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

PITTSBURGH, PA – (February 15, 2021) –Point Park University’s School of Communication will introduce a B.A. degree in sports communication beginning in the fall of 2021.

The B.A. degree program is aimed at preparing students for careers in sports communication, emphasizing flexibility and skill-building that can encompass any content-creation or other broad-based communication needs of an organization including broadcasting, social media and fan engagement, journalism, public relations and advertising.

“With the introduction of a B.A. degree in sports communication, we continue our leadership role in preparing and graduating the next generation of sports industry professionals,” said Keith Paylo, dean of students at Point Park University.  “Pittsburgh is a fanatical sports town and we’re pleased to be able to offer our students access to sports industry relationships, opportunities and job experiences that are unparalleled in the region.”

The new B.A. in sports communication degree program includes:

Freshman and sophomore year: students will produce content for Point Park Athletics and the River States Conference using the University’s Center for Media Innovation.

Junior year: students will create content for the ACC Network, as well as through internships and various opportunities with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Washington Wild Things, among other organizations.

Senior year: students will have the opportunity to work at an advanced level with our partner sports teams through our innovative co-op program.

Recent students and graduates who have taken sports communication classes at Point Park have had internships and/or gone onto jobs with such organizations as the National Football League, Pittsburgh Penguins, NFL Media, Skillshot Media, and the Washington Football Team.

Point Park University’s School of Communication offers a wide variety of sports communication classes but the new B.A. in sports communication is the first time those classes have been formalized into a degree program.  The sports communication degree program at Point Park collaborates with the Rowland School of Business and Point Park Athletics to offer students an enhanced package of academic and career opportunities.

“Imagine being 18 and taking photos for Point Park athletics, being 20 and working for the ACC Conference, or being 21 and working for a professional sports team. It’s an exciting program that will prepare our students for careers in sports public relations, sports advertising, sports video production, sports photojournalism, and so many other areas,” said Bernie Ankney, dean of the School of Communication

Enrollment for the B.A. in sports communication is now open.  Classes begin in the fall of 2021.  For more information on the School of Communication or B.A. in sports communication or related classes visit: http://pointpark.edu/SportsComm.

Woman found dead after house fire; cause probed
WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a woman was found dead after a fire in a western Pennsylvania home. Fire crews in Washington County were called to the home in Washington, Pennsylvania shortly before 9:30 p.m. Friday. Arriving crews reported the residence engulfed in flames. Gene Mercer, acting captain for the city fire department, said the victim was found on an upper level of the home. The county coroner’s office identified her as 75-year-old Karen Campbell and said a determination of the cause and manner of her death are pending further investigation. A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Police: Child, 12, wounded in apparent accidental shooting
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Police say a 12-year-old was wounded in the head in what investigators believe was an accidental shooting in Pennsylvania. Police in Swatara Township said in a statement that first responders were called to the scene just after noon Sunday. Officers provided emergency aid to the wounded child, who was transported to Hershey Medical Center. A condition report wasn’t immediately available. Police said everyone involved has been identified and is cooperating with authorities. The Dauphin County district attorney’s office is assisting in the investigation.

Mercedes-Benz USA issued a recall Saturday for 1.29 million vehicles sold since 2016 because a software glitch in their emergency-call system may dispatch first responders to the wrong location following a crash.

According to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall covers some 2016-2021 model year CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class and G-Class vehicles.

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Primanti Bros. tweeted Saturday that the popular restaurant chain will change its name to ‘Watt Bros.’ if  J.J. Watt signs to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Last Friday, February 12, 2021  J.J. Watt announced Friday that he and the Houston Texans mutually agreed to part ways. That has opened the door for a possible union of the Three Watt Brothers all on the Steelers .Watt’s younger brothers, Derek Watt and T.J. Watt, both play for the Steelers. T.J. showed his support for a third Watt brother on the Steelers’ roster in tweet Friday after JJ made the announcement on Friday Showing Dwayne the Rock Johnson from his wrestling days using his patented Just Bring it.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano 

(Beaver, Pa.) Beaver County Crime Solvers is offering a $5,000 reward for information  in a 20 year-old murder case   Marvin Steals, 26,  was  last seen at the Champagne Lounge on Franklin Avenue in Aliquippa in the early morning hours of January 29, 2001 At approximately 5 a.m. Center Township Police  received a call  that there  was a male lying  in the middle of Temple Road. According to the report, Steals had been shot 3 times , twice in the heart, and was dead  when police arrived.   According to information from the Beaver County Sheriff’s Department  this investigation  and several others were tied in with the investigation   involving the homicide death of  Aliquippa Police officer James Naim.

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Monday, February 15, 2021, is Presidents Day and most Government Offices and Banks are Closed in observance of the holiday. There is also no mail delivery and a number of schools are also closed for the long weekend.

Mother nature couldn’t of picked a better day to snow due to the fact that Penn Dot is asking motorist to nor go out on the roads unless it is extremely necessary. Our area is currently in a Winter Storm Warning until 1pm Tuesday as we are expecting 6-9 inches if snow.

PennDOT and PA Turnpike Implement Vehicle Restrictions in Response to Winter Weather
Motorists Urged to Avoid Travel if Possible

Harrisburg, PA – In response to winter weather and the potential for icy conditions through much of the state tomorrow, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) plan to implement restrictions on trucks and other vehicles on certain roadways around the state. These restrictions will begin at 6:00 PM tomorrow and remain in place until conditions warrant their removal. Additional speed and vehicle restrictions on these and other interstates could be added depending on changing conditions.

Effective at 6:00 PM on Monday, February 15, vehicle restrictions are planned for the following roadways at Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan:

• Interstate 70 from the West Virginia border to the PA Turnpike;
• Interstate 76 (PA Turnpike mainline) in both directions from the Breezewood interchange (Exit 161) to the Ohio border;
• The entire length of Interstate 79;
• Interstate 80 from Interstate 99 to the Ohio border;
• The entire length of Interstate 86;
• The entire length of Interstate 90;
• The entire length of Interstate 279;
• The entire length of Interstate 376; and
• The entire length of Interstate 579.

Under Tier 1 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways:

• Tractors without trailers;
• Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers;
• Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers;
• Enclosed cargo delivery trucks that meet the definition of a CMV;
• Passenger vehicles (cars, SUV’s, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers;
• Recreational vehicles/motorhomes;
• School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches not carrying chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATD’s); and
• Motorcycles.

Restrictions will be communicated via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website at www.511pa.com and smartphone apps. Motorists can also sign up for alerts on www.511pa.com by clicking on “Personal Alerts” in the left-hand menu.

PennDOT urges motorists to avoid travel during the storm if possible. But if travel is necessary, use caution, reduce speeds and be aware of changing weather conditions. Freezing temperatures are expected during this event, so motorists should be aware of blowing and drifting snow, which can cause icy areas on roadways, including overpasses and bridges. With freezing temperatures, roads that only look wet may actually be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form without warning.

To help make decisions regarding winter travel, motorists are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” by checking 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. Users can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the “Check My Route” tool.

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.

For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter. Additional winter driving and other highway safety information is available at www.PennDOT.gov/safety.

Follow the conversation by using #PAWinter on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews and visit the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation.

(Rochester, Pa.)  A Rochester man is being charged after he traveled to the US Capital with his wife and mother to rally for Donald Trump. Russell James Peterson, of Rochester was arrested Friday on accusations that he participated in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S Capitol. Peterson is being charged with knowingly entering any restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct; disruptive conduct in the Capitol Buildings; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol Buildings.

At an initial appearance hearing Friday afternoon, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan granted Peterson release on a $10,000 unsecured bond. The prosecution is not seeking detention.

His wife and mother have not been charged with any crimes.