Freed, US attorney in Harrisburg for 3 years, is resigning
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The head federal prosecutor based in Harrisburg announced he will be quitting the job later this week. U.S. Attorney Dave Freed said Monday he’s resigning after serving more than three years in the Trump Administration. The Republican is a former Cumberland County district attorney who lives in Camp Hill. Freed is the U.S. attorney in the 33-county Middle District of Pennsylvania, which has courthouses in Harrisburg, Williamsport and Scranton. One of Freed’s top aides, Bruce Brandler, will take over. Democratic President-elect Joe Biden will have the authority to choose U.S. attorneys around the country, subject to Senate confirmation.

1 found dead in basement after fire, 2 injured; cause sought
SALINA, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say fire claimed the life of one person and injured two others in a western Pennsylvania home. Officials in Westmoreland County said the blaze in Bell Township was reported just before 9:30 a.m. Monday. The coroner’s office said 52-year-old Frank Zanavich was found in the basement and pronounced dead at the scene. State police said two other people were taken to a Pittsburgh hospital. Their conditions weren’t immediately available. The cause and manner of death is pending final autopsy and toxicology results which will take several weeks. A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Maverick French designer Pierre Cardin dies at 98
PARIS (AP) — France’s Academy of Fine Arts says Pierre Cardin, the French designer whose Space Age style was among the iconic looks of 20th-century fashion, has died at 98. A licensing maverick, Cardin’s name embossed thousands of products from wristwatches to bedsheets, making his label among the world’s most famous. In the brand’s heyday in the 1970s and ’80s, his products were sold at some 100,000 outlets worldwide, though that number dwindled dramatically in later decades. A savvy businessman, Cardin used his fabulous wealth to snap up top-notch properties in Paris, including the Belle Epoque restaurant Maxim’s. He was inducted into the Fine Arts Academy in 1992. The academy announced his death in a tweet Tuesday.

LAMB STATEMENT FOLLOWING VOTES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COVID RELIEF AND SUPPORT TROOPS

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) issued the following statement regarding his votes for the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act to increase economic impact payments to $2,000 and to override the President’s veto of the bipartisan William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 6395) Conference Report:

“You can’t get two-thirds of this Congress to agree on much, but tonight we had overwhelming bipartisan votes to increase stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000, and to overturn the President’s absurd veto of our bipartisan bill to fund the military and pay our troops.

“We’ve asked people to sacrifice a lot this year for the sake of public health — jobs, businesses, wages and working hours, time with loved ones.  And working families have been forced to wait far too long for their government to provide any support to make those sacrifices just a little bit easier.

“Mitch McConnell should not make them wait any longer, but he will.  We know that about him.  The important thing is that we do not and will not accept it.  By not adopting his radical, do-nothing view of being a Senator, we got a bill signed into law yesterday.  And we aren’t done.”

Visit Lamb’s website for more information on the additional legislation Congress passed to address the coronavirus public health crisis, as well as the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 6395).

AAA: Don’t Drive Hungover this New Year’s
Intoxication doesn’t end the morning after the celebration

As people prepare to ring in the New Year, many will choose to indulge with some alcoholic beverages. In addition to reminding people of the dangers of driving under the influence, AAA East Central also reminds everyone of the dangers of driving with a hangover.

“Driving hungover can be just as dangerous as driving after having a few drinks,” said Terri Rae Anthony, safety advisor, AAA East Central. “After a night of drinking, many people will wake up with alcohol still in their blood, or they will wake up tired and disoriented.”

According to the AAA DUI Justice Link, a resource to help reduce impaired driving, the only thing that will sober somebody up is time. It can take between 75-90 minutes or longer for the body to eliminate the alcohol contained in one standard-sized drink, which is longer than many people would assume.

Risks of Driving Hungover:
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, hangover symptoms peak when the blood alcohol concentration in the body returns to near zero. Symptoms can last 24 hours or longer, and can include:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Headaches and muscle aches
• Nausea and stomach pain
• Poor or decreased sleep
• Dehydration
• Vertigo
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Increased blood pressure

“We wouldn’t advise that anybody drives with any of these symptoms, regardless of whether they are recovering from a night of celebrating or not,” continued Anthony

AAA: Gas Prices End 2020 Much Lower than 2019
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is steady this week at $2.475 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. As has been the case throughout much of the year, this is roughly 40 cents cheaper than this time last year.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.475
Average price during the week of December 21, 2020                              $2.474
Average price during the week of December 30, 2019                              $2.863

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$2.621      Altoona
$2.455      Beaver
$2.629      Bradford
$2.458      Brookville
$2.361      Butler
$2.444      Clarion
$2.467      DuBois
$2.591      Erie
$2.340      Greensburg
$2.581      Indiana
$2.329      Jeannette
$2.540      Kittanning
$2.282      Latrobe
$2.627      Meadville
$2.599      Mercer
$2.184      New Castle
$2.590      New Kensington
$2.699      Oil City
$2.497      Pittsburgh
$2.247      Sharon
$2.480      Uniontown
$2.619      Warren
$2.279      Washington

Trend Analysis:
Increasing crude oil prices have led to upward movement at the pump across much of the country. Today’s national average ($2.25) is three cents more than last week, 13 cents more than last month, but 32 cents cheaper than last year. Motorists can expect gas prices to rise in the coming week, but they will still be cheaper than at the end of 2019.

The Energy Information Administration measures weekly gasoline demand at 8 million b/d. While low demand would typically translate to cheaper prices, crude oil is at its most expensive since February (roughly $48/barrel).

Crude prices increased last due in part to rising market optimism that coronavirus vaccines will help crude oil demand recover in 2021. However, as coronavirus infection rates continue to climb, crude price gains could be capped for now.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 73 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The FBI has issued a warning about scammers trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 vaccine by try to scam people with ads or offers for early vaccine access for a fee or even paying out of pocket to be on a vaccine waiting list. The FBI says doesn’t exist and people should be cautious. The FBI says that things you should look out for include ads from unknown sources about the vaccine, mentions of FDA approval of an unverified vaccine, unsolicited emails or calls from someone claiming to be from a medical office, and someone claiming to be from an insurance company or vaccine center requesting your personal information.

 FBI suggests getting up to date information on vaccine distribution through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and keeping informed about those vaccines the FDA has authorized, which as of now are two from Pfizer and Moderna.

You should also consult your doctor before getting a vaccine, and only share your personal or health information with a trusted medical professional.

If you feel like you may be a victim of a COVID-19 fraud you can report it to the FBI through its website or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

More than 190,000 ceiling fans recalled after blades fly off
By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 190,000 ceiling fans sold at Home Depot are being recalled after reports that the blades fell off while spinning, hitting people and causing property damage. The Hampton Bay Mara indoor and outdoor ceiling fans were sold this year between April and October at Home Depot stores and its website. About 182,000 of them were sold in the U.S. and 8,800 were sold in Canada. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said owners of the fans should stop using them immediately and inspect them for blades that aren’t secure. King of Fans, which makes the ceiling fans, said it will replace any of the faulty ones for free.