg - Governor Tom Corbett has signed House Bill 1950, the Marcellus Shale bill, into law. The bill enhances protection of our natural resources through stronger environmental standards, authorizes counties to adopt an impact fee, and builds upon efforts to help move Pennsylvania toward energy independence. The historic measure is the first comprehensive re-write of the state’s Oil and Gas Act since 1984. It contains much of what Corbett outlined in his Marcellus Shale proposal last October. His plan followed the work of the Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. House Bill 1950 contains 24 of the legislative recommendations offered by the advisory commission. “This growing industry will provide new career opportunities that will give our children a reason to stay here in Pennsylvania,” Corbett said. “Thanks to this legislation, this natural resource will safely and fairly fuel our generating plants and heat our homes while creating jobs and powering our state’s economi...

Governor Tom Corbett today declared a statewide disaster emergency to enable state, county and municipal governments to respond effectively to the impact of Hurricane Irene, a massive storm expected to impact much of the eastern half of the state. The proclamation authorizes state agencies to use all available resources and personnel as necessary to cope with this emergency situation. Corbett issued the disaster proclamation this morning after meeting with Glenn Cannon, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and other emergency officials at their headquarters in Harrisburg. “We are urging all Pennsylvanians to take action now to be prepared,’’ Corbett said. “We will continue to monitor this changing situation statewide and plan for all possible emergencies. Should the need arise, we will be able to help as quickly and efficiently as possible.’’ Citizens can find a full list of helpful suggestions on how to plan for an emergency by visiting the state’s pre...