By R.J. RICO Associated Press
Rents have exploded across the country, causing many to fall behind on payments, dig deep into their savings or downsize to subpar units. According to Realtor.com, median rent rose an astounding 19.3% from December 2020 to December 2021 in the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. Experts say many factors are responsible, including a nationwide shortage of housing, extremely low rental vacancies and unrelenting demand as young adults continue to enter the crowded market. Rising rents are an increasing driver of high inflation in the U.S. Analysts expect rents to continue to rise this year, but at a slower pace, thanks to increased construction.

Associated Press undefined
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A gemstone, billed as one of the largest gem-quality opals in existence, has been sold for nearly $144,000 at auction in Alaska on Sunday. The auction house, Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals, said the opal, dubbed the “Americus Australis,” weighs more than 11,800 carats. It also has a long history. Most recently, it was kept in a linen closet in a home in Big Lake, north of Anchorage, by Fred von Brandt, who mines for gold in Alaska and whose family has deep roots in the gem and rock business. The opal is larger than a brick. Von Brandt said the stone has been in his family since the late 1950s, when his grandfather bought it from an Australian opal dealer.

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(Wilmington Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they are investigating a report of theft by deception that occurred at a location on Heather Heights Road in Wilmington Twp Lawrence County on January 19, 2022 between 8 and 10 AM.
Troopers arrested 27-year-old Scott Walter of Timblin, Pa on charges of theft by deception in the incident.
Troopers didn’t supply any information as to exactly what happened only that a gold an silver color Bar that was valued at $8000 was stolen by Timblin. Troopers also said that a 2013 Chevy Silverado was involved in the incident.

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(Industry, Pa.) PennDOT announced over the weekend a portion of Barclay Hill Road between Route 68 and Tuscarawas Road in Industry Borough, will have a single-lane closure until further notice due to a slide.
PennDOT is asking motorist to please use caution when traveling in this 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.

(Shippingport, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver released more information about the deadly head-on crash that happened in Shippingport last Wednesday night that claimed the life of 56-year-old Raymond Rock and 21-year-old Nikola Dordevic, both of Midland were both killed in the accident.
State Troopers are reporting that Rock was traveling in his vehicle south on Shippingport Hill Road approaching Kiss Lane when he crossed over the center line and went into the northbound lane while negotiating a right hand curve on the roadway and struck the vehicle that Nikola Dordevic was driving head on. The impact of the head on crash killed both Rock and the younger Dordevic. 51-year-old Slobodan Dordevic was a passenger in the younger Dordevic’s car and was severely injured and was life-flighted to UPMC Presby for further treatment. There is no word on his condition.
Beaver County Deputy Coroner Bill Pasquale said late last week that the cause of death for both men was blunt force trauma.

Pennsylvania high court eyes how to pick House districts map
By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Justices on Pennsylvania’s state Supreme Court are weighing how to pick a map of new congressional districts. The justices listened to more than a dozen lawyers for five hours Friday each trying to persuade them that their proposed map is best. Meanwhile, justices did not necessarily embrace a Republican-backed map recommended by a lower court judge, but viewed by Democrats as blatantly partisan. Rather, justices seemed to search for a non-partisan and neutral basis on which to select a map. Pennsylvania’s Democratic-majority court must make the final decision on how to draw the state’s congressional districts after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature deadlocked.

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(File Photo of Flooding along the Beaver River in April of 2018)

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that portions of the following state roadways are closed or restricted due to flooding:

 

Allegheny County

• Potato Garden Run Road (Route 3071) single-lane restriction between US-22 in North Fayette Township and Boggs Road in Findlay Township

Beaver County

• Route 30 between Long Road to Hookstown Frankfort Road (PA-168) in Greene Township
• Mercer Road (Route 1006) between Route 65 and PA-288 (Zelienople Road) in Franklin Township
• North Camp Run Road (Route 1011) between PA-288 and American School Road in Franklin Township
• Barclay Hill Road (Route 4037) single-lane restriction between Midland Beaver Road and John E Gray Drive in Industry Borough
• Brush Creek Road (Route 1019) between Powell Road and Mellon Road (Route 1018) in New Sewickley Township
• Service Creek Road (Route 3020) between Parrish Drive in Hopewell Township and Clearview Road in Independence Township
• Hartzell School Road (Route 1015) between PA-588 in Marion Township and Fombell Road in Franklin Township
• Park Road (Route 3023) between E. Hookstown Grade Road and Hookstown Grade Road in Independence Township
• Independence Road (Route 3013) between Tank Farm Road in Independence Township and Bryson Road in Hopewell Township
• Soap Run Road (Route 1008) between PA-288/Zelienople Road Intersection and Celia Road in Franklin Township
• Route 68 in Industry Borough single-lane restriction between Sebring Road and Barclay Hill Road
• Route 588 between Pine Run Road and Hartzell School Road
• Service Creek Road (Route 3020) between Davis Road in Independence Township and Parrish Road in Hopewell Township
• Raccoon Creek Road (Route 3019) between Mowry Road and Route 18 in Potter Township
• Paradise Road (Route 4041) between Middle Road and Wolf Run Road in Industry Borough

Lawrence County

• Houston Road (Route 3011) in Little Beaver Township from Scott-Wallace Road to Beaver Dam Road
• Route 351 from Gilmore Road to Route 351/551 intersection
• Route 551 from Gilmore Road to Route 551/351 intersection
• Mt. Herman Church Road (Route 2013) between Frew Mill Road and Princeton Station Road in Slippery Rock Township

 

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.