News
Carbon Monoxide Exposures in the U.S. May Have Been Under-estimated
Carbon monoxide is a leading cause of unintentional poisoning in the U. S. according to a new CDC report, which finds the number of cases have been under estimated. The report included statistics from the National Poison Data System and finds about 45% of the cases reported to poison centers between 2000 and 2009 were […]
More Mosquito Activity in 2011
State and local officials have stepped up their West Nile virus surveillance efforts this summer, as mosquito samples have already tested positive in 39 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. That’s up from 37-counties all of last year, and 33 counties in 2009. “While we are seeing a similar number of positive samples, we are seeing it […]
Turnpike Commission Polling Cash Customers About Electronic Toll Collection
The Pennsylvania Turnpike wants to know what cash customers would do if it went to an all electronic tolling system. The Turnpike Commission has launched an online survey. Turnpike spokesman Bill Capone says the purpose of the survey is to get input on the possibility of the toll road converting to a cashless system, or […]
Parents Reminded About Vaccine Changes
It’s National Immunization Awareness Month and state health officials are reminding parents there are some new requirements for school children. Heather Stafford, director of the Division of Immunizations, says students in the seventh grade, or age 11 to 12, will now need a TDAP, or Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster and a meningococcal conjugate vaccine. […]
Are State Parks Ripe for Privatization?
It’s no secret that Governor Tom Corbett supports privatizing Pennsylvania’s liquor stores, but a pending task force will examine other government functions that may be better served in the private sector. “It’s business that creates the jobs,” Governor Corbett stressed to reporters during a recent stop in Hershey. Corbett even offered some first blush ideas: […]
Library of Congress Exhibit Rolls into PA
The Library of Congress “Gateway to Knowledge” exhibition arrived in Uniontown, PA via self-contained tractor trailer. The XL trailer expands to three times its road size to provide a first rate museum experience. “We’re introducing people – or reintroducing them – to some of the resources that are available at the Library of Congress,” says […]
Summer Camps Focus on Science
Hundreds of Pennsylvania middle schoolers are wrapping up a “Summer of Innovation.” Project director Dr. David Morgan, with the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU), says they were one of only nine organizations, nationwide, selected to receive NASA grant funding for the Summer of Innovation (SOI) camps: “To encourage students to get engaged in STEM careers: […]
Locally Owned Small Business May Pack a Bigger Economic Punch
Small, locally owned businesses and start-up companies tend to provide higher, long term economic growth according to Dr. Stephan Goetz,professor of agricultural and regional economics at Penn State University and director of the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development. Dr. Goetz and graduate student David Fleming were investigating whether firm ownership and size mattered in […]
Pennsylvania Among States Affected by Salmonella Outbreak
Federal officials say the government hopes to pinpoint the source of a salmonella outbreak linked to ground turkey very soon. The outbreak dates back to March and Pennsylvania has confirmed five cases in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas. One death has been reported in California and 71 people have been sickened in two dozen other […]
CareerBuilder Survey: Workers Report Burnout
Is ‘summer fever’ spreading in your office? In a recent survey of employee productivity, CareerBuilder found that 26% of employers think their workers are less productive in the summer. Some of the possible culprits: sunny weather, vacation plans and kids being home from school. But there are other factors at play. “Workers really have just […]