PENNSYLVANIA PRISONS RACKING UP CORONAVIRUS CASES
SCI Muncy is among the SCI facilities across the state being ravaged by positive COVID cases within the prison’s system. According to the Sun Gazette, the Department of Corrections reports 5, 545 active COVID inmate cases and 190 staff also infected with the virus in SCI facilities. Fifty one prisoners have died from COVID-19 during the pandemic. Prison officials say they have mitigation measures in place at their prisons including a testing protocol when inmates are released or transferred. Staff testing is voluntary.
2ND FDA-APPROVED VACCINE HEADING TO PA THIS WEEK
The Moderna vaccine for coronavirus was approved by the FDA this week and Pennsylvania hospitals are awaiting the arrival of about 198 thousand doses which does not need to be kept at sub zero temperatures and will make it’s way to more rurally centered hospitals. A partnership between area pharmacies and local skilled nursing facilities will see an implementation of vaccinations for residents and staff that should start next week. Over 30 thousand doses of the Pfizer vaccine will come to the commonwealth as well with over 17 thousand Pennsylvania health care workers have already been vaccinated with the first dose.
PA MAN ATTEMPTING TO REGISTER DECEASED RELATIVE TO VOTE CHARGED WITH PERJURY
A Pennsylvania man who attempted to register both his deceased mother and mother in law to vote in Delaware County, faces charges of unlawful voting and perjury. According to the Associated Press, the District Attorney said in a news conference that 70 year old Bruce Bartman filled out paperwork using his mother’s former driver’s license number to obtain an absentee ballot and then returned it fraudulently. Bartman did not successfully get a ballot for his passed mother in law. Lawyers for the case say the man told investigators that he registered the women as Republicans to help President Trump win the election and say his is the only fraudulent voting case the Delaware county office has seen.
PHEASANTS STOCKED THIS WEEK FOR THE SEASON
Pheasants are being released in Pennsylvania and hunting is open statewide. The birds may be hunted today through Thursday, but not on Christmas day. According to the Game commission, the season reopens Saturday and runs through Feb. 27. The seventh and final pheasant releases of 2020 are scheduled for today and Wednesday. More than 10% of the pheasants allocated for release in 2020 are stocked during these late-season releases. Statewide, more than 23,000 pheasants will be stocked for the late season.
LYCOMING COUNTY COVID 19 UPDATE
There were 207 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lycoming County since data was released from the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Sunday. In the same time, 160 new Northumberland County cases have been confirmed Clinton County’s case count increased by 107, There are 82 new cases in Union County, Snyder has 63 new cases. Over 15,000 new statewide COVID-19 cases have been confirmed the last two days, and there are 156 new fatalities reported including one Lycoming County resident
MAN ATTEMPTS TO ROB PHARMACY, ARRESTED
A man from Liverpool who was the suspect that attempted to rob the CVS Pharmacy inside the Target at Monroe Marketplace Monday has been arrested by Selinsgrove State police. According to police reports, 36-year-old Eric Shingara approached a pharmacist at the store and demanded prescription medication. When the pharmacist did not respond to his demands, police say he pulled a knife then fled the store. Selinsgrove State Police said there were no injuries and made the arrest at Shingara’s home last night, after ID’ing the man from surveillance footage. Shingara was arraigned with bail set at 30 thousand dollars.
MAN LEADS POLICE ON 25 MILE CHASE FROM MONTOURSVILLE
A man from Philadelphia suspected to be under the influence and a female passenger led Pennsylvania State police on a 25 mile chase that went from the Montoursville Walmart parking lot to Northumberland County Sunday night. According to the Sun Gazette, 911 was called on Tamir Hall-Jones when he allegedly had parked his damaged 2013 Chevy Malibu in the drop off zone of the Walmart, and once police arrived they asked an apparently intoxicated Hall-Jones for identification. When he went to the car to find the paperwork Hall-Jones took off on Rt 147 toward Milton , later crashing into the snow near Shakespeare Road overpass in Northumberland County. Hall Jones now faces 16 charges including fleeing from police while under the influence. Hall Jones is in Lycoming County prison awaiting arraignment, his passenger was not charged .
LAST DAY FOR COVID TESTING AT MONTOUR-DELONG FAIRGROUNDS
Today is the last day for the regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinic at the Montour-Delong Community Fairgrounds going on from 9a-6p. Up to 450 patients can be tested. Mid-nasal swabs will be performed on a first-come, first-serve basis and is completely free to all patients. Individuals who are tested should self-isolate while they await results. The address of the fairgrounds is 5848 Broadway Road, in Danville.
SPORTS
NFL Monday Night Football
Bengals beat the Steelers 27-17
Vikings play the Saints on Christmas Day with a 4:30pm kick off in New Orleans,
Steelers play the Colts Sunday in Pittsburgh with that kick off at 1pm, Giants and the Ravens play at the same time Sunday in Baltimore.
Women’s College b-ball
Purdue beat the Lady Lions of PSU 91-87, PSU’s game against Michigan on the road has been postponed due to COVID in the Michigan program. NO make up date has been announced.
