Every four years, the PA Office of the Auditor General is required to conduct a report on the PA Turnpike Commission. On December 10, 2012, Auditor General Jack Wagner held a press conference to discuss the findings of the 2007-2011 report to be released in January.

Of the six findings the report analyzes, the Auditor General highlighted a $7.7 million loss because of free travel by employees, consultants and contractors, and officials.

Evidenced by the report, Wagner claims that the Turnpike has deficient means of monitoring use of "free passes," some which are necessary and valid such as for emergency and work-related purposes. However, the Auditor General's findings indicate that there is no differentiation between work use and personal use. As a result, the Turnpike Commission has no way of knowing how much free personal use of the Turnpike is costing taxpayers.

Wagner stated he is concerned about the "fiscal stability of the Turnpike," and noted the $7.8 billion debt. The Auditor's General Office has made 12-15 recommendations in its report to the Turnpike Commission.

"I had to send a letter," Wagner said, in order to get the Turnpike Commission to turn over information. "I seldom have ever done that as Auditor General."

Videos:

Part I: Recommended no more personal use, no more free travel"

Part II: "Making certain that the Pennsylvania Turnpike is following the trust indenture that it should be committed to."

Part III: "The turnpike doesn't distinguish between personal travel and business travel."

Part IV: "Ultimately, the taxpayer pays."

Part V: "Monitoring for the purpose of being work related is what is important."

Part VI: "The Turnpike was very reluctant to provide any type of information related to this free travel."

Part VII: The Turnpike had to be asked to cooperation

by Tara Leo Auchey

As released by the Harrisburg Bureau of Police:

Type of Incident: Shooting investigation.

. Date / Time: 12-10-2012, at about 1415 hrs.

. Location: Popeye’s Restaurant parking lot at 1900 N. Cameron St. . Investigating Officer: Det. Quinten Kennedy and Det. Jason Brinker.

. Victim R/S/A: Anthony Thompson, B/M/30, Uptown resident . Suspect: Two unknown black males.

. Charges: Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Tampering with Evidence Driving While Under Suspension.

. Narrative: On 12-10-2012 at about 1415 hrs. patrol officers were dispatched to the Popeye’s Restaurant and the emergency room of the Harrisburg Hospital on a report that a man had been shot and was taken to the hospital. Other officers were sent to a residence in the 2400 block of Reel St. in that a witness had followed a vehicle involved in the shooting to that block.

. City detectives spoke to Thompson at the emergency room. As they got there they noticed Thompson pass off a small box to his girlfriend. The box was seized. It contained cocaine which was packaged for sale.

. Thompson said that he was just going to the restaurant to get some food for his girlfriend. A vehicle pulled up to him at the parking lot and a man shot at him for no reason. Thompson was shot in the back of the head but fortunately he was not seriously injured. The car that he was driving was damaged by gunfire. The assailants drove off and were followed by a person who witnessed the incident. That witness called the police dispatch and provided information on the location of the car.

. Other City detectives and officers searched a home where the shooter’s car was located. The resident cooperated and allowed the search. A Derry Township officer and K-9 partner assisted in the search. The shooting suspects were not located.

. Another witness helped Thompson by driving him to the Harrisburg Hospital.

. Thompson was treated and released. He was taken into custody for the drug violations, arraigned, and sent to the Dauphin County Prison in lieu of bail.

. The investigation continues and anyone having any information on this is asked to contact Det. Kennedy at 717-255-3157 or email HYPERLINK .

"mailto:qkennedy@cityofhbg.com" qkennedy@cityofhbg.com or Det. Jason Brinker at 717-255-7298 or email HYPERLINK "mailto:jbrinker@cityofhbg.com" jbrinker@cityofhbg.com.