Pittsburgh, PA – Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on interstates 279 and 376 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 interstates:

1. Interstate 279 in Allegheny County
2. Interstate 376 between I-79 in Allegheny County and the Route 151/Hopewell exit (Exit 48) in Beaver County

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.

Motorists Urged to Avoid Travel if Possible

Harrisburg, PA – In response to winter weather conditions through much of the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) are implementing additional restrictions on trucks and other vehicles on certain roadways around the state, which will begin at 9:00 AM and remain in place until conditions warrant their removal. Motorists are urged to avoid travel if possible.

Effective at 9:00 AM, vehicle restrictions are anticipated on the following roadways at Tier 3 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan:

• Interstate 76/276/95 (PA Turnpike mainline) from Interstate 81 (Carlisle Interchange, Exit 226) to the New Jersey border;
• Interstate 80 from Interstate 99 to Interstate 81;
• The entire length of Interstate 81 in both directions;
• The entire length of Interstate 83 in both directions;
• Interstate 283 in both directions;
• Interstate 476 (PA Turnpike Northeast Extension) from Interstate 276 (PA Turnpike mainline) to Interstate 78 (Lehigh Valley Interchange, Exit 56); and
• Interstate 476 (PA Turnpike Northeast Extension) from Interstate 80 (Pocono Interchange, Exit 95) to Interstate 81 (Clarks Summit Interchange, Exit 131).

On roadways with Tier 3 restrictions in place, no commercial vehicles are permitted EXCEPT loaded single trailers with chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place.

Effective at 9:00 AM, vehicle restrictions are anticipated on the following roadways at Tier 4 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan:

• Route 22 from Interstate 78 to the New Jersey border;
• The entire length of Route 33 in both directions;
• The entire length of Interstate 78 in both directions;
• Interstate 80 from Interstate 81 to the New Jersey border;
• The entire length of Interstate 84 in both directions;
• The entire length of Interstate 380 in both directions; and
• Interstate 476 (PA Turnpike Northeast Extension) from Interstate 78 (Lehigh Valley Interchange, Exit 56) to Interstate 80 (Pocono Interchange, Exit 95).

On roadways with Tier 4 restrictions in place, no commercial vehicles are permitted. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place.

Tier 1 restrictions remain in effect on the following roadways:

• Interstate 70 in both directions from the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) to the Maryland state line;
• Interstate 76 (PA Turnpike mainline) from Breezewood Interchange, Exit 161, to Interstate 81 (Carlisle Interchange, Exit 226)
• Interstate 80 in both directions from Interstate 99 to Interstate 79; and
• The entire length of Interstate 99 in both directions.

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.

Additional speed and vehicle restrictions on these and other interstates could be added depending on changing conditions.

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. High winds and 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 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.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) has become aware of multiple attempts by fraudsters to obtain individuals’ personal and confidential information through fake Facebook pages and is reminding Pennsylvanians to never provide their information to anyone over social media.

“Unfortunately, the availability of new federal unemployment money is causing a surge in fraud attempts,” said L&I Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier. “L&I does not communicate directly with individuals over social media, including Facebook.”

L&I operates a Facebook page under the name “PA Department of Labor & Industry” and handle “@PALaborIndustry.” Several similarly named pages have appeared over the past few days, and some scammers have posted on L&I’s legitimate page pretending to be L&I employees.

Important tips

• L&I’s Facebook page has a blue check box next to the name that identifies it as a verified page.
• Comments by the legitimate L&I page also have a blue check box next to them indicating it as a verified page. If a comment or page does not have this check box, it is a fraudster posing as L&I.
• L&I does not post responses directly to claimants, send private messages, or ask for a private message to be sent.
• L&I also will not ask individuals to call or text a phone number. The only phone numbers for unemployment are:
  • 1-888-313-7284 (for UC/PEUC/EB claimants)
  • 1-855-284-8545 (for PUA claimants)
• L&I will not ask for individuals to send an email. The only email addresses for unemployment are:
  • uchelp@pa.gov (for UC/PEUC/EB claimants)
  • ucpua@pa.gov (for PUA claimants)

L&I is working with its partners, including Facebook and law enforcement, to quickly identify and remove fraudulent pages. Individuals who encounter a suspicious page or post are asked to flag it for staff review.

For more information on identifying fraud, what to do if you believe you have been a victim of fraud, or how to report fraud, visit L&I’s website.

Southwestern PA Lawmakers to Wolf: Severance Tax Would Slow COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts, Jobs

 

HARRISBURG – A group of southwestern Pennsylvania lawmakers today issued a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf warning that his latest proposal to enact a severance tax on the natural gas industry would endanger critical pandemic recovery efforts and kill jobs.

The legislators cite the use of natural gas in COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution, as well as in the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other hospital equipment.

“The governor has made clear today that he still does not understand the supply chain and the key role the natural gas industry plays in pandemic recovery efforts. Taxing an industry that his administration deemed ‘essential’ and sending that money to be collected and distributed by Harrisburg bureaucrats is a surefire way to slow recovery efforts and threaten more people’s livelihoods,” the lawmakers said.

The letter was signed by Reps. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Bud Cook (R-Washington/Fayette), Eric Davanzo (R-Westmoreland), George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland), Matthew Dowling (R-Fayette/Somerset), Carrie Lewis DelRosso (R-Allegheny/Westmoreland), Jim Marshall (R-Beaver/Butler), Rob Mercuri (R-Allegheny), Carl Metzgar (R-Somerset/Bedford), Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington), Lori Mizgorski (R-Allegheny), Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland), Timothy O’Neal (R-Washington), Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny), Michael Puskaric (R-Allegheny/Washington), Jim Rigby (R-Cambria/Somerset), Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria), Jason Silvis (R-Westmoreland/Armstrong/Indiana), James Struzzi (R-Indiana) and Ryan Warner (R-Fayette/Westmoreland).

 

PITTSBURGH, PA – West Penn Hospital, part of Allegheny Health Network, has named Jason Roeback, MHA, as its new Chief Operating Officer.

Roeback comes to West Penn from Erie’s Saint Vincent Hospital, where he had served as COO since 2017. In 2020, he assumed a dual role at AHN as COO of AHN Grove City.

Roeback joins recently appointed West Penn Hospital President Brian Johnson, MD as the hospital’s top leaders.

A respected health care executive with more than 20 years of experience in leading for-profit, non-profit, and academic healthcare institutions, Roeback came to AHN from Sharon Regional Health System, where he had served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2015.

His previous roles include President of UPMC Northwest Hospital and President of UPMC Hamot’s employed physician network.

Before UPMC, Roeback was CEO of HMA Hernando Healthcare in Spring Hill, Fla., and CEO of HealthSouth locations in Florida and Arizona. He began his career as a fiscal and administrative officer at the United States Navy Medical Service Corps’ Naval Hospital Jacksonville, in Florida.

An Erie native, Roeback earned his master’s degree in health care administration from Penn State University and a bachelor’s degree in health care management from the University of Kentucky.

Located in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, West Penn is AHN’s flagship hospital for women’s and infants’ care, and is well-known for many other advanced specialties, including orthopedics, autoimmune disease, neurosurgery, cancer care, bone marrow transplantation, burn care and bariatric surgery, among others. The first hospital in western Pennsylvania to earn three consecutive Magnet recognitions for nursing excellence, West Penn also has been named to the IBM Watson Top 100 Hospital list for two consecutive years, in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

Wolf Administration Awards $1.3 Million to Fund Research to Grow PA Agriculture Industry  

Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced grants totaling $1.287 million to eight organizations for research on issues critical to sustaining and growing Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry. Grant recipients include Pennsylvania State University, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, American Mushroom Institute, Baarda Farms, Coexist Build, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture and Team Ag, Inc.

“Meeting the challenges of feeding a growing population amid rapid changes in climate, technology and animal and plant diseases demands investment in research and development,” said Redding. “These investments hold the promise and potential to spur the innovation we need to increase productivity; advance human and animal medicine; and support cleaner water, healthier soil and a safer food supply.”

The grants, awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, focus on a broad range of research topics including detecting COVID-19 exposure in livestock, increasing farm productivity and profits, protecting pollinators, safely controlling Spotted Lanternfly and other invasive species and improving soil and water quality and sustainability through regenerative farming.

This funding supplements $900,000 in agricultural research support through the department’s budget to Rodale Institute, the Penn State University Center for Agricultural Law, Penn State Extension, and the Centers for Beef, Dairy, Poultry and Livestock Excellence.

Following is a list of 27 grantees, amounts awarded and project titles:

• American Mushroom Institute, Avondale, Chester Co. – $42,242 – Carbon Sequestration through Spent Mushroom Compost
• Baarda Farms, Mt. Bethel, Northampton Co. – $6,000 – Refrigeration to Expand Capacity for Fresh Food Access
• Coexist Build, Blandon, Berks Co. – $4,500 – Developing Marketing Strategy for Agritourism Highlighting Regenerative, Organic Farm Featuring Hemp-based Construction
• Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Millheim, Centre Co. – $87,791 – Soil Health and Economic Benchmarks for Conservation and Climate Resiliency
• Pasa Sustainable Agriculture – $91,179 – Understanding Keys to Direct Market Success through Collaborative Financial Benchmarking
• Pasa Sustainable Agriculture – $79,533 – Linking Soil Health and Nutrient Density for Improved Specialty Crop Marketing
• Pennsylvania State University, State College, Centre Co. – $89,044 – Assessment of Farmers’ Adoption and Implementation of Conservation Plans: A Case of Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania State University – $86,862 – Re-envisioning Multifunctional Buffers to Improve Water Quality, Profitability and Manage Risk
• Pennsylvania State University – $34,987 Pennsylvania State University – Establishing Pennsylvania’s First Digital Pollen Library
• Pennsylvania State University – $130,300 – Drug Delivery Systems Using Milk Proteins
• Pennsylvania State University – $87,999 – Protecting Bees from Fungicides Applied to Tree Fruits and from Insecticides Used to Control Spotted Lanternfly
• Pennsylvania State University – $104,236 – Impacts of Spotted Lanternfly Feeding on Tree Health
• Pennsylvania State University – $87,614 – Are bee pollinator populations declining in Pennsylvania?
• Pennsylvania State University – $60,291 – Spotted Lanternfly Monitoring Pole Traps; Saving Labor and Increasing Monitoring
• Pennsylvania State University – $9,906 – Spotting and Stopping Spotted Lanternfly in Vineyards: Economic Impact and Decision Management Tools
• Pennsylvania State University – $42,953 – Innovative LIPS Assay to Evaluate Exposure of Livestock to COVID-19
• Pennsylvania State University – $22,080 – Dynamics of the Respiratory Resistome in the Pre- and Postweaning Dairy Calf
• Pennsylvania State University – $11,870 – Improving Molecular Characterization of C. Perfringens and Correlating Strain Type with Histology
• Pennsylvania State University – $25,000 – Molecular Serotyping of Avibacterium Paragallinarum Using Next Generation Sequencing
• Pennsylvania State University – $28,800 – Establish a Metagenome-based Surveillance System to Determine Prevalence and Distribution of Commercial, Backyard and Wildlife Birds in PA
• Team Ag, Inc., Ephrata, Lancaster Co. – $60,000 – Connecting Capital with Pennsylvania Farmers using Regenerative Farming Practices to Draw Down Carbon
• Temple University, Philadelphia – $24,455 – Detection and Genotyping Method Targeting the Apicomplexa Mitochondrial Genome: Piroplasmida
• University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia – $25,000 – Targeted Next Generation Sequencing Panel for Equine Pathogen Detection
• University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine – $10,000 – Evaluation of Reproductive Efficiency on Pennsylvania Dairy Farms
• University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine – $9,348 – Novel Implementation of FARM on Dairy Farm: A Pilot Project
• University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine – $14,432 – Development of Sensitive Method for Analysis of Cannabinoids in Bovine Serum and Hemp Seed Samples
• University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine – $10,578 – Comparison of Different Management Strategies on Quality of Reclaimed Sand Used for Bedding

 Harrisburg, PA – Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin and the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority (BFTDA) announced that $2.5 million has been awarded on behalf of Magarac Ventures, LP, a Pittsburgh-based fund, which is being established to identify and ultimately invest in 15 to 20 early-stage technology companies with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

“BFTDA helps position Pennsylvania as a leader in the future of business and technology by investing today in tomorrow’s visionaries,” said Sec. Davin. “What’s more, by focusing efforts on early-stage technology companies with proactive outreach to minority businesses and entrepreneurs, Magarac Ventures will use its experience, knowledge, and intention to further cement Pennsylvania’s strong foothold in the technology sector.”

Magarac Ventures will deploy a multi-stage approach with initial investments expected to range from $500,000 to $5 million. The fund will focus on software, robotics, medical devices, and artificial intelligence, and will take a proactive approach to address diversity and inclusion. This will be accomplished by hiring an experienced minority investment partner, targeting at least 33 percent of fund capital into companies founded by individuals of diverse backgrounds, and requiring that each portfolio company agrees to interview at least one female and one minority candidate for each senior position.

Magarac will incorporate both “Seed” stage (approximately $1 million) and “Growth” (approximately $1 million) stage investments. The bulk of the portfolio, however, will emphasize Seed stage deals and it is anticipated that most of those deals will be based in western Pennsylvania.

The funding approved today reflects the agency’s desire to provide additional support to tech companies in Pennsylvania while reflecting the team’s experience and history of returning capital to investors.

Magarac Ventures, formerly operating under the name Draper Triangle Ventures, was founded in 1999 and established by successful Pittsburgh entrepreneur, Donald H. “Don” Jones.  Today the firm is led by his protégés Jay Katarincic, Mike Stubler, and Zach Malone, as well as former Pittsburgh Steeler Will Allen. The firm re-branded itself as Magarac Ventures, in honor of Joe Magarac, a fictional character associated with Pittsburgh’s leading role in the industrial revolution.

As one of the largest state technology development programs in the nation, the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority was established to promote an entrepreneurial business environment, advance technology innovation, and create a technology-ready workforce.

The mission of the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority (BFTDA) is to encourage and coordinate programs and investments, which advance the competitiveness of Pennsylvania companies and universities in the global economy.

For more information, visit the DCED website, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.