Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Rodolfo Castro hit a 458-foot homer and drove in four runs, leading Pittsburgh over the Colorado Rockies 14-3 to complete the Pirates’ first three-game sweep at Denver since 2019. Colorado has lost eight straight games, its longest skid since nine in a row last Aug. 27 to Sept. 4. The Rockies are a National League-worst 5-14 and the game drew 18,511, the smallest crowd for a Coors Field game with unrestricted ticket sales since 18,341 on April 18, 2013. Andrew McCutchen put the Pirates ahead in the first with an RBI double off and homered in the second.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing ramp improvement work at the I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) Monaca/Shippingport Route 18 interchange in Potter Township, Beaver County will begin Monday, April 24 weather permitting.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, the ramp from northbound Route 18 to eastbound I-376 at the I-376 Monaca/Shippingport (Exit 39) interchange will close to traffic continuously through the evening of Saturday, April 29 for improvement work.

Ramp traffic will be detoured to allow crews from Lindy Paving to conduct milling and paving operations, inlet adjustments, signage improvements, and pavement marking installation.

Posted Detour

Northbound Route 18 to eastbound I-376

• Continue on northbound Route 18 past the closed ramp
• Take the ramp for West I-376 toward New Castle
• From westbound I-376, take the ramp for West 68 toward Midland (Exit 38A)
• Merge onto westbound Route 68
• Take the ramp for East I-376 toward Pittsburgh
• Follow eastbound I-376 back to the Monaca/Shippingport interchange
• End detour

PennDOT is not involved in this work and is providing this information as a public service announcement only. For additional information contact Eric Yauger at 724-208-9474.

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 1,000 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.

WASHINGTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted 1,508 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first quarter of 2023, which ended March 31, averaging 16.8 firearms caught per day. More than 93% of the firearms were loaded.

The number of firearm catches during the first quarter represents a 10.3% increase over the same period in 2022; however, the number of passengers from 2022 to 2023 has also increased. In the first quarter of 2022, TSA officers stopped 1,367 firearms at airport security checkpoints, which averaged 15.2 firearm catches per day. More than 86% of those firearms were loaded.

During the first quarter of 2023, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) screened over 191 million passengers, compared to about 158 million passengers in the first quarter of 2022, representing an increase of 20.4%. The rate of passengers with firearms during the most recent quarter was 7.9 firearms per one million passengers, decreasing slightly from the same period in 2022, when the rate of discovery was 8.6 firearms per one million passengers.

“Firearms at TSA security checkpoints present an unacceptable safety and security risk to other passengers and I am deeply concerned that the majority of these firearms our TSOs catch are loaded,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “If you carry a firearm to the checkpoint, our TSOs will see it and there will be significant penalties, to include federal penalties and additional screening, which may prolong the security screening process. You may still travel with a firearm – it just must be properly packed in your checked baggage and you must declare it to the airline.”

Firearm possession laws vary by state and local government, but firearms are prohibited in carry-on bags, at TSA security checkpoints and on board aircraft, even if a passenger has a concealed carry permit.

When passengers bring firearms to the TSA security checkpoint, TSA suspends their TSA PreCheck^® eligibility for five years, which includes current TSA PreCheck members. Additionally, TSA may conduct additional screening for those passengers to ensure no other threats are present. Late last year, TSA increased the maximum civil penalty for a firearms violation to $14,950. Passengers with firearms found in a carry-on bag at a TSA checkpoint are also subject to applicable city or state laws at that airport that may include citation or arrest.

Passengers may travel with a firearm if they properly pack the firearm in checked baggage and declare it with the airline at check-in. Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition, so travelers must also contact their airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies prior to arriving at the airport.

To view the complete list of penalties, go to TSA.gov.

Snow coats the trees and cars in Edwards, Colo., Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The new snow was wet and heavy. (Chris Dillmann/Vail Daily via AP)

DETROIT (AP) — Michelin is recalling more than 542,000 light truck tires in the U.S. because they don’t have enough traction to work in all snowy conditions. The recall covers certain Agilis CrossClimate C-Metric tires that Michelin says don’t meet U.S. snow tire safety standards. The tire maker says in documents posted Thursday by safety regulators that tires without sufficient traction can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the tires at no cost to owners. Owners will get interim notification letters starting June 12. They’ll get another letter once the replacements are available.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that overnight closures of the outbound (westbound) Fort Pitt Bridge (I-376) in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur Friday and Saturday night, April 21-22 weather permitting.

Crews will conduct the removal of existing pavement markings and installation of new durable pavement markings on the outbound (westbound) lower deck of the I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. each night.  To allow this work to occur, the outbound Fort Pitt Bridge and Fort Pitt Tunnel will close to traffic. Additionally, the ramp from the Fort Pitt Bridge to Route 837 (West Carson Street) will close.  Motorists will be detoured.

Posted Detours

I-376 (Parkway East) to the Fort Pitt Tunnel, Bridge

• From inbound I-376 Parkway East, motorists will take the I-279 Fort Duquesne Bridge/North Shore (Exit 70C) off-ramp
• Cross the Fort Duquesne Bridge
• Take the ramp toward Route 19/65 Ohio River Boulevard
• From Route 65, take the ramp to South 19 to 51 West End Bridge/Chateau Street/Western Avenue
• Turn left at the traffic light toward South 19 to I-376/51 West End Bridge
• Cross the West End Bridge
• Continue straight onto Route 51/19 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard)
• Take the ramp to West 376/South 19 toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport
• Take the ramp to West I-376 toward Carnegie/Airport
• End detour

I-376 (Parkway East) to Route 837 (West Carson Street)

• From inbound I-376 Parkway East, motorist will take the I-279 Fort Duquesne Bridge/North Shore (Exit 70C) off-ramp
• Cross the Fort Duquesne Bridge
• Take the ramp toward Route 19/65 Ohio River Boulevard
• From Route 65, take the ramp to South 19 to 51 West End Bridge/Chateau Street/Western Avenue
• Turn left at the traffic light toward South 19 to I-376/51 West End Bridge
• Cross the West End Bridge to West Carson Street
• End detour

Southbound I-279 (Parkway North) to I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge

• From southbound I-279 (Parkway North), take the North 65 Ohio River Boulevard (Exit 1C) off-ramp
• From Route 65, take the ramp to South 19 to 51 West End Bridge/Chateau Street/Western Avenue
• Turn left at the traffic light toward South 19 to I-376/51 West End Bridge
• Cross the West End Bridge
• Continue straight onto Route 51/19 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard)
• Take the ramp to West 376/South 19 toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport
• Take the ramp to West I-376 toward Carnegie/Airport
• End detour

From the Liberty Avenue Ramp to the Fort Pitt Bridge

• From Liberty Avenue, turn left onto Commonwealth Place
• Bear right onto the ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge
• Cross the Fort Duquesne Bridge
• Take the ramp toward Route 19/65 Ohio River Boulevard
• From Route 65, take the ramp to South 19 to 51 West End Bridge/Chateau Street/Western Avenue
• Turn left at the traffic light toward South 19 to I-376/51 West End Bridge
• Cross the West End Bridge
• Continue straight onto Route 51/19 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard)
• Take the ramp to West 376/South 19 toward Carnegie/Pittsburgh International Airport
• Take the ramp to West I-376 toward Carnegie/Airport
• End detour

Weather impacts may require work to occur from 9 p.m. Sunday evening to 5 a.m. Monday morning with a closure of the Fort Pitt Tunnel, Fort Pitt Bridge, and the associated ramp.  Information will be provided in advance of a closure Sunday evening.

Additional weekend work with closures will occur on the Fort Duquesne Bridge.  Information will be provided prior to any closures.

FILE – President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden leave Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Johns Island, S.C., after attending a Mass on Aug. 13, 2022. Biden is in Kiawah Island with his family on vacation. An IRS special agent is seeking whistleblower protection to disclose information regarding what the agent contends is mishandling of an investigation into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. That is according to a letter to Congress obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — An IRS special agent is seeking whistleblower protection to disclose information regarding what the agent contends is mishandling of an investigation into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. That is according to a letter to Congress obtained by The Associated Press. The attorney for the whistleblower Mark Lytle wrote to lawmakers Wednesday that his client has information about a “failure to mitigate clear conflicts of interest in the ultimate disposition,” of the criminal investigation related to the younger Biden’s taxes and foreign business work. Hunter Biden has been under federal investigation by a federal grand jury in Delaware since at least 2018. So far no charges have been filed.

SpaceX’s Starship launches from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (AP) — SpaceX’s giant new rocket exploded minutes after blasting off on its first test flight and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. Elon Musk’s company was aiming to send the nearly 400-foot (120-meter) Starship rocket on a round-the-world trip from the southern tip of Texas, near the Mexican border. It carried no people or satellites. SpaceX plans to use Starship to send people and cargo to the moon and, ultimately, Mars. A stuck valve scrapped Monday’s try. Throngs of spectators watched from several miles away from the Boca Chica Beach launch site, which was off-limits.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s high court is holding a Republican-majority county in contempt over its commissioners allowing a third party to copy voting-machine data. It was part of a failed effort to locate fraud that might overturn former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election defeat. The state Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday against Fulton County commissioners Stuart Ulsh and Randy Bunch, and their lawyers for their behavior last year. That’s when a special master appointed by the justices was trying to figure out how an outside consultant was allowed to inspect voting machines and copy computer data despite a court order against it. Ulsh says he had no regrets over how he and Bunch handled the machines.

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., speaks as GOP women members hold an event before the vote to prohibit transgender women and girls from playing on sports teams that match their gender identity, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, April 20, 2023. The Republican-led House was expected to vote Thursday to bar schools and colleges that receive federal money from allowing transgender athletes whose biological sex assigned at birth was male from competing on girls or women’s sports teams or athletic events. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led House has passed a bill that would bar federally supported schools and colleges from allowing transgender athletes whose biological sex assigned at birth was male from competing on girls or women’s sports teams. The legislation is unlikely to advance further because the Democratic-led Senate will not support it and the White House said President Joe Biden would veto it. The House action comes as at least 20 other states have imposed similar limits on trans athletes at the K-12 or collegiate level. Supporters say their effort is designed to protect fair competition in sports. Democrats criticized the effort as targeting a vulnerable group of young people for political gain.

FILE – Employees of NY State Solar, a residential and commercial photovoltaic systems company, install an array of solar panels on a roof, Aug. 11, 2022, in the Long Island hamlet of Massapequa, N.Y. The Biden administration is announcing Thursday, April 20, 2023, more than $80 million in funding as part of a push to make more solar panels in the U.S. and make solar energy available in more communities. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

The Biden administration is set to announce more than $80 million in funding Thursday in a push to produce more solar panels in the U.S., make solar energy available to more people, and pursue superior alternatives to the ubiquitous sparkly panels made with silicon. Community solar, which is set up for people who rent or live in condos or don’t control their rooftops — is at the center of the announcement. The goal is that by 2025, five million households will have access to community solar — about three times as many as today,according to the Department of Energy. There is also funding for new types of solar panels that can convert more of the sun’s energy into electricity.