FILE – A Southwest Airlines jet arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport, Dec. 28, 2022, in Phoenix.  (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Holiday travelers are starting their final sprint. About 2.7 million people were expected to board flights on Wednesday, and Sunday is expected to set an all-time record of 2.9 million. Many millions of other Americans will drive to Thanksgiving celebrations. Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration say they are prepared for the onslaught. But airport security lines could be long. Delta is telling passengers to arrive at the airport at least two or three hours before their flight. On the positive side, the government says airfares are lower than they were last year, and gasoline prices are down too.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania law that delivers automatic pay raises for state officials will pay dividends next year. The law will give more than 1,300 officials a pay raise of 3.5% in 2024. That includes Gov. Josh Shapiro, 253 lawmakers and seven state Supreme Court justices. A 1995 law ties wage hikes to year-over-year increases in consumer prices for mid-Atlantic urban areas, as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s on pace to amount to a bigger increase than the increase in private sector wages. The new, higher salaries are effective Jan. 1 for the executive and judicial branches, and Dec. 1 for lawmakers.

AMBRIDGE, Nov. 21 – New tax credits totaling nearly $255,000 will support revitalization projects in Aliquippa and Monaca, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver, said the tax credits – awarded through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program – will leverage investments in key projects to transform the landscape.

“Tax credits spur investments that can breathe new life into distressed areas,” Matzie said. “The newly awarded credits will help us build on revitalization efforts underway in Aliquippa and Monaca by supporting renovation projects that will add jobs, expand affordable housing and draw new commercial tenants.”

Matzie said the funding includes:

• $132,572 in tax credits to BIL Holdings LLC to support a project to rehabilitate a Monaca building into a mixed-used space including two fully renovated apartments with separate entrances and a refurbished façade. The project will include new wiring, lighting, HVAC systems, installing windows and other work.
• $122,279 in tax credits to Getblok.io Holdings LLC to support a project to renovate a building that has been vacant for 13 years. The work will include installing a new roof, solar panels, HVAC infrastructure and new windows, as well as exterior work and fencing.

In addition to the tax credits supporting the Aliquippa and Monaca projects, more than $1.3 million in tax credits was awarded to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, which distributes food to residents in Beaver County and 10 other counties.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published November 22, 2023 1:26 P.M.

(South Heights, Pa) State Police in Beaver issued a report on a reported two vehicle crash they responded to in South Heights last Tuesday at Laurel Road and Jordan Street.
The operator of one vehicle told police he thought he might have been in an accident while turning onto Laurel Avenue, although the trooper did not observe any damage to the vehicle. The operator told the Trooper, that the other driver stopped and stated they didn’t see any damage. The other driver was located by the Trooper later on and stated that they didn’t remember getting into an accident.
The report states that the Trooper was unable to observe any physical evidence that a crash occurred and a notice of accident investigation was issued.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro smiles during an appearance at the Pennsylvania Press Club, Nov. 20, 2023, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says his list of unfinished business for the state Legislature includes passing a private school voucher program, increasing the minimum wage and approving bills to curb gun violence. Shapiro also said Monday he wants lawmakers to lift limits that prevent adult victims of childhood sexual assault from suing their assailants and institutions. Looking forward to next year, the governor says he wants to address a court ruling that found Pennsylvania unconstitutionally discriminates against its poorest school districts. Speaking at a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon, Shapiro acknowledged that the politically divided Legislature is a challenge to his agenda.

Photo: Dayton 24/7 Now; No Access Dayton market

BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (AP) — Police in Ohio say a shooter opened fire at a Walmart, wounding four people before apparently killing himself. The attack took place Monday night at a Walmart in Beavercreek, in the Dayton metropolitan area. Police didn’t immediately release the name of the shooter, a possible motive for the attack or other details. There also wasn’t any immediate word on the conditions of the victims, who were taken to hospitals. In a statement, Walmart says the company is “heartbroken” over the shootings.

FILE – Owners bring their dogs to a park in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. Veterinary laboratories in several states, including Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire, are investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs that causes lasting illness and doesn’t respond to antibiotics. The Oregon Department of Agriculture, which is working with state researchers and the U.S. Deparment of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory to find out what is causing the illnesses, has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

Veterinary laboratories in several states are investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs. Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire are among the states that have seen cases of the illness. It does not respond to antibiotics. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge and lethargy. Veterinarians are encouraging pet owners to basic precautions like not having as much contact with other dogs and making sure the pets are up to date on their vaccinations. Labs across the country have been sharing their findings as they try to pinpoint the culprit.

NOV. 20, 2023 — In 2023, intensifying extreme disasters took a devastating toll on people in the U.S. who turned to the American Red Cross for help coping with a record number of billion-dollar disasters.

 

So far this year, an all-time high of 25 billion-dollar disasters ravaged communities across the country. In addition, families sweltered in the nation’s hottest summer on record. And back-to-back disasters led to a series of blood drive cancellations, which further strained the national Red Cross blood supply that was already dwindling from summer travel and back-to-school activities.

 

“The climate crisis is causing more humanitarian needs for families,” Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, said. “This holiday season, please remember those who need support in the face of emergencies — and join us to provide care and comfort by making a financial donation or by giving blood or platelets.”

 

Help on GivingTuesday and during the holidays by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelets. Individuals can also register for volunteer opportunities in their area.

 

INCREASING SUPPORT AMID THE CLIMATE CRISIS With the growing frequency and intensity of disasters driven by the climate crisis, the Red Cross is racing to adapt its services and grow its disaster response capacity across the country. As part of this national work in 2023, the Red Cross distributed $108 million in financial assistance directly to people after disasters of all sizes, including for major disasters such as Hurricane Idalia, the Hawaii wildfires and a spate of tornadoes across multiple states.

 

Across the country, the Red Cross is delivering this vital financial assistance on top of its immediate relief efforts — including safe shelter, nutritious meals and emotional support — which have been provided on a near-constant basis for this year’s relentless extreme disasters. In fact, this year’s onslaught of large disasters drove an increase in emergency lodging provided by the Red Cross with partners — with overnight stays up more than 50% compared to the annual average for the previous five years.

 

This year, volunteers from the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania deployed more than 300 times to disasters across the country. In addition to helping people in their local community affected by home fires, floods and storm damage, Pennsylvania volunteers stepped up to travel to relief operations in more than 20 states in 2023.

 

RESPONDING TO ADDITIONAL EMERGING NEEDS Beyond extreme disasters, people stepped up through the Red Cross to address other emerging needs for communities, including:

 

• BLOOD DONATIONS: As the nation’s largest blood supplier, the Red Cross is grateful for the millions of donors who rolled up a sleeve throughout the year for patients in need. To further improve people’s health outcomes, the Red Cross has been working with community partners to introduce blood donation to a new and more diverse generation of blood donors — which is critical to ensuring that a reliable blood supply is available to the 1 in 7 hospital patients who need a lifesaving blood transfusion. The holidays can be a challenging time to collect enough blood for those in need. To book a time to give, visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS. To celebrate the upcoming Prime Video release, Candy Cane Lane, those that come to give blood in December will be automatically entered to win a holiday prize package, including a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card and 65-inch Omni QLED Series Amazon Fire TV. There will be 12 winners. Plus, those who come to give Dec. 1-17 will get a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Terms for both offers apply. See rcblood.org/Amazon. Candy Cane Lane features an all-star cast, including Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross, and directed by Reginald Hudlin
• MILITARY FAMILIES: Red Cross workers helped service members on U.S. military installations and deployment sites worldwide — including in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As part of our support this year, Red Cross volunteers delivered emergency communications messages connecting more than 87,000 service members with their loved ones during times of family need, while also engaging members in morale and wellness activities during deployments.
• LIFESAVING TRAINING: This year, the Red Cross expanded its training to empower people to act during current-day crises — which is vital considering that nearly half of U.S. adults report being unprepared to respond to a medical emergency. This included launching the new “Until Help Arrives” online training course last spring for opioid overdoses, severe bleeding, cardiac arrest and choking emergencies, and partnering with professional sports leagues through the Smart Heart Sports Coalition to help prevent tragedies among student athletes by offering CPR training and increasing access to AEDs.

CARNEGIE, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced a $275,000 grant for Mt. Lebanon-based company Astria Biosciences, Inc. from the National Science Foundation to develop a blood test to detect cerebral aneurysms.

“Many families in Western Pennsylvania will mark Thanksgiving this week without a loved one at the table because far too many underlying health issues go undetected until it’s too late,” said Congressman Chris Deluzio. “Early detection is key to saving lives and preventing the worst outcomes. I’m proud to announce this grant funding for the work of Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District’s own Astria Biosciences, Inc. to make it both cheaper and easier to conduct screenings and testing for cerebral aneurysms.”

Specifically, this award will fund the project titled “SPIR Phase 1: A Blood Test to Detect Cerebral Aneurysms” and will support Astria Biosciences’ mission to transform diagnosis and treatment for neurological and vascular diseases.

Almost 30,000 Americans suffer a cerebral aneurysm each year, according to the National Science Foundation. With a 50% mortality rate, cerebral aneurysms can be silent killers, often going undetected. Currently, diagnostics and screenings for these aneurysms often require expensive equipment. New technology and innovative approach to blood testing could provide a new and accessible means to detect and diagnose the underlying causes of brain aneurysms. Astria Bioscience’s research could make it both easier and cheaper to perform these diagnostic tests routinely, increase aneurysm detection, and hopefully save lives.

Philadelphia, PA – Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced the approval of $36 million through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) to assist low-income individuals and improve distressed areas in Pennsylvania communities. The NAP, which provides tax credits to businesses that contribute to nonprofit organizations’ efforts to revitalize communities, will support 261 projects across the Commonwealth.

 

“Since day one, my Administration has made a commitment to strengthening our communities and making Pennsylvania a better place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “By encouraging businesses to make impactful investments in their local communities, the Neighborhood Assistance Program is driving investment to worthy causes and helping improve the lives of our fellow Pennsylvanians. This program is a great example of the impact we can have when we connect the dots between the private sector, public sector, and nonprofits – and my Administration will continue to support and grow these kinds of partnerships.”

Through the NAP, businesses can receive tax credits of up to 80 percent on the contributions they make to a qualifying community project.

 

“The Shapiro Administration knows that when local communities are healthy and vibrant, our entire Commonwealth will grow and thrive, and these investments through the Neighborhood Assistance Program are just one way we’re making that happen,” said Secretary Siger. “The NAP helps our low-income areas in a way that very few state or federal programs do – by promoting and encouraging the public-private partnerships that put communities on the right track to fiscal health and long-term prosperity.”

 

Secretary Siger announced the new statewide NAP funding during a visit to Philabundance food bank in Philadelphia, which will receive nearly $3 million in charitable food contributions from 12 regional businesses participating in the NAP.

 

“The Neighborhood Assistance Program is a crucial tool that enables Philabundance to build consistent food donor relationships, provide incentives, and show support for our most generous and longstanding food donors, helping ensure that our food distributions continue to be robustly supported by Pennsylvania food businesses,” said Loree Jones Brown, Philabundance CEO. “We want to thank the Shapiro Administration for this vital support.”

 

The approved funding will support a variety of important community projects across Pennsylvania, including:

 

• 34 community investments in the central region. One project in Lycoming County will renovate two existing electrical labs at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, allowing the enrollment and graduation of more low-income students at the school.

 

• 28 community investments in the Lehigh Valley region. One project in Berks County will renovate a long-vacant, four-floor, 51,000-square-foot building in Reading. Three non-profit organizations with high community impact will occupy the building once the renovations are complete.

 

• 33 community investments in the northeast region. One project in Wyoming County will improve access to additional healthcare services by helping Geisinger build a new Convenient Care Plus clinic at one of their facilities in Tunkhannock.

 

• 36 community investments in the northwest region. One project in Crawford County will renovate three vacant former student houses at Allegheny College and convert them into housing for qualified low-income buyers.

 

• 60 community investments in the southeast region. Philabundance in Philadelphia County, the host of today’s announcement, will utilize contributions from the NAP program to leverage monetary and in-kind food donations that will be distributed to food-insecure households across their service area, which includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

 

• 70 community investments in the southwest region. One project in Allegheny County will help provide healthcare worker uniforms to 500 women undertaking employment or training programs in rural communities and vulnerable neighborhoods.

 

The NAP has five main components: The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), Special Program Priorities (SPP), the Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP), Charitable Food Program (CFP), and the Enterprise Zone Program (EZP). More information is available on the NAP fact sheet.