NY Stock Exchange reopens as US closes in on 100,000 dead
By MATT OTT, TED SHAFFREY and LISA MARIE PANE Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Stock Exchange’s trading floor has reopened for the first time since mid-March _ a largely symbolic move but an important one as the world strives to kick-start the economy. And stocks are rallying on Wall Street on rising hopes for an economic recovery. Still, Dr. Mike Ryan of the World Health Organization is warning that the coronavirus continues to rage around the globe. The virus has infected a confirmed 5.5 million people around the world, killing over 346,000, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. The official death toll in the U.S. is closing in on 100,000, or more Americans than were killed in the Vietnam and Korean wars combined.

AAA: Gas Prices on the Rise in Pennsylvania as Demand Increases Nationwide
The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is eight cents higher this week at $2.342 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

As gas prices increase across the country, five Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states carry averages of $2/gallon or more: Pennsylvania ($2.22), New York ($2.18), Washington, D.C., ($2.13), New Jersey ($2.02) and Maryland ($2.01). At $1.75, Virginia has the lowest state average in the region.  On the week, the region saw prices increase between two and eight cents.

Regional gasoline stocks have increased for two weeks with levels inching closer to the 72-million-barrel mark. This build is supported by a small increase in regional refinery utilization, which has mostly hovered near the 50% mark over the last four weeks. Gas prices are likely to continue increasing in the weeks ahead.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.342
Average price during the week of May 18, 2020                                         $2.265
Average price during the week of May 28, 2019                                         $3.030

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

$2.341      Altoona
$2.334      Beaver
$2.337      Bradford
$2.345      Brookville
$2.337      Butler
$2.322      Clarion
$2.316      Du Bois
$2.334      Erie
$2.340      Greensburg
$2.356      Indiana
$2.354      Jeannette
$2.345      Kittanning
$2.387      Latrobe
$2.345      Meadville
$2.359      Mercer
$2.272      New Castle
$2.338      New Kensington
$2.359      Oil City
$2.332      Pittsburgh
$2.359      Sharon
$2.348      Uniontown
$2.359      Warren
$2.347      Washington

On the National Front
After dropping to a low of $1.76 in April, the national gas price average is pennies away from hitting the $2/gallon mark. Today’s average is $1.96, which is eight cents higher than a week ago, 19 cents more than last month, but still a significant 87 cents cheaper than the end of May 2019.

The more expensive pump prices can be attributed to fluctuations in crude and demand. In the past week, crude oil hit its highest price point – nearly $34 per barrel – since the Administration declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency and many states started implementing stay-at-home restrictions. While demand has been increasing since the end of April, it is down 28% compared to the first three weeks of May last year.

One factor that AAA is monitoring and which could cause a sudden spike in gas prices is the Atlantic hurricane season, which is June 1 through November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the 2020 season will be above-normal, potentially resulting in 13-19 named storms. An average Atlantic hurricane season typically produces 12 named storms, including 3 major hurricanes.

At the end of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate decreased by 67 cents to settle at $33.25 per barrel. Although tension between Hong Kong and China lowered prices on Friday, crude prices generally increased last week amid growing market optimism that domestic crude demand continues to rebound as more states ease stay-at-home restrictions and demand for gasoline has grown.

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.

AFGE Endorses Conor Lamb and Mike Doyle for Reelection to U.S. Congress

Largest federal employee union says Lamb and Doyle have shown continued support for federal employees

WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) today announced its endorsement of Conor Lamb and Mike Doyle for reelection to Congress representing Pennsylvania’s 17^th and 18^th Congressional Districts.

“Conor Lamb has repeatedly shown his support for federal employees in Pennsylvania,” said AFGE District 3 National Vice President Philip Glover. “He works with every local union in western PA on important issues facing the workforce.”

Both Connor Lamb and Mike Doyle have both been strong supporters of AFGE key issues including the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise and the Paycheck Fairness Act.

“Mike Doyle, as a subcommittee chairman on the energy committee, plays a large role for our Department of Energy employees in Pittsburgh,” Glover added. “We can always count on him to be there for us when we need him.”

Nearly 60,000 federal employees live in Pennsylvania – caring for veterans, supporting the military, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time. There are nearly 50,000 active and retired federal employees in the 17^th and 18^th Congressional District.

AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing 700,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents more than 31,100 federal employees in District 3, which includes Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Route 51 Lane Restrictions Wednesday in Center Township

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane restrictions on Route 51 (Constitution Boulevard) in Center Township, Beaver County will occur Wednesday, May 27 weather permitting.

Single-lane restrictions will occur in each direction on Route 51 for bridge inspection activities on the bridge just south of Monaca Road. Restrictions will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restrictions will not occur in each direction simultaneously. Crews from the Larson Design Group will conduct the inspection work.

                                                                                        Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns. Please use caution when driving through the area. Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways 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 950 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.

HARRISBURG – In response to the governor’s shutdown of state liquor stores and recent failures by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to adapt to a 21^st century business model during the coronavirus pandemic, Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) recently introduced legislation to end government control of wine and spirit sales.

“When Gov. Tom Wolf shutdown the liquor stores, he almost returned Pennsylvania to Prohibition and showed us why government should never be in control of alcohol sales,” O’Neal said. “Grocery stores and restaurants quickly and efficiently found ways to adapt to the pandemic while the PLCB, at Wolf’s direction, caused mass mayhem and turned Pennsylvanians into modern-day bootleggers.”

House Bill 2547 would close state stores, privatize the wholesale liquor system and create private outlets for liquor. It is similar to House Bill 466 of 2015, which was vetoed by the governor.

“Act 39 of 2016 proved private industry can responsibly sell wine,” O’Neal said. “I have no doubt liquor sales can be done in the same effective and efficient manner.”

Wolf ordered Pennsylvania’s government-controlled Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores to close on March 17. Because the state has a monopoly on spirit sales, Pennsylvanians had no choice but to flock to Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey and other neighboring states.

“All that business activity and revenue could have happened in Pennsylvania but was pushed over the borders,” O’Neal said.

O’Neal noted Wolf’s shutdown of the state liquor stores is not the only reason he is calling for full privatization. The PLCB has had persistent problems for decades.

“The PLCB drives up costs while at the same time decreasing selection and convenience,” O’Neal added. “But even more concerning is that the current system forces Pennsylvanians, small businesses and local family restaurants into doing business with a government-run monopoly that’s rife with political favoritism.”

 Past polling shows that two-thirds of Pennsylvania voters support privatizing the state’s liquor system.

 Pennsylvania remains one of only two states in the entire nation where government wields complete control over all wholesale and retail sales of both wine and spirits.

 “The state-controlled liquor monopoly was set up in 1939 to make it as inconvenient as possible to purchase wine and spirits in Pennsylvania, and it’s clear that is still its mission today,” O’Neal said. “The time has come to revisit ending this antiquated government system once and for all.”

State police: 2-year-old fatally shot at Pennsylvania home
EAST PENN, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania state police say a 2-year-old boy was shot and killed at a Carbon County home. The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon in East Penn. The child was taken to a hospital but died there a short time later. No other injuries were reported in the shooting, but authorities declined further comment. The child’s name has not been released. No charges have been filed so far, but the shooting remains under investigation.