Traffic deaths in PA rose nearly 5% during 2018HARRISBURG — The number of people killed on Pennsylvania’s roads rose in 2018, fueled by increases in the deaths of senior citizens and pedestrians.Figures released Thursday show there were 1,190 traffic deaths in the state last year. That’s up nearly 5% from the 1,137 deaths in 2017.There was a 34% increase in pedestrian deaths and fatal crashes involving senior citizens rose from 124 to 188. Alcohol-related fatal crashes rose from 293 to 331.PennDOT says fatal crashes involving drivers who were 16 or 17 years of age were at a new low of 26 in 2018.Officials say the 164 motorcycle fatalities were a 14-year low.PennDOT says it continues to work to educate motorists and pedestrians about safety.

Wolf tells group he’ll fight for cash assistance programMOUNT WOLF— Gov. Tom Wolf is telling demonstrators that he’ll fight Republican resistance to a Depression-era program in his budget proposal that provides a $200-a-month cash benefit for the poor who are disabled or otherwise unable to work.Wolf, a Democrat, spoke with demonstrators from the Poor People’s Campaign who showed up at his Mount Wolf home Thursday afternoon.Demonstrators urged him to veto any spending package from the Republican-controlled Legislature that eliminates it.Wolf told them he’d work hard to get it into budget legislation, but said the Legislature would override his veto.The program is projected to cost $50 million to serve almost 10,000 people. Backers say it often goes toward rent for someone who is disabled and waiting on their application for Social Security disability benefits to be approved.

2 teens killed by lightning were found below treeKECKSBURG — Authorities say two teenagers killed by lightning in a park in Pennsylvania were found below a large splintered tree.Westmoreland County’s coroner says 18-year-old Brendan McGowan, of North Huntingdon, and 19-year-old Kaitlyn Rosensteel, of Donoroa, died Thursday afternoon at Mammoth Park near Kecksburg.Coroner Kenneth Bacha says bystanders started CPR, followed by park police, but they were unable to revive the victims.Strong thunderstorms had moved through the area around the time, bringing a cluster of lightning strikes to the area around the park. The strike occurred on a peninsula that juts out into a 24-acre lake.