00:00And the Department of Environmental Protection has declared a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day,
00:04a temperature inversion, is expected to trap pollutants for several hours this morning,
00:09and that's the reason for also a Mon Valley episode watch.
00:13Allegheny County Council votes tonight on a controversial mandate for businesses with 15 or more workers
00:19to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
00:22NewsRadio KDKA's Paul Alexander has more.
00:25If approved, Allegheny County would become the first county in a state without a statewide mandate
00:29to adopt a policy like this.
00:31It has been reduced from 18 weeks to 12, but the CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry,
00:36Luke Bernstein, wrote a scathing letter to Allegheny County Council pointing out
00:40this policy will force businesses to raise prices on goods and services.
00:45We all as consumers are saying things cost way too much.
00:49Why on earth would we put in a policy that just would you drive up costs more for consumers?
00:54He also said that many county employers say this policy will hurt their business
00:58and force them to reduce their number of employees.
01:01Paul Alexander, NewsRadio, KDKA.
01:04Electric bills are going up in December, but customers may have options to save money.
01:10More on that now from NewsRadio KDKA's Tamara Rush in the newsroom.
01:14Paul, starting December 1st, Duquesne Light was Penn Power,
01:17and Penn Power customers will see higher electricity supply charges.
01:21The average monthly supply cost will range from about $87 for Duquesne Light customers
01:27to $129 for Penn Power.
01:30Higher power costs and inflation are contributing to the increases.
01:34Customers can compare rates from other suppliers at PAPowerswitch.com.
01:39Those struggling to pay their bills can also apply for assistance
01:43through the Dollar Energy Fund's hardship program,
01:46which runs through September 30, 2027,
01:48on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as money is available.
01:53In the newsroom, Tamara Rush, NewsRadio KDKA.
01:56Pennsylvania is a step closer to having a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools.
02:01NewsRadio KDKA's David Bollorato has this story.
02:04By a vote of 141 to 62, the statehouse gave final approval of the Senate bill,
02:08whose prime sponsor is Allegheny County Republican Devlin Robinson.
02:11Speaking in favor of the bill, Allegheny County Democrat Mandy Steele.
02:14The absolute bare minimum that we can do is to get these things out of our schools.
02:20But some critics opposed changes that were made to the bill,
02:22including allowing students who have what are called
02:24individual education plans to have phones.
02:26Scott Barger is a Blair County Republican.
02:28Parents not doing their jobs are going to rush to get an IEP developed for students
02:35to let their kiddo have a cell phone that they're sure their kid needs.
02:39After all, if they didn't think their kid needed a cell phone,
02:41they would take it away from them.
02:43This version of the bill goes back to the Senate to iron out changes.
02:46Governor Shapiro has been pushing for a ban for months.
02:49David Bollorato, NewsRadio KDKA.
02:51Allegheny County Police have identified a suspect following an overnight stabbing in Reserve Township.
02:56A 911 call about the stabbing was made a few minutes after 1 a.m.
03:00and detectives sent to Mount Troy Road and Rialto Street say a man was stabbed in the arm and was
03:06in stable condition.
03:07KDKA Sports, the Penguins lost their fourth consecutive game last night, 5-4 at Utah.
03:12They also lost forward Brian Russ to an injury.
03:15Tampa Bay beat Cleveland 7-3 in Game 6 of the ALCS,
03:18and the Rays are moving on to play the Brewers in the World Series.
03:22Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.
03:23The 49ers held on to beat the Commanders 23-17.
