Tune in this Sunday, July 4th, 2021 @ 11:00 a.m. for Spotlight on Seniors with Valerie McKelvey along with special guests from the Beaver County Office on Aging: Erin Shannon and Brent Williams
This week’s topic will be the Beaver County Office on Aging iPad program.
U.S. hiring accelerated last month as workers see pay gains
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added 850,000 jobs in June, well above the average of the previous three months and a sign that companies may be having an easier time finding enough workers to fill open jobs. Friday’s report from the Labor Department was the latest sign that the reopening of the economy is propelling a powerful rebound from the pandemic recession. Restaurant traffic across the country is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, and more people are shopping, traveling and attending sports and entertainment events. The number of people flying each day has regained about 80% of its pre-COVID-19 levels.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner held a media event yesterday at the Fort Hunter boat launch urging safe and responsible celebration ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.
PennDOT is working closely with safety partners and law enforcement to reduce impaired driving through the Independence Day holiday weekend with impaired driving education and enforcement running through July 4.
“Safety is PennDOT’s most important priority, which is why we work closely with our partners and law enforcement to reduce impaired driving,” said PennDOT Acting Executive Deputy Secretary Melissa J. Batula. “We urge motorists to plan ahead this holiday weekend, and always, by either designating a sober driver or arranging for alternate transportation.”
According to PennDOT data, in 2020 there were 112 alcohol-related crashes from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, resulting in five fatalities. Also, during the holiday period last year, there were 48 drug-related crashes, resulting in five fatalities.
Data from the Fish and Boat Commission shows that there were 60 boating-under-the-influence arrests in 2020, an increase from 45 in 2019.
Pennsylvania is a boating destination state, and boaters drive to and from their boating location. When an impaired boat operator gets behind the wheel to drive home, a BUI becomes a DUI.
“Alcohol impairs judgment and reaction time on the water no differently than if you were driving a car, with the additional risk of drowning,” said PA Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer. “Boating under the influence puts everyone at risk, including passengers and others enjoying the water.”
“Our goal is for boaters to begin each trip with a knowledge and appreciation of basic safe boating practices that includes wearing a life jacket and not drinking while boating,” he added.
Over this holiday period, the Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement will conduct checkpoints and roving patrols. This effort is funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution of more than $4.7 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement.
“The Pennsylvania State Police has a zero-tolerance approach toward driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Lieutenant Colonel Scott Price, deputy commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police. “Consistent with our highway safety mission, Troopers are trained to look for impaired, distracted, and aggressive driving behaviors; and remain especially cognizant during holiday periods. Travelers can do their part to keep themselves and their loved ones safe by remembering to slow down, buckle up, and don’t drive impaired or distracted.”
For Pennsylvanians celebrating at home this weekend, State Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego recommended the following precautions for handling fireworks to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:
“We say it every year because it’s true; fireworks are not toys,” said Trego. “Fireworks are capable of causing serious injury or death and must be treated with care. We also need to realize that as important as it is to protect ourselves during their use, it’s just as important to have a care for those around you. Neighbors who happen to be veterans as well as those with animals often have noise sensitives that we should consider.”
If you have plans for travel this holiday weekend, “Know Before You Go” by checking the “Holiday Travel Restrictions” page at www.511PA.com. While PennDOT will remove lane restrictions and suspend construction projects wherever possible, the “Holiday Travel Restrictions” page allows the public to view interstate restrictions that will be in place during the holiday travel period.
The public can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles in Pennsylvania by visiting www.511PA.com. The service, 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. Motorists can also see active construction projects at www.511PA.com.
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.
The public can join the conversation on social media by using #DriveSober and #NoDUIJuly.
To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or other safety initiatives, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety.
For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, visit www.fishandboat.com.
For more information on the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, visit osfc.pa.gov.
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing roadway improvement work on Route 51 in Kennedy, Stowe, Robinson, and Moon townships, Allegheny County will begin Tuesday, July 6 weather permitting.
Improvement work will occur on Route 51 in the following locations:
Improvement work includes milling and paving, shoulder and base repair, drainage upgrades, guide rail improvements, signage, line painting, and other various construction related activities.
Construction activities requiring lane restrictions will occur weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the southern section and weeknights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the northern section. Weekend work will occur on the project. Motorists will see single-lane closures in three and four lane sections, and single-lane alternating traffic in two lane areas.
Work will begin in the southern section starting on Tuesday, July 6. Work in the northern section will begin in August.
Additionally, work on this project will be coordinated with other construction activities in the area including the I-79 Neville Island Bridge project.
The project is part of a $5.48 million group paving job. Lindy Paving is the prime contractor.
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.
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing overnight roadway improvement work on Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in Sewickley, Glen Osborne, Haysville and Glenfield boroughs, Allegheny County will begin Tuesday night, July 6 weather permitting.
Single-lane restrictions will occur in both directions of Route 65 between the Neville Island Bridge in Glenfield Borough and Walnut Street in Sewickley Borough from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday nights through June of 2022. Additionally, daylight work may occur as needed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. The contractor is permitted to work anytime during weekends. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained during construction.
Work on this $3.03 million project includes milling and paving, guide rail and drainage upgrades, inlet adjustments, base repairs and ADA curb ramps improvements, signal updates, and other miscellaneous construction. Work on this project will be coordinated with other construction activities in the area including the I-79 Neville Island Bridge project.
Lindy Paving is the prime contractor.
Please use caution when traveling through the project corridor. Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility.
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.
Pension contribution rates rise for 94K school employees
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pension contribution rates for tens of thousands of public school employees in Pennsylvania are rising, amid a federal investigation into some pension system actions and calls for resignations. The increases took effect Thursday for about 94,000 school employees, all hired in 2011 or after. Most will see their contribution rate rise by 0.5% of their salary, while a smaller number of them will see their contribution rate rise by 0.75% of their salary. The board of the $64 billion Public School Employees’ Retirement System voted in April to increase the contribution rates, after it had originally certified them at lower rates in December.
Dogs on display: Museum fetes 200 years of cartoon canines
By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The world’s largest cartoon museum is commemorating 200 years of dogs in comic strips, editorial cartoons, comic books and animation. “The Dog Show: Two Centuries of Canine Cartoons” is on display at Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum through October. The exhibit includes more than 100 canine characters, from Little Orphan Annie’s dog Sandy to Scooby-Doo to Santa’s Little Helper from The Simpsons. The genesis for the exhibit came when the late Brad Anderson, the creator of Marmaduke, donated his collection in 2018. Cartoonist and cartoon historian Brian Walker is exhibit curator. He says dogs’ eagerness and aim-to-please personalities make them good cartoon characters.
(Hampton Twp., PaPa State Police in Gibsonia have charged the driver of the semi-truck that overturned on the Pa. Turnpike Westbound early yesterday morning. Troopers Charged Slavisa Vukosavljevic qith not driving properly on highways laned for traffic. Vukosavljevic of Clarendon Hills Illinois was driving a 2008 Volvo Semi Tractor Trailer on the Turnpike westbound at mile 29 around 3:20 AM Thursday morning when he lost control and traveled off of the roadway and into an embankment. The impact caused the truck to turnover on its right side. Troopers report that there were no injuries.
(Oakmont, Pa.) Pa State Police in Gibsonia are reporting that they were dispatched to the Oakmont Service Plaza on the Pa. Turnpike for a report of plaza personnel finding a wallet and three cell phones at the facility.
If the missing items are yours or you know who they belong to you can contact Troopers at 724-443-5907
HARRISBURG, July 1 – Gov. Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1621 into law, announced prime sponsor Rep. Jim Marshall, R-Beaver/Butler, co-sponsor Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, and Sen. Patrick Browne, R-16th District. This increases access to 5G technology by deploying small wireless facilities, which could be as small as a backpack and attached to an existing utility pole.
“While I know we still have work to do, I am truly hopeful this legislation will improve connectivity across the Commonwealth,” said Marshall, Republican chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee. “I greatly appreciate the hard work of Sens. Browne, Phillips-Hill, and Kane – along with their staff – to help Chairman Matzie and I create a law that we all can be proud of.”
The Federal Communications Commission announced a $20.4 billion investment by establishing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. In December 2020, the FCC reported $368 million would be awarded to bidders to provide technology to nearly 185,000 Pennsylvanians. The bidding for the next auction is expected to begin in 2022.
“If the past year has shown us anything, it’s that access to fast, reliable broadband is a necessity in practically every aspect of life,” said Matzie, Democratic chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee. “The technology is out there, but we needed a seamless plan to harness it. Our legislation provides that plan by laying the groundwork for municipalities to obtain this technology while also protecting the workers who install it.
“With the governor signing our bill into law, we can now put that plan into action, bringing us one step closer to state-of-the-art connectivity for all Pennsylvanians – regardless of ZIP code.”
Municipalities will have the option to deny a permit if it creates a hazard for motorists or pedestrians, or it violates provisions within the Americans with Disabilities Act. Local governments can also create guidelines for the small wireless facilities if it does not prohibit installation.
“This legislation provides for the uniform, efficient and predictable regulation of small wireless facilities to streamline and accelerate the deployment of the next generation of high-speed wireless broadband throughout Pennsylvania,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne, who sponsored the companion legislation. “This final product is the result of significant work among wireless providers, our municipalities and groups representing workers, who do much of the deployment work, to come to this agreed-to legislation.
“I want to thank Reps. Marshall and Matzie for their leadership and for working with me on this important legislation that encourages wireless providers to deploy the most modern infrastructure throughout Pennsylvania while maintaining local government authority over their rights-of-way. I also want to thank my colleagues Sens. Lisa Boscola, Kristin Phillips-Hill and John Kane for all of their work to help usher this legislation through the Senate and to the governor.”