Author: Beaver County Radio

Correctional Industries is Making COVID-Related Supplies for DOC, Other State Agencies 

Correctional Industries is Making COVID-Related Supplies
for DOC, Other State Agencies

Harrisburg, PA – Beginning March 17, Pennsylvania Correctional Industries (PCI) stopped production at its garment factories system-wide to focus on manufacturing cloth masks to be used by Department of Corrections employees and inmates.

“As part of the Department of Corrections preparedness planning, in mid-March, I directed all of our employees and inmates to wear masks,” said Sec. John Wetzel. “We didn’t want to take from the community supply, so we began making the masks in-house at several of our state prisons.”

To date, PCI has made a total of 185,136 masks, which have been supplied to all DOC facilities and offices, including parole agents and parole supervision staff.  DOC employees were provided with three masks each, and every inmate was provided with two masks.

“Over the weekend, at the request of the governor’s office, we manufactured and shipped cloth masks for essential commonwealth employees,” Wetzel added.

Other COVID-19 related items now being made daily by PCI include:

  • 36,000 bars of anti-bacterial soap
  • 255 gowns
  • 1,620 packs/27 cases of PDF-45 Disinfectant

Inmates are working 12-hour shifts, six days a week to produce these items.

PCI is a bureau within the DOC that employs inmates to produce a variety of items that are available for sale to non-profit organizations and government entities located throughout Pennsylvania. It is self-sustaining through the sale of products and services and receives no taxpayer money.

Beloved Tigers star, Hall of Famer Al Kaline dies at 85

Beloved Tigers star, Hall of Famer Al Kaline dies at 85
By JIM IRWIN and NOAH TRISTER Associated Press Writers
DETROIT (AP) — Al Kaline, the Hall of Fame outfielder who played his entire 22-season career for Detroit, has died. “Mr. Tiger” — as he was affectionately known — was 85. Kaline was the youngest player to win the American League batting title, in 1955 at age 20 with a .340 average. He was an All-Star in 15 seasons, won 10 Gold Gloves and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1980 in his first year of eligibility. Kaline also sat behind a microphone as a Tigers broadcaster and was a special assistant to the general manager.

Online grocery services struggle to meet spike in demand

Online grocery services struggle to meet spike in demand
By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer
LONDON (AP) — A pandemic forcing everyone to stay home could be the perfect moment for online grocery services. In practice, they’ve been struggling to keep up with a surge in orders, highlighting their limited ability to respond to an unprecedented onslaught of demand. After panic buying left store shelves stripped, many shoppers quickly found online grocery delivery slots almost impossible to come by, too. The problem for many delivery services is ramping up staff to pick goods in shops and deliver. But for Britain’s Ocado, which relies on warehouse robots, significantly increasing deliveries would mean a big investment in new machinery and warehouses that’s too late to catch the demand spike.

Dozens of shots fired in Pittsburgh drive-by; 2 wounded

Dozens of shots fired in Pittsburgh drive-by; 2 wounded
A drive-by shooting in which dozens of shots were fired in a Pittsburgh neighborhood has left two people hospitalized. Authorities say the shooting in the city’s Arlington Heights neighborhood occurred around 11:45 p.m. Monday. But it’s not yet known what sparked the extensive gunfire. Witnesses reported hearing more than 50 shots fired. A man and a woman were both wounded and remained hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition. But their names and further details on their injuries were not disclosed. They told police the shots came from a passing vehicle, though it wasn’t clear how many shooters may have been involved.

SPC Announces Vincent Valdes as New Executive Director & President/CEO

Pittsburgh, PA – The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) Board has selected Vincent Valdes, an engineer and planner, as the new President & CEO of the organization.
“We are very excited for Vince to begin leading our regional planning and transportation organization,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Chair of the SPC Board. “His experience, enthusiasm, knowledge and background are exactly what we need as we enter into a new era of transportation and economic growth for the region.”
The search committee, chaired by Commissioner Larry Maggi, former SPC Chair and Washington County Commissioner, led this process with the help of search firm Krauthamer & Associates. The committee sought a dynamic and innovative leader who could manage a complex planning organization and who would be willing to roll up his or her sleeves to build, inspire and develop a regional plan to support this region’s growth.
“We are extremely happy with our new choice for SPC. The SPC executive board did an exhaustive application and interview process and unanimously agreed upon Mr. Valdes,” said Maggi. “He has demonstrated from his experiences that he is very capable to handle the current and new challenges that SPC faces. I believe our organization will be in a good place with Mr. Valdes’ leadership.”
Since April 2008, Valdes has served as the Associate Administrator for the Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C. In addition to serving in previous roles with the FTA, Valdes was a lead planner with the District of Columbia Office of Planning, and worked for organizations including Inter-American Foundation, The World Bank, ICF Incorporated, and General Dynamics, Northrop, and Pratt & Whitney. He holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University and earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University.
“I am immensely delighted to be joining the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission at this pivotal moment in the region’s history,” said Valdes. “I look forward to working with the board and each community to spur economic development through collaborative planning and innovative investments in infrastructure and transportation.”
SPC acts as a cooperative forum for collaboration, planning and public decision-making. SPC develops public investment plans and programs, ensures that federal and state transportation requirements are being met and operates with other local partners with the support and trust of the public. Additionally, SPC serves as the Local Development District and Economic Development District for southwestern Pennsylvania. In that role, SPC establishes and puts forth the regional economic development priorities and provides a wide range of local government assistance programs and public services to the region.
The board voted on Valdes’ hiring at its March 30, 2020 meeting. He is expected to assume the new position on June 15, 2020.

Eaton Corp. in Vanport has re-opened after Suspension of Operations.

(Vanport,Pa.)   Eaton Corp.  has reopened its Vanport plant and will gradually resume operations this week after suspending operations on March 25 when it was reported that seven salary employees and one hourly employee tested positive for the COVID-19 Corona Virus.

The company plans to reopen in phases, with groups of employees returning every day through Thursday. Sixty employees were already on-site Monday. This included some assembly line workers.

Congressman Connor Lamb Holds Virtual Town Hall on Monday, April ,2020

Allegheny Health Department director Dr. Debra Bogen and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald joined U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb yesterday for a virtual town hall meeting. Lamb answered questions from the participants about the federal stimulus and unemployment. Lamb also gave updates on the COVID-19 Coronavirus on the federal and local level. He discussed how he is pleased about the federal government’s most recent bipartisan stimulus package providing cash payments to millions of Americans and extending unemployment eligibility to the self-employed and other groups.

One of the big issues locally has been the unemployment problems of filing and when will self-employed citizens be able to file. Lamb stated that Self-employed workers who have submitted a claim can expect to receive benefits within two weeks to a month.

Beaver County Radio’s Frank Sparks participated in the call and said that  Representative Lamb told the participants the same thing he said in an interview on Beaver County Radio last week that many Pennsylvanians who qualify for the federal government’s $1,200 cash payments can expect to receive that money after April 13, but those who filed taxes using direct deposit will receive rebates first. For those who do not have direct deposit and can’t wait for a paper check, Lamb said the IRS is expected to make available an online portal for qualifiers to sign up for direct deposit. The first batch of paper checks would go out in the first week of May, starting with lowest income Americans, but could take months to arrive.

Those relying on social security benefits can expect to receive their stimulus through the normal social security system and are not required to file a claim, Lamb said.

Gas Prices Drop in Pennsylvania; Demand Hits a Nearly 30-Year Low

AAA: Gas Prices Drop in Pennsylvania; Demand Hits a Nearly 30-Year Low
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is four cents cheaper this week at $2.183 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

Eight Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states still have gas price averages of $2/gallon or more: New York ($2.29), Washington, D.C. ($2.24), Pennsylvania ($2.16), New Jersey ($2.14), Connecticut ($2.07), Rhode Island ($2.05), Massachusetts ($2.04) and Vermont ($2.03). As gas prices are expected to push cheaper this month, many of these states may push near or below $1.99/gallon before May 1. At $1.76, North Carolina carries the cheapest average in the region.

On the week, gas prices are 3 to 15 cents cheaper in the region. Vermont saw the largest decline and was the only state to see double digit drops. Most state averages in the region pushed less expensive by six to eight cents in the last seven days.

Regional gasoline stocks saw a significant 5.1-million-barrel build, according to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. The build can be attributed to supply intake from other regions as regional refinery utilization fell to 51%. The addition of stocks brings total regional levels up to nearly 66 million barrels. Gas prices are positioned to see continued decreases in the week ahead.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                 $2.183
Average price during the week of March 30, 2020                                    $2.229
Average price during the week of April 8, 2019                                        $2.919

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$2.098      Altoona
$2.256      Beaver
$2.218      Bradford
$2.099      Brookville
$2.192      Butler
$2.217      Clarion
$2.209      Du Bois
$2.106      Erie
$2.227      Greensburg
$2.199      Indiana
$2.270      Jeannette
$2.215      Kittanning
$2.199      Latrobe
$2.071      Meadville
$2.268      Mercer
$1.847      New Castle
$2.244      New Kensington
$2.199      Oil City
$2.282      Pittsburgh
$2.041      Sharon
$2.312      Uniontown
$2.203      Warren
$2.248      Washington

On the National Front
Today’s national gas price average is $1.92. That is nine cents cheaper than last Monday, 48 cents less than a month ago and 81 cents less expensive than a year ago. On the week, pump prices continued to push less expensive with gasoline demand registering at its lowest point since 1993. The latest EIA weekly report puts demand at 6.7 million b/d – a nearly 30-year low – and it’s likely to push lower as Americans are urged to stay at home at least until the beginning of May.

This week, market analysts are watching crude oil prices, which started to increase at the end of last week. At the end of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by $3.02 to settle at $28.34 per barrel. This is largely due to the news that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its partners, including Russia, plan to hold an emergency meeting to discuss potentially curtailing the global oversupply of oil. However, given the drastically low demand readings, the current increases in crude aren’t likely to have a large impact on gas prices in the near-term.

In addition to crude oil, market analysts are also watching refinery rates. The U.S. refinery utilization average is down to 82%, a low not seen since September 2017. Given the drop in crude oil and gasoline demand, which is expected to push even lower, refineries are reducing production in hopes this could help to balance the amount of gasoline supply in the country.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

State Police Releases ‘Stay at Home Order’ Enforcement Totals

State Police Releases ‘Stay at Home Order’ Enforcement Totals
 
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police released data on enforcement actions taken to enforce Governor Wolf’s Stay at Home order. The order went into effect statewide at 8 p.m. on April 1, 2020. Under the order, all individuals must stay at home except for certain essential activities and work to provide life-sustaining business and government services.
“Law enforcement is focused on ensuring residents are aware of the Stay at Home order and informing the public of social distancing practices and while the order is mandatory, voluntary compliance is preferred,” said Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “Troopers maintain discretion to warn or issue citations, and their decision is specific to the facts and circumstances of each particular encounter.”
A map of counties covered by each troop is available on psp.pa.gov.
Stay at Home Order Enforcement, April 1-5, 2020
TROOP
WARNING
CITATION
 
Daily
Total
Daily
Total
A
2
2
0
0
B
0
0
0
0
C
0
0
0
0
D-Beaver,Lawerence,Butler
0
0
0
0
E
3
3
0
0
F
0
0
0
0
G
0
0
0
0
H
0
0
0
0
J
1
1
1
K
0
0
0
0
L
0
0
0
0
M
0
0
0
0
N
0
0
0
0
P
0
0
0
0
R
0
0
0
0
TOTAL
6
6
1
1
The Wolf administration has provided all local law enforcement with enforcement guidance that mirrors PSP’s.

PennDOT Reopens Additional Roadside Rest Areas

PennDOT Reopens Additional Roadside Rest Areas

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reopening indoor facilities at five additional rest areas statewide.

PennDOT’s rest areas were temporarily closed statewide on March 17 in response to Governor Tom Wolf’s mitigation guidance regarding COVID-19 to ensure that proper safety and sanitation protocols were in place. Twenty-eight select rest areas across Pennsylvania have since reopened.

Additional cleaning and maintenance will be performed at all reopened locations. Tourism services are not available at this time.

The following four locations will reopen yesterday (Monday, April 6):

  • Interstate 70 eastbound in Washington County, 3.5 miles east of Exit 1;
  • Interstate 81 northbound in Franklin County, 1 mile north of the Maryland state line;
  • Interstate 81 southbound in Susquehanna County, .5 miles south of the New York state line;
  • Interstate 90 westbound in Erie County, .5 miles west of the New York state line;

The following location will reopen today (Tuesday, April 7):

  • U.S. 15 southbound in Tioga County, 7 miles south of the New York state line;

The below locations were previously reopened:

  • Interstate 79 northbound in Allegheny County, 8 miles north of Exit 45;
  • Interstate 79 northbound in Crawford County, 8 miles north of Exit 154;
  • Interstate 79 southbound in Crawford County, 3 miles south of Exit 166;
  • Interstate 79 northbound in Greene County, 5 miles north of Exit 1;
  • Interstate 79 northbound in Lawrence County, 3.5 miles north of Exit 105;
  • Interstate 79 southbound in Lawrence County, 3.5 miles south of Exit 113
  • Interstate 79 northbound in Mercer County, 5 miles south of Exit 141;
  • Interstate 79 southbound in Mercer County, 6 miles north of Exit 130;
  • Interstate 80 eastbound in Centre County, 13 miles east of Exit 133;
  • Interstate 80 westbound in Centre County, .5 miles west of Exit 147;
  • Interstate 80 eastbound in Jefferson County, 1 mile east of Exit 86;
  • Interstate 80 westbound in Jefferson County, 10 miles west of Exit 97;
  • Interstate 80 eastbound in Luzerne County, 8.5 miles east of Exit 262;
  • Interstate 80 eastbound in Monroe County, 1 mile east of I-80/I-380;
  • Interstate 80 eastbound in Montour County, 4.5 miles east of Exit 215;
  • Interstate 80 westbound in Montour County, 4.5 miles west of Exit 224;
  • Interstate 80 eastbound in Venango County, .5 miles east of Exit 29;
  • Interstate 80 westbound in Venango County, 4 miles west of Exit 35;
  • Interstate 81 northbound in Cumberland County, .5 miles north of Exit 37;
  • Interstate 81 southbound in Cumberland County, 5.5 miles south of Exit 44;
  • Interstate 81 northbound in Lackawanna County, .5 miles north of Exit 202;
  • Interstate 81 northbound in Luzerne County, 1.5 miles north of Exit 155;
  • Interstate 81 southbound in Luzerne County, 1.5 miles south of Exit 159;
  • Interstate 81 southbound in Susquehanna County, 4 miles south of Exit 211;
  • Interstate 83 northbound in York County, 2.5 miles north of the Maryland state line;
  • Interstate 84 eastbound in Pike County, 6 miles east of Exit 20;
  • Interstate 84 westbound in Pike County, 1 mile west of Exit 26; and
  • Interstate 90 eastbound in Erie County, 3 miles east of the Ohio state line.

The department will continue to evaluate and will determine whether additional locations can be reopened.

More COVID-19 information is available at www.health.pa.gov. For more information, visit www.dmv.pa.gov or www.PennDOT.gov.