Good Morning, Pennsylvania: Black Friday's future; deer crashes; lawmakers' big raise

Also, how the Eagles fared vs. the Chiefs on Monday Night Football.

View in browser  |  Get our newsletters Good Morning, Pennsylvania TUESDAY, NOV. 21, 2023 • TODAY'S WEATHER Look out for deer Hitting deer might be common for Pennsylvania drivers, but it also can be dangerous.   After talking to PennDOT, our J.D. Prose learned some things about deer vs. drivers: Between 2018 and 2022, there were nearly 3,900 deer-related crashes in the state, resulting in more than 770 injuries and three deaths, one each in Dauphin, Perry and Adams counties.    Now is the busiest time to see deer out and about, paying no attention to humans' roads. The mating season, or the rut, is in full swing for deer. Also, farmers are clearing their fields, daylight saving time has ended, hunting season is starting, and construction is rousing deer from their homes.    A study by State Farm found that Pa. drivers have the third-highest odds for hitting deer at 1 in 59, trailing West Virginia (1 in 38) and Montana (1 in 53).   To try to protect yourself, pay close attention to surroundings, wear seat belts and make sure your vehicle is in good condition, PennDOT says.   Now, let's take a look at this morning's headlines. Curated by Janet Pickel PHOTO OF THE DAY: Country musician Jon Pardi performed with his band Saturday at the Giant Center in Hershey. (Zach Gleiter, for PennLive.com) Today's talkers 'Coins' to feed the needy: A program designed to feed people facing food insecurity can also benefit businesses: Breadcoin. The national program, with Harrisburg-area participants, works on the principle of cryptocurrency, using prepaid tokens that can be donated to those in need to use as payment at participating restaurants.   First year on the job: Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro says his first year in office was one where he "got stuff done," but acknowledges there's still unfinished business he hopes to tackle: delivering scholarships to private school students and raising the state's $7.25 hourly minimum wage.   Lawmakers' pay: Starting next month, base salaries for Pa. lawmakers will top $106,000 a year. The 3.5% raise pushes salaries to $106,422 — or $8,869 a month — up from the $102,844 last year when lawmakers' pay hit six figures for the first time. Only legislators in California and New York make a higher base pay. Read more Business Changing auto dealerships: Ciocca, which operates 42 dealerships and 12 collision centers across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is about to become even bigger. The Stewart Companies has reached an agreement to sell 10+ York County automotive businesses to Ciocca. See also: Frontier Airlines slashes its annual pass price   Business growth: Swatara Township-based Schaedler Yesco Distribution has acquired a family-owned electric supply company from western Pa. See also: 65 employees from Pa. facility to be laid off   Rite Aid store stays: Rite Aid has revered its decision to close a Harrisburg store. The Strawberry Square shop is supposed to stay open, but others across the region and state are still closing. The company has sued the U.S. Department of Justice in an attempt to block a lawsuit related to opioid prescriptions. Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy recently. Read more Cops & courts Judge suspended again: The Court of Judicial Discipline has suspended Dauphin County District Judge Sonya McKnight, 56, without pay until it reaches a decision concerning ethical violations charged in September.  She was suspended for about six months in 2021.   Ailing man's prison release: A dying man won release from a Pa. prison after Spotlight PA highlighted his case. However, it shouldn't be that hard for such moves to happen, advocates say. See also: Deaths in Pa. jails are undercounted. Our investigation found dozens of hidden cases   Dog abandoned at airport: Police have charged a West Virginia man with abandoning his dog at a western Pa. airport last week before flying to California. The animal was left tied to a light pole and has dental problems, officials said.   Business owner charged in shooting: An Allegheny County business owner is behind bars after police say he shot a 15-year-old who attempted to steal a tip jar.   Driver ID'd after fatal crash: A 57-year-old man died when he was thrown from his vehicle during a Saturday morning crash in Lower Paxton Township, authorities said. Read more Advertisement Thanksgiving week Is Black Friday still a thing?: Traditionally, shopping on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has been an integral part of celebrations and is the kick-off to the holiday shopping season. It's historically the busiest shopping day of the year, although in recent years it has morphed into a longer event with a growing online component. Some predict Black Friday is teetering on the edge of extinction.   Thanksgiving Eve: Next to New Year's Eve, the night before Thanksgiving is one of the biggest drinking nights of the year. If you haven't been in the Harrisburg area lately, you might not be familiar with these places.   Holiday travel: GasBuddy is predicting the national average price for a gallon of gas will fall to $3.25 for Thanksgiving. That's a dime below the national average last week. Also, Sheetz has reduced prices on its unleaded 88 gas. Millions of people are expected to travel this week, filling airports as well as highways.   Thanksgiving dinners: Several restaurants and hotels will be open on Thanksgiving with brunches, buffets and dinners, if reservations are still open. Also, you can get food to-go from grocery stores and other places.   Santa's schedule: Santa Claus has scheduled numerous appearances in central Pa. over the next few weeks.   Food prices: Inflation is slowing, turkey prices are dropping and yet Thanksgiving dinners will still cost more than they did last year. Ham prices have gone up 5.2%, and canned foods cost more. Read more Football The latest in college, high school and NFL football: Penn State bowl projections Big Ten Power Poll Penn State QB Drew Allar expected to play vs. Michigan State Steel-High, Lackawanna Trail to spar in PIAA quarterfinals Jalen Hurts leads second-half rally as Eagles beat Chiefs  Read more OTHER DON'T-MISS STORIES 1 word describes today's forecast across central Pa.: miserable Mechanicsburg to consider borrowing $4 million for new offices Drug organization used Pa. daycare, gym to launder money: reports Fatal shooting of central Pa. man was 'justified,' DA says Tractor-trailer gets stuck inside covered bridge You're caught up. Thanks for joining us in Good Morning, Pennsylvania. You can always find the latest Pennsylvania news by visiting PennLive.com. If you value the hard work of our journalists, consider becoming a subscriber.   See you next issue. 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