WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) voted to pass the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023. Among other disaster recovery measures, the bill includes a provision to exempt Norfolk Southern Railroad’s payments to residents impacted by the East Palestine train derailment from federal taxes, something Congressman Deluzio has been pushing for since January.

The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 came to the House Floor for a vote after Congressman Deluzio signed on to an effort to discharge the bill, bypassing committee and bringing it directly to the floor for a vote. The bill passed on a bipartisan basis and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Following the bill’s Congressman Deluzio released the following statement:

“The East Palestine derailment was a disaster for a lot of families in Beaver County, and it is ridiculous that folks hurt by this train derailment in their backyard would have to pay taxes on Norfolk Southern’s payments to them.

“I knew we had to make this right, and tonight, we passed a bill to do just that.

“Now, these payments will be exempted from federal taxes—just like we do for natural disasters. It’s the right thing to do, and I was glad to see colleagues in both parties support this measure.

“Let’s keep going to hold big railroads accountable and make freight rail safer. It’s time to pass my bill, the Railway Safety Act.”

Monaca, PA – Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) is proud to release 364 names of full-time and part-time students who achieved either President’s List or Dean’s List honors for the spring 2024 semester. 

To be named to the President’s List, students must have completed at least 12 hours of credit-bearing  courses in which performance grades are awarded and have received a 3.75 grade-point average or  above for the semester. Dean’s List honorees must have completed at least 12 hours of credit-bearing  courses in which performance grades are awarded and have received a 3.25 to 3.74 grade-point average  for the semester. 

The following full-time students were named to the President’s List: 

Katrina Adams Jade Adkins 

Damon Astorino Calahan Bedard Julia Bennett Hunter Bock 

Vanessa Borgen Aaron Bruder Kira Burd 

Meagan Burke Carol Buzard 

Amelia Callaghan Eva Campbell Logan Cantwell India Carlisle 

Saige Chambers LeAndra Clark Jada Cleckley 

Adam Cline 

Kira Coffman 

Jason Commentucci Amanda Cramer Kaden Cvitkovic Kail Davidson 

Gabrielle Davis 

Sydney Davis 

Gabriella DePace Brandi Dornetto Josef Druzak 

Erica Gazdik 

Jayden Geer 

Olivia Geiger 

Farrah Glomb 

Anna Goberish 

Abbie Graves 

Gabrielle Gretch 

Olivia Guido 

McKala Harris 

Peyton Hastings 

Connor Haynes 

Peyton Heidish 

Monjeana Henderson Brook Henry 

Jack Hickman 

Trinity Hill 

Olivia Hogue 

Faith Holcomb 

Mandy Hopkins 

Sarah Hottenfeller Jacy Hudock 

Lauren Huey 

Spencer Hunter 

Dalton Janicki 

Preston Jasek  

Mayank Jathan 

Trevor Keenan 

Sydney Klaas 

Michael Krumpe Joseph Lamb 

Grace Lane 

Tanner Leavens Troy Leininger 

Devin Lewis 

Katherine Livengood Michael Longo 

Madeline Luke 

Abbigail Lyon 

Sarah Lyons 

Brynn MacQueen Mackenzie Maga Austyne Mann 

Maya Marshall

Landyn McClean Colin McKissic 

Carmen Mercado Gracie Miller 

Jalen Mills 

Garrett Milnes Gage Nagy 

Payne Nairn 

Alexander Neel Genavieve Pansera Lucas Peretik 

Gabriella Petrof 

Remington Pond Lily Pruszenski Kody Pulaski 

William Rebello Landon Reckerd Cody Record 

Joshua Rexroad Michela Ricci 

Cristian Rodriguez Madelyn Ronk Zachary Ryan 

Emily Sedgwick 

Errett Sedlacek Jillian Sedlacek Jonathan Selavko Aaron Shanor 

Mackenzie Snyder Maura Sosack Philip Spann 

Carmen Spara Ashley Stoltz 

Caleb Terrick 

Blake Thewes 

John Tilson 

Alexis Tolejko 

Hannah Triscila 

Teariney Trosky 

Emma Weismantle Samantha Whiteman Selena Wilson 

Alexandra Wise 

Isabella Woodrow Paige Young 

Sarah Zeiber 

The following full-time students were named to the Dean’s List: 

Jenson Baker 

Avery Baldwin 

Jenna Bechtold Emily Beres 

Abigail Blumling Ella Brubaker 

Emma Burkard Sean Cady 

Brianna Cahill Chase Campbell Anna Carlgren Hannah Carothers Sarah Causey 

Travis Cerce 

Alexander Clark Ethan Colvin 

Ashton Costanza Meredith Cote Gianna Dale 

Connor Denes Sarah Dettinger Isabella Dibe 

Jake Dokmanovich 

Kyle Donovan 

Domonic Dorsey Erin Dugan 

Priscilla Eberlein Serenity Eubanks Ashley Evans 

Lahela Fisher 

Meghan Franciscus Camden Glass Nick Greiner 

Amanda Grimm Jaxon Guido 

Kaydance Hagan Sydney Hale 

Lillie Hans 

Jocelyn Herda 

Jeniene Hill-Lyles Xianyi Jiao 

Mara Kachur 

Zakary Klaas 

Olivia Kullen 

Mia Leonberg 

Jordan Mcclain 

Jacob Mersing 

Zane Metzgar 

Jacob Mima 

J’Daniel Mosquera Glenn Ohmer Truxel Jarett Pence 

Rhea Pieprzyk 

Abigail Pokorski Garrett Reynolds Nathan Ritchey Tyler Roman 

Kyle Schad 

Evan Scheib 

Hayden Schulte Mayley Servick 

Ana Shipman 

Deniro Simpson Charlie Sinclair Zoe Slavinsky 

Bradley Solyan 

Zoe Staley 

Julia Stoyer 

Isabella Viscuso 

Kennedy Vogel 

Nicholas Waschak Ella Watterson 

Aubrey Westfall Stefania Wiley 

Reilly Wilfong 

Colin Willoughby Abigail Winterhalter Lauren Winters Matthew Wolfe 

Meah Yonlisky 

Christopher Zarilla 

The following part-time students were named to the President’s List: 

Grace Abbott Maya Abt 

Meara Adams-Moots Mohammed Aziz 

Scout Barber 

Logan Bickerstaff 

Trent Bonfield Joslyn Brandt

Lauren Brilhart Lilly Burgess 

Danica Burns Jay Busch 

Victoria Cain 

Domenick Cerilli Brice Conrad 

Brianna Dobbins Autumn Donahue Hannah DoVidio Dylan Falvo 

Isabella Finnegan Adison Fox 

Bryce Froble 

Joel Garcia Crego Anthony Gerace Alyssa Gibbons Delphine Giles Haleigh Grabski Matthew Gregory 

Elaina Guy 

Mya Hazelwood Aurea Hickenboth Harrison Hill 

Shana Hormel 

Alec Jerome 

Brendan Jones 

Ava Katkich 

Noah Kurschinske Wanda Lay 

Flora Lieb 

Riley Long 

Zoe Mangus 

Maxwell Martin Aidan McConnell Catherine McCurdy Bryce Millerschoen Sara Miloszewski Sherry Modro 

Mynor Morales 

Kaitlyn Murdock Madison Murtha Payton Nunes 

Patrick O’Leary Abigail Olszanski Kaylee Orgovan Kaitlyn Oslick 

Courtney Parish Luke Paskey 

Jayda Pawelkoski Vanessa Perry Julia Pratt 

Arielle Prieto 

Breanna Reynolds Rylee Ringhoff Reese Riordan Stefano Rosati Ethan Rosenfelder Isabella Ruminer Madison Schiebel 

Angela Sgro 

Madelyn Sheffel 

Kelly Sledzianowski Dylan Slovick 

Taylor Smith 

Jenna Stiteler 

Cliff Stobart 

Charity Tellish 

Jaimie Tharp 

Brandon Turcola 

Veronica Van Dam Nicholas Vanhorenbeck Danyel Walker 

Paige Warzynski 

Mckenna Wass 

Sarah Windsheimer Connor Young 

The following part-time students were named to the Dean’s List: 

Sophia Adams 

Jacob Albanese 

Anna Allison 

Nathan Anderson 

Ava Bell 

Isabella Bertucci 

Sean Brigode 

Keeley Brown 

Brock Budacki 

Josilyn Burkett 

Roman Carlucci 

Kianna Copeland 

Andrew Crofoot-Franco Kennedy Cron 

Ronnie Davies 

Brianna Essey 

Luke Fagan 

Aiden Froedtert 

Brendan Gianantonio Ryder Goe 

Julie Golnik 

Jeslyn Gouldsbarry Evan Green 

Dakota Gural 

Alexa Hapach 

Rylea Heitzenrater Aubrey Hess 

Brady Hess 

Benjamin Hipple Stephanie Houk Alaina Huey 

Alexandria Huselton Cassandra Kirkland Jenna Kosanovich Cameron Kraus Ashlyn Krizan 

Chloe Lin 

Aidan Lindner 

Mario Marcellus Theresa Master 

Kayleigh McCabe Clara McFarland Megan Mortimer 

Nicholas Moulinie Ella Murphy 

Breana Nalesnik Dante Nalli 

Morgan Negley Zachary Nemec Hailey Ochman Kandace Olenik 

Gracie Patterson Anthony Persuitte Rylee Peters 

Qualin Pitts 

Alexa Presutti Michael Pudina Rose Pyles 

Fiona Quinn 

Brayden Reeves 

Dominic Renzo 

Arielle Reynolds 

Pressley Roush 

Sarah Rowland 

Miah Sabo 

Avery Sassic 

Jesse Scarfo 

Jason Shiring 

Roman Solomich 

Jeffrey Stewart 

Carynn Suter 

Mariah Taylor 

Elissa Toy 

DaiShauna Washington Sara Willey 

Jerome Willig-Friedrich Carter Wilson 

Kaelin Wooley 

Tamara Wright 

Isaiah Zahn

FILE – This photo provided by the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa shows the screen of a Unitronics device that was hacked in Aliquippa, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Cyberattacks against water utilities across the country are becoming more frequent and more severe, the Environmental Protection Agency warned Monday, May 20, 2024, as it issued an enforcement alert urging water systems to take immediate actions to protect the nation’s drinking water from electronic threats. (Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa via AP, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cyberattacks against water utilities across the country are becoming more frequent and more severe, the Environmental Protection Agency warned Monday as it issued an enforcement alert urging water systems to take immediate actions to protect the nation’s drinking water.

About 70% of utilities inspected by federal officials over the last year violated standards meant to prevent breaches or other intrusions, the agency said. Officials urged even small water systems to improve protections against hacks. Recent cyberattacks by groups affiliated with Russia and Iran have targeted smaller communities.

Some water systems are falling short in basic ways, the alert said, including failure to change default passwords or cut off system access to former employees. Because water utilities often rely on computer software to operate treatment plants and distribution systems, protecting information technology and process controls is crucial, the EPA said. Possible impacts of cyberattacks include interruptions to water treatment and storage; damage to pumps and valves; and alteration of chemical levels to hazardous amounts, the agency said.

“In many cases, systems are not doing what they are supposed to be doing, which is to have completed a risk assessment of their vulnerabilities that includes cybersecurity and to make sure that plan is available and informing the way they do business,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe.

Attempts by private groups or individuals to get into a water provider’s network and take down or deface websites aren’t new. More recently, however, attackers haven’t just gone after websites, they’ve targeted utilities’ operations instead.

Recent attacks are not just by private entities. Some recent hacks of water utilities are linked to geopolitical rivals, and could lead to the disruption of the supply of safe water to homes and businesses.

McCabe named China, Russia and Iran as the countries that are “actively seeking the capability to disable U.S. critical infrastructure, including water and wastewater.”

Late last year, an Iranian-linked group called “Cyber Av3ngers” targeted multiple organizations including a small Pennsylvania town’s water provider, forcing it to switch from a remote pump to manual operations. They were going after an Israeli-made device used by the utility in the wake of Israel’s war against Hamas.

Earlier this year, a Russian-linked “hacktivist” tried to disrupt operations at several Texas utilities.

A cyber group linked to China and known as Volt Typhoon has compromised information technology of multiple critical infrastructure systems, including drinking water, in the United States and its territories, U.S. officials said. Cybersecurity experts believe the China-aligned group is positioning itself for potential cyberattacks in the event of armed conflict or rising geopolitical tensions.

“By working behind the scenes with these hacktivist groups, now these (nation states) have plausible deniability and they can let these groups carry out destructive attacks. And that to me is a game-changer,” said Dawn Cappelli, a cybersecurity expert with the industrial cybersecurity firm Dragos Inc.

The world’s cyberpowers are believed to have been infiltrating rivals’ critical infrastructure for years planting malware that could be triggered to disrupt basic services.

The enforcement alert is meant to emphasize the seriousness of cyberthreats and inform utilities the EPA will continue its inspections and pursue civil or criminal penalties if they find serious problems.

“We want to make sure that we get the word out to people that ‘Hey, we are finding a lot of problems here,’” McCabe said.

EPA did not say how many cyber incidents have occurred in recent years, and the number of attacks known to be successful so far is few. The agency has issued nearly 100 enforcement actions since 2020 regarding risk assessments and emergency response, but said that’s a small snapshot of the threats water systems face.

Preventing attacks against water providers is part of the Biden administration’s broader effort to combat threats against critical infrastructure. In February, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to protect U.S. ports. Health care systems have been attacked. The White House has pushed electric utilities to increase their defenses, too. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have asked states to come up with a plan to combat cyberattacks on drinking water systems.

“Drinking water and wastewater systems are an attractive target for cyberattacks because they are a lifeline critical infrastructure sector but often lack the resources and technical capacity to adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices,” Regan and Sullivan wrote in a March 18 letter to all 50 U.S. governors.

Some of the fixes are straightforward, McCabe said. Water providers, for example, shouldn’t use default passwords. They need to develop a risk assessment plan that addresses cybersecurity and set up backup systems. The EPA says they will train water utilities that need help for free. Larger utilities usually have more resources and the expertise to defend against attacks.

“In an ideal world … we would like everybody to have a baseline level of cybersecurity and be able to confirm that they have that,” said Alan Roberson, executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. “But that’s a long ways away.”

Some barriers are foundational. The water sector is highly fragmented. There are roughly 50,000 community water providers, most of which serve small towns. Modest staffing and anemic budgets in many places make it hard enough to maintain the basics — providing clean water and keeping up with the latest regulations.

“Certainly, cybersecurity is part of that, but that’s never been their primary expertise. So, now you’re asking a water utility to develop this whole new sort of department” to handle cyberthreats, said Amy Hardberger, a water expert at Texas Tech University.

The EPA has faced setbacks. States periodically review the performance of water providers. In March 2023, the EPA instructed states to add cybersecurity evaluations to those reviews. If they found problems, the state was supposed to force improvements.

But Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa, joined by the American Water Works Association and another water industry group, challenged the instructions in court on the grounds that EPA didn’t have the authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act. After a court setback, the EPA withdrew its requirements but urged states to take voluntary actions anyway.

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires certain water providers to develop plans for some threats and certify they’ve done so. But its power is limited.

“There’s just no authority for (cybersecurity) in the law,” Roberson said.

Kevin Morley, manager of federal relations with the American Water Works Association, said some water utilities have components that are connected to the internet — a common, but significant vulnerability. Overhauling those systems can be a significant and costly job. And without substantial federal funding, water systems struggle to find resources.

The industry group has published guidance for utilities and advocates for establishing a new organization of cybersecurity and water experts that would develop new policies and enforce them, in partnership with the EPA.

“Let’s bring everybody along in a reasonable manner,” Morley said, adding that small and large utilities have different needs and resources.

___

Phillis reported from St. Louis.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, May 25, 2024, through Monday, May 27, 2024, in observance of Memorial Day.

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.

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; driver license and photo ID duplicates; REAL ID pre-verification; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2024 is available online. If you are planning to visit one of PennDOT’s On-Line Messenger Service Centers, please call ahead for hours of operation during holidays.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court on May 15, 2024, to a fraud conspiracy charge involving the largest known Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)  fraud in the Western District of Pennsylvania, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced  today.  

Matthew Lloyd Parker, 37, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott  Hardy.  

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between March 2020 and  August 2021, Parker conspired with others to defraud lenders of more than $14 million through false  PPP loan applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief. Parker, a licensed CPA from Detroit, recruited  hundreds of small businesses in Pittsburgh and Detroit and falsified PPP loan applications in their  names. The Small Business Administration approved 226 of those applications, resulting in loans  totaling approximately $14.5 million to various businesses.  

Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for September 17, 2024. The law provides for a maximum  total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal  Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and  the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.  

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the  government.  

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution  of Parker.  

[May 20, 2024] — Late May signals the beginning of a busy time for celebrations and summer holidays. The American Red Cross asks donors to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now before calendars start to fill up. Donors of all blood types – especially those giving type O blood and donors giving platelets – are vital to people counting on blood products for critical medical procedures. 

 

Every single donation can help keep the blood supply as stable as possible during a busy time of year when many regular donors may be unable to give. Book a time to give now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. 

 

The Red Cross has teamed up with Tetris, creators of the iconic, best-selling video game, to celebrate their 40th anniversary and build the blood supply for patients in need. In commemoration, all who come to give May 20 – June 9, 2024, will get an exclusive Tetris® + Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to New York to meet Tetris creator, Alexey Pajitnov. See RedCrossBlood.org/Tetris for details.

 

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

 

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

 

Amplify your impact − volunteer! 

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience. 

 

Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday. 

AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from their homes over the Memorial Day holiday travel period*. This year’s total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers.

“Long holiday weekends like Memorial Day are the perfect way to kick off the summer travel season and Americans will be traveling in record-breaking numbers this year,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “Whether it’s a family road trip, a luxury cruise, or a train trip across New England, travelers are making choices that will ensure they have the trip of a lifetime.”

Road trips are expected to set a record. AAA projects 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number for the holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. The number of drivers this year is up 4% compared to last year and is 1.9% higher than in 2019. Traveling by car is appealing for many people because of its convenience and flexibility. AAA car rental partner Hertz said Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities displaying the highest rental demand, with the busiest pickup days projected to be Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24.

Mid-Atlantic Region Memorial Day Forecast Highlights:
*Region includes New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Method of Travel	Total Travelers	Increase from 2023
Automobile	4.6 million	4.0%
Air travel	357,000	4.2%
Other (bus, train, ship, etc.)	137,000	4.0%
Region Total	5.1 million	4.0%

This Memorial Day weekend drivers can expect similar gas prices as last year when the national average was roughly $3.57. Pump prices rose this spring but have held steady in recent weeks. Prices might creep higher as the summer-driving season gets underway. The wildcard remains the cost of oil. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine could cause concern in the oil market.

Airports are bracing for a spike in travelers. AAA expects 3.51 million air travelers this holiday weekend, an increase of 4.8% over last year and a 9% jump compared to 2019. This will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post 9/11. This Memorial Day weekend, air ticket prices are comparable to last year. AAA booking data shows a 1% to 2% increase in prices for domestic flights. Several factors play into how much travelers pay for airfare, including destination, number of stops and fare class. For example, passengers who book nonstop flights with seat selection and carry-on bags included will likely pay more than those who select basic economy with a layover.

Nearly 2 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises and trains. AAA projects 1.9 million people will take these other modes of transportation, an increase of 5.6% compared to last year.

Best/Worst Times to Drive
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says drivers leaving Thursday or Friday should hit the road early to avoid mixing with commuters. Travelers going back home on Sunday or Monday should avoid the afternoon hours when return trips will peak.

“Travel times are expected to be up to 90% longer than normal. Travelers should stay up to date on traffic apps, 511 services and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.

 

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car
Date	Worst Travel Time	Best Travel Time
Thursday, May 23	Noon – 6 p.m.	Before 11 a.m., After 7 p.m.
Friday, May 24	Noon – 7 p.m.	Before 11 a.m., After 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 25	2 – 5p.m.	Before 1 p.m., After 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 26	3- 7p.m.	Before 1 p.m.
Monday, May 27	3- 7p.m.	After 7 p.m.

Source: INRIX

Top Destinations
This Memorial Day weekend, travelers are seeking theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas and Southern California. Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Florida beaches and cruise ports will also be packed.

European cities dominate the international list. The top 10 domestic and international destinations below are based on AAA booking data.

 

DOMESTIC	INTERNATIONAL
Orlando, FL	Rome, Italy
Seattle, WA	Vancouver, B.C., Canada
New York, NY	London, England
Las Vegas, NV	Paris, France
Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA	Dublin, Ireland
Denver, CO	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Anchorage, AK	Athens, Greece
Fort Lauderdale, FL	Barcelona, Spain
Miami, FL	St. George, Bermuda
Boston, MA	Edinburgh, Scotland

 

Travel Trends
As travelers make plans for summer and beyond, AAA Travel has identified the following trends:

• Bucket Lists: Travelers taking once-in-a-lifetime trips
• Milestones: Families booking anniversary, retirement and family reunion trips
• Asia: More travelers interested in visiting Asia, especially Japan
• Solo Trips: More people, especially women, interested in traveling by themselves
• Luxury Vacations: More travelers seeking high-end cruises and tours
• Trains: Many travelers interested in rail vacations across New England, Canada and Europe
• Adventure in Nature: Travelers booking trips to Antarctica, Africa and the South Pacific

 

Travel Agent Survey
A recent survey of AAA Travel Advisors highlights topics travelers are frequently discussing when booking trips, including:

• Travel Insurance: 51% of agents say more travelers are interested in protecting their trips
• Types of Vacations: AAA Travel Advisors say these are among the types of vacations travelers are most interested in:

• 77% of advisors say ocean cruises
• 70% of advisors say all-inclusive vacations
• 67% of advisors say river cruises

Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Service

Pennsylvanian’s general election takes place in November and a new poll from the Rural Democracy Initiative showed likely voters from rural areas of the state are up for grabs.

Patrick Toomey, researcher and partner of Breakthrough Campaigns, said the data in the survey show rural voters are what he called “economic populists,” and do not want the government calling the shots on certain issues such as abortion.

“Rural voters do feel like things are getting worse for them and in their communities economically,” Toomey reported. “The vast majority of rural voters, they are economic populists and their policy preferences align with many progressive goals. It is very clear that rural voters are not a cultural monolith either.”

Toomey added while rural America tends to be more conservative than its urban and suburban counterparts, certain conventionally progressive policy items such as focusing on retirement security and making taxes more fair are not being associated with President Joe Biden or Democrats.

Toomey pointed out half of rural voters consider Republicans to be more dedicated to prioritizing the needs of working families, compared to just 32% who shared those sentiments for the Democratic Party. While the increasing costs of housing, health care and child care are all important issues to rural voters, the data show reproductive freedoms are also a top priority.

“Rural voters are opposed to abortion bans,” Toomey explained. “They have nuanced views around abortion itself, but three-quarters either support it or don’t want the government interfering in something that should be left up to women and their doctors.”

More than 1,700 voters in 10 states participated in the poll, which found nearly half of rural voters would choose a “culturally aligned” rural Democrat over a Republican businessperson from a big city on the East Coast.

The unofficial start of summer is here for Pittsburgh’s Premier Destinations for Family Fun!  Kennywood, Idlewild & SoakZone, and Sandcastle are set for an exciting Memorial Day Weekend with FREE ADMISSION offers at each park, details include:

• Kennywood will offer free admission to military personnel and veterans, plus discounted admission for up to four guests beginning the first day of daily operations, Thursday, May 23 through Monday, May 27. The unofficial start to summer kicks off with the debut of the all-new Potato Smash, the park’s mouthwatering mash-up of the classic bumper cars and the iconic Potato Patch® Fries. Bites and Pints also begins Friday, May 24, with its gastronomic extravaganza featuring eight different international cuisines, plus brand-new electrifying entertainment. The chef-inspired tasting event features unique menu items with dishes inspired by Brazilian, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Jamaican, South Korean, Mexican and Polish cuisines.

• Idlewild & SoakZone will offer free admission to military personnel and veterans, plus discounted admission for up to four guests, Saturday, May 25 through Monday, May 27. Pittsburgh’s Best Amusement Park for Kids and Families celebrates Memorial Day Weekend with the opening of SoakZone Water Park. Plus, guests can experience all-new Story Book Forest upgrades, thrilling special events, new and improved dining options, an expanded operating calendar plus several parkwide enhancements including newly paved pathways throughout Story Book Forest.

• Sandcastle is offering free admission to all educators beginning Opening Day, Saturday, May 25 through June 30, plus discounted admission for up to four guests. The highly anticipated 35^th Celebration Season will be packed with the best summer fun in the region with Sandcastle’s distinctive blend of thrills and relaxation, exclusive offers, and new and enhanced events. Pittsburgh’s Hometown Waterpark’s multi-year transformation is complete with its vibrant beachy boardwalk vibe and parkwide enhancements.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published May 20, 2024 2:13 P.M.

(Koppel, Pa) Over 100 local employees are bring layed off their jobs as Tenaris restructures their workforce. Tenaris made an announcement last Wednesday that 170 workers would be layed off between Pennsylvania and Ohio facilities while stating that the steel shop in Koppel would not be affected.

Beaver County Radio spoke with Carolina Mendoza, who handles Media Relations for Tenaris North America about what this meant for Beaver County. Mendoza relayed that a large concentration of the cut positions are at the Koppel plant, in the heat treatment and finishing lines departments. 120 local Koppel workers were affected.

The company says the cuts are “due to an influx of imports of OCTG into the United States.” They add that they are “asking the federal government for its support to level the playing field through the  enforcement of fair trade remedies and additional tools of defense for a healthy, domestic OCTG supply chain that enhances national security with regards to energy development and creates and  preserves jobs.”  

Tenaris says they will continue ongoing investments at the steel shop in Koppel.