Category: News

PennDOT Accepting Applications For 2021-22 Improvements Under Multimodal Transportation Fund

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that applications will be accepted to fund new transportation improvement projects under the Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) through November 6, 2020.

“The Multimodal Transportation Fund enhances connectivity in our state and allows local projects to benefit all regions,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “Projects are selected based on safety benefits, regional economic conditions, technical and financial feasibility, job creation, energy efficiency, and operational sustainability.”

Eligible applicants include municipalities, council of governments, business/non-profit organizations, economic development organizations, public transportation agencies, public airports, airport authorities, and ports and rail entities.

Projects that will be considered should coordinate local land use with transportation assets to enhance existing communities; improve streetscape, lighting, sidewalk facilities, and pedestrian safety; improve connectivity or utilization of existing transportation assets; or advance transit-oriented-development.

In FY 2020-21, 27 projects were awarded more than $30 million in MTF funding throughout 23 counties, including construction of trail and road access to the new 10-acre Bridesburg Riverfront Park in southeast region of the state, the installation of 4,100 feet of curb and 2,100 feet of sidewalks/related streetscape work in the northeast region of state, and converting two traditional intersections into modern roundabouts to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and enhance pedestrian mobility in the southeast.

PennDOT expects to announce grant recipients next year, and funding will become available in July 2021.

Act 89 of 2013 established a dedicated Multimodal Transportation Fund that stabilizes funding for ports and rail freight, increases aviation investments, establishes dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and allows targeted funding for priority investments in any mode.

For more information about the program and previous years’ applications and awards, visit www.penndot.gov and click on Multimodal Program under the “Projects & Programs” menu.

Pa Restaurants Able to Increase Indoor Capacity to 50 %, No Alcohol Sales after 10 pm Starting Sept. 21, 2020

(Harrisburg, Pa.) Restaurants in Pennsylvania will be able to increase their indoor capacity from 25% to 50% starting Sept. 21, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday. Restaurants will have to strictly follow all public health safety guidelines and orders through a self-certification process.

Restaurants that self-certify will appear in the Open & Certified Pennsylvania searchable online database, which people will have access to so they can find certified businesses in their area. Gov. Wolf also announced that starting Sept. 21 restaurants will not be allowed to sell alcohol past 10 p.m.

The self-certification documents and information about the Open & Certified Pennsylvania program can be found online starting September 21 and will contain the following:

  • A list of requirements contained in the current restaurant industry guidanceand enforcement efforts
  • A statement that the owner has reviewed and agrees to follow these requirements
  • The business’ maximum indoor occupancy number based on the fire code
  • A statement that the owner understands that the certification is subject to penalties for unsworn falsification to authorities

Any restaurant that wishes to increase to 50% indoor capacity on Sept. 21 must complete the online self-certification process by Oct. 5.

Virus still throwing theme park attendance for a loop

Virus still throwing theme park attendance for a loop
By JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — U.S. theme parks are still finding it tough to bring back guests this summer despite the wide number of safety measures they’ve put in place. Attendance has been less than expected across the industry. And now there are worries over what the virus will bring this fall. Some parks are reducing operating days, slashing ticket prices, and closing early for the year. Disney this week will begin cutting an hour or two from each day at its four Florida theme parks. California’s parks have been closed since mid-March and are pushing the state to tell them when they can reopen.

All Puerto Rican players can wear 21 on Clemente Day

All Puerto Rican players can wear 21 on Clemente Day
NEW YORK (AP) — All Puerto Rican players will be allowed to wear No. 21 on Wednesday during Major League Baseball’s Roberto Clemente Day celebration. The move to wear the number, similar to MLB’s celebration of Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 each April 15, started with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roberto Clemente Jr., son of the late Hall of Famer, said he received a text from Pirates third base coach Joey Cora on July 29 at the behest of Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton, asking whether all Pirates players could wear the number on Sept. 9.

Hopes fading for coronavirus deal as Congress returns

Hopes fading for coronavirus deal as Congress returns
By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hopes are dimming for another coronavirus relief bill from Washington as Congress returns to session. Talks between top Democrats and the Trump administration broke off last month and remain off track. Recent conversations among the key players have led to nothing. And toxic relationships among those players are making it harder to break the impasse. The legislation was supposed to deliver another round of $1,200 direct payments to most Americans, help schools and local governments and restore more generous unemployment benefits. Now all of that is at risk. If talks continue to falter, it’s possible that lawmakers will simply leave Washington to campaign.

Update on South Beaver Twp. Fire that Occurred on August 25, 2020

SOUTH BEAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. —We have an update on The fire that happened on Aug. 25 at a house on old Blackhawk Road in South Beaver Township.

While there was no initial confirmation of injuries related to the fire Pa state police are now reporting via news release that a 17-year-old boy from Negley, Ohio, and a 17-year-old girl from Wellsville, Ohio, both died in the fire.

The fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. State police are calling their probe into the matter an accidental death investigation.

Will long Labor Day weekend mean another coronavirus spike?

Will long Labor Day weekend mean another coronavirus spike?
By PAT EATON-ROBB and THALIA BEATY Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Americans are heading into Labor Day weekend amid warnings from public health experts that backyard parties, crowded bars and other gatherings could cause the coronavirus to come surging back. The rise in infections, deaths and hospitalizations over the summer was blamed in part on Americans behaving heedlessly over other long holiday weekends. Things have improved in recent weeks, but there are certain risk factors in the mix: children going back to school, university campuses seeing soaring case counts, college football starting, more businesses open and flu season around the corner. The virus is blamed for about 187,000 deaths and almost 6.2 million confirmed infections in the United States. Those are by far the highest totals in the world.

Russia publishes virus vaccine results, weeks after approval

Russia publishes virus vaccine results, weeks after approval
By DARIA LITVINOVA and MARIA CHENG Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian scientists have belatedly published their first results from early trials into the experimental Sputnik V vaccine that received government approval last month and drew considerable criticism from experts both at home and abroad, as the shots have only been tested on several dozen people. In a report published in the journal Lancet on Friday, developers of the vaccine said it appeared to be safe and prompt an antibody response in all 40 people within three weeks — but the authors noted that participants were only followed up for 42 days, the study sample was small and there was no placebo or control vaccine used.

Minuteman Press Business minute for September 4, 2020

August jobs report likely to point to a still-slow recovery
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States keeps regaining more of the jobs that vanished when the viral pandemic flattened the economy early this spring. Yet so deep were the layoffs that began in March that millions of Americans remain burdened by job losses that might prove permanent. Economists have forecast that employers added 1.4 million jobs in August and that the unemployment rate fell from 10.2% to 9.8%, according to a survey by data provider FactSet. That rate would still be just below the peak unemployment level of the 2008-2009 Great Recession.

(Vanport, Pa.) A press conference was held yesterday afternoon at the Beaver County Housing Authority  in Beaver. The purpose of the event was  to announce the Beaver County Foster Youth to Independence Initiative Announcement  (FYI)

Region III Regional Administrator  of HUD Joe DeFelice was introduced by Brian Yaworsky, the housing authority’s executive director. DeFelice told those  in attendance he is from North East Philadelphia and operated the community development agency  in an area where there are 50,000 people. he said, referring to  Beaver County this region is pretty diverse. He said this is his fifth trip to the county. and also visits rural counties.   .He was appointed to his new position by President Donald Trump.
An FYI  check for  $5,059.00  presentation was made to  the housing  authority and  social service agencies in attendance  following DEFelice’s remarks  on the Foster Youth to Independence  Initiative (FYI).
DeFelice will meet with officials in Aliquippa this afternoon . Photos Mr. DeFelice, Mr Yworsky, CYS Director Lesley  Hallas, and participants from the various agencies.

Stocks open higher on Wall Street a day after tech sell-off
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are opening higher on Wall Street Friday, a day after a big slump in technology companies pulled the market to its biggest drop since June. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%. Traders were encouraged to see a drop in the unemployment rate last month, even as hiring slowed. Treasury yields rose after the government’s monthly jobs report came out, a sign that investors are becoming less pessimistic about the economy. The higher yields helped send bank stocks higher, since banks can lend money at higher rates once yields rise in the bond market. U.S. markets will be closed Monday for Labor Day.

SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Apple is delaying a new privacy feature in the next version of its iPhone operating system that will make it more difficult for app developers to track people online to help sell ads.The decision outlined Thursday affects iOS 14, which is expected to be released to roughly a billion iPhone users later this month. Apple intended iOS 14 to automatically block tracking as soon as the software came out, but is now postponing the feature until early next year. The decision comes a week after Facebook warned the anti-tracking tool could deliver a huge blow to apps already struggling amid the recession.