News
Irene Batters, Floods Pennsylvania
Hurricane Irene continues its slow, lumbering journey up the east coast bringing heavy rains and powerful winds to the eastern half of the Commonwealth. Some of the heaviest rainfall has been recorded in south-central Pennsylvania, where totals in York and Lancaster counties have topped a half-foot according to the National Weather Service. The Philadelphia region […]
Utilities Prepare for Irene
Utilities in the path of Irene have been busy preparing for the storm, transferring crews and even having tree trimming crews available if the hurricane causes damage to the power grid. They urge customers to call if they lose service during the storm, and not just assume the utility knows because the whole neighborhood is […]
Corbett Signs Disaster Declaration Ahead of Hurricane Irene
By declaring a statewide disaster emergency, Governor Tom Corbett says state agencies will have the flexibility they need to provide help to local emergency responders. It also authorizes the state to use all resources and personnel as necessary. 1,500 National Guard troops have been pre-positioned in central and eastern PA. “Hopefully we won’t have […]
AAA Projects a Slight Decrease In Labor Day Travel
The Labor Day holiday travel period starts a week from today and AAA says more than 31 million Americans plan to travel at least 50 miles from home. Compared to last Labor Day, travel is expected to be off by about 2.4% nationwide. AAA says more people will drive and fewer will fly, thanks in […]
Hurricane Irene Impacting North Carolina, Pennsylvania Bracing for Wind and Rain From the Storm
The Outer Banks of North Carolina are taking direct hit from Hurricane Irene, but preparations are underway from the Carolinas north, including Pennsylvania, as the storm barrels up the coast. Bill Read, Director of the National Hurricane Center, says the rest of the Eastern Seaboard is well within its path as it moves up the coast. […]
Committee to Consider Charter School Reforms this Fall
Pennsylvania’s charter school law was considered one of the nation’s best when it was enacted in 1997, but 14-years later many are calling for reforms. “A number of states… have surpassed the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in adopting stronger charter laws, all with the goal of making charter schools more viable and a high quality option,” […]
Earthquake Called Significant for this Region
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia about 80 miles from the nation’s capital caused reports of damage Tuesday afternoon. It was felt across much of Pennsylvania. The tremor chased people out of the state capitol complex and even buildings in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It was centered just outside of Louisa, Virginia. Dr. Charles Sharnberger, […]
Pennsylvania Health Department Advises of Possible Measles Exposure
An international traveler diagnosed with measles may have made several stops in Pennsylvania last week. State Health officials say the visitor arrived in Philadelphia on August 14th and departed on the 17th. Christine Cronkright, Director of Communications at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, says there are people who could be at risk, including infants less than […]
Book Documents Flight 93 Temporary Memorial
As many look forward to the dedication of Phase I of the Flight 93 National Memorial, a new book looks back at the temporary memorial that once marked the crash site in Somerset County. Gripped by the site from the first time he laid eyes on it in 2005, Pittsburgh photographer and author Richard Snodgrass […]
There’s More Natural Gas Down There Than First Thought
A new assessment from the US Geological Survey finds that the Marcellus Shale contains about 84-trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, but recoverable, natural gas. That’s a 4,100% increase over 2002 figures. “We’re learning much more about the Marcellus, geologically and scientifically,” says Marcellus Shale Coalition policy and communications director Steve Forde. “We’re learning it is […]