Nov. 24 – WILKES-BARRE – AAA predicts more than 91,000 Wilkes-Barre residents will travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend – a 2.4% increase from last year – surpassing pre-pandemic numbers and creating a new record is set.
As usual, the vast majority of these travelers will go to their holiday destination by car.
—AAA predicts nearly 82,000 Wilkes-Barre area residents (nearly 90% of local travelers) will hit the road, up 2.3% from last year.
—AAA projects Nearly 8,000 Wilkes-Barre residents (nearly 10% of local travelers) will travel by air to their Thanksgiving holiday destination, up 2.6% from last year.
Other modes of travel – cruise ships, buses and trains – will see an increase of more than 5% over last year as nearly 1,600 Wilkes-Barre area residents use these modes of travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel as families and friends look forward to reconnecting during the holiday season, and travel is a big part of that,” said Jana Tidwell, Manager of Public and Government Affairs, AAA Mid-Atlantic. “As travel demand continues to rise and trends evolve due to remote work opportunities and longer school holidays, we expect to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising.”
For the first time, AAA’s forecast includes the Tuesday before and Monday after Thanksgiving Day to better accommodate the flow of holiday travelers.
National Travel Forecasts from AAA
AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving travel period. This year’s projection of almost 80 million travelers is an increase of 1.7 million people compared to last year and 2 million more than in 2019.
AAA expects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car this Thanksgiving – that’s 1.3 million more travelers on the road compared to last year. This year’s numbers also surpass pre-pandemic numbers when 70.6 million people drove to their Thanksgiving destinations in 2019.
Gasoline prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. The national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26. Falling oil prices this fall could push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, and that could happen before motorists hit the road for Thanksgiving. Regionally, motorists east of the Rockies in more than a dozen states will find gasoline between $2.25 and $2.50 per gallon.
Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to set a new record. AAA projects 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday. That’s a 2% increase from last year and an increase of nearly 11% from 2019. According to booking data from AAA, air travelers are paying 3% more for domestic Thanksgiving flights this year, while flight bookings are similar to last year. International flight bookings are up 23% compared to last Thanksgiving, in part because the cost of flying internationally has fallen 5%.
Nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises and trains. This category is up almost 9% from last year and up 18% from 2019, largely due to the popularity of cruising. Demand for cruises has skyrocketed after the pandemic. Domestic and international cruise bookings are up 20% compared to last Thanksgiving.
Be patient
The roads and airports will be busy, so plan ahead.
Arrive at the airport early so you have plenty of time to get through longer TSA lines and other travel checkpoints. For domestic travel, AAA recommends 2.5 hours prior to departure time and 3 hours for international travel.
Senator Flynn announces the Digital Connectivity Technology Program Grant award for Lackawanna County
Senator Marty Flynn (D, D-22) announced this week that the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority has awarded a Digital Connectivity Technology Program (DCTP) grant to Lackawanna County government.
This grant will make 100 laptops available to residents through local initiatives aimed at improving access to technology.
The grant was approved at the Authority’s meeting, where funding was distributed to organizations across the Commonwealth. These grants are part of the DCTP’s mission to equip nonprofits, community agencies and local governments with tools to support education, workforce development, health care and employment.
The award-winning laptops will allow Lackawanna County government to lend or make them available to Pennsylvanians who need them most, closing the digital divide and creating new opportunities for individuals and families across the region.
“I am excited to announce this grant to Lackawanna County,” said Senator Flynn. “These laptops will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents by ensuring they have the technology they need to learn, work and thrive. This is another step towards a more connected and equitable Pennsylvania.”
Bill to protect pets in situations of domestic violence has been signed into law
Rep. Christina Sappey (D, D-158) announced this week that bipartisan legislation – Act 146 of 2024 – to better protect victims’ pets in domestic violence situations has been signed into law.
The bill (HB 1210), filed by Sappey along with State Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R, D-40), amends Pennsylvania’s Protection from Abuse Act to allow judges to order the defendant to refrain from possessing, abusing, or harming the petitioner’s pet . Previously, Pennsylvania’s Protection from Abuse Act gave judges the ability to order a variety of damages to prevent further abuse, but did not provide explicit authority to order protective measures for a victim’s pets.
“We have known for some time about the horrific link between domestic violence and animal abuse,” Sappey says. “Abusers will harm pets to further torment the victim or prevent them from leaving, exacerbating an already traumatic situation.”
According to the Humane Society of the United States, data on cases of domestic violence and child abuse show that a staggering number of animals are targeted by those who abuse their children or spouses. One survey found that 71% of domestic violence victims reported that the perpetrator also targeted pets. Researchers have found links between coercive control and pet abuse, with abusers often using pets as leverage to torment their victims, threatening to harm or kill them if their victims leave.
House Bill 1210 was a nearly four-year endeavor for Sappey and Mihalek and received support from more than 70 law enforcement agencies, domestic violence and animal welfare organizations. It was passed by the state House in 2023, passed by the Senate earlier this month and signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro this week to become Act 146 of 2024.
“This is an issue that transcends political boundaries because we all understand how important it is to protect the vulnerable – whether they are people or pets,” Sappey said. “I am so grateful to my colleagues in the House of Representatives and the Senate for understanding the implications of this issue and taking action to pass this legislation.”
The new law brings Pennsylvania into line with 37 other states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Pennsylvania State Police are reminding pet owners of basic needs
As winter approaches and colder weather sets in, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) Animal Cruelty Unit are reminding pet owners, including those who keep their pets outdoors, that they are required to provide their animals with basic needs, as defined by law, to avoid facing charges of animal neglect and/or cruelty.
“Basic needs include proper nutrition to maintain a healthy body weight, as well as clean, unfrozen water to prevent dehydration,” says Corporal Michael Spada, PSP Bureau of Criminal Investigation Animal Cruelty Officer. “Animals need as much water in winter as in summer so that their bodies can process food and keep their natural metabolism working.”
Animals should also have access to an appropriately sized shelter that will provide protection from the weather, keep them dry and retain their body heat. The accommodation must be clean and hygienic.
Dogs that are tied outside unattended and without shelter are only allowed outside for 30 minutes when temperatures drop below 32 degrees.
Veterinary care should be provided to pets requiring medical attention. Monitor your pets during extremely cold temperatures and contact your veterinarian if you think your pet is suffering from weather-related injuries or illnesses.
For more information about the Pennsylvania State Police, visit psp.pa.gov.
Johnson College is hosting “Instant Decision Day” for veterans and current U.S. military personnel
Johnson College’s “Instant Decision Day” for veterans and those currently serving in the U.S. military will be held on Wednesday, December 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event will be held virtually and in-person on the university’s Scranton campus in Ideal Saldi Hall. To register to attend in person or virtually, visit Johnson.edu/instant.
During the Instant Decision Event, Johnson College will provide potential veteran students and those currently serving in the U.S. military with an immediate decision regarding their enrollment. They must provide their high school transcripts and can bring their college and military transcripts, if applicable. It is highly recommended that the prospective student completes an application form prior to attending.
Applications for Johnson College’s Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology and Veterinary Nursing programs are excluded from immediate decisions.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
