Pennsylvania’s jobless rate drops for 8th straight month
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate fell for the eighth month in a row in October, as payrolls grew but the labor force shrank. Department of Labor and Industry figures released Friday show Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point to 6% from September’s rate. The national rate was 4.6% in October, and Pennsylvania lags most other states, tied at 40th among 50. In a survey of households, the labor force shrank for the fifth month in a row, although the number of employed grew. Payrolls grew in October by 19,000, and Pennsylvania has regained about 65% of the 1.1 million jobs lost in the pandemic.

Pennsylvania man sentenced to prison in infant son’s death
CURRITUCK, N.C. (AP) — Officials say a Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to at least five years in prison after pleading guilty in the 2018 death of his 5-month-old son while his family was vacationing in North Carolina. At a Nov. 15 hearing in Currituck County Superior Court, 34-year-old Thomas William Imschweiler of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter after entering into an agreement with prosecutors. The plea was first reported by Outer Banks Today. An indictment showed Franklin Thomas Imschweiler suffered head injuries. He died at a hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, in July 2018.

US to release 50 million barrels of oil to ease energy costs
By JOSH BOAK and COLLEEN LONG Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has ordered 50 million barrels of oil released from the strategic reserve to help bring down energy costs, in coordination with other major energy consuming nations, including China, India, and the United Kingdom. The move is aimed at global energy markets, but also aimed at voters who are coping with higher inflation and rising prices ahead of Thanksgiving and winter holiday travel. Gas prices are at about $3.40 a gallon, more than double their price a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association.

(File Photo)
(Sewickley Hills Boo, Pa.) Pa State Police have identified the man who was killed yesterday morning on I-79 near Sewickley Hills Boro.

Troopers are reporting that 44-year-old Kevin Kass of Wexford was killed when he entered the highway on foot and was struck by a 2010 Ford F-150 Pick-up truck that was being driven by 41-year-old Silas Reed of Carnegie. A second vehicle, a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was being driven by 71-year-old Christine Clutter of Mars also struck Kass as he was still laying in the left lane after being hit.
Kass was pronounced dead at the scene. Reed and Clutter remained on the scene after the accident as State Police continue to investigate.

Keystone State News Connection

November 23, 2021

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Choosing the right Medicare plan can be confusing, and during the open-enrollment period, it is recommended Pennsylvanians take the time they need to find the plan best for them.

Now through Dec. 7, Pennsylvanians over 65 and people with some disabilities can sign up or make any changes to their Medicare plan at Medicare.gov.

Bill Johnston-Walsh, state director of AARP Pennsylvania, said when deciding between different Medicare plans, it is important to consider how much coverage you are looking for, the costs, and how convenient it is for your personal life.

Johnston-Walsh emphasized plans allowing you to stick with your trusted doctor or pharmacy are key.

“A lot of people like that flexibility and the convenience of saying, ‘Hey, this is my doctor. I’ve had this doctor for years and I don’t want to change,’ or, ‘I’ve been going to this pharmacy. This guy’s been wonderful, knows my prescriptions, knows what the interactions are, knows to have a good conversation with me,'” Johnston-Walsh outlined.

Nearly 2.8 million Pennsylvanians are enrolled in Medicare, according to 2020 data.

For 2022 plans, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to extend telehealth coverage, which became more popular during the pandemic for behavioral health visits. Benefits take effect Jan. 1.

When picking between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, along with adding a Part D prescription drug plan, it can be daunting for anyone unfamiliar with the program.

Johnston-Walsh pointed out consumers should not be afraid to ask for help unpacking the information with someone in their community.

“You may need a loved one or a family friend or someone from your church to help you go through the process,” Johnston-Walsh advised. “It can get complicated. You may need another set of eyes to be able to look at it with you, another trusted set of eyes that will be looking out for your best interest.”

Johnston-Walsh also suggested Medicare recipients connect with their local Area Agency on Aging for support. The 52 agencies throughout the state offer free insurance counseling and can help with plan comparisons, enrolling in a plan, and determining eligibility.

Biden to keep Powell as Fed chair, Brainard gets vice chair
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced he’s nominating Jerome Powell for a second term as Federal Reserve chair, endorsing Powell’s stewardship of the economy through a brutal pandemic recession in which the Fed’s ultra-low rate policies helped bolster confidence and revitalize the job market. Biden also said he would nominate Lael Brainard, the lone Democrat on the Fed’s Board of Governors and the preferred alternative to Powell for many progressives, as vice chair. The president said he will fill the three remaining slots on the board, including vice chair for supervision, a bank regulatory post, in “early December.” His decision strikes a note of continuity and bipartisanship at a time when surging inflation is burdening households.

(Potter Twp., Pa.) A unidentified person who reportedly fell from a barge drowned last night around 7:15 PM near the Montgomery Lock and Dam on the Ohio River in Potter Twp. .

Emergency crews who were called to the scene launched boats to try and find the person who reportedly fell in and what started as a rescue mission turned into a recovery mission.
Beaver County Coroner David Gabauer’s office was called to the scene and the person’s was later recovered from the water.
The victim’s name has not yet been released.