February 3, 2022 2:49 am
Harrisburg, PA – In anticipation of potentially hazardous wintry and icy conditions in much of the state on Thursday and Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) are advising motorists to monitor local forecasts and avoid unnecessary travel. Additionally, the agencies anticipate implementing various speed and vehicle restrictions throughout the storm under Tier 1 restrictions (see below). Restrictions will be communicated via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website and smartphone apps. Motorists can also sign up for personalized alerts on the website.
In Effect As Of Thursday, February 3rd, vehicle restrictions are planned for the following roadways:
- Interstate 70 in Washington & Westmoreland counties
- Interstate 79 in Washington & Greene counties
- Interstate 79 from I-80 to Erie
- I-80 from the Ohio border to I-99
- I-86, entire length
- I-90, entire length
Effective at 6:00 PM Thursday, February 3, vehicle restrictions are planned for the following roadways:
- I-70, entire length;
- I-76 from the Ohio Line to Breezewood (Exit 161)
- I-79, entire length
- I-80, entire length
- I-81 from I-80 to the New York border;
- I-84, entire length
- I-99, entire length
- I-180, entire length
- I-279, entire length
- I-376, entire length
- I-380, entire length
- I-579, entire length
- All of PA Turnpike 43, 66, 376 and 576.
Under Tier 1 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways:
- Tractors without trailers;
- Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers;
- Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers;
- Enclosed cargo delivery trucks that meet the definition of a CMV;
- Passenger vehicles (cars, SUV’s, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers;
- Recreational vehicles/motorhomes;
- School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches not carrying chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATD’s); and
- Motorcycles.
February 2, 2022 5:26 pm
DALLAS (AP) – The travel industry is lobbying Washington for changes it thinks will get more people on airplanes and staying in hotels. Airline and tourism groups want the U.S. to eliminate its requirement that travelers provide a negative test for COVID-19 before boarding a U.S.-bound plane. The United Kingdom made a similar change last month. And tourism industry officials also say they are talking to lawmakers about tax breaks to boost business travel, which is recovering much more slowly than leisure travel during the pandemic.
February 2, 2022 3:31 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s governor and his Democratic allies in the Legislature are laying out their proposal to spend federal pandemic relief money on workers, environmental programs and a one-time property tax subsidy for lower-income homeowners and renters. The plan was announced Wednesday, less than a week before Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to present his 2022-23 state budget proposal to the Republican-majority General Assembly. Lawmakers would have to approve the spending for the plan to take effect. The $1.7 billion Democratic proposal’s largest category is $500 million to help families pay for child care, household expenses and classes, training and licenses to obtain greater skills and boost their incomes.
February 2, 2022 3:38 am
TORONTO (AP) – Thousands of Canadian protesters railing against vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions descended on the country’s capital over the weekend, deliberately blocking traffic around Parliament Hill. Some urinated and parked on the National War Memorial. One danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A number carried signs and flags with swastikas. In the aftermath of Canada’s biggest pandemic protest to date, the demonstrators have found little sympathy in a country where more than 80% are vaccinated. Many people are outraged by some of the crude behavior. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling the Ottawa protesters a “fringe minority” and says they reflect the proliferation of conspiracy theories and misinformation.
February 2, 2022 3:37 am
NEW YORK (AP) – CNN President Jeff Zucker abruptly resigned after acknowledging a consensual relationship with another network executive. The announcement on Wednesday ended his nine-year tenure at the helm of the one of the nation’s largest media companies. Zucker said he acknowledged the relationship when asked about it as part of an investigation into Chris Cuomo. He’s the former CNN anchor who was fired after it was discovered that he aided his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he navigated a sexual harassment investigation. It was not immediately clear who would run CNN while a permanent replacement is sought. (Photo: CNN)
February 2, 2022 3:36 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Whoopi Goldberg has been suspended for two weeks as co-host of “The View” because of what the head of ABC News called her “wrong and hurtful comments” about Jews and the Holocaust. ABC News President Kim Godwin announced the decision Tuesday night, saying despite an apology by Goldberg she wanted the host to take the time to “reflect and learn about the impact of her comments.” Goldberg has apologized for saying the Holocaust was not about race during a discussion on Monday’s “The View” show. On Tuesday she explained how she was educated that her comments on the show the day before were wrong.
February 2, 2022 3:33 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A major winter storm was expected to affect a huge swath of the United States, with heavy snow starting in the Rockies and freezing rain as far south as Texas before it drops snow and ice on the Midwest. The forecast comes nearly a year after a catastrophic winter storm devastated Texas’ power grid, causing hundreds of deaths. Winter storm watches and warnings covered a wide swath of the country from El Paso, Texas, through the Midwest and parts of the Northeast to Burlington, Vermont. During the multi-day storm, some areas may see a mix of rain and freezing rain before it changes to snow. More than a foot of snow is forecast in places. Airlines had canceled more than 1,000 flights in the U.S. scheduled for Wednesday.
February 2, 2022 3:30 am
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) – It’s Groundhog Day we now know there will be six more weeks of winter. People gathered Wednesday at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summoned him from his tree stump at dawn to learn if he has seen his shadow. According to folklore, there will be six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow. If he doesn’t, spring comes early. Records dating to the late 1800s show Phil has predicted longer winters more than 100 times. The 2020 forecast called for an early spring. The event took place virtually last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. This was the 136th meeting of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Phil had a crowd of over 10,000 people, which is one of the largest crowds on hand for the ceremony. Officials from the Inner Circle say the crowd gathered at 3:00 am with no sleep to attend the annual event. People from across the country and around the world were able to watch the festivities on live streams.
February 2, 2022 3:28 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania’s highest court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting law, after a lower court ruled the law violates the state constitution. The state Supreme Court said Wednesday it will hear oral arguments at its March 8 session in Harrisburg. The mail-in voting law – which allows no-excuse mail-in voting by any registered voter – remains in force while the state Supreme Court hears the appeal by Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration. Three Republican judges on a Commonwealth Court panel of five judges agreed Friday with Republican challengers and ruled that no-excuse mail-in voting is prohibited under the state constitution. The two Democratic judges on the panel dissented.
February 2, 2022 2:15 am
A West Pike Run Township woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend asked for a non-jury trial on Wednesday. Back in July, Pennsylvania State Police were called to the residence of Brianna Payton, 23 of Daisytown and her boyfriend Daniel Spires about an argument. During the argument Payton went to the kitchen and retrieved a knife and tried to stab Spires through a hole in a door. Spires was taken to a hospital with stab wounds to his chest and ribs. During a search of the home, police found marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Payton is facing attempted homicide, aggravated assault and drug possession charges. Spires is awaiting a preliminary hearing on drug possession charges. Payton’s trial will begin on April 1.
