Governor Tom Wolf announced a $225 million statewide grant program to support small businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis and subsequent business closure order. The funding was developed in partnership with state lawmakers and allocated through the recently enacted state budget, which included $2.6 billion in federal stimulus funds through the CARES Act, of which $225 million was earmarked for relief for small businesses. $100 million will go to Main Street business revitalization, 25 million for Loan Payment Deferment and a third program for individuals facing historical disadvantages. Wolf said the new provides direct support to impacted businesses to help during the transition to reopening.”
A former United Way director has been sentenced in Clinton County Court after pleading guilty for 3rd degree felony theft charges. According to the Lock Haven Express former Clinton County United Way Director Maria Garlick, was sentenced to four to 23 months in the Clinton County Correctional Facility Monday. Garlick was charged after it was discovered that she used a United Way debit card for personal purchases and received checks in 2018 and 2019 totaling over $26k.
Two Children were life-flighted to Geisinger medical center from the scene of an accident when a Jeep 4×4 and a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck collided in the southbound lanes of Route 15 at the Steam Valley interchange Monday night about 8pm. According to te Sun Gazette, Liberty Fire Chief Todd Zimmerman said the children were in the pickup truck that was operated an adult male and a woman was driving the jeep. Both adults were taken to UPMC Williamsport by ambulance. Traffic was easily detoured around the accident as they worked to clear the accident from the interstate. First responders from Liberty, Trout Run, Hepburn Township, Blossburg and Old Lycoming Township as well as paramedics from Lycoming and Tioga County were at the scene.
The Muncy School District has decided to change their preliminary graduation ceremony date they earlier named in August to June 17th at 6pm after Lycoming County’s transition into the green phase came earlier than they had forseen. According to the Sun Gazette, the class of 54 seniors at Muncy will each have three reserved seats on the front lawn for guests for the ceremony next Wednesday which will allow for the states guidelines of gatherings of less than 250 people. The rain date is June 18th at the same time.
The Wolf Administration Monday issued a universal COVID-19 testing order requiring all nursing homes to complete initial baseline testing no later than July 24. There is also updated testing guidance to all long-term care facilities (LTCFs) through the Health Alert Network (HAN). Between May 11 and May 26 the department of Health implemented a universal testing pilot project in five LTCFs across the commonwealth and received staffing support through the National Guard to train and assist with swabbing.The number of tests in LTCFs has increased 48 percent over the last two weeks, bringing the percent of positive cases in this population to its lowest level since the start of the outbreak.
The Jersey Shore Area School Board approved the 2020-21 final budget by a unanimous decision at last night’s livestreamed meeting on YouTube. According to the district business manager, the $1,073, 538 deficit in the budget will be covered by committed fund balances from the Pennsylvania School Employee’s Retirement System and the health insurance. The board also approved a resolution setting the final real estate tax rates for 2020-21 at 18.3139 mills for district homeowners in Lycoming County and 13.5010 mills for real estate in Clinton County. The board also approved a resolution that the Homestead/Farmstead program is going to be fully funded at the April amount so that parcels approved in the district will receive a $245 credit on their tax bills. The next board meeting will be in person on June 22, 2020.
A crew working for PPL along Route 220 in Woodward Township today could cause brief intermittent road closures while they pull electrical lines across the roadway during the day. IN a press release from PennDOT, the replacing of the lines should take place between 9am and 1pm today at the Quenshukeny intersection along Route 220 in Lycoming County.
Citing too many unknowns and a lack of definitive participation from school bands and vendors, October’s Pennsylvania State Flaming Foliage Festival in Renovo has been canceled for the first time in 70 years. According to the Lock Haven Express, the committee of the state recognized festival that benefits the Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park, said it was a heavy hearted decision.
SPORTS
NFL
Houston Texans and former Clemson players DeAndre Hopkins and Deshaun Watson are petitioning the university to remove the name of John C. Calhoun from the school’s honors college. Calhoun, who served as vice president under John Quincy Adams in 1825 advocated for slavery. Hopkins posted the message on Instagram.
NASCAR
The Joey Logano Foundation, the NASCAR Foundation and Elevation Outreach are partnering to bring a Convoy of Hope to Martinsville Virginia the day after the race on Thursday with the goal of providing 40,000 pounds of food and supplies to approximately 1,000 families during a drive-thru distribution at NASCAR’s oldest track. They did a similar food distribution in May at Darlington Raceway.
GOLF
The PGA Tour returns this week with no spectators at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Forth Worth, Texas. Broadcasting the tournament all week and through the weekend will be different with CBS lead announcer Jim Nantz, alone in the 18th-hole tower and lead analyst Nick Faldo working from a studio in Orlando, Florida. Other analysts will be in different studios, and about half of the usual production crew will be on-site. A few players may use a microphone feature and answer questions within the course of a round.
