Category: News

PennDOT Driver License, Photo Centers and Harrisburg Riverfront Office Center Closed for Christmas Holiday

PennDOT Driver License, Photo Centers and Harrisburg Riverfront Office Center Closed for Christmas Holiday

Harrisburg, PA –The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including the Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg, will be closed Friday, December 25, 2020, in observance of the Christmas holiday.

Additionally, the Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg, which is only open for motor vehicle transactions, will close at 12:30 PM on Thursday, December 24. Driver license and photo center locations will close at 12:15 PM on Thursday, December 24.

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.     Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2020 is available online.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadway 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.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews and like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot/.

Virus-weary Americans less festive this year

AP-NORC poll: Virus-weary Americans less festive this year
By TAMMY WEBBER and HANNAH FINGERHUT Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer Americans say they are feeling festive this holiday season as a year marred by a national health crisis and teetering economy comes to an end. Just 22% of Americans say they feel very or extremely festive this year, down from 49% one year ago. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey also finds that some Americans are feeling a bit sadder, lonelier and less grateful than last year. About 4 in 10 Americans are still intensely worried about the novel coronavirus, and roughly three-quarters are at least somewhat concerned that they or a relative will be infected.

US Rep Conor Lamb Leads Bipartisan Effort To Address K-12 Testing During COVID-19

LAMB LEADS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO

ADDRESS K-12 TESTING DURING COVID-19

 

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) led a bipartisan coalition of Members in a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos regarding standardized testing during the coronavirus public health crisis.  The letter urges the U.S. Department of Education to provide clarity, guidance and support to K-12 schools as they navigate decisions around student assessments.  The Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have endorsed the letter.

“Since the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, our offices have heard from students, families, teachers, and school leaders who are concerned by COVID-19’s disruption of student learning and effect on student learning outcomes,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Many schools in the Commonwealth and other states are providing virtual-only or hybrid learning, and unfortunately, in most cases school leaders have been unable to identify when it will be safe for fully in-person learning to resume.  We are committed to our students and understand that their futures rely on a high-quality education, which benefits from the close monitoring of students’ learning through assessment.  However, we are concerned about the challenges schools face in implementing federally required annual assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The letter asks the Department of Education to provide clarity about:

  • Whether a waiver process similar to last year’s will be considered this year;
  • If the Department will provide flexibility in assessment design as states may need to make changes to how they assess students because of COVID-19; and
  • What kind of guidance and support schools can expect from the Department on matters of testing and assessment during COVID-19.

“School districts across Pennsylvania are facing and overcoming unprecedented challenges to ensure their students are safe and learning during the pandemic.  While assessments are a critical piece in helping our students stay on track, we know things will continue to look different through the spring.  We appreciate Rep. Lamb and his colleagues for urging the Department of Education to provide additional clarity, flexibility, and guidance so we can continue to support and prioritize student success,” said John Callahan, Chief Advocacy Officer of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

“There is no doubt that students need to be back in school as long as the appropriate safety measures are in place.  But with COVID continuing to spread through communities at alarming rates, states need the option of waivers this school year.  We should also think about more creative ways to assess students’ progress such as year end and capstone projects, not just this year but moving forward,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.

In addition to Lamb, the bipartisan letter was signed by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Brendan Boyle (PA-2), Dwight Evans (PA-3), Madeleine Dean (PA-4), Susan Wild (PA-7), Matt Cartwright (PA-8), Mike Doyle (PA-18), Alma Adams (NC-12) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14).

Shell to Test Employees After New Years Reset

(Potter Twp., Pa.) Shell Chemicals plans on testing all employees once they return from an upcoming Holiday break. The construction facility located in Potter Twp. will close, for what officials are calling a 2021 reset, from January 1 thru January 5, 2021.  When workers return on January 6 site safety personnel will conduct Rapid Antigen tests on employees. Workers who test positive will then be tested to confirm the results with the PCR test.

Shell officials said in a statement that being proactive will reduce the likelihood of the possible spread of the COVID-19 among employees and communities. Shell also feels that by testing 8,00o returning workers after the break they do expect an increase  in the number of positive case of COVID-19 among the workforce.

Look to the sky at the Christmas “star” Tonight

When Jupiter and Saturn appear close together in the night sky on December 21, their combined light might be what the Bible’s nativity story in the Gospel of Matthew called the Star of Bethlehem, according to faculty and staff at Ball State University.

“People have long wondered if the Star of Bethlehem could be explained by natural celestial events. Some astronomers believe the ‘star’ may have been a series of celestial events,” said Dayna Thompson, director of the Charles W. Brown Planetarium.

The planetarium’s “Christmas Star” program explores potential natural explanations for the Star of Bethlehem and common modern-day misconceptions about the event, researched and written by Dr. Ron Kaitchuck, the previous director of the Brown Planetarium and professor emeritus.

As the planetarium is closed this holiday season due to COVID-19, its “Christmas Star” planetarium program is on YouTube 360 at https://youtu.be/Wq_1CwKbkaY

In coming days, Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer in the sky then they have in 400 years. This event has been labeled “The Great Conjunction,” Thompson said.

 Such events have been recorded for thousands of years, she noted.

“For ancient people, the word ‘star’ didn’t have the same meaning that it does for us today,” she said. “Sometimes comets were referred to as stars. Also, ‘star’ didn’t have to refer to a single celestial object or event.”

Jupiter and Saturn appeared close together in the sky in the years 7, 6, and 5 BCE in a constellation astrologically significant to the Jewish people. This was followed by the appearance of an exploding star in the pre-dawn sky of 5 BCE. These events are all candidates for natural occurrences of the Star of Bethlehem, Thompson said.

 

“This is one reason why people are referring to the upcoming close grouping of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21 as a ‘Christmas Star’ event,” she said. “The other reason, of course being the date of the event, as it’s so close to Christmas. December 21 also happens to be the date of the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year.”

US clears Moderna vaccine for COVID-19, 2nd shot in arsenal

US clears Moderna vaccine for COVID-19, 2nd shot in arsenal
By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MATTHEW PERRONE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is adding a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal. The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use Friday of the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health. The decision comes days after health workers and nursing home residents began getting a similar coronavirus shot from Pfizer and BioNTech. Extra doses from a second vaccine are urgently needed, as U.S. deaths hit all-time highs and some hospitals are running out of beds. But even with additional candidates in the pipeline, there won’t be enough for the general population until spring, and shots will be rationed in the meantime.

Indians manager Francona says team’s name change “correct”

Indians manager Francona says team’s name change “correct”
By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) — Manager Terry Francona praised the Cleveland Indians for trying to “do the right thing” by changing their name. Francona complimented the team’s decision to drop its name after 105 years, a switch that came after months of internal discussions and  meetings with numerous groups. Francona said he’s proud of the team’s decision to “do something that is correct,” The team announced its decision on Monday, ending a process that began even before owner Paul Dolan’s announcement in July that the club would do a thorough review of its name. The team will be called Indians for at least one more season until a new name is chosen.

Wine and Spirits Store to Re-Open in Chippewa Today. But Why Was it Closed?

(Story by Beaver County Radio’s Frank Sparks with contributions by Sandy Giordano and Jimi Miller. Photos Courtesy of Jimi Miller)

(Chippewa Twp.,Pa.) On Friday morning during Teleforum show host Eddy Crow and Program Director/News Director Frank Sparks were talking about spirits and the tradition of Holiday drinking of alcohol. A caller then asked Crow why the Chippewa Twp. Wine and Spirits Store has been closed. The caller told Crow that there has been a sign on the door for at least a week saying that the store had to close due to an emergency.

The sign on the door has been at the Chippewa Wine and Spirits Store for numerous days according to a caller to Teleforum (Photo courtesy of Jimi Miller)

Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano reached out to the PA LCB and received a release back from the LCB. Giordano reported that  LCB Press Secretary  Sean Kelly Responded to her request for info by saying that the store reopened Friday December 18, 2020 at noon, and he can’t confirm if there were any cases of COVID-19 that caused the closure.

Beaver County Radio listener and friend of the station Jimi Miller was in the area on other business and stopped to take pictures for this story. Miller said ” A women came to the door as he was taking the pictures and said they would be opening at noon.” Miller asked her why the store was closed and all the women offered was that it was being disinfected.

Beaver County Radio will continue to work on this and provide any additional details when and if they are available.

 

Heritage Valley Frontline Workers Received Vaccine Friday Morning

(Photo of Heritage Valley Nurse Sana Borda giving the thumbs up as she receives the vaccine. Photo Courtesy of Heritage Valley)

(Moon Twp.,Pa.) –Heritage Valley Health System’s  Front-line workers were the focus Friday morning according to a press release the workers were administered doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Heritage Valley Beaver Hospital. Two of the Health System’s hospitals, Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Sewickley, each received 975 doses of the vaccine Thursday December 17, 2020. Heritage Valley immediately initiated a plan to vaccinate the staff who provide direct patient care within the hospitals. In the press release Heritage Valley said they expect Heritage Valley Kennedy hospital to receive their allotment of the Moderna vaccine as soon as it is approved.

Norm Mitry, president; CEO, Heritage Valley Health System said via the release that  “Since March, our dedicated physicians, nurses and all staff have gone above and beyond to provide the best health care to all patients during the pandemic. We’re proud of their efforts and pleased that we are able to begin administering the vaccine to those who have given so much of themselves,”  He also added that  Heritage Valley Health System also developed an automated tool and process for individuals to
schedule both their 1st dose and follow-up dose, 21 days later, as well as post the appointments to their respective calendars. “This automated seamless process allows individuals to schedule their own appointments at their convenience and will also enable the Health System to perform all of the required reporting associated with the COVID-19 vaccine process.”

 

Heritage Valley Health System Receives COVID-19 Vaccine from Pfizer

(File Photo)

Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Moon Twp., Pa.) Heritage Valley Health System Spokeswoman Susan Sakson reported   that Heritage Valley Beaver and Sewickley both received the COVID-19  vaccine   from Pfizer on Thursday morning. Each hospital received 975 doses of the vaccine according to Sakson. Both facilities  will begin to administer the vaccine to front-line staff who provide direct patient care within the hospitals on Friday.