As we announced yesterday, PNC Bank will purchase National City and become the 5th largest bank in the U.S. based on deposits.

Pennsylvania remains an integral battleground state for the McCain campaign.  Rick Davis, a campaign manager for the McCain campaign stated “We have a real chance in Pennsylvania.”  And at a rally in Beaver County near Pittsburgh, Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin declared ”we’re going to win this state. I guarantee it.”  Whatever happens the media markets are loving the extra money coming in from advertising dollars.

Later today we’ll post a video on ErieBlogs of Senator Arlen Specter’s Meadville town hall meeting from Thursday this week.

An Erie County woman is Pennsylvania’s first state laboratory-confirmed case of influenza this season.  The PA Department of Health has more information on this seasons unwelcomed bug including locations to receive a flu shot.

If you think that Erie’s gas prices are too high in light of recent declines in petroleum, our neighbors to the north east in Buffalo, NY have us beat with prices still above the $3 mark.

The trial of Michael Joyce will be put on hold.  Joyce’s mother passed away yesterday at Hamot Hospital and the trial is expected to be put on hold until November.

The state government is assisting a number of county and municipal governments across Pennsylvania in obtaining road salt in preparation for the winter.  Practically every government in Erie County has indicated a need for assistance.

Your polling location might see new voting machines.  Erie County purchased an additional 100 new touch-screen voting machines for various polling locations.  Pennsylvanians in the opposite corner of the state filed a Federal lawsuit in Philadelphia seeking to force polling locations to have paper ballots on hand in case 50% or more electronic voting machines fail at a single location.  Currently only if every voting machine breaks down at a polling site are paper ballots allowed to be used.

Remember last week when Erie City Council for some unknown reason decided to turn down a quarter million dollars to renevate State Street, and many of us thought they would turn around this week and fix that mistake?  Nope.  Rubye Jenkins-Husband is the leading dissenter voting to delay the decision to apply for the money. We would suggest scrapping the Parade Street project just to spite her but we’re rational, thinking citizens. Message to Rubye: knock it off and apply for the money. You’ll have plenty of chances to play politics but now is not one of them.  Message to Erie citizens: now might be a good time to contact your council member and voice your concern.

The Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum (BFVIF) in conjunction with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PA (BFTP) announces the Big Idea Business Plan Contest. The grand prize of $100,000 will be awarded to one technology-oriented company start or further develop the business in Pennsylvania. Interested entrepreneurs can visit the Ben Franklin website for rules, entry forms, and FAQs. The deadline for applications is December 17, 2008.

Sports

Saginaw Spirit beat the Erie Otters with a score of 3-2 last night.

Big game tonight with #3 ranked Penn State playing #9 ranked Ohio State in Columbus.  Both teams are 4-0 in the Big Ten and Ohio has only one less win than PSU.  You can watch the game on ABC at 8 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to bench Santonio Holmes for this Sunday’s game against hte Giants. He was cited yesterday for marijuana possession. The Cleveland Browns will also sit Kellen Winslow, after he made disparaging remarks about team management. Both will be missed.

NFL Schedule: Buffalo BIlls play the Miami Dolphins Sunday at 1 p.m. on CBS; Pittsburgh Steelers will play the N.Y. Giants at 4:15 p.m. on Fox; and the Cleveland Browns play the Jacksonville Jaguars at 4 p.m. on CBS (but not scheduled to be broadcast locally).

The baseball World Series continues tonight and tomorrow with the Tampa Bay Rays playing at the Philadelphia Phillies.

Highschool Football Scores:
Cathedral Prep 42, Bradford 14
East 18, Corry 42
North East 49, Maplewood 6
Seneca 12, Sharon 45
Strong Vincent 39, Dubois 0
Central Tech 13, Titusville 35
Mcdowell 57, Connellsville 0
Harborcreek 12, Mercyhurst Prep 74
Girard 13, Fairview 27
Northwestern 20, General Mclane 49
Harborcreek 6, Fort Leboeuf 7
Franklin 7, Meadville 14
Iroquois 13, Cambridge Springs 14
Youngsville 8, Saegertown 43

Events

Sarah A. Reed Retirement Center is holding it’s 14th Annual Sarah’s Fall Fling today starting at 10 a.m. at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center. The event benefits The Retirement Center and is open to the public but reservations are required and can be made by calling (814) 878-2600. Seats are available for $20 per person. The event will include a luncheon, a Chinese auction, and various prizes including a Splash Lagoon package and a year of car washes by Leo’s Car Wash.

Tour the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail November 1-2 and 8-9. The Holiday Wine Weekend is a trail about 40 miles long and runs amidst 30,000 acres of vineyards along Lake Erie in western New York and Pennsylvania in “America’s Grape Country.” Plan your trip and experience the rich heritage of one of America’s oldest grape growing or viticulture regions.

Several local colleges will be having open houses in the coming weeks. Gannon University will hold an open house on Sunday, November 9.  Allegheny College in Meadville will hold a visit day on Saturday, November 19.

Fairview United Methodist Church located at 4601 Avonia Road will hold its annual fall rummage & bake sale today from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, followed by a $2.00 bag sale from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m

View this past Sunday’s comprehensive events list to see a list of events for the week and months ahead. If you would like your event posted here, please contact us via our online form.  Tomorrow we will publish a new list of events for the week and months ahead.