Category: News

Republican Leaders Request More Detailed COVID-19 Data from Wolf Administration

HARRISBURG – The Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania General Assembly—President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Centre/Mifflin/Juniata/Huntingdon), Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), and House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin)—wrote a letter joined by Senate Health and Human Services Chairman Michele Brooks (R-Crawford/Erie/Mercer/Warren) and House Health Committee Chairman Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) to Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam seeking more specific COVID-19 data from the Wolf administration.

“We are writing to request from you receipt of more specific COVID-19 data daily updates, to include not only new COVID-19 case numbers, number of patients hospitalized and percentage recovered as specified on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard; but specific data that includes breakout information for cases regarding individuals age 18 and under. It is also important that we are able to review metrics that include case counts for individuals who are unvaccinated as well as vaccinated or partially vaccinated,” the letter reads in part.

“It remains important for all of us to be fully aware of the current situation and future outlook; and all Pennsylvanians, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, deserve to know how their respective group is performing.”

Sweeping New Vaccine Mandates for 100 million Americans

By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has announced sweeping new federal vaccine requirements affecting as many as 100 million Americans in an all-out effort to curb the surging COVID-19 delta variant. The government’s expansive new rules, announced Thursday, mandate that all employers with more than 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or test for the virus weekly, affecting about 80 million Americans. Biden has also signed an executive order requiring vaccination for all employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government. No testing opt-out is expected to be included for the executive branch requirement.

TSA to Increase Civil Penalties for Violations of the Federal Face Mask Requirement 

Today, the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will increase the range of civil penalties that may be imposed on individuals who violate the federal mask mandate at airports, on commercial aircraft, and in various modes of surface transportation, including passenger railroads, intercity bus services, and other public transportation.  The federal mask mandate for transportation, which was implemented by TSA on February 2, 2021, will remain in effect until January 18, 2022.   

The new range of penalties, which take effect Friday, September 10, 2021, will be $500-$1000 for first offenders and $1000-$3000 for second offenders. 

“Wearing a mask protects the traveling public and all of the personnel who make the travel experience safe, secure, and comfortable,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.  “We will continue to enforce the mask mandate as long as necessary to protect public health and safety.”

“We appreciate the majority of travelers each day who voluntarily follow the requirement, but find this action necessary to maximize the protections for those who use and work within the transportation system, and to contain COVID-19,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “By doubling the range of penalties, we seek to reinforce the importance of voluntary adherence.”  

TSA will provide updated signage at airports regarding these increased civil penalties.  For more information about the federal face mask requirement, visit the TSA Coronavirus webpage.

These federal mask mandate-related civil penalties are separate from the civil penalties the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues for individuals who engage in unruly and unsafe behavior.

Route 68 Sunflower Road Lane Restrictions Begin Today in Rochester Township

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing gas line replacement work on Route 68 in Rochester Township.

Gas line replacement work between Coleman Drive and Apollo Lane on Route 68 will occur weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through early November requiring single-lane alternating traffic. Crews from Miller Pipeline will conduct gas line replacement work.

PennDOT is not involved in this work and is providing this information as a public service announcement only. For additional information contact Sean Mullaney at 412-309-0837.

Please use caution if traveling in the area.

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.

Lane Restrictions on Ohio River Blvd. in Sewickley this Weekend

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PennDOT is announcing lane restrictions on Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) in Sewickley, Glen Osborne Haysville and Glenfield borough will continue through Sunday night September 12 weather permitting.

Single-lane restrictions will occur in both directions of Route 65 between the Neville Island Bridge and Walnut Street in Sewickley Borough continuously through 7 p.m. Sunday night. Crews will perform milling and paving operations.

Lane Restrictions on Stoops Ferry Hill and University Blvd. in Moon Twp. This Weekend

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing southbound lane restrictions on Stoops Ferry Road/University Boulevard (Route 51) in Moon Township, Allegheny County will occur Friday night through Sunday morning, September 10-12 weather permitting.

Single-lane restrictions will occur in the southbound direction on Stoops Ferry Road/University Boulevard between Thorn Run Road and Flaugherty Run Road from 6 p.m. Friday night continuously through 7 a.m. Sunday morning.  Crews will conduct concrete patching and excavation work.

The ramps to and from Stoops Ferry Road and University Boulevard will remain open to traffic.

The project is part of a $5.48 million group paving job which also includes milling and paving, shoulder and base repair, drainage upgrades, guide rail improvements, signage, line painting, and other various construction related activities.  Lindy Paving is the prime contractor.

Traffic Restrictions Next Week on Grand Ave. on Neville Island

PennDOT is announcing intermittent single-lane closures on Grand Avenue in Neville Township, will occur Monday through Friday, September 13-17 weather permitting.

Intermittent single-lane closures will occur beneath the Neville Island Bridge on Grand Avenue in each direction between Hubert Street and Pershing Road daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as crews conduct concrete repairs.

The $43 million I-79 Neville Island Bridge Rehabilitation Project includes structural steel repairs, full structure painting, bearing and deck joint replacements, deck repairs and overlays, bridge barrier repair, substructure concrete work and drainage improvements. The project also includes concrete roadway reconstruction, guide rail replacement and preservation work on four sign structures. Additionally, preservation work will occur on the I-79 bridge over Deer Run Road, north of the Neville Island Bridge. Motorists will see ramp closures and single-lane and shoulder closures in each direction on I-79 during daylight off-peak and overnight hours. Other traffic impacts include four northbound weekend closures in 2021 and four southbound weekend closures in 2022. The overall project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023.

Pa. State Senate Appropriations Chair Injured in Colorado Motorcycle Wreck

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A prominent Pennsylvania state senator is recovering from injuries sustained in a motorcycle wreck that happened more than a week ago. The office of Republican Sen. Pat Browne said Thursday he was in Colorado and on his way to participate in a train photography event when the crash occurred on Aug. 31. He was wearing a helmet. His injuries include a fractured neck, broken orbital bone and a concussion. He required surgery and is in stable condition. Browne is chairman of the Appropriations Committee and represents Lehigh County in the Senate.

Republicans Start Election ‘Investigation’ in Pennsylvania

Republicans start election ‘investigation’ in Pennsylvania
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans in Pennsylvania’s state Senate held their first hearing in what they call a “forensic investigation” into last year’s presidential election, with Democrats calling it an extension of a national campaign to attack voting rights following former President Donald Trump’s loss. It initially had been ardently pressed by senators vowing to bring an Arizona-style election “audit” to Pennsylvania. Republicans say the hearings are about improving the election system going forward, not about Trump or overturning the election. The subject of the hearing was to discuss pre-election guidance to counties by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration on how to handle aspects of the state’s fledgling mail-in voting law.

Loophole allows Some Pennsylvania Students to Avoid Masking

Loophole allows some Pennsylvania students to avoid masking
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM, MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A loophole in Pennsylvania’s new mask mandate for schools is allowing untold numbers of students to go to class without having to cover their faces. The state health secretary’s order requiring masks to be worn inside K-12 school and child care facilities took effect Tuesday. It includes an exemption for students who claim it would cause or worsen a medical condition. But the masking order does not require a student to produce a doctor’s note or other supporting medical documentation. Now some school boards that oppose the statewide mandate are allowing students to come to class unmasked with just a parent’s signature.