Trump’s big night: Expect talk of GOP progress, Dem anarchy
By JONATHAN LEMIRE and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four years ago, Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party’s nomination for president with a dark convention speech that painted a dystopian portrait of an America in decline. And he offered a singular solution: “I alone can fix it.” This time, trailing in the polls for reelection, Trump will position himself as the last remaining defense against radical forces threatening the American way of life. While Trump has centered his recent stump speech on anarchists that he depicts as overrunning city streets, aides signal that Thursday’s acceptance speech will not be as dark as his infamous “American carnage” inaugural address.

The Latest: Trump to visit storm-hit Louisiana and Texas

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he will visit the Gulf Coast this weekend to tour damage from one of the fiercest hurricanes to hit the United States.
Trump said he would visit Texas and Louisiana on Saturday or Sunday to survey the destruction caused by Laura, which Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said has killed at least four people.
Laura slammed the Gulf Coast early Thursday and roared through Louisiana. The bulk of the damage was reported in Louisiana. The storm barreled over Lake Charles, Louisiana, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people.
Extensive property damage has been reported; a floating casino that came unmoored hit a bridge.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told Trump that the situation on the ground “is fluid and challenging,” but the Federal Emergency Management Agency is responding.
The hurricane’s top wind speed of 150 mph (241 kph) put it among the most powerful on record in the U.S.
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FirstEnergy had big stake in tainted nuclear plant bailout
By MARK GILLISPIE and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) — Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. has long maintained it had no financial stake in getting out of the business of operating nuclear power plants. But federal authorities say FirstEnergy bankrolled a $60 million bribery scheme aimed at getting the bailout approved in the Ohio Legislature. Critics say the corporation and its leadership team had an intense interest in the bailout that helped smooth the way for FirstEnergy to sever ownership of the plants in federal bankruptcy court. FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones said the company committed no wrongdoing as it faces scrutiny by the FBI, shareholders and independent board members.

Laura blasts Louisiana coast with wind and wall of seawater
By GERALD HERBERT, MELINDA DESLATTE and STACEY PLAISANCE Associated Press
LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Laura has weakened to a tropical storm after blasting the Louisiana coast with high winds and heavy rain for hours. The system that came ashore as a Category 4 hurricane is being blamed for two deaths and widespread damage around Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. It is the most powerful storm to hit the U.S. this year. Laura. Forecasters predicted an unsurvivable storm surge. More than 580,000 people were ordered to evacuate, but at least some stayed behind. Rescuers have to wait for winds to die down before looking for survivors. Laura is now headed toward Arkansas.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) The PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  reported that they are aware  Providence Healthcare in Beaver Falls  has an upswing in COVID-19 cases and is reporting  26 resident cases, 32 employee  cases and 1-4 deaths from COVID-19  . The data available was through Monday  afternoon according to the PA DOH Press office.   Last  weeks’s data reported 7 resident cases, 15 employee cases and no  deaths.  So as of  Monday  19 new resident cases, and 17 employee cases in  the last week.. The DOH press release states that  they are aware of the outbreak at this facility . The DOH   provides  assistance to to every long-term facility that has at least one case of COVID-19

(Rochester Twp., Pa.) Early this morning Emergency crews were called to the scene of a gas leak in the area of the Beaver County YMCA. It’s being  reported that a car hit a gas line along Route 65. Emergency crews were reported to have the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge closed for a period of time overnight. As of 6:30 this morning the bridge and intersection were open and crews were working on a gas main station behind the former Volmer Motors in Rochester Twp.. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano is working on getting an update to the specifics of the accident.

UDATE:

Beaver County 9-1-1 received a call at 1:30 a.m.  that a vehicle struck a gas meter  . This accident occurred in the area of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. New Brighton Police are handling the accident report, and weren’t available for comment.  Rochester Township Police and Fire Departments, along with Medic-Rescue  were  dispatched by 9-1-1 to assist new New Brighton at the scene.   The area in proximity of the YMCA   was to be avoided.  At 8:30 a.m. it was announced that the road was reopened to  traffic.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in the fourth annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers.

“One of the goals of the Innovations Challenge is to open students’ minds to the possibility of a career in transportation, maybe even with PennDOT,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Students working on this project will engage in the very real challenge facing the industry – finding a sustainable solution to transportation  funding challenges.”

This year’s Innovations Challenge asks students to develop an innovative and implementable solution that helps address Pennsylvania’s transportation revenue shortfall by identifying potential new funding streams, aside from additional gas taxes, tolls or mileage-based user fees, to help ensure adequate transportation funding for the future.

The Innovations Challenge is open to all students in grades 9-12, regardless of their school’s learning model. PennDOT is directly responsible for nearly 40,000 miles of highway and roughly 25,000 bridges, roughly equal to the state-maintained road systems of New York, New Jersey, and all the New England states combined. Much of the funding to maintain that system comes from liquid fuels taxes, which are becoming increasingly unsustainable, especially considering additional impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

With vehicles becoming more fuel efficient and electric vehicles becoming more affordable, gasoline-based revenues can no longer generate the funds needed. Other options, including tolling and mileage-based user fees, are being explored. To meet the needs of its aging infrastructure, Pennsylvania needs to establish a funding stream that will inject an additional $5 billion per year into its transportation system.

“We appreciate the unique challenges faced by schools during the pandemic,” Gramian added. “Our educators are to be commended for encouraging the creative thinking needed for the Innovations Challenge.”

Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to compete for the state championship.

The Transportation Policy and Education Foundation, an educational arm of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC), the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA (ACEC/PA) and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) are providing a combined total award of $5,500 to be divided among the first, second and third place statewide winning teams.

For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.gov/innovation. The submission deadline is December 18, 2020