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Documents obtained by Canadian media outlet CBC have shown that President-elect Joe Biden will sign an executive order to revoke the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline on Wednesday, his inauguration day. Although, according to the LA Times, “Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said the transition team had no comment on the pipeline.”  The Keystone XL Pipeline has been a widely controversial issue since its inception and has sparked protests, legal actions, and executive orders from Presidents Obama and Trump.

Yesterday, Congressional leaders and Lawmakers reached a nearly $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus deal, including another round of stimulus checks and jobless benefits. After months and months of standoff, Washington has come to agreement just before Christmas where almost 12 million people are set to lose unemployment benefits. The new deal includes $300 to the federal unemployment insurance benefit, extending eviction moratoriums for renters for an unspecified amount of time and $600 direct payment to most Americans.

On Tuesday November 17^th, The Pennsylvania Department of Health rolled out further restrictions to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. These new restrictions are related to traveling and masking especially as cases in our area continue to rise.

As the trucking industry tries to continue to improve productivity and keep drivers happy, mobile technology remains important. A steady increase of the number of apps available for drivers is an ongoing theme to advance efficiency. Many of these apps are available on the driver’s handheld devices including GPS, load assignments, delivery status and travel centers just to name a few. To keep pace with the pandemic, travel centers are focusing on mobile apps and grab and go food to minimalize face to face interaction. "The Pilot Flying J app is a helpful tool for guests and professional drivers to use any time, but especially now to limit contact at stores and help stay safe and healthy," Jason Nordin, Pilot's chief operator, wrote in an email to American Trucker. "With the Pilot Flying J app, drivers can handle business and get the services they need from the safety and convenience of their phone.

Earlier this month the Nation Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released their winter outlook for this upcoming season. According to Weather.com, “La Niña is the periodic cooling of the equatorial eastern and central Pacific ocean. When sea-surface temperatures are cooler than average by at least 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit (0.5 degrees Celsius), along with consistent atmospheric indications for at least three consecutive months, La Niña is considered to be present…This is important because the interaction of this cooler-than-average water with the atmosphere can affect weather conditions thousands of miles away in the U.S. and around the world.”