Biden’s silence on executions adds to death penalty disarray
By MICHAEL TARM AP Legal Affairs Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — Activists widely expected Joe Biden to take swift action against the death penalty as the first sitting president to oppose capital punishment, but the White House has been mostly silent. Biden hasn’t said whether he’d back a bill to strike the death penalty from U.S. statutes. Biden also hasn’t rescinded Trump-era protocols enabling federal executions to resume and allowing prisons to use firing squads if necessary. And this week, Biden’s administration asked the Supreme Court to reinstate the Boston Marathon bomber’s original death sentence. The hands-off approach is adding to disarray around the death penalty nationwide as pressure increases in some conservative states to find ways to continue executions amid shortages of lethal-injection drugs.

US Catholic bishops OK steps toward possible rebuke of Biden
By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer
U.S. Catholic bishops have overwhelmingly approved the drafting of a “teaching document” that many of them hope will rebuke Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, for receiving Communion despite their support for abortion rights. The 168-55 vote was announced near the end of a three-day meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that was held virtually. The bishops had cast their votes the previous day. Supporters say a strong rebuke of Biden is needed because of his recent actions protecting and expanding abortion access. Opponents warn that such action would portray the bishops as a partisan force during a time of bitter political divisions.

Harris to visit Pittsburgh amid push for infrastructure plan
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Pittsburgh on Monday with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. The visit to the presidential battleground state comes as President Joe Biden’s administration pushes a massive infrastructure plan in Congress. Biden originally went to Pittsburgh on March 31 to unveil a $2.3 trillion plan in what he billed as “a once-in-a-generation investment in America” that would also undo tax cuts for corporations under Biden’s predecessor, Republican Donald Trump. Biden is hoping for a deal with Republicans who are resisting his big ideas and trimming the potential spending, but he also is trying to assure Democrats that he won’t leave behind their priorities.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing concrete barrier replacement work on Route 168 in Hookstown Borough, Beaver County, will begin Monday, June 21 weather permitting.

Single-lane alternating traffic will occur on Route 168 between Pittsburgh Grade Road and Mill Street from 7 a.m. Monday continuously through Friday, June 25. Crews from A. Liberoni, Inc. will conduct concrete barrier replacement work.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway 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.

By JESSICA GRESKO Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s another victory for religious groups at the Supreme Court. The justices have unanimously sided with a Catholic foster care agency that says its religious views prevent it from working with same-sex couples. The court says the city of Philadelphia wrongly limited its relationship with the Catholic Social Services as a result of the group’s policy. The ruling is specific to the facts of the case, and the court has sidestepped bigger questions about how to balance religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws. Instead, the outcome has turned on the language in the city’s foster care contract. Three conservative justices would have gone much further, and LGBTQ groups say they’re relieved that the decision was limited.

By WILL WEISSERT and JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gas prices have soared passed $3 per gallon. The costs of used cars and new furniture, airline tickets, department store blouses, beef and a burrito at Chipotle are all on the rise, too. Economists say the price increases are fueled by the aftereffects of a global pandemic and probably won’t last. But Republicans are hoping to storm into next year’s midterm elections arguing that key parts of the economy have deteriorated under President Joe Biden and a Democratic-controlled Congress. They say steep government spending has triggered inflation and that’s hurt the purchasing power of everyday Americans rather than triggering a promised boom.

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police have reported via release that on June 18th, 2021,at 1:04 a.m, Aubrey Choate, a 30 year old Hammond resident, was driving a 2015 Honda Fit was traveling East on PA Turnpike I-76 in the right lane when a deer entered onto the roadway. Choate ended up striking the deer with the front end of her car, and then pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. Mrs. Choate was traveling with a Crown Point resident, 26 year old Breanna Roberts, and no one suffered any injuries.

Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Rate Down To 6.9 Percent in May 

Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) released its employment situation report for May 2021.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down two-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 6.9 percent in May. The U.S. rate fell three-tenths of a percentage point from April to 5.8 percent. The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was 6.6 percentage points below its May 2020 level and the national rate was down 7.5 points over the year.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – decreased 6,000 over the month as employment rose 10,000 and unemployment fell 16,000.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 18,500 over the month to 5,684,200 in May. Jobs increased in 5 of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest volume gain in education & health services (+12,200). The largest drop was in construction (-3,300) which followed 12 consecutive monthly gains. Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 529,200 with gains in 10 of the 11 supersectors. Leisure & hospitality had the largest 12-month gain, adding back 187,200 jobs. All supersectors remained below their February 2020 job levels as of May 2021.

Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Note: The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison.

(Butler, PA) Pennsylvania State Police have reported via release that on June 15th, 2021, at 9:42 a.m. a 2004 Ford Focus was traveling westbound on 422 in Franklin Township at approximately 55 mph when it read ended a 2015 Chrysler Town & Country going 45 mph. The operator of the Ford Fusion sustained minor damage to the 12 o’clock position of the vehicle, while the Chrysler Town & Country sustained minor damage to the 6 o’clock position of the vehicle. All occupants were wearing seatbelts, and there were no injuries on anyone. None of the operators were identified, but the driver of the Ford Fusion was charged with driving while operating privelage suspended or revoked.

(Cranberry, PA) Pennsylvania State Police have reported via release that on June 14th, 2021 at 3:05 p.m. that a car lost control around the 81.8 mile marker on I-79. Reynoldsburg resident, Ram Basnet, a 32 year old male, was driving his 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander on the roadway at an unsafe speed, and lost control of the vehicle. Basnet traveled off of the roadway into the median, soon after traveled northbound and T-boned a 2014 Chevy Malibu operated by Prospect resident, Eden Kretzler, a 19 year old female. Basnet has been charged with driving at an unsafe speed.