Transportation & Infrastructure
PennDOT, Norfolk Southern reach agreement on expanded Amtrak service to Pittsburgh
The state of Pennsylvania and Norfolk Southern Corp. have inked a deal that will allow Amtrak to operate a second round-trip between New York City and Pittsburgh via Harrisburg each day. Under the agreement between PennDOT and the nation’s fourth-largest freight railroad, the commonwealth will invest more than $200 million in railway and safety improvements […]
Biden will travel to Michigan on Tuesday to support striking UAW workers
President Joe Biden will travel to Michigan next week in a historic show of support for striking Ford, GM and Stellantis UAW workers. “Tuesday, I’ll go to Michigan to join the picket line and stand in solidarity with the men and women of UAW as they fight for a fair share of the value they […]
UAW president sets new deadline for automakers, promising more strikes
Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers union (UAW), on Monday night announced that more locations may be called to join the union’s strike on Friday. The UAW declared a historic strike against all three members of the Big Three automakers at midnight Thursday, after contracts expired with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. Fetterman […]
Consumers face higher car prices, lower inventory with auto workers on strike
Economic experts and researchers say that the auto workers strike could have far-reaching economic consequences for businesses and consumers, depending on its duration. In addition to workers’ job losses, consumers could see higher prices for cars and depleted inventory. The United Auto Workers union, representing about 150,000 auto workers, walked off the job Sept. 15 […]
Traffic camera programs in Pa. are reducing fatalities and speeding, officials say
Pennsylvania transportation officials told lawmakers that pilot programs for the automatic enforcement of traffic laws have led to improvements in traffic safety over the last three years. In a Senate Transportation Committee hearing on Monday, Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said the programs, which allow the use of cameras in work zones and on school […]
Not all states see ambulance service as ‘essential’
When someone with a medical emergency calls 911, they expect an ambulance to show up. But sometimes, there simply isn’t one available. Most states don’t declare emergency medical services (EMS) to be an “essential service,” meaning the state government isn’t required to provide or fund them. Now, though, a growing number of states are taking […]
Automakers’ record profits not shared with workers, Biden says as UAW strike launches
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden dispatched two senior administration officials to Detroit on Friday after the United Auto Workers union began a historic strike against the Big Three auto companies amid a contract dispute. “Over the past decade auto companies have seen record profits, including over the last few years because of the extraordinary skill […]
Strike! United Auto Workers declares historic strike against Detroit Three automakers.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) declared a strike at midnight Thursday after negotiations for a new contract failed with “Detroit Three” auto manufacturers: Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. This is the first time in the union’s history it has gone on strike against all three automakers. UAW President Shawn Fain told members at the picket […]
Democrats push to extend child care grant program
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats introduced a bill Wednesday to extend funding for five years for a pandemic-era child care subsidy program set to expire at the end of the month. The legislation would extend the child care stabilization grant program, which Congress established in 2021 to help child care providers meet additional costs during the […]
Opinion: The value of life-saving emergency services is worth the price tag
By Lisa Schaefer We live in a world of monthly subscriptions. Whether it’s your two or three favorite movie streaming services, an online TV package or a gaming product, it’s likely that you receive a number of autopay notifications between $6 to $15 every month. And it’s no secret; those rates are climbing at a […]
Pa.’s 911 call centers need funding renewed before expiring in 2024, officials said Monday
Members of the state Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee heard testimony about the surcharge and what would happen to funding for 911 call centers if that funding source were allowed to expire.
‘Resources are going to be spread thin’: NE Pennsylvania rallies after weekend storms
SCRANTON – The sun was shining when Susan Berkoski, her mother, and son left her house on Saturday. By the time they came home, flood waters from heavy rains had washed away the Ransom Township couple’s driveway and opened up a sinkhole in their yard. Before the night was over, she watched as a fire […]