O RECORDS SET WITH COVID-19 NUMBERS YESTERDAY
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine confirmed the number of cases of COVID-19 yesterday; 1,470 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 12,980 in 65 counties, with 12 new deaths among positive cases, bringing that total to 162. However, Governor Wolf gave a bit of good news during yesterday’s video press conference, saying that the current virus numbers did not set any single-day records in any category, and that the first exponential increase in cases has resulted in a flatter curve than anticipated and as people stay home, that curve can continue to stay low and the our state healthcare systems will be spared from an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 patients at once. At this time, Lycoming County now has 10 cases, Clinton County has 3. All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.
POLICE SEEK SUSPECTS IN WILLIAMSPORT SHOOTING
A man was killed by an unknown gunman while pulling an SUV into a parking area of an apartment building at the 300 block of Bridge Street in Williamsport early Sunday. According to the Sun Gazette, police are looking for suspects who fired multiple shots that residents heard around 3 in the morning, which killed 27 year-old Amir Nobles of Philadelphia. Police say bullets struck and killed the man causing the vehicle to veer from his route near the Bridge Street Commons, and another nearby car was struck by the gunshots. If you have information about this shooting please call Agent Justin Snyder. This is the city’s first homicide of the year.
TELE-TOWN HALL DISCUSSION FOCUSES ON BUSINESS, EMPLOYMENT
During Senator Gene Yaw’s tele-town hall event yesterday to address the recent response to COVID-19, members of the public asked questions about business and unemployment issues. Senator Yaw, acknowledging that people want to get back to work, said that state lawmakers continue to assess the exceptions between essential and non-life-sustaining business as many have applied. Eric Kratz, executive director, State Senate Labor and Industry Committee acknowledged a backlog in unemployment claims and that self-employed people will soon be able to file for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
CITY WORKS BEGIN COLLECTING DEBRIS WHILE FOLLOWING STATE GUIDELINES
The city is practicing their social distancing requirements as crews began to pick up yard debris yesterday. According to the Sun Gazette, Mayor Slaughter said they have reduced the crew to one operator per truck to follow state and federal guidelines when picking up the debris that residents have been asked to leave at the curb. Officials from City Public works are discouraging use of the city brush pile at this time during the pandemic.
WOMAN IN CUSTODY AFTER ASSAULTING A STATE TROOPER
A woman from West Milton woman allegedly pushed and kicked a state trooper and is facing felony charges. Selinsgrove State Police say they were responding to a welfare check when Pamela Klinger ignored verbal commands on the scene, and pushed an officer. Klinger was taken into custody after having to be restrained. She was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge John Reed and taken to Snyder County prison in lieu of . $25,000 bail.
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT TO BE CLEANED WITH NEW TRUCK
Old Lycoming Township will start it to cleaning public parks and equipment this week using jet-vac truck purchased with a grant for $622,000 through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority or PENNVEST. According to the Sun Gazette, the truck has a multitude of abilities, and a sanitation tank with a solution used to clean bacteria. Matthew Aikey, township manager said the parks are closed but the solution they use is safe for the environment and will keep workers safe while cleaning out sewers, maintaining waterways and spraying down equipment.
FREE DRIVE-UP WIFI AT TIOGA COUNTY UNIVERSITY
Mansfield University is sharing its WiFi with the community To allow students and community members access to the internet while promoting social distancing, Mansfield University Campus Technologies is providing drive-up WiFI at some locations on their campus. Mansfield University president Charles Patterson said in a press release, that they want to be a source of accessibility to the community so anyone in need of access to the internet can drive-up to many of the public parking lots and connect to the Mounties Mobile Guest wireless network for free. Residence hall parking lots are not an authorized location for Drive-up WiFi.
FIVE MORE REST STOPS OPEN STATEWIDE
PennDOT is reopening indoor facilities at five additional rest areas statewide. PennDOT’s rest areas were temporarily closed statewide on March 17 in response to Governor Tom Wolf’s mitigation guidance regarding COVID-19. Additional cleaning and maintenance will be performed at all reopened locations. Tourism services are not available at this time, but U.S. 15S in Tioga County, 7 miles south of the New York State line is reopened today along with 4 other areas on Interstate 81, I-70 and Interstate 90 in Erie County that each reopened Monday.
Sports
NBA
Officials with the NBA are exploring whether a rapid blood testing process, to find accurate results as to who has the coronavirus, would allow the league to get back to resuming play in the near future. The Washington Post reports a 15 minute rapid response test, which is approved by the FDA was shipped from an Illinois based laboratory to some areas of the US last week, but the NBA implied that it’s important that testing is done for those who need it most right now.
NFL
The NFL Draft is still set to take place later this month but it will be fully virtual. Commissioner Roger Goodell said all coaches, general managers and team personnel will operate from their homes.
UFC fighter Anthony Smith had to fight an intruder in his Nebraska home early Sunday this week. Smith, who lives with his wife an 3 daughters, fought the unarmed man, who had attempted to break into other area homes, until police arrived and took him into custody. Luke Haberman was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor, according to the sheriff’s department there.
Golf
A Summer line up of PGA tournaments are solidified after the coronavirus pandemic altered the schedule of almost all sports this spring. The PGA Championship originally to be played in May is now August 6 thru 9th in Harding Park San Francisco, The US Open scheduled for June is now September 17th in New York, The Masters set to start this week will be played in November and The Open at Royal St. George is cancelled. The Ryder Cup coming up in Kohler Wisconsin in September has been unchanged.
