Pennsylvania Turnpike plans to be all-cashless by fall 2021
PITTSBURGH (AP) — After four years of testing, the Pennsylvania Turnpike says it plans to move ahead with a $129 million project to become a completely cashless toll system in two years, eliminating hundreds of toll collecting and auditing positions along the way.
Turnpike chief executive officer Mark Compton told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in an interview last week that the pilot phase of the project was over and “the goal is to have the system completely cashless by the fall off 2021.”
The system won’t take cash after that point, but toll booths will still be at some exit ramps across the commonwealth until 2026 to record E-ZPass signals or photograph license plates so bills can be mailed to drivers. That will continue until the agency finishes up installing 43 overhead gantries in three phases over the next six years.
The jobs of the 600 remaining toll collectors and toll auditors will be eliminated, but officials say they will have the opportunity to move into other turnpike jobs or to take classes at the turnpike’s expense.
The turnpike has been testing cashless tolling at several spots, and Compton said the cashless sites have been averaging nearly the same collection rate.
With the system completely cashless, turnpike employment is expected to drop from about 1,900 to about 1,300. Compton said jobs cannot be guaranteed after January 2022, but for several years workers whose jobs will be eliminated have been eligible for up to $5,250 a year in tuition credits to take classes to learn other turnpike or state jobs or to study for a new career.
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Information from: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, http://www.post-gazette.com

McDonald’s CEO steps down after relationship with employee
By CATHY BUSSEWITZ and DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writers
NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald’s chief executive officer has left the company after violating company policy by engaging in a consensual relationship with an employee, the corporation said Sunday.
The fast food giant said former president and CEO Steve Easterbrook demonstrated poor judgment. McDonald’s forbids managers from having romantic relationships with direct or indirect reports.
In an email to employees, Easterbrook acknowledged he had a relationship with an employee and said it was a mistake.
“Given the values of the company, I agree with the board that it is time for me to move on,” Easterbrook said in the email.
McDonald’s board of directors voted on Easterbrook’s departure Friday after conducting a thorough review. Details of Easterbrook’s separation package will be released Monday in a federal filing, according to a company spokesperson. Easterbrook was CEO since 2015.
The board of directors named Chris Kempczinski, who recently served as president of McDonald’s USA, as its new president and CEO.
Two weeks ago, McDonald’s reported a 2% drop in net income for the third quarter as it spent heavily on store remodeling and expanded delivery service. The company’s share price has dropped 7.5% since, though it’s still up 9.2% for the year. The leadership transition is unrelated to the company’s operational or financial performance, the company said in a news release.
Kempczinski joined McDonald’s in 2015. He was responsible for approximately 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. He was instrumental in the development of McDonald’s strategic plan and oversaw the most comprehensive transformation of the U.S. business in McDonald’s history, said Enrique Hernandez, chairman of McDonald’s board, in a statement.
Kempczinski described Easterbrook as a mentor.

UK halts fracking ahead of election; some want permanent ban
By GREGORY KATZ Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — The British government announced Saturday that it will no longer allow fracking because of new scientific analysis that casts doubts on the safety of the controversial practice, but some critics called the an election stunt and demanded a permanent ban.
The government said the decision was based on a finding by the Oil and Gas Authority that it is not possible to clearly predict the likelihood or severity of earthquakes linked to fracking operations.
The decision to announce a moratorium on fracking means the government will no longer support the use of fracking for shale gas extraction and fracking planning proposals will not be moved forward.
Business and Energy Secretary Andrea Leadsom said the new scientific report makes clear that the government cannot rule out future “unacceptable impacts” on local communities where fracking is allowed.
“For this reason, I have concluded that we should put a moratorium on fracking in England with immediate effect,” she said.
The government’s new position was announced at the start of what is expected to be a hard-fought campaign ahead of a Dec. 12 national election. There have been considerable protests against fracking in recent years.
The announcement drew praise from local activists and environmental groups although some called for a permanent ban on the practice, not just a halt in the approval process..
Activist Maureen Mills from the Halsall Against Fracking group, said the decision was welcome because fracking had taken an “immeasurable” toll on her region of northwestern England.
“Our communities are left physically and mentally drained and devastated. For what? Years of anguish, research, protest, tears and fears,” she said. “Stopping this industry has always been our goal and our reasons are now being taken seriously.”
But politicians from the opposition Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats warned that the government’s reversal on fracking may be a temporary ploy to garner votes during the upcoming national vote.
Labour Party housing adviser John Healey told the BBC the ban “appears to be temporary” and may be reversed later if Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in power after the vote.
“This may not be a real reprieve,” he said. “You’ve got to remember that Boris Johnson once said he wanted to leave no stone unturned and no stone unfracked, so this I fear could be a gambit at the start of the election and we may see that he does something different to what he says now.”
Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace, said fracking has no future in Britain because of widespread opposition.
“Opening up a new fossil fuel industry in this climate emergency was always an awful idea and it’s only seemed worse as the industry has lurched from mishap to disaster,” she said. “Grass roots activists across the country deserve huge credit.”