Category: News

Route 18 Frankfort Road Bridge Inspection Next Week in Potter Township

Route 18 Frankfort Road Bridge Inspection Next Week in Potter Township

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing work to inspect the bridge that carries Route 18 (Frankfort Road) over Raccoon Creek in Potter Township, Beaver County, will occur Monday through Wednesday, June 29-July 1 weather permitting.

Single-lane alternating traffic will occur on the Route 18 bridge between Raccoon Creek Road and Pleasant Road from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Crews from the Larson Design Group will conduct routine inspection activities.

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 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.

 

PennDOT Extends Expiration Dates on Driver Licenses, ID Cards, and Learner’s Permits

PennDOT Extends Expiration Dates on Driver Licenses, ID Cards, and Learner’s Permits

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that expiration dates for driver licenses, identification cards, and learner’s permits, will be extended for Pennsylvania residents in response to statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Effective June 23, 2020, expiration dates for driver licenses, photo ID cards and learner’s permits scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020 through July 31, 2020, have been extended until July 31, 2020. These extensions are in addition to those announced on May 27, 2020.

A camera card is considered a driver’s license, so it is covered by the same terms and conditions extending other driver’s license products. Camera cards with expiration dates within this timeframe are also extended through July 31, 2020.

The following products were previously extended until June 30,2020, and will not be extended:

  • Vehicle registrations of all classes which includes, but not limited to, mass transit vehicle registrations, apportioned vehicle registrations, fleet vehicle registrations, dealer plate registrations, temporary registrations and biennial farm exemption certificates scheduled to expire from March 16 through June 30, 2020.
  • Safety inspections and emissions inspections scheduled to expire from March 16 through June 30, 2020.
  • Persons with Disabilities parking placards scheduled to expire from March 16 through June 30, 2020.

Customers may continue to complete various transactions and access multiple resources online at www.dmv.pa.gov. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; and driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

PennDOT will continue to evaluate these processes and will communicate any changes with the public.

More COVID-19 information is available at www.health.pa.gov. For more information, visit www.dmv.pa.gov or www.PennDOT.gov.

US health officials believe 20M Americans have had virus

US health officials believe 20M Americans have had virus
By ZEKE MILLER and MARILYNN MARCHIONE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe as many as 20 million Americans have contracted the coronavirus since COVID-19 first arrived in the country, suggesting millions had the virus and never knew it. That’s nearly 10 times as many infections as the 2.3 million cases that have been confirmed in the U.S. and comes as the Trump administration works to tamp down nationwide concern about the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when about a dozen states are seeing worrisome increases in cases. But 20 million infections would mean that about 6% of the nation’s 331 million people have been infected, leaving a great majority of the population still susceptible to the virus.

The Dixie Chicks officially change their name to The Chicks

The Dixie Chicks officially change their name to The Chicks
By KRISTIN M. HALL AP Entertainment Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Grammy-winning country group The Dixie Chicks have dropped the word Dixie from their name, now going by The Chicks. The group made of Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Strayer posted a statement on their website saying they wanted to meet “this moment.” The group also acknowledged that there was an existing band in New Zealand that allowed them “to share their name.” The move follows a decision by country group Lady Antebellum to change to Lady A after acknowledging the word’s association to slavery. That band received criticism with their switch after a Black singer revealed she’d been performing as Lady A for years.

US virus cases near an all-time high as governors backtrack

US virus cases near an all-time high as governors backtrack
By JENNIFER PELTZ and ELAINE KURTENBACH Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — The daily U.S. count of new coronavirus cases stood near an all-time high Thursday. It’s hovering close to the late-April peak that marked some of the darkest and deadliest days of the crisis so far. According to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University, the 34,300 COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday were slightly fewer than the day before, but still close to the U.S. daily high of 36,400 from April.  At the same time, the nation’s daily death toll has continued dropping, an encouraging sign that may reflect the advent of new treatments, better efforts to prevent infections at nursing homes. After peaking at 2,200 on April 18, the number is now about 600 a day.

‘The noose was real’ – NASCAR releases photo from Talladega

‘The noose was real’ – NASCAR releases photo from Talladega
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer
NASCAR has released a photo it says shows that a noose was indeed found in Bubba Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. NASCAR President Steve Phelps says the photo was taken by NASCAR security. Wallace is the only Black driver in NASCAR’s top series. Federal investigators determined the rope had been there since at least last October and could not have been targeting Wallace. Phelps says NASCAR has not determined who tied the rope and its investigation is over. He says more cameras will be added to garages.

US Sent $1.4 Billion in Virus Relief Payments to Dead People

Audit: US sent $1.4B in virus relief payments to dead people
By MARCY GORDON AP Business Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — A government watchdog says nearly 1.1 million relief payments totaling some $1.4 billion went to dead people in the government’s coronavirus aid program. More than 130 million so-called economic impact payments were sent to taxpayers as part of the $2.4 trillion coronavirus relief package enacted in March. The Government Accountability Office, Congress’ auditing arm, cited the number of erroneous payments to deceased taxpayers in a report published Thursday on the government programs. The IRS asked in May for the money back from the deceased taxpayers’ survivors. Some legal experts have said the government may not have the legal authority to require that it be returned.

President Trump’s Trip to Mount Rushmore Draws Fire

‘Faces of the conquerors’: Trump trip to Rushmore draws fire
By STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s plans to kick off Independence Day with a showy display at Mount Rushmore are drawing sharp criticism from Native Americans who view the monument as a desecration of land violently stolen from them. Several groups led by Native American activists are planning protests for Trump’s July 3 visit, part of his “comeback” campaign for a nation reeling from sickness, unemployment and social unrest. But it comes amid a national reckoning over racism and a reconsideration of the symbolism of monuments around the globe. Many Native American activists say the Rushmore memorial is as reprehensible as the many Confederate monuments being toppled around the nation.

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 06/26/20: Beaver County Up 3 Cases No New Deaths

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 579 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 83,770

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 25, that there are 579 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 83,770. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

There are 6,557 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 39 new deaths. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

Locally in Beaver County we are up 3 cases to 637. 617 confirmed cases and 20 probables. 5562 people have tested negative and the county stands at 78.

“As we move closer to having the entire state in the green phase, we must remain committed to protecting against COVID-19,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach. However, the virus has not gone away. Each of us has a responsibility to continue to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently. Together we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.”

Mask wearing is required in all businesses in yellow and green phases of reopening. Consistent mask wearing, even in counties in the green phase, could have lasting benefits as a COVID-19 surge is possible this fall.

There are 632 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 621,031 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

  • Nearly 1% are ages 0-4;
  • 1% are ages 5-12;
  • 2% are ages 13-18;
  • Nearly 7% are ages 19-24;
  • Nearly 37% are ages 25-49;
  • Nearly 25% are ages 50-64; and
  • Nearly 28% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 17,454 resident cases of COVID-19, and 3,123 cases among employees, for a total of 20,577 at 676 distinct facilities in 50 counties. Out of our total deaths, 4,471 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 6,341 of our total cases are in health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the yellow or green phase of reopening.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, June 23:

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean surfaces frequently.
  • Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
  • If you must go out for a life-sustaining reason, please wear a mask.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

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NFL Cancels Hall Of Fame Game, Delays Inductions Until 2021

(AP) The NFL has canceled the Hall of Fame game that traditionally opens the preseason and is delaying the 2020 induction ceremonies for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Aug. 6 exhibition game in Canton, Ohio, between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers is the first on-field event the league has canceled during the pandemic. It will be played on Aug. 5, 2021, with the same teams. Enshrinements for 10 men scheduled for Aug. 8 now will occur on Aug. 7, 2021, with the special centennial class that was set to be inducted in mid-September now entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame the next day.