LOCAL LEGISLATORS SAY NO CHANGES WOULD IMPACT ELECTION
In an effort to restore voter confidence in Pennsylvania’s election process, local lawmakers have agreed to investigate claims made about the integrity of the vote, but note that there is no evidence of widespread fraud or irregularities that would impact election results. Senator Gene yaw of Loyalsock Township told the Sun Gazette that there are claims that through a Senate resolution, there could be a dispute of the election and new electors can be assigned contrary to the popular vote winner , but adds that the Constitution prohibits changing the law after the fact. Pennsylvania Election results have already been signed and certified by Governor Wolf.
COURTHOUSE ACCESS LIMITED TO PUBLIC
Access into the Lycoming County Courthouse was restricted to the public as of Monday this week until further notice with very few exceptions, according to a statement released by the Lycoming County Sherriff’s Department. Those who arrive at the facility and those who come with them will need to be on an access authorization list maintained by the Sheriff’s Department. The public must call and make an appointment with the departments they need to visit. Anyone who is seeking a Protection From Abuse order can call the YWCA’s Wise Options at 815 West Fourth Street at 570-322-4637.
GOVERNOR WOLF TESTES POSITIVE FOR VIRUSGovernor Wolf has tested positive for the coronavirus in a routine test taken Tuesday and is isolating at home and feeling well. The First Lady of Pennsylvania, Frances Wolf, has been tested for the virus and is also quarantining with the governor at their home near York, PA. Wolf – who is 72 – is working remotely and is one of several US governors who have tested positive for the virus including the governors of Oklahoma, Missouri, Virginia, Nevada and Colorado. The Governor held a news conference about the pandemic Monday with PA Department of Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, but they all wore masks at the virtual event. Pennsylvania is averaging about 10,000 new confirmed cases per day, up more than 50% in two weeks, according to an AP analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project.
The winter sports season in Pennsylvania is slated to move forward Friday after a statement yesterday by the PIAA. There will be some changes implemented for wrestling, basketball and swimming, including a 16 team single elimination wrestling championship, and the start of the state basketball tournament pushed back to March of 2021 to allow for longer district tournaments. There are some COVID protocols about practice/play guidelines in place as well. The Pennsylvania Principal’s Association and PA Association for School Administrators wrote letters to the PIAA asking for a delay of a start to the season during the current surge of the coronavirus.
Stonington State police have identified a man who was found dead in his Northumberland County home on Monday. Troopers say they are investigating the death of Joseph Collier who was found around 6:30pm Monday at his home on 253 Collier Road in East Cameron Township. Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley joins the state police in the investigation, but no other details have been provided as of today.
There are minimal details at this time about a house fire last night in Penn Township that brought 11 companies to the scene. Central Susquehanna Regional 9-1-1 reports that a fire at a home on Kratzer road was fully engulfed in flames and reported around 7:30 pm Wednesday. Volunteers fought the fire using a tanker shuttle with several companies. Dispatchers said no one was hurt in the fire and details on the Snyder County blaze should be forthcoming today.
As of yesterday at noon, Lycoming County reported 79 new cases of the coronavirus, 58 cases in Northumberland County. Tioga County has 41 new cases and Clinton County has had 1035 cases (917 confirmed and 118 probable) 37 new today. However, the Clinton County correctional facility is handling an outbreak this week after 76 inmates in the prison tested positive according to the Sun Gazette. Lycoming County has 88 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, 11 in the ICU, with 6 on ventilators and 7 available Adult ICU beds. There were 8,703 new cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday and 220 new deaths reported in the commonwealth.
City Council will meet virtually tonight to continue to work to decrease the 1.5 mill tax-hike, $29 million budget proposed for 2021. In the first reading of the budget on December 3rd, Council worked to remove about $777,000 from the proposed spending plan and passed the proposed budget upon their first reading. The City Council is expecting Mayor Derek Slaughter – who today promised transparency when discussing the budget – to bring ideas on ho wto whittle the numbers down even more by reducing the tax burden. Head to the city website lyco.org to get details on watching the live meeting broadcast on Zoom and YouTube at 6:30 p.m.
SPORTS
LSU announced a self-imposed bowl ban on Wednesday night and will forgo participating this season, adding to the list of self-imposed sanctions stemming from the NCAA’s investigation into improper booster payments to its football players. LSU’s football program is charged with a Level III violation involving Odell Beckham Jr., a former Tigers star, who gave $2,000 in cash to four Tigers football players on the field after the team’s victory over Clemson after the National Championship game on Jan. 13
