Slots Revenue Up but Slot Machine Growth Faster

Same casino gross revenues in Pennsylvania were up year-to-year in April but per machine revenues are falling. The PA Gaming Control Board reports the seven casinos operating in the state in April 2009 generated $150,658,363 in gross revenues. That compares to $132,433,621 in April 2008. That is a 13.8% increase. However, over the same period of time the number of operating slots in the state went from 15,022 to 17,350. That is an increase of 15.1%. Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack is the only slots parlor in the state to record a drop in revenue from April 08 to April 09 (-2.5%). The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse saw the biggest jump in revenue moving up by 42.0%. The Meadows Racetrack and Casino saw a 13.4% increase in revenues. April was an unusual month for the facility. It operated with substantially fewer machines for the first half of the month, closed for one day as it transitioned from its temporary to new permanent facility, ad then opened the new facility with a gala. The PGCB also reports for the first 10 months of the state fiscal year, slots tax revenues are up 26.2% compared to the previous year, or $775,770,962 in 2008/09 compared to $614,873,716 in the same period in the 2007/08 fiscal year. Board Chair Mary DiGiacomo Colins says, "The success of regulated gaming can be seen by how the numbers are exceeding projections, even as the economy struggles." The Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem is expected to open later this month.

New Southwest Regional Director Named by Rendell

Governor Ed Rendell has named a new Director of his Southwest Regional Offices: John Paul Jones, formerly a special assistant to the commonwealth's Secretary of General Services, will replace the outgoing Allen Kukovich in the stewardship position. While crediting Kukovich for his fine work, Rendell also calls Jones "a strong asset" and the "right person to fill this position." In the past, Jones coordinated state oversight of the Penguins' new arena construction and served as the project manager for the sale of the Pittsburgh State Office Building and the shutdown of Mayview State Hospital. Jones says though he's excited to continue working with the Penguins and with the sale of the closed Mayview, he will make the region's economy his point of focus. A native of Sheridan, Jones earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh and his Bachelor of Science Degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

950 Acres Acquired by Flight 93 Memorial

The Families of Flight 93 are now one step closer to a permanent memorial, as 950 acres of land formerly owned by PBS Coals has been transferred to the California-based organization. Patrick White, vice president of Families of Flight 93, signed the deed Saturday, making this the single largest amount of land acquired by the group to date. The closing for the property will be later this week. National Park Superintendent Joanne Hanley says acquiring the remaining land -- including a 274-acre plot owned by Svonavec, Inc. -- is the next step in a long process of memorial construction. "We have to finish the construction drawings, and finalize all of our permits, and wrap up the fundraising for this first phase of the memorial, and come the end of the year, we should be and will be ready for writing a construction contract," says Hanley. In addition to the new land, a new rendering of the memorial-to-be is available at the National Parks Service's website.

PAT Has Three New Plans

The Port Authority of Allegheny County has posted three broad concepts for a new service template on its website. PAT spokesperson Jim Ritchie says the ultimate goal is to find a smarter way to run the system. He says all the consultants looked for the waste in the system and then reallocated those resources. Ritchie says the public can look at the concepts online and then leave comments. The plans will also be presented at open house event June 3rd and 8th. The Authority will also be making presentations to several organizations. One of the concepts would use “rapid buses” or express buses on existing routes. Another would dump the hub and spoke system for a grid system with buses moving either north and south or east and west. Riders would have to make more transfers under tat plan. Ritchie says PAT is a bit skeptical of that plan but they want to get input on the concept. All three concepts modify the way busses pass through the golden triangle. Ritchie says none of the concepts are mutually exclusive. He says he hopes residents will comment on what they like and dislike about each concept to help the authority merge all three into a single final solution. This would be the first major system overhaul in 30years. None of the plans discus new fare structures.

Today is Police Memorial Day in Pennsylvania

State Senator Mike Stack introduced the resolution last week setting aside the day. In the resolution he notes approximately 710 police officers in Pennsylvania have made the ultimate sacrifice since the commonwealth was founded. Stack says while Pennsylvanians have the three Pittsburgh police officers recently killed foremost I their thoughts, it is important to remember all those who have died in the line of duty. He says the hole they leave in their communities takes years to heal. Last year 8 officers were killed in Pennsylvania. A special dedication ceremony will be held in Harrisburg today for the officers. Stack says the day should remind us to not only honor those who have died but also to respect the men and women who risk their lives every day for the public’s safety. The memorial day in Pennsylvania comes 6 days before the start of National Police Week.

May Declared ALS Awareness Month in Pennsylvania

Major League Baseball has joined with local ALS Association chapters to sponsor awareness days -- the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted theirs this Sunday, May 3rd, when they play the Cincinatti Reds. State Senator Larry Farnese of Philadelphia, who sponsored the resolution of ALS Month, says about 5,000 are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease for the famous Yankee who died from it, ALS is characterized by a degeneration of motor cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness. As the disease progresses, severe impairment of mobility, speech, swallowing, and respiratory function follows. While recent research has shed light on possible causes of ALS, its cure remains elusive.

Moth Population to Be Curbed

Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be combating the state’s surging gypsy moth population once again this year. Over 175,000 acres of private and public woodlands will be sprayed with the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis, made from the spores of a particular fungus. DCNR spokesman Terry Brady says the trees of the state are in jeopardy due to the pests’ overpopulation. “[Gypsy moths] cannot be eradicated, and this is not an eradication effort. It is a control effort to save our oak trees… If an oak is defoliated once or twice, it will die, and when you lose an oak, you lose more than just shade. You lose the [potential] for a massive amount of wildlife,” says Brady. Brady says the spraying will cost roughly $37 per acre, for a total of nearly $6.5 million. Though nearly all of the insecticide will be used in central and northwestern parts of the state, homeowners in unsprayed areas with a gypsy moth problem can still find preventive methods at DCNR’s website.

First Case of Swine Flu reported in Pennsylvania

Health officials confirmed Pennsylvania's first case of swine flu Sunday in a 31-year-old man in suburban Philadelphia's Montgomery County. Governor Ed Rendell says that the man had recently arrived from Mexico but had recovered. Officials are investigating seven more probable cases of the illness, including three probable cases in Philadelphia, two in Montgomery County, and one each in Bucks, Lycoming and Luzerne counties. Pennsylvania Health Secretary Everette James urged calm and common sense precautions such as washing hands frequently, covering the face when coughing or sneezing and staying home in the event of illness to avoid infecting others.

Hospital Move Finished

The new Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville section officially opened yesterday afternoon following a 7 hour move of 152 patients from the old facility in the Oakland neighborhood. Spokesman Mark Lukasiak says the patient move began about 7 a.m. Saturday and involved a team of 275 nurses, doctors, administrators, staff plus EMS personnel. More than 40 ambulances from communities in Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties transported the patients. The new $625 million Children's Hospital complex includes a 9-story 296-bed hospital, a 10-story research center, medical building and 3 parking garages.

No Confirmed Swine Flu Cases In PA

Pennsylvania Health Officials says there are still no confirmed case of the new swine flu in the state, and that a 2 year old Philadelphia boy's illness that had been considered a suspected case, has been ruled out as swine flu. Officials say there are 5 probable cases in the state, all in Montgomery County and Philadelphia.
Meantime, 20 Slippery Rock University seniors graduated yesterday in a separate ceremony. 22 seniors might have been exposed to the new swine flu while student teaching in Mexico. University officials barred them from the regular graduation ceremony after other students and parents expressed concern. 2 of the 22 did not attend the separate ceremony. None of the 22 have shown signs of illness.