Hunters will have increased access to roads in state parks.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts visiting Pennsylvania's state-owned woodlands will have access to additional roads in 18 of the 20 state forest districts.

“Normally open only for administrative use, these roads will afford easier access to state forestlands for hunters, hikers and others,” Dunn said.

More than 3,000 miles of state forest road were open during the statewide archery deer season, which closed Nov. 16. They will remain open through other hunting seasons continuing into January, but forest managers may close some when weather conditions dictate.

“For the hunter, regardless of whether they're seeking deer, bear, turkey or small game, more than 90 percent of our state forest system now is within one-half mile of an open road,” said Dunn.

On the Game Commission's website, there is an interactive map that highlights the state game lands, districting and Disease Management Areas. Find this at maps.dcnr.pa.gov/bof/huntmap/index.html.

Find out which roads are open at www.dcnr.pa.gov/Recreation/WhatToDo/Hunting/RoadsOpenForDeerSeason/Pages/default.aspx.

CRANBERRY TWP — Motorists heading south near Cranberry on I-79 may face delays Wednesday as PennDOT completes the first phase of its interstate bridge over North Boundary Road.Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. there will be short-term single-lane closures between mile markers 81.4 and 80.5 on I-79 southbound as road crews remove the temporary road that allowed traffic to flow while the bridge was being constructed.Following the closures, drivers will be able to drive on the new, two-lane bridge.The second phase of the project is planned to begin in spring. In that project, PennDOT will replace the bridge heading north.

Humane Society sets holiday open house for SundayThe Butler County Humane Society is hosting a holiday open house Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.The event will feature raffle gifts and food.A holiday backdrop is set up for attendees to have their photo taken with Santa Claus. The suggested donation for a photo is $10.The Humane Society is at 1015 Evans City Road in Renfrew.

U.S. Senators Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., asked for a halt to obstruction of health benefits and disability compensation for about 83,000 veterans.According to a news release, the pair of senators sent a letter to the Trump administration urging it to stop the obstruction.Following a federally mandated National Academies of Medicine study on the health effects of exposure to Agent Orange, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney declined to include illnesses determined by the study to be linked to exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals used during the Vietnam War as presumptive conditions.“By refusing to include these illnesses on the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) list of Agent Orange presumptive benefits, OMB is acting in direct opposition to the NAM's analysis of peer-reviewed reports that suggest otherwise,” the letter said. “Our nation must live up to the promises it has made to the men and women who have sacrificed much by serving in uniform.”