Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 12, when the clocks in most U.S. states will “spring forward.” AAA East Central advises motorists and pedestrians to make the proper adjustments for safer travel.

“Many will find on Monday that their normal morning commutes will be darker than they’re used to, which can be especially dangerous for pedestrians and children waiting at bus stops,” says Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central. “Moreover, less sleep can lead to an increase in the number of drowsy drivers, so motorists should prepare themselves to adjust to losing an hour of sleep and then driving in darker conditions.”

Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that drivers who don’t get enough sleep put everyone on the road at risk, and that drowsy driving crashes are nearly eight times more prominent than indicated by federal estimates due to the difficulty in detecting drowsiness following a crash.  Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 35 percent of U.S. motorists sleep less than the recommended minimum of seven hours daily – which could be exacerbated by this weekend’s time change.

The most common symptoms of drowsy driving include:

• Having trouble keeping your eyes open.
• Drifting from your lane.
• Not remembering the last few miles driven.

 

Given that drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving, AAA East Central advises motorists to take the following steps:

• Plan for an extra hour of sleep to offset the time change.
• Avoid heavy foods before driving.
• Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment.
• For longer trips, schedule a break every two hours or 100 miles.

 

Additionally, pedestrians should take the following steps to increase their safety:

• Pay attention while walking, especially near crosswalks.
• Wear bright colors or reflective clothing at dusk and at night.
• Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark.
• Make eye contact with drivers when crossing streets.
• Walk on the sidewalk, or walk facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.
• Cross at intersections, and never run out from in between parked cars on the side of the road.

Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 12, and the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania reminds everyone to TURN your clocks forward one hour and TEST your smoke alarms.

 

Did you know working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half? That’s why it’s critical to “Turn and Test” and take these lifesaving steps to stay safe from home fires — the nation’s most frequent disaster:

 

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it.
• Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. That’s because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Check the date of your smoke alarms and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Practice your two-minute escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out from every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows where to meet.
• Teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

 

“As many as seven people die in this country every day from a home fire, but smoke alarms cut your risk in half,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. “Protect your household this weekend. Turn your clocks forward and test your smoke alarms.”

 

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. You can also download our free Emergency app by searching for “American Red Cross” in app stores.

PITTSBURGH, Pa.– Allegheny Health Network’s Director of Sports Performance, Frank Velasquez Jr., ATC, CSCS, has been selected the strength and conditioning coach for Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic. Velasquez will oversee the strength training, conditioning, and overall wellness program for the team.

Velasquez is a certified athletic trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist who worked in professional baseball for 16 years, including nine years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2015, he joined Allegheny Health Network (AHN) to serve as Director of the Sports Performance program with locations at the AHN Sports Complex at Cool Springs in Bethel Park, Pa., AHN Sports Performance at Wexford Plaza in Wexford, Pa., and the AHN Montour Health & Sports Medicine Center in Coraopolis, Pa.

The World Baseball Classic is the premier global baseball competition in which 20 teams from countries around the world participate. After three rounds over the course of two weeks, the winning team is named the world champion.

With the Classic taking place just weeks away from the start of the MLB regular season, Velasquez says he will also assist the players in their preparation for the upcoming season.

“I want to support Team Nicaragua’s athletes to compete at a high level throughout the World Baseball Classic, but I’ll also be there to help each of the players in the continuation of their spring training regimens,” said Velasquez. “I have long been dedicated to helping athletes reach their highest level of performance and am appreciative for this opportunity.”

Under Velasquez’s leadership, the AHN sports performance team offers advanced, individualized strength training, physical therapy, sports nutrition, massage therapy and sports medicine services for developing youths, performing athletes and active adults. Specialty programs and clinics available include strength training for endurance athletes, in-season arm care, summer/winter athletic development and the ACL integrity program.

These programs follow scientifically proven, industry-leading protocols and are supported by highly advanced technologies, including an Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill, VO2 Max Testing, the Dynavision Reaction Board visumotor-training device (designed to improve reaction times), and the Makoto Functional Arena (a 360-degree, multi-planar simulator that provides a close approximation to real-time sports).

“With Frank’s wealth of knowledge and drive to develop athletes at all levels, it is no surprise that he has been asked to help lead Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic,” said Patrick J. DeMeo, MD, Chair of the AHN Orthopaedic Institute and Medical Director of the Pittsburgh Pirates. “We are proud to have Frank represent AHN on this global platform and wish him and the team the best of luck.”

AHN is the official medical provider of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Gannon University, the Community College of Allegheny County and more than 30 Pittsburgh-area high school athletic programs.

Harrisburg, PA. March 9th – This morning standing in front of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Auditor General and challenge Republican Tim DeFoor for the powerful oversight role in 2024. At launch, he boasted the support of a majority of Pennsylvania’s Democratic congressional delegation (full list below), PA House and Senate leaders, Mayor Ed Gainey, and organized labor.

In his announcement, he discussed the critical nature of the role and his belief that “we need an underdog to be the watchdog for working families.”

He talked about his work in Harrisburg and how it prepares him to do this job. “As a State Representative for nearly five years, I have worked to protect workers’ rights, pass common-sense gun safety policies, and root out government corruption and waste. I’ve held multiple legislative leadership roles: as a member of the powerful State Government Committee with oversight on state agencies and elections, minority Chair of the Subcommittee on Campaign Finance and Elections, minority Chair of Automation and Technology in the Committee on Commerce, and a member of the Finance Committee.”

He also discussed his personal story growing up in a working poor family and outlined a bold agenda to reform the office and use it as a tool to “keep Pennsylvania families from being screwed.”

He highlighted a three-point agenda for the office that includes: Rebuilding the department of school audits (which was closed under Tim DeFoor), Creating a worker liaison and using the power of the office to take on wage theft, employee misclassification, and union busting, and Using the office to measure and support efforts to make communities healthier and safer.

Some of his day one endorsers released the following statements:

Speaker Joanna McClinton:
Malcolm is exactly what we need in the next Auditor General: tenacious, honest, and mission driven. I’ve watched him throughout his life and career center the needs of working Pennsylvanians. I know he will continue that work in this critical statewide role. I’m proud to endorse him.

Congressman Dwight Evans:
I’m proud to endorse Rep. Kenyatta to be our next Auditor General. I’ve served in Harrisburg and Washington. I know what it takes to deliver for people and so does Malcolm. As Auditor General I’m confident he will be a powerful and independent voice for common sense, good government, and fairness. He has worked hard around our commonwealth for years now — he can win and he will win.

Congressman Matt Cartwright:
Malcolm Kenyatta is unmovable in his support for working families and implacable in standing up to special interests. I’m supporting Kenyatta for Auditor General because I know he’ll be an independent voice for a government that works for us. He has the intellect, experience, and character to do this job. Malcolm is the Auditor General we need.
Mayor Ed Gainey:
I had the opportunity to serve with Malcolm and I’ve seen firsthand his commitment to working people. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walks. We need an Auditor General that is fearless and focused on making government work better. I have his back and I urge folks to join me.

Arthur Steinberg, President AFT Pennsylvania:
Malcolm believes deeply in the power of education and our public schools. He doesn’t just say it, he fights for it everyday in Harrisburg. The current Auditor General simply disbanded the entire school audits division to the detriment of students, families, and communities. When Rep. Kenyatta becomes Auditor General Kenyatta he will rebuild that office and hold all our schools accountable including cyber charter schools. We at AFT Pennsylvania are proud to have his back.

UFCW: We are proud to be amongst the first to endorse Malcolm Kenyatta for auditor general. Malcolm has been a steadfast supporter of our members and has always shown up when it mattered most. We know Malcolm has what it takes to ensure your taxpayer dollars are being put to good use, and we look forward to electing him as Pennsylvania’s next Auditor General.

Full list of endorsements:
Dwight Evans, Congressmember

Matt Cartwright, Congressmember

Madeleine Dean, Congressmember

Susan Wild, Congressmember

Summer Lee, Congressmember

Joanna McClinton, Speaker of the PA House

Jay Costa, PA State Senate Democratic Leader

Ed Gainey, Mayor of Pittsburgh

UFCW 1776
AFT Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Time will jump forward this weekend as the annual Daylight Savings Time period begins at 2 a-m Sunday morning. Residents should turn their clocks ahead one hour before they go to bed Saturday night. Daylight Saving Time will run until November 5th. Safety experts recommend that people use this clock shift as a reminder to also check batteries in their smoke detectors.

(Beaver, Pa.) The Beaver County Chamber of Commerce has announced Friday morning that they have extended registration for their annual Gala to Friday March 17, 2023. The cost of the Gala and Silent Auction is  $80.00 for a member of the chamber and $100.00 for a non-member. The gala and auction is being held in Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 5-7 PM.  If you would like more information or to register click on the photo below to be directed to the Chamber Registration page.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro enters the House floor before his first budget address to a joint session of the state legislature, Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. (Dan Gleiter/The Patriot-News via AP)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s nominees for attorney general and state police commissioner received unanimous approval from the Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Senate. Wednesday’s vote confirmed Michelle Henry to be attorney general and fill the last two years of Shapiro’s elected four-year term in that office. The 54-year-old Henry was Shapiro’s top deputy for all six years while he served as attorney general. Before that, she was a career prosecutor from Bucks County. The new state police commissioner is Col. Christopher Paris, a lawyer and career state police trooper. He rose through the ranks of the state police in northeastern Pennsylvania to become one of four area operations commanders.

A view of the scene Feb. 24, 2023, as the cleanup continues at the site of of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday, March 6, 2023 that Norfolk Southern has pledged several million dollars to cover the cost of the response and recovery in Pennsylvania after last month’s derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals just across the border in Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, file)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Norfolk Southern’s CEO is apologizing to Congress and pledging millions of dollars to help East Palestine, Ohio, recover from last month’s fiery train derailment. Senators are investigating railway safety and the Biden administration’s response to the disaster. In remarks prepared for Thursday’s hearing, CEO Alan Shaw says he is “deeply sorry” for the impact of the derailment. He says the railroad will “do the right thing” and commit $20 million to the response and voluntary safety upgrades. But a bipartisan group of senators wants to impose new regulations on railroads.

Harrisburg, PA – The Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) filed public assistance fraud charges against 52 individuals during January 2023. The restitution owed to the Commonwealth in these cases totals $349,835. Additional cost savings will be realized as the defendants will be temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits in the programs they allegedly defrauded.

 

“We must protect the integrity of Pennsylvania’s public assistance programs, and that’s why OSIG is working to make sure only Pennsylvanians who qualify receive assistance,” said State Inspector General Lucas M. Miller. “I am proud of OSIG’s investigators who help ensure accountability with the Commonwealth’s public assistance programs.”

 

OSIG investigates and prosecutes public assistance fraud and conducts collection activities for the public benefits programs administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS).

 

During January 2023, OSIG filed felony charges of fraudulently receiving public assistance against a total of 49 individuals and misdemeanor charges against three separate individuals. It is alleged that these individuals misrepresented themselves and fraudulently received taxpayer-funded public benefits to which they were not entitled.

 

If convicted, the maximum penalty defendants face for public assistance fraud is seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000. In the case of SNAP, Cash Assistance, or Subsidized Day Care fraud, defendants also face a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they allegedly defrauded.

 

All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

Anonymously report suspected welfare fraud on the OSIG website or call the Welfare Fraud Tipline: 1-800-932-0582.