Cosby’s sex assault conviction goes before high-level court
By MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — An appeals court has questioned whether Bill Cosby’s alleged history of intoxicating and sexually assaulting young woman amounted to a “signature” crime pattern. The court on Tuesday cited studies that show as many as half of sexual assaults involve drugs or alcohol. The 83-year-old Cosby hopes to overturn his 2018 sex assault conviction because the judge let prosecutors call five other accusers to testify. The defense says their testimony prejudiced the jury against the actor and comedian. Cosby has spent more than two years at a state prison near Philadelphia. The jury convicted him of drugging and molesting a woman in 2004.

Ex-Penn St. president’s Sandusky-related conviction restored
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal appeals court is reinstating former Penn State President Graham Spanier’s conviction for child endangerment over his handling of a report that former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a child. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Tuesday that a lower-court judge had improperly vacated Spanier’s misdemeanor conviction for the 2001 incident. Spanier’s defense attorney declined comment. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro says in a release that Spanier “turned a blind eye to child abuse by not reporting his knowledge of Jerry Sandusky’s assaults to law enforcement.” Spanier was forced out as university president shortly after Sandusky was arrested in 2011 on child molestation charges.

After White House test, Pa. senator calls COVID-19 case mild
By MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Republican state lawmaker from Pennsylvania says he’s been diagnosed with COVID-19. He confirmed the positive test result five days after he went to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump and went maskless at a packed public meeting to discuss efforts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. State Sen. Doug Mastriano first revealed the diagnosis in a Facebook live video Monday night, one day after The Associated Press reported that Mastriano was informed of the positive test while at a West Wing meeting with Trump. Mastriano says he’s quarantining. Mastriano has led rallies against mask wearing and other pandemic mitigation efforts. Another GOP state senator who attended last week’s meeting in Gettysburg also says she tested positive.

1967 Mercedes UNIMOG Among Nearly 300 Vehicles
For Sale at December 8 Commonwealth Auction 
Special COVID-19 prevention and mitigation protocols will be in place

Harrisburg, PA – A 1967 Mercedes UNIMOG and more than 70 motorcycles will be among nearly 300 vehicles that will be available for public purchase on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Manheim Keystone Pennsylvania, 488 Firehouse Road, Grantville.

View a photo of the 1967 Mercedes UNIMOG.

You must pre-register for this auction. No one will be granted entry on the day of the event without being pre-registered. Strict COVID-19 prevention and mitigation protocols will be in place to ensure a safe bidding and processing environment.

The 1967 Mercedes UNIMOG up for sale is a multi-purpose, all-wheel drive, medium-sized truck that is perfect for off-road applications. The more than 70 motorcycles that will be available are from manufacturers such as Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Harley Davidson.

In addition to those vehicles the selection will include trucks and SUVs, all-wheel and front-wheel-drive sedans, utility trucks, police interceptors and other types of vehicles no longer used by state agencies from manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep and others.

As part of efforts to ensure a safe auction environment, in-person access on the day of the auction will be limited to registered public buyers only, with no guests, and all registered dealers will be required to bid via simulcast. Masks and social distancing will be required for entry on preview days and the day of the auction. Masks and sanitizing products will be available for those who arrive without them. No food or beverage service will be provided at the auction site.

Pre-registration is mandatory and runs from Thursday, December 3, through Sunday, December 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day at the Grantville auction site. During that same time frame, individuals interested in personally viewing the vehicles can do so. Registration must be completed on or before Sunday, December 6, at 4:00 p.m. There will be no registration on the day of the auction.

The auction will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 8. Buyers must purchase with certified funds in the form of money order, cashier’s check, certified check or bank check – made payable to “Manheim Keystone PA.” No cash will be accepted.

More information on this auction, payment conditions and a complete listing of vehicles is available on the DGS Auto Auction Information page.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Big Beaver, Pa.) Pennsylvania State Police reported on Tuesday morning, December 1, 2020, that  they attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a SUV  on Pa. Route 18 Big Beaver Boulevard on Monday night at 9:30 p.m. . The vehicle fled the scene with State Police units in pursuit. The suspect crashed on Rt. 422 West in New Castle, Lawrence County ending the pursuit. The operator was taken into custody without incident.    Charges are pending and will be filed  in District Justice Doug Loughner’s office.

The operators name has not been released at this time.

White House Christmas decor gives nod to 1st responders
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — This year’s White House Christmas decorations highlight first responders and frontline workers who are being challenged by the deadly coronavirus pandemic. They also give a nod to Melania Trump’s redesigned Rose Garden. It’s the final Christmas in the White House for the Trump family. The first lady says “America the Beautiful” was her theme and that the decor was inspired by Americans’ shared appreciation “for our traditions, values and history.” Workers on the front lines of a pandemic are recognized in the Red Room with a Christmas tree dotted with handmade ornaments, as well as other decorations around the parlor.

Arizona officials have certified Joe Biden’s narrow victory over President Donald Trump in the state.

Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and Republican Gov. Doug Ducey stood up for the integrity of the election even as lawyers for Trump were across town Monday arguing without evidence to nine Republican lawmakers that the election was marred by fraud.

Ducey says, “We do elections well here in Arizona. The system is strong.”

Biden won Arizona by 0.3% of the nearly 3.4 million ballots cast, a margin of just under 10,500 votes. He’s the second Democrat in 70 years to win the state.

The certification also paves the way for Democrat Mark Kelly to take his seat in the U.S. Senate, formalizing his victory in a special election to replace the late John McCain. Kelly is scheduled to be sworn in on Wednesday in Washington.

The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is nine cents higher this week at $2.557 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.557
Average price during the week of November 23, 2020                              $2.466
Average price during the week of December 2, 2019                                $2.874

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

$2.649      Altoona
$2.610      Beaver
$2.618      Bradford
$2.621      Brookville
$2.559      Butler
$2.611      Clarion
$2.481      DuBois
$2.639      Erie
$2.433      Greensburg
$2.650      Indiana
$2.400      Jeannette
$2.586      Kittanning
$2.565      Latrobe
$2.643      Meadville
$2.627      Mercer
$2.305      New Castle
$2.621      New Kensington
$2.654      Oil City
$2.518      Pittsburgh
$2.404      Sharon
$2.570      Uniontown
$2.658      Warren
$2.382      Washington

Trend Analysis:
Following the Thanksgiving holiday, the national gas price average is two cents more expensive this week at $2.12. Today’s average is two cents cheaper than last month, and 46 cents cheaper than last year.

Across the country, motorists in nearly 30 states are paying more at the pump on the week with states along the I-95 corridor seeing the largest jump: Delaware (+15 cents), Maryland (+8 cents), Pennsylvania (+7 cents), New Jersey (+6 cents) and North Carolina (+6 cents).

Despite the increase at the pump, U.S. gasoline stocks increased and demand decreased to a five-month low, according to the Energy Information Administration’s reports for the week ending November 20. Motorists will likely see prices decrease in the days and weeks ahead, especially as demand decreases.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate decreased by 18 cents to settle at $45.53. While domestic crude prices decreased that day, due to increasing coronavirus infection rates, crude prices grew overall last week amid increased news of a potential vaccine. Prices were also bolstered by EIA’s weekly report revealing that total domestic crude inventories fell by 800,000 barrels to 488.7 million barrels last week.

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.