State News - Saturday Jan. 13

Amber Alert Awareness Day

Today is national Amber Alert Awareness Day and the Pennsylvania State Police recognizes all Amber Alert Stakeholders and their contributions in making the program a success. The State Police issued the following statement: The efforts of these stakeholders in protecting the commonwealth’s children are sincerely appreciated. Since the inception of the Pennsylvania Amber Alert System on February 20th 2002, the partnership has directly contributed to the safe recovery of 21 abducted children who were in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. The Pennsylvania Amber Alert Stakeholders are the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, PA Department of Transportation, PA Turnpike Commission, the office of Senator Michael O'Pake, the Pennsylvania Cable and Telecommunications Association, the Municipal Officers' Education and Training Commission, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

State police taking over patrols of Philly expressway

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - State police have taken over highway patrols of a section of the Schulkill (SCHOOL-kill) Expressway inPhiladelphia. Eventually, troopers armed with radar guns are scheduled to be on the entire expressway, Interstate 95 and the Vine Street Expressway in the city. They are taking over the patrols from city police. The transition, however, is expected to take some time. And the city's police union is also fighting the change, saying city police should continue to patrol the roadways. The union says it will file an unfair labor practice action and seek an injunction on Monday.