HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With Pennsylvania’s races for governor and U.S. Senate taking shape, Republican candidates with ties to Donald Trump are running and considered strong contenders for the party’s nominations. It’s a sign of the former president’s enduring popularity in the GOP even after Trump’s baseless campaign to discredit his 2020 election loss and his role in whipping up supporters before they attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Jim Lee is the president of Susquehanna Polling and Research. He says Republican voters seem unaffected in their support for Trump-backed candidates. But Lee also describes opposition among independent voters as a “brick wall.”

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A fight between multiple people at a western Pennsylvania mall culminated in gunfire, forcing stores to lock down and shoppers to evacuate. Law enforcement officials say two young men were arrested in connection with the shooting at the Ross Park Mall in Ross Township on Saturday. No one was injured. Ross Township Police Detective Sergeant Brian Kohlhepp says authorities recovered three guns from the two suspects. Police say five or six people were involved in the fight. It took several hours for everyone in the mall to be evacuated. Ross Township is located about 8 miles north of Pittsburgh.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say an early morning fire in a western Pennsylvania home claimed the life of a child and sent another child and two adults to hospitals. Johnstown fire crews arrived at the blaze in the Moxham section of the city shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday. Firefighters found two children on the second floor and got them outside. One died and the other was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh with what the fire chief said were significant burns. Two adults were also taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation and burns. A state police fire marshal is working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration is reminding Pennsylvanians that all businesses, events and venues can return to 100 percent capacity with the lifting of COVID-19 mitigation orders starting Monday, May 31 at 12:01 a.m.

The current order requiring masks for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals will remain in place until June 28 or when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older get their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, whichever comes first. Additionally, individuals are still being required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs, such as airports and stations. Individuals should still follow guidance at workplaces, local businesses, long-term care facilities, hospitals, prisons, and homeless shelters.

“We have made great strides throughout the commonwealth to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Gov. Wolf. “As we lift mitigation orders, it is important for eligible Pennsylvanians to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting vaccinated is our best defense against this virus and ensuring individuals and their loved ones remain safe as we reopen Pennsylvania.”

The Department of Health recommends that Pennsylvanians refer to CDC guidance and recommendations regarding ongoing COVID-19 safety measures and procedures. Municipalities, businesses and school districts may continue implementing stricter mitigation efforts.

“Pennsylvanians are realizing that they have the power to stop COVID-19 and they are stepping up to get vaccinated,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “Folks are taking the critical steps needed to put this pandemic behind us and lifting the mitigation measures should allow people to enjoy some of the activities they missed last year.”

All Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible and encouraged to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. People can find vaccination locations near them using Vaccines.gov, also known as Vaccine Finder.

Individuals also can text their zip code to GETVAX (438829) for English, or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish and receive three possible vaccination sites in their area.

Once the statewide masking order is lifted, Pennsylvania will continue to follow the CDC guidance for wearing a mask where required by law, rule, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. The CDC requires individuals to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs, such as airports and stations. In addition, all individuals should still follow guidance at workplaces, local businesses, long-term care facilities, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing restrictions on the bridge that carries Route 588 over the Beaver River in Eastvale Borough and the City of Beaver Falls, Beaver County, will occur Tuesday through Saturday, June 1-5 weather permitting.

Single-lane closures will occur as needed in both directions on the bridge from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.  Crews from TranSystems will conduct routine inspection activities.

Motorists are advised to use caution, slow down, and be prepared for changing traffic patterns when traveling through the area. Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing milling and paving operations on Route 68 (Third Street) in Vanport Township, Beaver County will begin Tuesday, June 1 weather permitting.

A traffic shift will occur on Route 68 between I-376 and Buffalo Street (Route 4051) from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day through Friday, June 11. Bi-directional traffic will be maintained on Route 68.  Crews from Allison Park Contractors will conduct the milling and paving work.

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.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Beaver Falls, PA) A two vehicle accident has occurred on 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls. Nobody was injured. One vehicle sustained heavy damage and the other had minimal damage. One car was rear ended by the other. Beaver Falls Police Department responded to the scene.

Harrisburg, Pa. – Governor Tom Wolf ordered United States and commonwealth flags on all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds to fly at half-staff on Monday, May 31, 2021, in honor of Memorial Day.

“On Memorial Day, we commemorate the sacrifices of the brave individuals who serve in our armed forces and honor those who gave up their lives to preserve our freedom,” said Governor Wolf. “Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, to honor those we have lost and to share our gratitude for their immense sacrifice. On this day, we celebrate the freedoms that we all hold dear, and recommit ourselves to ensuring that our nation lives up to the promise these brave individuals fought for: the promise of freedom, liberty and equality for all.”

In accordance with the United States Flag Code, the US flag should be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to noon on Memorial Day, in honor of the nation’s battle heroes. The commonwealth flag has flown at half-staff since Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in honor of the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and should continue to fly at half-staff until sunset on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021.

 

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The inaugural harvest of genetically modified salmon began this week after the coronavirus pandemic delayed the sale of the first such altered animal cleared for human consumption in the United States. Company CEO Sylvia Wulf said several tons of salmon engineered by biotech company AquaBounty Technologies Inc. will now head to restaurants and away-from-home dining services in the Midwest and along the East Coast. AquaBounty has been raising its faster-growing AquAdvantage salmon at an indoor aquaculture farm in Albany, Indiana. The fish are genetically modified to grow twice as fast as wild salmon, reaching market size in 18 months rather than 36.