2 more Pennsylvania casinos open up for sports betting
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Two more casinos in Pennsylvania have started up with sports betting.
Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia began test periods Thursday. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board says that, if all goes well, the casinos can start regular sports-betting hours on Saturday.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course near Hershey opened its sports book last month, making Pennsylvania one of seven states where it’s allowed.
In an eighth state, New Mexico, a casino started taking sports bets last month through a tribal gambling compact.
A year-old state law allows owners of Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos to pay a $10 million fee to operate sports betting. The U.S. Supreme Court in May cleared the way for states to legalize sports betting.

No. 2 gas-producing state moves to curb air pollution
By MARC LEVY, Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania is aiming to curb air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from its vast natural gas exploration fields, with the governor’s administration proposing new regulations Thursday even as the Trump administration moves to relax federal requirements.
Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration brought the proposal to a technical review committee, the first step in what could be a two- to three-year process spurred by a 2016 federal requirement that applies to states and areas that don’t meet certain clean air standards.
Wolf’s office said the governor, a Democrat, is committed to seeing the proposal through, regardless of what Republican President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency does to weaken or repeal the 2016 Obama-era rule.
Wolf’s office said the state has the legal authority to enforce its proposed rule, with or without the federal requirement.
“This process, which is just beginning, does not depend on actions by the EPA,” Wolf’s office said in a statement. The administration will, it said, work with “industry, organizations, and the public to understand any and all concerns that arise.”
Pennsylvania is the nation’s second-largest natural gas producer after Texas, and the Marcellus Shale beneath much of Pennsylvania is the nation’s most prolific natural gas reservoir.
Under the 2016 rule, qualifying states are supposed to impose new emissions controls for oil and gas field sources by early 2021.
Pennsylvania’s proposal would impose stronger limits on smog-forming pollutants — a 95 percent reduction on some sources, based on emissions reported in 2016 — and require companies to more aggressively search for methane leaks from equipment at existing oil and gas installations. Cutting smog-forming pollutants, called volatile organic compounds, has the added benefit of reducing methane emissions.
Environmental groups welcomed the proposal but say it should go further in imposing limits on methane emissions and should eliminate an exemption for equipment at low-producing well sites.
A gas-industry trade group, the Marcellus Shale Coalition, said it is concerned about the cost for companies to comply and urged the Wolf administration to wait until the Trump administration finalizes any proposed changes to the 2016 rule.
The oil and gas industry is the nation’s primary source of methane emissions, according to the EPA, accounting for nearly one-third in 2016.
Methane is the primary component of natural gas and is one of the most potent heat-trapping pollutants, at least 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, the EPA says.
Earlier this year, Pennsylvania began enforcing tougher standards to reduce methane emissions and other air pollutants from new or updated equipment at well sites and on pipelines, a move environmental advocates said put the state among the leaders in going beyond federal requirements.
Colorado and California are viewed as having comprehensive regulations to reduce methane emissions. Ohio has signaled its intention to impose limits on equipment at existing oil and gas installations, and New Mexico’s incoming governor has said she plans to pursue a leak-detection rule.

The Latest: Senate OKs resolution blaming Saudi crown prince
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the congressional response to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi (all times local):
3:35 p.m.
The Senate has passed a resolution saying Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Senators unanimously passed a resolution Thursday in a direct rebuke to the crown prince. It calls for the Saudi Arabian government to “ensure appropriate accountability.”
It’s unclear whether the House will consider the measure. Senators voted on it after President Donald Trump equivocated on who is to blame for Khashoggi’s death and praised the kingdom. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that bin Salman must have at least known of the plot.
Passage of the resolution came after senators passed a separate measure calling for the end of U.S. aid to the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
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3:30 p.m.
Senators have voted to recommend that the U.S. stop supporting the Saudi-led war in Yemen, directly challenging both Saudi Arabia and President Donald Trump in the wake of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s slaying.
The bipartisan vote Thursday comes two months after the Saudi journalist’s killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and after Trump has equivocated over who is to blame. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman must have at least known of the plot, but Trump has repeatedly praised the kingdom.
Frustration with the crown prince and the White House prompted several Republicans to support the Yemen resolution, a rebuke to the longtime ally. Others already had concerns about the brutality of the Yemen war.
It’s unlikely the House will consider the resolution.
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2:20 p.m.
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have introduced a resolution rebuking Saudi Arabia for the slaying of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi (jah-MAHL’ khahr-SHOHK’-jee).
The Senate could vote on the resolution as soon as Thursday, after considering a separate resolution that would recommend pulling U.S. aid from a Saudi-led war in Yemen.
The resolution states that the Senate “believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi” and calls for the Saudi Arabian government to “ensure appropriate accountability” for those responsible.
The resolution also calls the war in Yemen a “humanitarian crisis” and demands that all parties seek an immediate cease-fire.
It is unclear whether the House would vote on the resolution if it passes the Senate.
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12:45 a.m.
Senators are expected to vote on a resolution that would call on the U.S. to pull assistance from the Saudi-led war in Yemen, a measure that would rebuke Saudi Arabia after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi (jah-MAHL’ khahr-SHOHK’-jee).
The Senate may also consider a separate resolution condemning the journalist’s killing as senators have wrestled with how to respond to the Saudi journalist’s murder. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman must have at least known of the plot, but President Donald Trump has been reluctant to pin the blame.
Senators voted 60-39 on Wednesday to open debate on the Yemen resolution, signaling there’s enough support to win the 50 votes needed. But it’s unclear how amendments could affect a final vote expected to come Thursday.

THE CENTER TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS ADOPTED THEIR 2019 BUDGET LAST NIGHT – WITH NO TAX INCREASE. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO WAS THERE. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

Today the state will distribute free naloxone kits to Pennsylvanians at nearly 80 sites across the state, including in Bridgewater and New Castle. The kits allow users to administer an opioid overdose antidote to victims. Governor Wolf’s office says more than 20-thousand Pennsylvanians have been revived by police and EMT’s using the drug in the past four years alone.

AN ECONOMY BOROUGH MAN FACES A HEARING ON AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT CHARGES. BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWS CORRESPONDENT SANDY GIORDANO HAS DETAILS. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THURSDAY, DEC. 13TH, 2018

TODAY – GENERALLY CLOUDY. HIGH – 44.

TONIGHT – PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. AREAS OF PATCHY FOG
DEVELOPING. LOW – 35.

FRIDAY – AREAS OF PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING.
BECOMING CLOUDY WITH OCCASIONAL LIGHT
RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH NEAR 50.

SATURDAY – CLOUDY WITH SHOWERS. HIGH – 48.

SUNDAY – RAIN SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
HIGH – 44.