FILE – A Norfolk Southern freight train makes it way through Homestead, Pa. on April 27, 2022. Norfolk Southern reports earnings on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Norfolk Southern said it expects February’s fiery Ohio derailment to cost it $387 million, but that total will likely increase over time and that doesn’t reflect how much the railroad’s insurance companies will eventually cover. The Atlanta-based railroad provided that estimate of the cost of the Feb. 3 derailment outside East Palestine, Ohio, Wednesday when it released its first-quarter earnings report. That derailment and several others since then have prompted a nationwide focus on railroad safety. That cost estimate includes the $30.9 million the railroad has pledged to help the community recover, but it doesn’t reflect how much Norfolk Southern will put into funds to cover any long-term health problems and compensate residents.

This summer could be record-setting when it comes to travel by air. Earlier this year, AAA reported a significant increase in international travel bookings. And in a recent interview, the head of the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) said the agency is bracing for passenger levels above pre-pandemic numbers.

Many airlines, including Delta, have already announced a record number of advanced bookings for summer. To ensure travelers have the best vacation experience possible, AAA recommends booking as soon as possible.

“There is a lot of positive energy surrounding leisure travel this summer, which is very encouraging to see,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “To ensure vacations are as seamless as possible, it’s very important to lay out a game plan early with a trusted travel advisor.”

The Best Time to Book for Summer:
If travelers want the best choice of options for this summer, the time to book is now. AAA booking data shows demand is high this year, especially for international destinations. Waiting too long to book can result in limited inventory and sold-out cruises, tours, or direct flights.

“If you can be flexible with your travel dates and destinations, that can help you find better deals. But, given what could be record-setting demand, travelers who have grown accustomed to last-minute deals should think twice about waiting,” continued Powell.

AAA Recommendations:

• When booking, aim for the first morning flight. It’s more likely to depart on time because mornings have less air traffic congestion and fewer weather delays, especially in the summer.
• Reserve airport parking ahead of time to save time on departure day.
• Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before domestic flights, 3 hours before international flights. Remember, international hubs will be extra packed with passengers this season.
• Sign up for TSA PreCheck or Clear to speed up the security process.
• Avoid checking a bag. Carry-on luggage allows for more flexibility and speeds up the process when flying.
• Make sure phones are fully charged. Download airline apps to receive notifications and use FlightAware to track flights the day of departure.
• Weather is generally considered an “Act of God” and not the fault of the airline. Working with a travel advisor gives travelers peace of mind when it comes to finding rebooking options.
• If a flight is canceled due to what is in the control of the airline, like a mechanical issue, the airline is responsible for rebooking passengers and providing some amenities, like food or lodging. For entitlements, see the DOT website: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights.

(BEAVER, PA) —  On Tuesday, 20 therapists at Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center voted unanimously to send an Unfair Labor Practice strike notice for owner Comprehensive’s failure to bargain in good faith. For six months, workers say Comprehensive delayed negotiations weeks on end, showed up to bargaining sessions unprepared on multiple occasions, and canceled or failed to attend scheduled negotiations.

“We are willing to negotiate, but it’s Comprehensive who has not shown us they want to work together toward a fair contract.” said Alysia Franitti, a Physical Therapy Assistant who has worked at Brighton for 5 years. “They’ve shown us nothing but disregard and disrespect.”

“The therapy staff continually gets high praise and good reviews from residents, but our wages do not reflect that,” said Franitti. “So when the company failed to show up with serious contract proposals and once never showed up at all, we felt disrespected. We hope to be compensated fairly for the work we do so we can continue to provide good outcomes for our patients and make a livable wage.”

Therapists at Brighton formed their union last year and are negotiating their first contract following 200 other union caregivers at Brighton settling a strong contract with Comprehensive. Brighton therapists have gone years without a raise, even throughout the pandemic. At the peak of COVID-19, management told the therapists that they did not qualify as essential workers — despite directly interacting with residents —  and would not receive any COVID hazard pay.

“No healthcare worker ever wants to go on strike,” said Laura Vorrias, a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at Brighton. “It’s been clear the company isn’t bargaining in good faith, even after we showed continued dedication to Brighton through this pandemic. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to reach a fair contract with real wage scales that recognize our experience, including going on strike together for each other! You cannot grow what you won’t water.”

Over 2,000 union nursing home workers won historic contracts after going on strike last September at some of the largest chains in Pennsylvania, including multiple Comprehensive-owned nursing homes. The contracts, which included increased wages and benefits designed to recruit and retain a skilled workforce, have paved the way for dozens of standards-setting contracts at other nursing homes across the state.

As President Joe Biden prepares to unroll new federal nursing home guidelines, including improving national staffing standards, questions of owner accountability have been heightened after the former co-owner of Brighton was federally indicted for healthcare fraud. Last month, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) met with constituent union caregivers from nursing homes in Beaver County, where Brighton’s located, to discuss these issues of accountability as well as improving staffing, training, and wages and benefits to address the care crisis.

By law, nursing home administrators must receive a 10-day notice before a strike at a healthcare facility takes place. If they are not able to reach an agreement, workers will begin their strike on May 6th.

Photos supplied by Superintendent Dr. Phillip K. Woods and AD Dr. Jennifer Damico.  
Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 26, 2023 10:13 A.M.

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa High School ‘s football stadium the ‘PIT’ was built in 1936 and was home for many games, including several championship games . Demolition took place at the site last year and work is still being completed for the 2023 opening of the stadium.  Funding and grants were pursued making it possible to demolish and construct a new stadium which is nearing completion. Dr. Phillip K. Woods, superintendent, has worked with the school board and, staff, and administration along with the state to pursue the necessary funding for the much-needed, and appreciated project. The lighting and bleachers are in place.
Additional photos can be viewed below:

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 26, 2023 10:09 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) At Tuesday night’s school board meeting the collective bargaining agreement by and between the Hopewell Area School District and Hopewell Education Association for the period beginning July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027 was ratified. The teachers have been working under the contract that expired June 30, 2022.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published April 26, 2023 10:08 A.M.

(Hopewell Township, PA) Seasonal park recreation employees Isabella Leseiko, Zach Landry, Abbey Andrews, Sage Fox, Abigail Oldham, Ean Maxwell, Corey Obeldobel and Bella Hage were rehired for the summer season and will each be paid $10 an hour. Vicky Dong was approved to volunteer again at Camp Lakewood. New hires for the park are Abigail Magistro, Jordyn Glumac, and Madison Krah. They will also receive $10 an hour. Greg Barilon was promoted by the commissioners to full time grounds assistant supervisor and will earn $16 an hour.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing ramp improvement work continues at the I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) Monaca/Shippingport Route 18 interchange in Potter Township, Beaver County.

The ramp from southbound Route 18 to westbound I-376 has closed to traffic continuously through the evening of Saturday, May 6 for improvement work.

Ramp traffic will be detoured to allow crews from Lindy Paving to conduct milling and paving operations, inlet adjustments, signage improvements, and pavement marking installation.

Posted Detour

Southbound Route 18 to westbound I-376

• Continue on southbound Route 18 past the closed ramp
• Take the ramp for East I-376 toward Pittsburgh
• From eastbound I-376, take the Center (Exit 42) off-ramp
• Turn left onto Pleasant Drive
• Take the ramp for West I-376 toward New Castle/Beaver
• Follow westbound I-376 back to the Monaca/Shippingport interchange
• End detour

PennDOT is not involved in this work and is providing this information as a public service announcement only. For additional information contact Eric Yauger at 724-208-9474.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Harrisburg, PA – Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded Pennsylvanians today they can apply for, complete, and return their mail ballot in-person in one visit to their county board of elections office until 5 p.m. May 9. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely and fairly, and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard, are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.

“Voters can ensure their voices are heard by requesting, completing, and returning their mail-in or absentee ballot in a single stop at their county board of elections office,” Schmidt said. “This provides eligible Pennsylvanians with another convenient option for casting their ballot.”

Once a county has finalized and printed absentee and mail-in ballots, voters can go to their county elections office or satellite office and request a mail-in or absentee ballot application. County election officials will first verify the voter’s eligibility, which will include checking proper identification. Election officials will then provide the voter with a ballot, which they can complete and return on the spot.

Voters should read all instructions carefully and follow these steps to ensure their ballot is counted:

• Enclose the mail ballot in the inner security envelope marked “official election ballot” and seal it.
• Seal the inner security envelope in the pre-addressed outer envelope.
• Sign and put the current date on the voter’s declaration on the outer envelope.

Voted mail ballots must be received by a voter’s county board of elections by 8 p.m. May 16, Primary Election Day. To date, more than 660,000 Pennsylvanians have applied for a mail-in ballot and more than 53,000 Pennsylvanians have applied for an absentee ballot to vote in the primary.

In Pennsylvania, voters also have the option of voting in person at their polling place on Primary Day if they have not already submitted a mail ballot. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 16.

The deadline to register to vote in the primary is May 1. Pennsylvanians can register to vote and check their registration status online or download and print a registration form and deliver it to their county election board. Applications must be received by the county no later than May 1.

Pennsylvanians wishing to register to vote in the May 16 primary must be:

• a U.S. citizen for at least one month before the primary;
• a resident of Pennsylvania and of the election district in which the person plans to register and vote for at least 30 days before the primary;
• at least 18 years old on or before the primary.

Only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans will select nominees in the primary to represent their party in the Nov. 7 general election. However, all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, will be able to vote May 16 on any local ballot questions and in special elections in the following districts:

• 108th Legislative District for state representative in parts of Montour and Northumberland counties, and
• 163rd Legislative District for state representative in parts of Delaware County.

For more information on voting and elections, visit vote.pa.gov or call the Department of State’s year-round hotline, 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772), which offers information and interpretation services in more than 200 languages.

(Hanover Township, PA) Connect Beaver County is excited to announce that construction has started in Hanover Township. Sixty-five locations previously lacking reliable Internet service will soon be able to access high-speed broadband Internet.

The new broadband service deployment is the result of a multi-year collaborative effort between Beaver County and ISPs that aims to bridge the digital divide and connect all unserved or underserved locations in the county with high-speed Internet.