State leaders are walking back a plan to close all rest stops along Pennsylvania highways. Following a plea from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, PennDOT officials decided to reopen 13 of the state’s 30 rest areas for truck drivers carrying cargo through the commonwealth. Each of the locations will have its parking lots open at night to allow drivers to get some sleep. Indoor facilities will remain closed and a bank of five portable toilets will be positioned there, with each cleaned daily.

Bars and restaurants not only in Beaver County but in all of western Pennsylvania are no longer serving dine-in customers to prevent the spread of coronavirus. State officials are ordering establishments that serve food to shift to carryout and delivery only. The order was handed down yesterday after the health department confirmed the state’s first COVID-19 death in Northampton County.

Construction of the Shell cracker plant in Monaca is on hold because of COVID-19 worries. Project managers agreed to close the site yesterday after workers and Beaver County officials raised concerns about cleanliness. The company was under fire for holding large group meetings and not providing clean restrooms for workers as the coronavirus outbreak spread across Pennsylvania.

Beaver County officials confirmed yesterday a second case of COVID-19 in as many days. The second patient is not connected to Beaver County’s first case, an Aliquippa School District employee who’s currently hospitalized. The second case prompted Beaver County officials to close public access to the courthouse and county offices through at least the end of March.

A tractor-trailer crashed and ended up on its side along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in North Sewickley Township. The crash happened just before 5am in the westbound lanes between the Cranberry Township and Beaver Valley exits. There were no reports of any medical transports. It is unclear how long it took to move the vehicle from the scene.

There was an overturned vehicle in Beaver Falls this morning. The accident happened just before 5am on Wallace Run Road near 49th Street. No word on any injuries.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 19TH, 2020

 

TODAY – OFF AND ON RAIN SHOWERS FOR THE
AFTERNOON. HIGH – 64.

TONIGHT – SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOW
NEAR 60.

FRIDAY – RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE
MORNING AND AFTERNOON. A THUNDERSTORM
IS POSSIBLE. HIGH NEAR 70.

SATURDAY – CLOUDY IN THE MORNING. BECOMING
MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE AFTERNOON.
HIGH – 44.

SUNDAY – PARTLY SUNNY SKIES. HIGH – 51.

Pennsylvania reports state’s 1st coronavirus death
By MARK SCOLFORO and MICHAEL RUBINKAM undefined
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania has reported its first death from the new coronavirus. The state Department of Health identified the victim as an adult from Northampton County and said the adult was treated at a hospital. No other details were released Wednesday. State officials announced a nearly 40% jump in the number of confirmed cases. State officials, meanwhile, promised a crackdown on bars and restaurants that fail to adhere to Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to stop serving food and drink on-site. And Penn State University is canceling in-person classes for the rest of the spring semester, citing the coronavirus pandemic.

Treasury proposal: Deliver $500B to Americans starting April

ByANDREWAYLOR Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has sent President Donald Trump a $100 billion-plus bill to boost testing for the coronavirus and guarantee paid sick leave for millions of workers hit by it. Lawmakers and the White House have already turned their focus to the administration’s far bigger $1 trillion plan to stabilize the economy as the pandemic threatens financial ruin for individuals and businesses. The centerpiece of Trump’s economic rescue plan is to dedicate $500 billion to start issuing direct payments to Americans by early next month. The amounts would depend on income and family size. It would also funnel cash to businesses to help keep workers on payroll.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump now is calling himself a “wartime president” as he tries to come to grips with the dual health and economic crises of the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday he said he’s invoking a federal provision that allows the government to marshal the private sector in response to the pandemic. Trump said he will employ the Defense Production Act “in case we need it” as the government bolsters resources for an expected surge in cases of the virus. The announcement came on a fast-moving day of developments. The Senate is taking up a financial aid package while the administration pushes forward its economic relief plan.