NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are broadly higher on Wall Street, keeping the market on track for its second weekly gain in a row. The S&P 500 index rose 0.8% in the early going, bringing its gain for the month so far to just over 9%. Technology stocks are leading the way once again. Cisco, which makes networking gear, and Applied Materials, which makes semiconductor equipment, both rose sharply after reporting results that beat analysts’ forecasts. Disney also rose after reporting that its newly launched streaming service, Disney Plus, now has 73.7 million subscribers, surpassing estimates. Treasury yields rose.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. wholesale prices rose moderately in October as food costs jumped by the largest amount in five months. The Labor Department says its producer price index, which measures inflation pressures before they reach the consumer, increased 0.3% last month, slightly lower than the 0.4% gain in September. Food costs rose 2.4%, the biggest increase since a 5.6% surge in May that was tied to shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The report on wholesale prices follows a report yesterday that retail prices showed no change in October and consumer inflation has risen just 1.2% over the past 12 months.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Group of 20 nations, representing the world’s biggest economies, says that low-income countries hardest hit by the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic could potentially get an extension on their debt payments beyond mid-2021, and in the most severe cases, be considered for a write-off. The statement was released today after a virtual gathering of the group’s finance ministers and central bank governors. It declared that the countries had agreed on a common framework for debt restructuring that aims to treat creditors equally. A month ago, the G-20 agreed to suspend $14 billion in debt payments for an additional six months to support 73 of the world’s neediest countries.

BOSTON (AP) — Microsoft says state-backed Russian and North Korean hackers have in recent months tried to steal valuable data from leading pharmaceutical companies and COVID-19 vaccine researchers. It says in a blog post that most of the attacks were unsuccessful but provided no information on those that did succeed. Microsoft says most of the targets were in Canada, France, India, South Korea and the U.S. It is not naming them, but says most were vaccine developers in various stages of clinical trials. In July, the U.S. government said Chinese state-backed hackers were also targeting vaccine-makers.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish regulators have fined Google more than $25 million for allegedly abusing its market dominance in online searches. The Competition Authority says Google and its parent company Alphabet have made it difficult for companies to show up in searches if they did not generate advertisement revenue for Google. The Turkish authority said Google would have to take remedial measures within six months. It will have to present compliance measures and annual reports for five years.

(Monaca, Pa.)  Someone who bought a Millionaire’s Club $20  Pa Lottery Scratch ticket  at Monaca Wal-mart is celebrating the fact that they won one of the top prizes of the One Million Dollars. The winner has one year from the end of the game to claim their prize. There is no word on whether the winner has claimed the prize.  Wal-mart gets a bonus of $5,000.00 for selling the ticket.

Microsoft: Russian, North Korean hackers target vaccine work
By FRANK BAJAK AP Technology Writer
BOSTON (AP) — Microsoft says state-backed Russian and North Korean hackers have in recent months tried to steal valuable data from leading pharmaceutical companies and COVID-19 vaccine researchers. It says in a blog post that most of the attacks were unsuccessful but provided no information on those that did succeed. Microsoft says most of the targets were in Canada, France, India, South Korea and the U.S. It is not naming them, but says most were vaccine developers in various stages of clinical trials. In July, the U.S. government said Chinese state-backed hackers were also targeting vaccine-makers.

AC/DC is back and fighting off the black with new album
By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Through decades, deaths and disasters, AC/DC keeps thundering on. After 47 years, the band is releasing its 17th studio album, “Power Up,” on Friday. It’s their first in six years and first since the death of founding member Malcolm Young. But Malcolm’s spirit and songs are all over the album. His younger brother, the band’s legendary school-uniform-wearing guitarist Angus Young, chose only unused songs he and his brother had written together in the band’s earlier decades for the album. Angus Young told The Associated Press in an interview that he concentrated on the ones he knew were his brother’s favorites.

Top officials: Nov. 3 election most secure in US history
By ERIC TUCKER and FRANK BAJAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A coalition of federal and state officials say they have no evidence that votes were compromised or altered in last week’s presidential election, rejecting unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud advanced by President Donald Trump and many of his supporters. The statement from cybersecurity experts, which trumpets the Nov. 3 election as the most secure in American history, amounts to the most direct repudiation to date of Trump’s efforts to undermine the integrity of the contest. It echoes repeated assertions by election experts and state officials that the election unfolded smoothly without broad irregularities.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Harrisburg, Pa.) The Wolf Administration  is being supported by U.S. Senator Bob Casey and U.S. Rep.  Chrissy Houlihan  to urge the federal government  to reauthorize  Title 32. At a press briefing yesterday morning  it was announced that  if the title is reauthorized it would allow the PA Army National

AAA: Fewer Americans Will Travel This Thanksgiving

Motorists advised to be cautious and prepared if they decide to travel

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to push down the number of Americans traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday this year by about 10%, according to AAA Travel. That’s the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession in 2008, which lead to a 26 percent drop in travel for the holiday.

The effects of the pandemic, including health and economic concerns, are causing many Americans to opt for last-minute and vehicular travel. Air travel and other modes of transportation such as cruises, buses, and trains are the most impacted by the pandemic, and 95% of holiday travel is expected to be by car.

“Like everything else this year, Thanksgiving in 2020 will look much different than in years past,” says Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA Travel. “Many Americans are weighing their options and considering the advice of health experts before finalizing their holiday travel plans.”

Mid-Atlantic Region Thanksgiving Forecast (Wednesday, Nov. 25 to Sunday, Nov. 29.)
*Region includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

With COVID-19 cases rising in many parts of the country, AAA East Central reminds those who choose to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday to know the risks and minimize them by taking the following steps:

• Plan ahead. Check with state and local authorities where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination to learn about local circumstances and restrictions.
• Pack Smart. Be sure to pack face masks, disinfecting wipes, and hand sanitizers.
• Minimize your risk. Use protective barriers such as plastic baggies or gloves to open doors, fill up the gas tank, or touch any other surfaces in public places. Also, try to minimize your stops, and when visiting family or friends, remember to socially distance, wear masks, and frequently wash your hands.
• Verify before you go. Call your hotels and car rental companies to ensure your reservations and clarify requirements.
• Use these helpful AAA resources. Visit AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map for the latest state and local travel restrictions. Use TripTik.AAA.com to plan your road trip and help determine which rest stops, gas stations, hotels, and restaurants you’ll use along your route.

Before heading out, motorists should ensure their vehicles are road trip-ready to avoid a breakdown along the way. AAA expects to rescue more than 413,000 Americans at the roadside this Thanksgiving. Motorists should take their vehicles to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out on a road trip.

INRIX Predicts Wednesday Afternoon to See Peak Traffic

Traffic volume is expected to be less than in years’ past, but travelers in major urban areas will experience increased delays at popular bottlenecks, up to 30% above normal pandemic congestion levels. INRIX expects Wednesday afternoon to see the highest volume of traffic.

About the Travel Forecast: AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit, a London-based business information provider. In cooperation with AAA, IHS Markit developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes, using macroeconomic drivers such as employment; output; household net worth; asset prices including stock indices; interest rates; housing market indicators and variables related to travel and tourism, including prices of gasoline, airline travel and hotel stays. For the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday travel forecast, IHS Markit also examined changes in the IHS Markit containment index regarding local COVID-19-related restrictions as well as the national case count and trend.

About INRIX: INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics. Leveraging big data and the cloud, INRIX delivers comprehensive services and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. Our partners are automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small.

About IHS Markit: IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world’s leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 76 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.