Category: News

State Police, PennDOT Announce Annual ‘Operation Safe Holiday’ Enforcement

(File Photo)
Harrisburg, PA – With the holiday season just around the corner, while travel is not recommended in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) remind Pennsylvanians who must travel of the importance of safe driving and consistent seat belt use ahead of the long Thanksgiving weekend and the start of the holiday season.
“We can all do our part to prevent crashes and fatalities by designating a sober driver and always wearing a seat belt,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “This holiday season may look a little different, but no matter how far or near you travel, traffic safety is always important.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Operation Safe Holiday kicked off on November 16, with the “Click It or Ticket” Thanksgiving enforcement mobilization running through November 29, 2020. State police and local law enforcement will be on the lookout to ensure drivers and front-seat passengers are buckled up, and children are secured in properly installed child safety seats.
In Pennsylvania, children under age 4 must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children under two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat until the child outgrows the maximum weight and height limits designated by the manufacturer. Booster seats are required for children ages four to eight to keep them protected in the event of a crash.
Operation Safe Holiday continues with the holiday season impaired driving campaign that begins on November 25, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and runs through New Year’s Day. Law enforcement will conduct impaired driving enforcement details, with zero tolerance toward drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol. According to PennDOT data, there were 1,175 crashes resulting in 31 deaths during the same period in 2019.
“DUI is a serious crime that puts Pennsylvanians at risk every day, but it is also 100 percent preventable,” said Major Bruce Williams, director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Patrol. “PSP and its local law enforcement partners have zero tolerance toward driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
Drivers are also reminded to obey Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law, which requires drivers to move over or slow down when they encounter an emergency scene, traffic stop, or disabled vehicle. The goal of the Move Over Law is to protect law enforcement, emergency medical providers, and other first responders when responding to crashes.
“It takes a team effort to keep traffic flowing safely,” said Major Williams. “First responders – including police, emergency medical technicians, road crews, and tow truck drivers – are at risk when responding to crash scenes, and we can all do our part to keep them safe by obeying the Move Over Law and giving them space to work.”
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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.
The holiday seat belt and impaired driving enforcements are funded through PennDOT’s statewide annual distribution from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). For more information on PennDOT’s highway safety efforts visit, www.PennDOT.gov/safety.
The public can join the discussion on social media using the hashtags #PASafeHoliday and #BeSafePA

Amazon opens online pharmacy, shaking up another industry

Amazon opens online pharmacy, shaking up another industry
By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Now sold on Amazon: insulin and inhalers. The company said Tuesday that it has opened an online pharmacy, giving shoppers the chance to buy their medication on their phones and computers. The move propels Amazon into a new business and could shake up the pharmacy industry. Big chains like CVS and Walgreens rely on their pharmacies to bring them a steady flow of shoppers who stop by frequently to pick up their medications. Amazon said it will offer commonly prescribed medications starting, including creams, pills and medications that need to stay cold, like insulin. Shoppers have to set up a profile on Amazon’s website and have doctors send prescriptions to Amazon.

Kennywood Park to Require Chaperone for Minors after 4 PM Starting in Spring

(West Mifflin, Pa.) Kennywood Park announced that when it reopens to guests in the spring of 2021 park-goers under the age of 17 will have to abide by a new chaperone policy that will take effect every day at 4 pm.

The chaperone policy says guests age 17 and under must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old.

Minors entering the park before 4 p.m. may enter without an adult chaperone but if they enter at 4 p.m. or later, they must be joined by one later.

At that point, the chaperone must be present at the time of entry of the park and remain in the park during the minor’s visit.

Chaperones will be required at all times, including during seasonal events.

: Gas Prices Rise in Pennsylvania; National Average Moves Upward

AAA: Gas Prices Rise in Pennsylvania; National Average Moves Upward
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is two cents higher this week at $2.504 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.504
Average price during the week of November 9, 2020                                $2.482
Average price during the week of November 18, 2019                              $2.770

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

$2.590      Altoona
$2.596      Beaver
$2.579      Bradford
$2.516      Brookville
$2.419      Butler
$2.496      Clarion
$2.398      DuBois
$2.571      Erie
$2.398      Greensburg
$2.595      Indiana
$2.348      Jeannette
$2.581      Kittanning
$2.513      Latrobe
$2.583      Meadville
$2.581      Mercer
$2.218      New Castle
$2.589      New Kensington
$2.599      Oil City
$2.495      Pittsburgh
$2.521      Sharon
$2.558      Uniontown
$2.599      Warren
$2.252      Washington

Trend Analysis:
Motorists are paying more to fill up than last Monday in nearly 30 states, with most paying just a few pennies more. On the week, South Carolina (+8 cents) saw the largest increase followed by these states who each had a six cent increase: Michigan, New Mexico, Indiana, Delaware, and Minnesota.

With the majority of states seeing increases, the national gas price average pushed a penny more expensive. The overall weekly increases seen across the country are likely a reaction to the latest Energy Information Administration’s report showing increased demand (from 8.3 million b/d to 8.7 million b/d) while supply dwindled by 2.3 million bbl. This could be a short-lived trend, however, as many states are seeing rising COVID-19 case numbers, which could lead to lower demand.

Despite the weekly increase, gas prices remain cheap both compared to last month (-5 cents) and last year (-48 cents).

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate decreased by 99 cents to settle at $40.13. Domestic crude prices decreased at the end of the day due to rising coronavirus infections worldwide.

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

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 76 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.

Ambridge School District to Move to Full Virtual Learning

(File Photo)

(Ambridge, Pa.) The Ambridge Area School District has announced it will move all schooling to a full virtual learning model starting Monday, Nov. 23 until further notice.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Pasquerilla wrote on the district Facebook Page that the decision was made after Beaver County reached a “substantial” level of COVID-19 transmission, indicating a positivity rate of at least 10% over the most recent 7-day period

Remote learning will continue until further notice from Pennsylvania’s Department of Education.

The superintendent wrote that all of Ambridge’s athletics and extra-curricular activities are also postponed.

Gov. Wolf: COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts in Place are Vital to Help Stop the Spread

Gov. Wolf: COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts in Place are Vital to Help Stop the Spread

Pennsylvanians must unite against COVID

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf reminded Pennsylvanians that as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the state’s existing mitigation efforts remain in place and are more important than ever to understand and follow.

“The fall surge in cases is something we expected and were prepared for and we’ve learned a lot since the spring, but as I’ve said many times, the virus goes where it wants, we must do all that we can to ward it off and protect ourselves, our loved ones, our communities, and our health care systems,” Gov. Wolf said. “The current mitigation efforts and orders in place are more important than ever. We must unite against COVID and follow these orders.”

The following chart outlines current restrictions in place:

BUSINESSES, WORK, SCHOOL, CHILD CARE & CONGREGATE SETTING RESTRICTIONS
  • Child care may open, complying with guidance
  • Congregate care restrictions in place
  • Prison and hospital restrictions determined by individual facilities
  • Schools subject to CDC and commonwealth guidance
  • Telework must continue where feasible
  • Businesses with in-person operations must follow updated business and building safety requirements
  • Masks are required in businesses
  • All in person businesses may operate at 75% occupancy, except where noted
    • Self-certified restaurants may open at 50% capacity for indoor dining
    • On-premises alcohol consumption prohibited unless part of a meal; cocktails-to-go and carryout beverages are allowed
    • Serving alcohol for on-site consumption must end at 11 p.m, and all alcoholic beverages must be removed from patrons by midnight
    • Personal care services (including hair salons and barbershops) open at 50% occupancy and by appointment only
    • Indoor recreation and health and wellness facilities (such as gyms and spas) open at 50% occupancy with appointments strongly encouraged; fitness facilities are directed to prioritize outdoor fitness activities
    • All entertainment (such as casinos, theaters, and shopping malls) open at 50% occupancy
  • Construction activity may return to full capacity with continued implementation of protocol.
SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS

“Decisions are made based on ensuring all Pennsylvanians have access to health care, and never is it more important than those in need of treatment for COVID,” Gov. Wolf said. “Our hospitalizations continue to rise, but our system is not overwhelmed. We need to keep it that way.”

The state has learned a lot about the virus and the work Pennsylvania has done and continues to do in order to meet the needs in hospitals and long-term care facilities also includes providing new treatment drugs like Remdesivir, performing case investigations and contact tracing as necessary, increasing testing, and introducing tools such as the COVID Alert PA app available to notify people of COVID-19 exposures quickly.

Existing orders include:

  • Building safety order: For business permitted to conduct in-person operations, this order provides for proper protocols for cleaning and disinfecting.
  • Worker safety order: This order from the Secretary of Health requiring certain actions to be taken by employers and their employees to protect their health and lives, the health and lives of their families, and the health and lives of the residents of the Commonwealth who depend upon their services.
  • Hospital reporting order: This order requires hospitals to make daily reports of specified data regarding supplies and equipment and an amendment to that order that changed reporting from three times per day to one time per day.
  • Hospital safety order: This order requires hospitals to implement measures to protect hospital staff and patients, including notifications for all staff when a staff member is positive, and proper provisions for PPE.
  • Universal testing order: This was put in place to ensure testing of all residents and staff of long-term care facilities in the state.
  • Long term care facilities personal protective equipment order: This order worked to ensure that all staff and residents of long-term care facilities has proper PPE and protections in place.
  • Mask wearing order: This order defines a “face covering,” how to wear one, and when one must be worn.
  • July 15 targeted mitigation order: This order placed restrictions on bars, restaurants, social clubs and indoor gatherings to help stop the spread of COVID after multiple research studies noted an increase in cases from these types of businesses.

The Wolf Administration supports local officials who choose to maintain additional restrictions. The following counties are under additional local restrictions: Philadelphia.

“As Pennsylvania continues to see cases rise each day, we remain vigilant in our efforts to protect Pennsylvanians by making testing widely available and encouraging mitigation efforts that we know to be effective,” Gov. Wolf said. “I ask that all Pennsylvanians follow these orders and look out for one another so we can stop the spread.”

Visit pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/ or the Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus pages for more information.

Philadelphia bans indoor gatherings, broadens virus rules

Philadelphia bans indoor gatherings, broadens virus rules
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia is banning indoor dining at restaurants and indoor gatherings of any size, public or private, as the city battles a resurgence of the coronavirus.  The health commissioner, Dr. Thomas Farley said at a news conference Monday the city also plans to shutter gyms, museums and libraries, prohibit in-person instruction at colleges and high schools, and reduce occupancy at stores and religious institutions. The new restrictions take effect Friday and extend at least through the end of the year. City officials said dramatic action is needed to respond to an exponential growth in cases and hospitalizations.

Family: Comedian Sinbad recovering from recent stroke

Family: Comedian Sinbad recovering from recent stroke
By MESFIN FEKADU AP Entertainment Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The family of Sinbad says the comedian-actor is recovering from a recent stroke. The Adkins family says in a statement to The Associated Press on Monday that “it is out of sincere love that we share Sinbad, our beloved husband and father, is recovering from a recent stroke.” The 64-year-old Sinbad, born David Adkins, is known for his stand-up work and appearances in the sitcoms “A Different World” and “The Sinbad Show.” The entertainer has also appeared in several movies.

About 90K sex abuse claims filed in Boy Scouts bankruptcy

About 90K sex abuse claims filed in Boy Scouts bankruptcy
By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Close to 90,000 sex abuse claims have been filed against the Boy Scouts of America as the deadline arrived for submitting claims in the organization’s bankruptcy case. The number filed by Monday far exceeds initial projections of lawyers who have been signing up clients since the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy protection in February in the face of hundreds of lawsuits alleging decades-old sex abuse by Scout leaders. Eventually, the proceedings in federal bankruptcy court will lead to the creation of a compensation fund to pay settlements to abuse survivors whose claims are upheld. The potential size of the compensation fund isn’t yet known and will be negotiated.

President Trump to order troop reductions in Afghanistan, Iraq

Trump to order troop reductions in Afghanistan, Iraq
By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press
A U.S. official says the Pentagon is expected to cut the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan almost in half by Jan. 15. The order would stop short of outgoing President Donald Trump’s goal to have all troops withdrawn by the end of the year, which had faced opposition from military and diplomatic advisers. The Pentagon also expects to cut the number of troops in Iraq to 2,500, a reduction of more than 500. The decisions follow Trump’s shakeup of the Pentagon last week in which he installed loyalists who share his frustration with the continued troop presence in the Middle East.