(Pittsburgh,Pa.) After a peaceful group of thousands of protesters gathered in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood yesterday afternoon to protest the death of George Floyd the Young man who died in police custody in Minnesota a small group of the protesters split off once the protest reached the area of a target store and began to  damage businesses in the area. Pittsburgh Police via their twitter account said they started to throw rocks and other items at law enforcement, and smoke was thrown after officers gave numerous orders for them to disperse.

Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said nine officers were injured. All officers were evaluated and released from the hospital. The vandal broke at least four windows, but it doesn’t appear any businesses were looted. Two protesters were transported to the hospital with injuries that they said they got from bean bags. Hissrich said 20 people were arrested last  night, which included four people who are not from Pennsylvania.

 

(Pittsburgh,Pa.) The man who is accused of vandalizing a Pittsburgh Police Vehicle during the protests on Saturday turned himself in to Pittsburgh Police late yesterday afternoon. Brian Bartels was wanted in connection with breaking the windows out of a marked Pittsburgh police vehicle Uptown against the wishes of peaceful protesters who tried to stop him. Pittsburgh Police say that is what sparked an increase in violence during the protests.

Police obtained a search warrant for Bartels home on Sunday and during the search police found several items inside the home including 2 firearms, books, gloves, cans of spray paint, indica, and a sweatshirt with white writing on the front was found on top of the dryer in the laundry room.

Police got tipped off to Bartels after they got a call from someone who identified him from social media and watching the protest unfold on local TV Stations.

Bartels faces charges of institutional vandalism, rioting, and reckless endangerment of another person.

Thieves blowing up, stealing ATMs across Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police say thieves are blowing up and stealing ATMs across Philadelphia. Explosions were heard throughout the city overnight as at least ten machines were vandalized, mainly at neighborhood convenience stores and gas stations. Police say the thieves usually set off explosive devices and made off with the cash. In other cases, they would steal just the machines. WPVI-TV reports an ATM was snatched from a mini-mart on West Rockland Street and the windows of a gas station on North Broad Street were smashed before thieves drove off with the ATM. There are no reports of injuries.

Biden looks to clinch nomination as 7 states, DC vote
By STEVE PEOPLES AP National Political Writer
MONTCLAIR, N.J. (AP) — Joe Biden is hoping to seize the delegates needed to formally clinch the Democrats’ presidential nomination as seven states and one territory vote. Tuesday’s elections will be the largest slate of presidential primaries in almost three months. Voters and campaigns alike will be asked to navigate curfews, health concerns and a sharp increase in mail balloting as voting takes place from Maryland to Montana. Many political groups are focusing on Pennsylvania, which represents a high-profile test case for the November general election. Biden needs to win 89% of all delegates at stake on Tuesday to formally clinch the nomination.

New York City imposes 11 p.m. curfew amid Floyd protests
By JENNIFER PELTZ and KAREN MATTHEWS Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City is imposing an 11 p.m. curfew as the nation’s biggest city tries to head off another night of destruction erupting amid protests over George Floyd’s death. New York on Monday joined other cities around the country in imposing curfews after days of violence. Its curfew will last from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The limitation on 8.6 million people’s movements come on top of coronavirus restrictions and as the mayor and governor deplored the outbreaks of violence, but also criticized some police actions.

Departments of Health and Aging Highlight Efforts to Protect Seniors, Vulnerable Pennsylvanians

Harrisburg, PA – At today’s daily COVID-19 press conference at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Sec. of Aging Robert Torres highlighted efforts to protect seniors and other vulnerable Pennsylvanians.

“Because long-term care is a part of so many Pennsylvanians’ lives, we have steadfastly sought to make this care the best it possibly can be. That’s why we’ve implemented recommendations from the Auditor General and are in the process of rewriting regulations based on a report from the Nursing Home Task Force and, that’s why we’ve enforced our existing policies,” Dr. Levine said.

She advised that the majority of Pennsylvania’s long-term care facilities are strictly following existing policies and have successfully prevented COVID-19 from becoming widespread, but in some facilities COVID-19 was harder to contain.

Whenever a long-term care facility in Pennsylvania reports just a single case of COVID-19, the Department of Health reaches out to conduct an assessment of the situation and offers a number of resources to the facility, as needed. Those resources could include having the facility work with ECRI, our infection control consultant, with our internal infection control teams, with the Patient Safety Authority, or deploying the Pennsylvania National Guard to assist with staffing.

Sec. Torres outlined the Department of Aging’s work to prepare for safely reopening operations of older adult services located in counties that are moving into the Green Phase, as well as initiatives to combat social isolation among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

“In preparation for Pennsylvania’s phased-in reopening, the Department of Aging, in collaboration with representatives of Area Agencies on Aging and adult day centers, has developed procedures and best practices for resuming operations of adult day centers, senior community centers, aging services that involve in-person consumer contacts and in-home visits, and protective services,” said Aging Secretary Robert Torres. “This has all been done with the overriding objective of ensuring the health and safety of both participants and staff. The process of reopening will be conducted gradually, strategically and cautiously, while allowing flexibility at the local level to keep older adults and staff safe.”

Recognizing that seniors may have ongoing concerns and fears, alternative services and practices implemented as a result of this pandemic, such as maintaining different modes of getting meals to seniors, will continue for some time. Older adults needing a meal or in-home support can still call their local AAA. Questions regarding available aging services and resources can be directed to the PA Link at 1-800-753-8827.

Sec. Torres also noted that the Department of Aging’s Protective Services Office has continued to operate throughout the pandemic, with face-to-face safety measures in place to protect older adults and investigative staff. Anyone suspecting elder abuse should call the statewide reporting hotline at 1-800-490-8505. This hotline is answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

AAA: Gas Prices Rise Slightly in Pennsylvania This Week
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is steady this week at $2.343 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

On the week, the region saw gas prices push more expensive, though mostly by one to two cents. Washington, D.C. (-6 cents) was the only state in the region to see a decrease.

Five states in the region – Pennsylvania ($2.24), New York ($2.18), Washington, D.C., ($2.12), New Jersey ($2.02) and Maryland ($2.02) – carry averages of $2/gallon with a handful of others just pennies away from hitting this mark again: Massachusetts ($1.98), Rhode Island ($1.98), Vermont ($1.96) and Connecticut ($1.96).

Gasoline stocks have steadily increased throughout the month of May in the region. The latest build – nearly 2 million barrels – pushes total levels to nearly 74 million barrels. That is a near-high mark for stocks in the region this year. Stock levels sit at a 10 million barrel year-over-year surplus. However, refinery rates are still low, sitting at 50%.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.343
Average price during the week of May 26, 2020                                         $2.342
Average price during the week of June 3, 2019                                         $3.001

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

$2.351      Altoona
$2.343      Beaver
$2.348      Bradford
$2.359      Brookville
$2.323      Butler
$2.323      Clarion
$2.322      Du Bois
$2.336      Erie
$2.352      Greensburg
$2.359      Indiana
$2.365      Jeannette
$2.365      Kittanning
$2.357      Latrobe
$2.346      Meadville
$2.346      Mercer
$2.243      New Castle
$2.343      New Kensington
$2.359      Oil City
$2.330      Pittsburgh
$2.359      Sharon
$2.353      Uniontown
$2.359      Warren
$2.345      Washington

On the National Front
The national gas price average is $1.97, just one penny more expensive than last week. Part of the incremental jump can be attributed to increases in gasoline demand, which saw a 7% week-over-week increase. However, demand is still down nearly 25% compared to last year, according to the Energy Information Administration’s latest reports.

Today’s national average is 20 cents more than a month ago, but 85 cents less than a year ago.

At the end of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by $1.78 to settle at $35.49 per barrel. At the end of last week, crude prices spiked amid increased market optimism that demand for crude oil and refined products from it, including gasoline, may be rebounding. For this week, crude prices may continue to rise if the market believes that the 9.7 million b/d production reduction agreement for May and June 2020 between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major crude exporters, including Russia, is helping to rebalance the global oil market as demand remains low due to COVID-19.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 78 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.

Wolf Administration to Distribute $80 Million in USDA Foods, Receives Extension of COVID-19 Disaster Food Distribution Extension

Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced that the Department of Agriculture has received approval to continue operating the Disaster Household Distribution program, through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), to provide food to Pennsylvanians adversely affected by COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Originally approved by the USDA on March 27, the Disaster Household Distribution program, set to expire the end of May, has been approved through June 25.

“While we’re working to safely reopen Pennsylvania, many are still out of work and in need of the food security this program offers,” said Secretary Redding. “This extension lifts a weight off the shoulders of families across the commonwealth, giving assurance that food is always accessible.”

The waiver eliminates the need for individuals to verify financial eligibility upon arrival at a food bank or pantry. Those in need of food through June 25 simply need to show up and receive their food. In addition to removing barriers for Pennsylvanians to access food, the waiver allows the Department of Agriculture and its partners to distribute USDA Foods – including meats, vegetables, fruits, canned goods, cereal, rice, pasta, eggs, milk, and more – to those in need.

The department estimates that in 2020, the Bureau of Food Assistance will move more than $80 million of USDA foods through Pennsylvania’s charitable food system in all 67 counties, with the state’s allocation of TEFAP funding from USDA. In 2019, nearly $50 million was allocated to the purchase of USDA Foods. The additional allocation for 2020 comes through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act, in addition to an increase in funding through continued trade mitigation efforts by USDA.

“We know that reopening Pennsylvania will take time, and as families start to rebuild their lives and hopefully return to work, we also know that many will continue to need the support of the charitable food network to get them through this transition,” said Jane Clements-Smith, executive director of Feeding Pennsylvania.  “We are grateful for the USDA’s commitment to helping us deliver food efficiently and supporting our efforts through innovative programs that not only support families with nutritious food, but also support our farmers and processors.”

In addition to accessing these USDA Foods and foods procured by the food bank, Pennsylvanians are now able to access fresh, local foods through the Farmers to Families Food Box program. Food banks around the state have begun to hold events to distribute fresh products from USDA-approved distributors, including 17 Pennsylvania-based contractors providing milk and other dairy products, pork, chicken, and fresh produce. Pennsylvanians interested in receiving a box through the Farmers to Families Food Box program should contact their local food bank for distribution information.

“Food does more than feed our bodies, it lifts our spirits when everything around us is changing and unfamiliar,” added Redding. “Its my hope that no one hesitates to take advantage of the programs and food available. Today’s troubles are temporary, these times will pass. Pick up a box of food from a local farmer, enjoy the taste of home, and don’t worry. Pennsylvania’s farmers and charitable food system are up to the task of keeping Pennsylvania nourished.”

For more information about Food Security in Pennsylvania, visit agriculture.pa.gov/foodsecurity. For information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. For the most accurate, timely information related to Health in Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus.

2020 Watch: Will Tuesday clinch the nomination for Biden?
By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Whether Joe Biden will win Tuesday’s eight primaries isn’t in doubt. But will it be enough to formally clinch the Democratic presidential nomination? The former vice president needs to win 89% of all delegates at stake to do so. Biden is the last candidate standing. But supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders keep urging voters to cast ballots for him so he can amass delegates and have a greater influence on the party policy platform at the Democratic National Convention. Biden has met the 89% threshold in only two contests since Super Tuesday: Mississippi and Nebraska. Votes will be cast in Indiana, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota and the District of Columbia.