east palestine

June 6, 2024

Senate Approves Bill To Allow East Palestine Train Derailment Victims Keep More Money

HARRISBURG – The state Senate today approved legislation introduced by Sens. Doug Mastriano (R-33), Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47), and Michele Brooks (R-50) that would enable Pennsylvania victims of the Norfolk Southern train wreck near East Palestine, Ohio, last year to keep more of their own money. “This bill would enable the families and businesses harmed by the Norfolk Southern train wreck to keep more of the money from their relief payments and settlements,” said Mastriano, who serves as chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, hosted a hearing immediately following the train wreck, and subpoenaed Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw to appear before the committee. “Rather…

April 24, 2024

$600M Settlement Reached By Norfolk Southern Related To East Palestine Train Derailment

HARRISBURG – In the wake of the recent $600 million settlement reached by Norfolk Southern in its class-action lawsuit related to its train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, last year, state Sens. Doug Mastriano (R-33), Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47), and Michele Brooks (R-50) today introduced legislation to provide a state tax deduction for Pennsylvanians who receive payments. “Ohio has already established a deduction for their residents who received payments and I believe it’s fair to do the same for Pennsylvanians.,” said Mastriano, who serves as chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, hosted a hearing immediately following…

April 11, 2023

Beaver County Local Historians Gathering Oral Histories Related to East Palestine Train Derailment

Darlington – Located in northwestern Beaver County not far from East Palestine, Ohio–site of the now infamous Norfolk Southern train derailment on February 3, 2023–the Little Beaver Historical Society is hosting a public event called “Stories for History” to capture, preserve and share first-hand accounts and memories of the train derailment and its aftermath, including the so-called “controlled burn off” of several chemical tank cars. The event is scheduled for TONIGHT, Tuesday, April 11th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the New Galilee Community Event Center. “The train derailment is of major historical importance,” says Jay Paisley, president of…

March 29, 2023

Sen. Vogel Addresses Livestock Health Concerns Following East Palestine Train Derailment

HARRISBURG – Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47), chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, touched upon the struggles farmers are seeing with livestock sales following the East Palestine train derailment and potential testing of livestock tissues and crops while questioning Department of Agriculture Acting Secretary Russell Redding during today’s hearing by the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Our communities in Beaver County continue to deal with various uncertainties stemming from the East Palestine train derailment, specifically with the safety of our food, water, and soil,” said Vogel. “Acting Secretary Redding shared the progress being made with ongoing area testing and…

February 28, 2023

Health Resource Center Now Open To Assist Residents With Health Concerns Following Dertailment

HARRISBURG – Residents of Beaver and Lawrence counties who have health concerns following the recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio can now receive assistance at the Health Resource Center in Darlington Township, Beaver County, Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47) and Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46) said today. The center is operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will also be on hand to help interested residents sign up for free, independent water testing and to provide guidance on food and animal safety. The center is located at the Darlington…

February 24, 2023

PA AMERICAN WATER: No Impact to Drinking Water from East Palestine Train Derailment

Pennsylvania American Water has provided an updated message to its customers regarding the East Palestine train derailment. “Despite the fact that there is no geographic connection of our water sources to the impacted area, we conducted testing following the incident and had no detection of compounds of concern,” says Brent Robinson; Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs, in a statement. The full statement reads as follows: Pennsylvania American Water’s sources of drinking water for the communities it serves in western Pennsylvania do not come from the Ohio River. Conditions in the Ohio River have not impacted the water quality of these…

February 18, 2023

Rotary Club of Ellwood City Delivers Water to East Palestine

The Rotary Club of Ellwood City delivered three pallets of bottled water on Friday to East Palestine, Ohio. The club is now sponsoring a community-wide initiative in conjunction with Tomon Funeral Home and Trinity Lutheran Church to collect other items the residents need. Items needed include bottled water, paper towels, white vinegar, bleach-free cleaning products, Dawn dish soap, laundry detergent, rolls of quarters, personal care items, dog and cat food. Monetary donations will be used to purchase these items. If you would like more information, please feel free to reach out to the club president, Doug Slade at 724-991-8505. Drop…

February 17, 2023

VIDEO: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Provides Update On East Palestine Train Derailment

In the following video made available Friday morning on the Facebook.com Page of Ohio Governer Mike DeWine, the Governor holds a media briefing update on the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. A Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals caught fire and derailed February 3rd, forcing evacuations near East Palestine in Columbiana County, a town of 4,700 residents that borders Pennsylvania. Among several law suits filed since the derailment includes a class action law suit that has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio by two Beaver County men requesting medical monitoring for those…