By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday began pitching his budget to the members of the General Assembly and the people of Pennsylvania.  He will call it a balanced budget that does not raise taxes, but neither of those statements is entirely accurate.

The budget proposes to spend $28.4 billion, a 2.4 percent increase from the current year.

According to Budget Secretary Charles Zogby, who briefed the media on the budget  basics  Tuesday morning, Corbett’s proposal will increase levies on gas stations and drivers in the state by beginning a five-year process of incrementally uncapping the Oil Franchise Tax as part of a plan to spend $5.4 billion over five years on highways, bridges and mass transit.

To partially offset that increase, the governor is proposing a reduction in the flat gasoline tax from 12 cents per gallon to 10 cents per gallon.

The budget also tackles a $500-million increase in pension contributions, but does so by reducing the amount the state will contribute to the pension costs and increasing the debt of the state’s two public pension funds.

Those funds already face more than $40 billion in debt.

By artificially cutting the state’s contribution to the pension systems, the budget proposal hopes to achieve $175 million in savings at the state level and $140 million in savings for school districts.

Those savings also are predicated on reforms to current and future employees’ pensions — all future employees will enter a new 401(k)-style retirement plan and current workers will have their future benefits reduced by about 20 percent.

Corbett is proposing adding $90 million to basic education, part of an overall $350 million increase on the education line item that includes some of the costs of the pension increase.

The budget will also propose an $11.4 million increase for early education.

A previously-announced plan to privatize the state liquor stores will fund a $1 billion block grant program during the next four years for school districts.

Corbett also will call for an incremental reduction in the state’s corporate net income tax, beginning in 2015 and continuing for 10 years.  By 2025, the proposal would lower Pennsylvania’s corporate income tax rate from 9.99 percent to 6.99 percent.

Zogby said that tax, applied in Pennsylvania at a higher rate than any other state in the nation, was a key barrier to economic growth.

Corbett also will ask managerial-level state employees to work 40 hour weeks instead of the current 37.5 hours.  They will be paid for the increase, Zogby said.

Lastly, the budget will not include a final decision from Corbett on whether to expand Medicaid eligibility in accordance with the federal health care reform law, though Zogby said the governor “is not intending to expand” eligibility.

Contact Boehm at Eric@PAIndependent.com and follow @PAIndependent on Twitter for more.

Are you still wondering what to do with your old TV or computer that you replaced recently? There are many options for disposal, but trash collection isn't one of them.

TVs and computers can no longer be picked up at curbside trash collections under the Covered Device Recycling Act, which went into effect at the end of last month. "Covered devices" include desktop and laptop computers, computer monitors, computer peripherals and televisions, the act states.

Since landfills and other solid waste disposal facilities in Pennsylvania will no longer be allowed to accept covered devices, the Act requires that these devices be recycled.

If you have unwanted electronics, the closest location for recycling is the Best Buy on Easton Road in Willow Grove.

For a full list of recycling locations throughout Pennsylvania click here.

Upper Moreland Township will host a Community Workshop next Tuesday, Feb. 12 to explore ways to improve the appearance and sense of place for the Willow Grove Town Center.

The Upper Moreland Township Revitalization Task Force will take suggestions and explain design concept proposals to use signage and other ways to improve the look of Willow Grove.

If you would like to participate, contact Marian Hull at marian.hull@urs.com or call 215-940-9270.

Corinne Valentine will detail methods of effective communication at the February 12 luncheon meeting of the Women of Willow Grove. Valentine is a coach whose special talent is guiding people to greatness and goal achievement. At the event to be held at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology, 3075 Terwood Road, Willow Grove, she will discuss ways to go beyond the business card when introduced to new contacts.

Lunch will be prepared and served by the culinary arts student at the Center. Their food is always a highlight of the Taste of Willow Grove event. Preregistration is essential, because the school will not admit anyone who is not listed in advance, and the students must know how much food to prepare.

Those attending should be sure to bring plenty of business cards to exchange with other participants.  

The meeting will start at 11:30 and end by 1:15 p.m. Cost for the meeting and lunch is $12 for chamber members and $15 for others..

WOW was formed to provide opportunities for women to network, exchange ideas, learn, and meet neighbors and business people. Its mission is to provide networking and programs for women to strengthen business, community and self.

For registration information, contact the chamber at 215/657-2652.

Don't let the promise of a chilly Wednesday prevent you from enjoying National Frozen Yogurt Day. Stop in at your favorite self-serve shop and create a delicious dessert in honor of the special day.

There's been a boom in the frozen yogurt market, with dozens of storesopening in Bucks and Montgomerycounties over the past year. The low-fat alternative to ice cream has proven to be a favorite choice in today's health-conscious environment. The added perk of self-serve yogurt and toppings has also helped the industry's popularity.

Just be careful with those toppings. There may be fewer calories in a bowl of frozen yogurt, but that advantage begins to slip away once you start shoveling on crunched up Kit Kat Bars or Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.

You can dip into your own cup at one of the following locations. Some shops offer special deals for today.

• Yogurtland, Willow Grove Mall, 2500 Moreland Rd., Willow Grove
• Hugs & Yogurt Café, 2840 Moreland Rd., Willow Grove
• Menchie’s, 872 W. Street Rd., Warminster (first 6 ounces free with this coupon)
• Go Bananas, 516A Second Street Pike, Upper Southampton (flat rates of $4 for small cups, $6 for large cups)
• Simply Twisted Frozen Yogurt, 587 Horsham Rd., Horsham (first 4 ounces free)
• YoFresh, 314 Horsham Rd., Horsham

Tell us your favorite yogurt and topping combinations in the comments!

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – Proposed pension reforms in Pennsylvania save about $175 million next year at a cost of billions in the long run.

During his budget address on Tuesday, Gov. Tom Corbett called on lawmakers to pass his multi-level pension reform proposal with this year’s state budget. The plan would move new employees to a 401(k)-style pension system, would reduce future benefits for current employees and would reduce the state’s payments into the state’s two pension systems for the foreseeable future.

The first two parts of his plan are intended to save costs in the long run by cutting a small part of the state’s unfunded liability, while the third part would free up about $175 million for the state in next year’s budget.

“Resolving our pension crisis will be the single most important thing we do for decades to come,” Corbett said in his address.

It’s also going to take decades for the reforms to have an effect, and lawmakers seem hesitant to take the bold steps needed to implement Corbett’s proposal.

Under current law, the state’s pension contributions will climb from $1.1 billion this year to about $3 billion in fiscal year 2016-17. But those contributions are already less than recommended by actuaries, resulting in the state’s unfunded liability being projected to climb from $40 billion now to $65 billion by 2018, before declining.

With the proposed reforms, the unfunded liability will continue to grow, but will peak at about $62 billion in 2018 – and then only if changes to both new and current employees are enacted, according to Corbett administration projections.

The worst-case scenario would be passage of lower contribution rates without the long-term reforms, a scenario that would push the unfunded liability to as much as $70 billion.

Short-term savings for this year’s budget would not be approved by the governor without long-term savings achieved by reducing benefits and moving new employees to the 401(k)-style plan, said Charles Zogby, Corbett’s Budget Secretary.

State Treasurer Rob McCord blasted Corbett’s pension proposal as “kicking the can down the road” and “fantasy island finance.”

McCord, a Democrat who is widely believed to be preparing for a gubernatorial bid against Corbett in 2014, said he would favor bringing the pension debt on the state’s balance sheet to make policymakers more aware of the $40 billion debt and using pension bonds to pay off some of the liability.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and from both chambers of the General Assembly voiced either outright opposition to the pension reform plan or at least expressed doubts about the likelihood of the General Assembly putting up enough votes for cuts to future benefits for current employees.

“There are more significant hurdles” when it comes to changing benefits for current employees, said House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, though he was supportive of other changes.

State Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, minority chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said the budget should not be balanced with savings from pension reforms.

But if those changes do make it to the governor’s desk, lawsuits from public sector unions would be sure to follow.

“If it does somehow pass and they change current employees, we will be going to court, no doubt about it,” said Dave Fillman, executive director of AFSCME Council 13, which represents the largest chunk of state employees.

Some lawmakers are uneasy about planning to use $175 million in savings from a pension reform that could be thrown out in court.

“To change benefits for current employees has some serious constitutional issues,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Chester. “Do we want to build a number into our budget that depends on a court challenge?”

But the state’s Public Employee Retirement Commission, which serves an advisory role on pension issues, warned in a report last week that “no future benefit modifications are likely to significantly impact these liabilities unless the courts allow changes to the benefits of existing employees.”

That’s because the $40 billion unfunded liability is entirely owed to current employees and retirees. Moving new employees into a different plan will keep from adding to that debt, but will not reduce it.

And Zogby made it clear that any changes to the collars should be made only as part of a deal to cut into that massive long-term debt.

Without those long term cost savings, it would be kicking the can down the road, Zogby said.

In the new plan, state employees will contribute 6.25 percent of their salary and public school employees will contribute 7.5 percent. The state will put in 4 percent.

All sides were clear on their intention to leave intact retirees’ benefits and benefits already earned by existing employees.

Rick Dreyfuss, a senior fellow and pension expert for the Manhattan Institution, a national economic policy think tank, said applauded the attempt to move new employees into a more sustainable pension system, but said the reduction in state contributions to the current plans should be a concern.

“We’re putting less money into already underfunded plans and calling it reform,” he said. “Those debts have to be paid off eventually.”

Contact Eric Boehm at Eric@PAIndependent.com and follow @PAIndependent on Twitter for more.

Just 10 days after raising postage rates, the United States Postal Service announced today that Saturday mail delivery will cease, effective in August, according to a report from NBC News.

The latest cost-cutting measure is projected to save the postal service approximately $2 billion a year, Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahue told the Huffington Post.

According to a statement released by the U.S. Postal Service, once implemented during August of 2013, mail delivery to street addresses will occur Monday through Friday. Packages will continue to be delivered six days per week. Mail addressed to P.O. boxes will continue to be delivered on Saturdays. Post offices currently open on Saturdays will remain open on Saturdays. 

According to USA Today, the Postal Service reported an annual loss of $15.9 billion in November, tripling the $5.1 billion loss in 2011. Approximately $11 billion of the loss is tied to labor expenses, primarily from a law passed by Congress in 2006 that requires the Postal Service to fully prepay the retirement health care fund for the next 75 years by 2016. 

According to the statement from the postal service, the department will continue to develop cost-saving proposals, but it also asks Congress to make the post office's budget a top priority.

Taxpayer money currently does not fund the post office's operation expenses. Instead, the office relies on postage and service expenses to function.

Murder Charge Held Against Driver in Fatal Doylestown Crash Drew Bodden will face trial in connection with the Nov. 21 high-speed car crash on the Rt. 611 Bypass that killed Holly Huynh.

'Abuse' of Subpoena Costs Ex-Tullytown Councilman His Job Former Tullytown Borough councilman George Fox has lost his job as a clerk with the Bucks County Prothonotary department after an investigation by the district attorney found he issued two unauthorised subpoenas.

Gas Leak Disrupts Bucks County Train Service A natural gas leak at the Fern Rock Transportation Center in Philadelphia caused delays on the SEPTA Regional Rail lines which serve Lower Bucks County Wednesday.

School Access, Student Intervention Among Recommendations Following Security Forum A series of three school security forums resulted in a number of recommendations by the community on how to keep children safe in Council Rock schools.

Hatboro Pet Store Gets Second Life On the eve of his last day of business at his borough store, A Dog’s Life (and a Cat’s Too), owner Chris Gowen found out that he would not have to close his Hatboro store after all.

Mystery Snowball Breaks Car Window, Police Say According to Newtown police, a man called Tuesday after his window was smashed by a snowball while driving on Swamp Road.

Upper Moreland Looking for Ways to Improve Willow Grove Town Center The Upper Moreland Township Revitalization Task Force is looking for ways to improve the look of the Willow Grove Town Center.

Six Thefts Reported from Macy's, Horizon Center Bensalem Police charged eight people with retail theft at Macy's Department Store and the Horizon Center between Feb. 1 and 3.

The Upper Moreland Board of Commissioners held its monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 4. and action was taken.

For local wards, Michael J. Cavanaugh and Dean Swedberg were each reappointed to Wards 7 and 5, respectively, to the Parks and Rec Advisory Council.

- John Massucci was reappointed to the Environmental Advisory Council.

- Kent Nelson was reappointed to the Upper Moreland-Hatboro Joint Sewer Authority.

The following members were reappointed to the Upper Moreland Historical Commission:

• Jonathan de Jonge
• Bonnie Lynn MacDonald
• Nicholas Scull

In other township news, John T. Fenn was reappointed to the Zoning Hearing Board, Jennifer W. Brown, Esq. was selected as counsel Business Tax Enforcement & Compliance, Stephen P. Imms, Jr., Esq. was appointed as Business Tax Hearing Officer and Michael Davido was conditionally appointed as a probationary Police Officer.

William Mucker is the February 2013 Student of the Month at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) in Willow Grove. He is in his second year of EASTERN’s Protective Services program and a senior at Upper Dublin High School. The Student of the Month Award is sponsored by EASTERN’s faculty,
Joint Committee and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success and service. Ten students each year are selected for this honor.

At EASTERN, William maintains high grades in his Protective Services program and is actively involved in SkillsUSA as the 2012 – 2013 SkillsUSA Protective Services Class Vice President and Treasurer. SkillsUSA is a national student organization promoting good citizenship, student leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and recognizes student achievement and excellence.

For the past two years, William has been a student presenter at Upper Dublin High School for EASTERN’s Tenth Grade Career Expo presentation, in which he discussed the specifics of his program. Last May at EASTERN’s Awards Night, William was recognized for Perfect Attendance. Through EASTERN’s
Protective Services program, William has achieved his National Fire Protection Agency Hazardous Materials Awareness Certification. He is a volunteer firefighter with the Fort Washington Fire Company.

“William has mapped out an impressive career path for himself,” said Walt Kenney, EASTERN’s Protective Services Instructor. “He possesses a true passion for the criminal justice field. I am confident that he will have a long, successful career.”

After graduation from EASTERN and Upper Dublin High School, William plans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. William plans to continue his education in Criminal Justice after the military. EASTERN is a public school serving students in nine Eastern Montgomery County school districts. Those
districts include Abington, Bryn Athyn, Cheltenham, Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkintown, Lower Moreland, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland. Students benefit from specialized career programs that give them a competitive edge in college or in a career. The campus is at 3075 Terwood Road in Willow Grove.

For more information, please call Amy Shields, Organizational Advancement Director, at 215-784-4806, or visit the school’s website at www.eastech.org. Become a fan on Facebook – www.facebook.com/EasternCenter.

Winter Storm Nemo is going to wallop New England down to New York this weekend, according to The Weather Channel. It could be the biggest storm to hit the area in years, bringing up to 30 inches of snow to the worst hit regions.

Bucks and Montgomery Counties will be at the very southern parts of the storm and will get a nasty wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain with little snow accumulation, according to the National Weather Service.

Here’s the current forecast:

• Today Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Light and variable wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.

• Tonight Snow likely, mainly after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 27. East wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

• Friday Rain or freezing rain likely before 7am, then rain. High near 40. Northeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

• Friday Night Sleet before 9pm, then snow. Low around 25. Blustery, with a northwest wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

• Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a northwest wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania could finally see some serious improvements in roads and bridges, but only if lawmakers are willing to follow the governor’s plan to raise funds through a plan that might also boost gas prices.

On the same day Gov. Tom Corbett introduced his 2013-2014 budget proposal, he announced a plan to generate more than $5 billion in transportation funding over five years, mostly from a change in the way gas taxes are levied.

Under Corbett’s plan, funds would come from lowering the flat tax paid by consumers while increasing the tax gas stations pay on fuel.

Corbett and other administration officials maintain this wouldn’t necessarily produce raise gas prices, as pump prices are determined by a variety of factors, including the price of crude and location.

Next year, Corbett predicts, the state spend about half a billion dollars on roads, bridges, public transportation, locally owned roads and other system-wide improvements. By the fifth year of the plan, the state’s transportation system would see about $1.8 billion worth of improvements.

The Corbett plan may go nowhere in a state with dozens of lawmakers who have taken the no-new-taxes pledge.

House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle want to discuss solving the state’s transportation funding issues.

Turzai said he did not think “the governor’s proposal is necessarily the definitive proposal” or that it will get passed by the June 30 budget deadline.

But he promised to give the proposal a “very, very serious look,” he said.

“I think there’s going to be a significant discussion about what the size and shape of funding, any additional funding, for transportation would be,” Turzai said.

House Appropriations Chairman Bill Adolph, R-Delaware, said that if lawmakers can pass a transportation bill, it would have to have bipartisan support.

During his budget address, Corbett said transportation is the “bloodstream” of the state’s economy. About a half-trillion dollars worth of goods and services move across the sprawling Keystone State annually, along with 1.5 million school children riding on buses, he said.

“If it fails, our economy fails,” he said.

Corbett maintained that he does not think this proposal is a tax increase.

The oil company franchise tax applies to gasoline sold at the wholesale level. The cap is applied to the first $1.25 of a gallon. Corbett’s proposal would phase that down and remove it completely within five years.

Corbett, who heralded the state’s energy industry in the same speech, said it was “time for oil and gas companies to pay their fair share.” Many lawmakers, gathered in the House chambers for the address, applauded.

“This is not a new tax, nor am I proposing to increase the rate of the existing tax,” Corbett said during his address. “I am simply saying the time has come to apply it to the full value of what the company is selling.”

At the same time, the flat tax on gas paid by consumers would be lowered by two cents over the next two years to 10 cents. Each cent brings in about $50 to $60 million a year.

Secretary of Transportation Barry Schoch made the case for the plan in an afternoon press conference.

“If we don’t do anything, we’re going to reduce our spending on roads and bridges,” he said. “We know we have an old system and it will simply exacerbate the problem.

Not only is this unsafe, Schoch said, but it’s bad for the state’s economy.

Still, total funding in Corbett’s plan falls short of what past projections have recommended, leaving some pushing for more. Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Committee recommended about $2.5 billion worth of annual investments.

Under Corbett’s announced plan, there would still be more than 3,500 structurally deficient bridges in the state, and about 7,000 miles of “rough” roads by 2020. Right now, there are about 4,500 structurally deficient bridges and about 10,000 miles of “rough” roads.

Schoch said the plan was made keeping in mind what can be delivered to lawmakers as a bipartisan solution – and finding a “sweet spot.” Schoch said additional fees and services to expand the plan to include more isn’t off the table, even though the governor isn’t in favor of it.

“We want to be sure we get legislative action on this,” Schoch said.

This new proposal isn’t enough for some lawmakers who’ve been pushing for more. State Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery described the transportation plan as a “timid, tiny move” and encouraged Corbett to raise more revenues in taxes and fees.

“I don’t care whether he calls it an ostrich. The point is that it needs to happen,” Leach said.

However ambitious Corbett’s plan seems to some lawmakers, it still leaves work on the table.

State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Cambria, said the final plan was a long way from the recommendations of the transportation commission. And, he said he was not confident about the passage of a tax increase plan through a Republican-controlled General Assembly.

“There is a direct correlation between what you pay at the pump and the quality of the roads,” Wozniak said.

Contact Melissa Daniels at melissa@paindependent.com

Car Fire Extinguished by Bensalem Fire Department Bensalem Fire Rescue were at the scene of a car fire on Old Lincoln Highway.

Horsham Spirit Medium Channels Afterlife Karen Hluchan, a 1991 Hatboro-Horsham High School graduate, connects clients with deceased loved ones.

$7.5K Donation for iPads to be Accepted by Council Rock School Board Thursday Council Rock High School South is slated to receive a donation of more than $7,000 to purchase 20 iPads for students with disabilities. 

Forced Entry Burglary Reported—Again—in Lower Moreland A resident reported his house was burglarized while he and his wife were at work.

Roof Replacement in Progress at Township Building Township crews have braved the cold weather to complete the Warminster Administration Building's roof replacement.

Tyler Park Arts Center Kiln Party is Friday Artists, students and volunteers at the Tyler Park Center for the Arts are working to raise money for a six-ton community kiln that will become a permanent fixture at the park.

Kids Triathlon to Return to Doylestown Held at Chapman Park and Fanny Chapman Pool, the triathalon will return to Doylestown on Sunday, June 2, 2013. It is open to kids ages 7 to 15; registration is open now and continues through May 26.

Drunken Driver Does Push-Ups on Trevose Road, Cops Say A 24-year-old Philadelphia man was arrested and charged with DUI and several other offenses after an early-morning incident in Lower Southampton on Saturday.

Turn District Over to Charter School, Resident Says A Langhorne resident has proposed an out-of-the-box idea for the Neshaminy School District.

Volunteer Firefighter Honored as EASTERN Student of the Month William Mucker was honored as Eastern Center for Arts and Technology's Student of the Month for February.

U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (PA-13) expressed strong disappointment after Pennsylvania Governor Corbett released a budget today that does not demonstrate plans to move forward with expansion of Medicaid coverage to 500,000 low-income, working Pennsylvanians. Although the Governor left open the possibility of moving forward with the Medicaid expansion, today’s Budget release demonstrated a lack of willingness to seriously engage on this issue.

As one of the nation’s leading health care policy experts, Rep. Schwartz had a significant role in drafting the Affordable Care Act to ensure that it improved access to quality, affordable coverage for all Americans through public-private partnerships and efforts where states could have significant roles in expanding access.

“Budgets are statements of priorities, and it is clear by today’s budget that Governor Corbett’s priorities are simply not aligned with middle-class Pennsylvania families. Walking away from reducing Pennsylvania's uninsured population by 41 percent is short-sighted and fiscally irresponsible,” Schwartz said.

Each year in Pennsylvania, uninsured patients receive nearly $1 billion in uncompensated medical care. Without coverage, their care is delayed, their conditions become more severe, and they turn to emergency rooms, where care is more expensive and the cost is ultimately borne by the taxpayers.

The Governor has - to date - rejected additional federal funds to support an expansion of the state's Medicaid program to cover 500,000 of these individuals and families who make too much to qualify for Medical Assistance under current state law and too little to purchase private insurance.

Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government would provide the greatest share of costs in the short and long term to dramatically expand access to coverage for these hard-working citizens.

“Medical Assistance makes up more than 50 percent of the state's budget and we need to ensure these dollars are spent wisely,” Schwartz said. “Improving access to primary care, preventive care, and disease management through expanded Medicaid coverage would increase the overall health status of the citizens of our state. This will drive down costs associated with preventable diseases and unnecessary hospitalizations.”

While there is no formal deadline for states to participate in the Medicaid expansion, 19 states and the District of Columbia have already announced their intent to move forward in 2014. Yesterday, Ohio Governor John Kasich became the fifth Republican governor to opt in.

“This was a missed opportunity, but it is not our last opportunity. The Obama administration stands ready to provide the financial and administrative support our state needs to carry out its responsibilities to the people of Pennsylvania,” Schwartz said.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly, N.J. has issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 3 p.m. on Friday through 6 a.m. on Saturday. The storm in the Montgomery County area of Pennsylvania is expected to bring between four and eight inches of snow.

 "Heavy snow" and a "possible trace of ice" is expected in the storm.

We may even see a rare winter thunderstorm, as two weather fronts collide to form what the Weather Service has called "Winter Storm Nemo."

"Any snow Friday morning will change rain during the daylight hours then back to heavy snow late in the day Friday or Friday evening," said the NWS. "One to two inches-per-hour accumulations are possible for a couple of hours Friday night. Northerly winds will gust to 30 mph causing blowing and drifting. There is a small chance of a thunderstorm with the snow."

Montgomery County should not be as badly hit as areas further northeast.

"This region is probably going to be on the edge of the heavy snow, and amounts may vary from what is currently expected," said the NWS alert.

Area residents are asked to stay indoors when possible.

"[The storm] will make travel very hazardous or impossible," said the NWS.

Follow updated conditions on Weather.com or view the video here.

Inclement weather could bring 3 to 7 inches of snow to the Willow Grove area Friday and Saturday.

The lastest forecast from the National Weather Service predicts little accumlation Friday morning, but 3 to 7 inches overnight.

That is a radical change from Thursday's forecast, which predicted far less snow for Montgomery and Bucks counties.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for southeast Pennsylvania, including the Willow Grove area at 3:20 p.m. on Thursday. In that bulletin, forecasters predicted 4 to 10 inches of snow, with a trace of ice.

Are you prepared for the worst, or will it blow over?

This news for sports fans beats news that any groundhog could deliver.

It's the sound of a baseball pounding a catcher's mitt with a solid thud that makes most of us feel warmer than any sunny day.

On Wednesday, hope springs eternal when pitchers and catchers report to camp in Clearwater, Fla., for the start of spring training.

After a dismal season last year, it's time to wipe the slate clean for Manager Charlie Manuel and company. Every team in Major League Baseball gets a new lease on life.

And the Phillies could certainly use one after not making the playoffs for the first time in a half-dozen years.

This spring training will be very interesting.

There are so many questions for a team that didn't do as much as its competitors to bolster its team during the off-season:

• Can Chase Utley and Ryan Howard return to All-Star form after major injuries that limited their action last year?
• Is Roy Halliday still among the top pitchers in baseball after a season marred by injuries?
• Will Cliff Lee ever return to form as the stud pitcher he was when the Phillies acquired him?
• How will Ben Revere, a light-hitting centerfielder, make up for the play of the departed Shane Victorino?
• Who will emerge in the corner outfield positions from the tandem of Dominic Brown, Delmon Young, Lance Nix, John Mayberry Jr. Darrin Ruf and Delmon Young?
• Can Eric Kratz hold down the fort at catcher until Carlos Ruiz returns from his 25-game drug ban?
• Will aging newcomer Michael Young be able to handle the hot corner or break down the way Placido Polanco did?
• How much must Jimmy Rollins step up to lead the team back to playoff contention?

Yes, all of these are questions we Phillies fans will fathom for some time over the rest of February and well into March before the season begins on April 5.

But after a gloomy Philadelphia Eagles season, a dismal Philadelphia 76ers campaign and a slow start by the struggling Philadelphia Flyers, baseball might be the cure all for our winter blues.

Just the thought of spring training is enough to make us hopeful for now.

Spring is coming. And it starts Wednesday.

The average price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Bucks and Montgomery spiked 17.8 cents since last week, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report.

That increase since last Monday is the most dramatic one-week spike in nearly two years, the report states.  The price surge was largely the result of higher crude oil prices and the “rubber-banding” of midcontinent retail gasoline prices, which fell dramatically to end the year and are now swinging back up.

Locally, the price per gallon average is $3.670. The national average went up 16.9 cents  from a week ago to $3.533 and the Pennsylvania average increased 13.7 cents to $3.670.

Nearby, the cheapest price for regular is $3.65 at the Hess at the intersection of Easton Rd (PA-611) & Blair Mill Rd.

If you spotted a better price, tell us in comments.