Firefighters battle blaze, partial collapse in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Fire and a partial collapse has demolished at least part of a multistory building on Pittsburgh’s South Side built at least 141 years ago. Fire crews fought for hours to contain the blaze reported at about 2:30 p.m. that sent flames and smoke poured from the building. At one point, the side of the building facing 11th street collapsed. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the first floor of the building houses a barber shop and the South Side Welcome Center, which is home to the South Side Chamber of Commerce. The other floors contain residential units. No injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the blaze wasn’t immediately clear.

Mary Wilson, longest-reigning original Supreme, dies at 76
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mary Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme, has died at 76 years old. Publicist Jay Schwartz says Wilson died Monday night at her home in Las Vegas and that the cause was not immediately clear. Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard made up the first successful configuration of The Supremes. She stayed with the group until it was officially disbanded by Motown in 1977. The group’s first No. 1, million-selling song, “Where Did Our Love Go,” was released June 17, 1964. Motown founder Berry Gordon says he’s extremely shocked and saddened to hear of her death. He says the Supremes were “always known as the sweethearts of Motown.”

AAA: Pennsylvania Gas Prices Increase with Oil Prices on the Rise
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is five cents higher this week at $2.774 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.774
Average price during the week of February 1, 2021                                  $2.722
Average price during the week of February 10, 2020                                $2.719

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

$2.848      Altoona
$2.784      Beaver
$2.852      Bradford
$2.838      Brookville
$2.779      Butler
$2.755      Clarion
$2.762      DuBois
$2.834      Erie
$2.652      Greensburg
$2.859      Indiana
$2.665      Jeannette
$2.839      Kittanning
$2.470      Latrobe
$2.843      Meadville
$2.816      Mercer
$2.542      New Castle
$2.844      New Kensington
$2.859      Oil City
$2.790      Pittsburgh
$2.799      Sharon
$2.832      Uniontown
$2.859      Warren
$2.685      Washington

Trend Analysis:
At $2.46, the national gas price average is more expensive on the week (+4 cents), the month (+16 cents) and the year (+2 cents). This past Saturday, February 6, was the first time in 340 days the national average was more expensive than a year ago. Today, nearly two-thirds of all state gas price averages are more expensive year-over-year. Pump prices continue to climb, in part due to expensive crude oil and the market’s growing optimism that demand will increase amid the vaccination roll-out.

Up to $56/barrel, crude oil increased last week following Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) decision to keep their production cuts unchanged—a decision influenced by the ongoing impact of the pandemic on gasoline demand. Crude has not been priced this high since January 2020. Typically, it can take a few weeks before pump prices see the impact of more expensive crude, and with crude accounting for more than 50% of the retail price, increases are very likely to continue.

On the week, 46 state gas price averages are more expensive with 13 states seeing a nickel or more increase. Motorists in Florida (+11 cents), Michigan (+11 cents) and West Virginia (+10 cents) saw the largest weekly increases.

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.

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that a South Carolina man has been arrested for the murder of Jean Tuggy, 60, who was shot in her Pine Grove Mills home on January 21, 2016.

“Jean died more than five years ago and her family has not had closure since,” said AG Shapiro. “Thanks to the diligent efforts of our lawyers, investigators, and fellow members of law enforcement who never gave up on this case, the arrest of Christopher Kowalski is the first step toward putting her murderer behind bars. The Tuggy family has waited too long for justice, but we hope this news helps them heal.”

Jean Tuggy was found deceased in her home on January 21, 2016, after being shot two times with a 9mm pistol. Over the course of the five-year investigation, agents identified Tuggy’s former Wegman’s coworker, Christopher Kowalski, 35, as a potential suspect.

Investigators learned that Jean Tuggy had developed a friendship with Kowalski and he became romantically interested in her. Investigators also learned that, at the time of the murder, Kowalski owned a 9mm pistol that he later sold. The pistol was tracked to its new owner, who turned over the weapon to police. Examination of the weapon revealed that it had many of the same traits as the identified murder weapon.

Following the murder, Kowalski moved to South Carolina, where he now lives. When he was located and visited by OAG agents, Kowalski admitted to the murder. He has been arrested and will be extradited to Pennsylvania to be prosecuted.
The matter was investigated by OAG Special Agent Chris Weaver, and Detective Caleb Clouse from the Ferguson Township Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Kelly Sekula. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilt

Story by Beaver County Radio news Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell, Pa.) Hopewell Area School Board  met last night via Zoom and in person and hired  an individual special education aide for the  elementary  school, effective February 8, 2021,  a long term substitute high school teacher beginning, February 2, and one was hired at the junior high school. A district paraprofessional resigned effective, February 5, and will be placed on the secretary/aide sub roster.

PennDOT Reduces Speed Limits on Several Area Roadways

 Pittsburgh, PA – Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region.

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:

   Allegheny County

1. Interstates 79, 376 (Parkways East and West), 279 (Parkway North), and 579
2. State Route 28

Beaver County

• Interstate 376 (Beaver Valley Expressway)

Lawrence County

• Interstates 79 and 376
• State Route 422

Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, 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.

The department also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.

PennDOT reminds motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles. A basic kit should include non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit, motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.

PennDOT also reminds citizens that downloadable materials, including home and car emergency kit checklists and emergency plan templates, are available at www.Ready.PA.gov or by downloading the free ReadyPA app for Apple or Android devices. Citizens can also find information about getting involved in local emergency response efforts and other volunteer opportunities through the ReadyPA website.

For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh

HARRISBURG ― Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that Citibank will refund $1,063,041 to approximately 7,000 Citi credit card accounts in Pennsylvania to resolve allegations that it illegally overcharged credit card interest. The settlement was led by Pennsylvania and achieved in partnership with the attorneys general of Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and North Carolina. Citi is paying the five states a total of $4.2 million and approximately 25,000 current and former Citi customers will receive refund checks.

“Citi failed to meet its legal obligation to consumers, and charged thousands of Pennsylvanians for bogus interest payments,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “Today, our office got back more than $1 million for those Pennsylvanians who were overcharged. When banks step out of line, we will hold them accountable.”

The investigation arose from Citibank’s failure, from February 2011 to August 2017, to properly reevaluate and reduce the annual percentage rate (“APR”) for certain consumer credit card accounts as required by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act). For more than six years, Citibank failed to follow the law and lower credit card interest rates for certain consumers who were entitled to reductions in their APR. In addition, the PA Office of Attorney General claims that Citibank’s conduct in connection with the APR reevaluation issues violated the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.

The attorneys general will be distributing the settlement to eligible consumers through Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions, Inc., a settlement administrator. Consumers do not need to take any action to receive their funds, which will be sent as checks to eligible consumers in the middle of 2021. Only those Citi credit card customers who meet certain criteria set by the settling states will receive a refund check. Consumers who have questions can call: 855-914-4657.

As explained in detail in a 2018 Consent Order between Citibank and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the CARD Act requires credit card issuing banks to perform a “look back” at least every six months to review whether, for accounts where the bank has increased the APR due to credit risk or other factors, the factors that prompted the increase have changed. When indicated by the look back review, the CARD Act requires the bank to reduce the account’s APR. The CFPB’s Consent Order alleges that Citibank failed to properly implement the CARD Act’s look back requirements from 2011 to 2017.

Today, the PA Office of Attorney General filed an Assurance Voluntary of Compliance with the Court. This multistate investigation was led by Bureau of Consumer Protection Assistant Director Nicholas F. B. Smyth.

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) The National Weather Service in Moon Twp., Pa. has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Beaver County and the surrounding area starting at 9:00 p.m. Monday, February 8, 2021. The advisory will last until 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. National Weather Service Meteorologists are predicting 1 to 2 inches of snow overnight Monday and another 1 to 2 inches of snow during the day on Tuesday.

Below is  a copy of the advisory that was issued:

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
1 PM EST TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4
  inches.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest, southwest and western
  Pennsylvania, east central Ohio and northern and the northern
  panhandle of West Virginia.

* WHEN...From 9 PM this evening to 1 PM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous
  conditions could impact the morning commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

Please report snow or ice by calling 412-262-1988, posting to the
NWS Pittsburgh Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSPittsburgh

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania
Turnpike Commission remind motorists to adjust speeds based on
driving conditions as winter weather impacts Pennsylvania
roadways. Visit www.511pa.com for the latest travel, roadway and
traffic conditions.