GOP DENIED BY SUPREME COURT
The nation’s highest court denied a petition filed by U.S. Representative Mike Kelly, of Butler County, and other Republicans who asked it to settle if Pennsylvania and its General Assembly violated the federal Constitution when it instituted mail-in voting in 2019.  According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The GOP had argued that allowing no-excuse mail-in voting  was unconstitutional.  The Supreme Court also decided not to hear Pennsylvania disputes involving a Republican challenge to state courts’ power over federal elections. The basis of the dissent by three justices in the three-day deadline case was that the U.S. Constitution gives state legislatures — not the state courts interpreting the state constitution — final say over how electors are chosen.

FIREFIGHTER SUFFERS FATAL HEART ATTACK DURING A CALL
A volunteer firefighter who was assisting at a chicken farm fire in West Beaver Township suffered a fatal heart attack on the scene Sunday morning.  According to  the Daily Item, 57 year old Phillip “Craig” Ginter was pulling hoses for the tankers at the property on Pathermer Road and requested medical assistance  before falling unresponsive.  Another firefighter attempted CPR before Ginter was taken to Lewistown  Hospital where he later died.  Governor Tom Wolf has ordered all flags at  Snyder County commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds to be flown at half -staff in honor of Ginter’s memory and service.

NAMING RIGHTS TO BOWMAN FIELD UP FOR GRABS
The City of Williamsport is seeking an agreement with a new entity to take advantage of the naming rights to Historic Bowman field.  According to the Sun Gazette, Mayor Derek Slaughter’s administration has discussed the proposal to increase revenue for the city and recently advertised the legal notice asking interested parties to consider the agreement which would give them access to the city’s assets with named signage around the ballpark.  A prior agreement from 2018 with BB&T Bank has expired after being extended for 35 thousand dollars per year at that time.

COVID TESTING SITE REOPENS AFTER WEATHER EVENT
The weather caused problems for the COVID-19 testing site at Shikellamy State park yesterday leaving them unable to open, but they will be up and running today through Thursday from 9am til 6pm.   The Northumberland County Department of Public Safety says they are one of five counties receiving a regional pop-up COVID-19 drive-thru testing clinic but there will not be an extra day added this week even with the one day shut-down.  The free testing is still first come first served and can test up to 450 patients each day at the marina area of Shikellamy State park

ROUTE 11 CLOSED AFTER MORNING ACCIDENT
Route 11 reopened yesterday about 3pm after a crash between Shamokin Dam and Northumberland closed parts of the roadway after 10am.  One person was hospitalized after the accident according to Central Susquehanna Regional 911 a tractor-trailer and another vehicle collided along Route 11 in Point Township, Northumberland County just after the Barry King Bridge.  No word on the condition of the others involved in the accident.

HOME BURNS IN WOLF TOWNSHIP
A fire in the overnight hours Sunday has left a mobile home uninhabitable in Wolf Township.  According to the Sun Gazette, volunteers from Hughesville Fire Department responded to the fire about 10:30pm at the Orchards Mobile Homes Park on Michael Avenue that officials say began at the front of the structure.  Two adult residents were uninjured and their dog returned after running away.  The fire marshall was called to the scene to determine a cause of the blaze, but did not say the cause seemed suspicious.

LOCAL COVID UPDATE
Lycoming County reports 18 new cases of the coronavirus as of midnight yesterday,  Northumberland has 6, Clinton County reports 9 cases, Union County has 11.  The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 1,521 additional positive cases of COVID-19 since yesterday statewide with 17 new fatalities attributed to COVID-19. Lycoming County has 17 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, with 2 people on ventilators

TOOMEY COULD BE CENSURED BY GOP
The GOP in Pennsylvania will meet Wednesday night this week to decide on the censure of  U.S. Senator  Pat Toomey, who said Trump committed “impeachable offenses” in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.  A resolution to censure Toomey came up for discussion at the state party’s leadership committee meeting on Feb. 6.  According to the Associated Press, Lawrence Tabas, the state party chairman, scheduled the meeting with lawmakers Monday and says a censure vote is mainly a symbolic gesture toward Toomey who isn’t seeking reelection next year

SPORTS
HS Boys Basketball
Wellsboro beat Mansfield 75-66, Williamsport be Hollidaysburg 65-46
HS Girls Basketball
Montgomery over South Williamsport 44-39, Milton beat Jersey Shore 44-38, Towanda over Troy 56-35, and Wellsboro beat Mansfield 39-20

College Wrestling
ThePenn State wrestling team dismantled Maryland last night at Rec Hall 44-nothing. It was the Nittany Lions Senior Night sweeping all 10 bouts and amassing more takedowns than team points .
NBA
Bulls beat the Rockets 120 to 100, the Mavericks over the Grizzlies 102 to 92, Heat beat Thunder 108 to 94, Suns beat the Trailblazers 132 to 100, Jazz over Hornets 132 to 110, Wizards beat the Lakers 127 to 124 in OT, Spurs and Pacers were postponed

NHL
Lightning beat Hurricanes 4 to 2, Flames over Maple Leafs 3-nothing, Panthers beat the Stars 3-1, Islanders over the Sabres 3-2, Kings beat the Blues 3-nothing, Golden Knights beat Avalanche 3-nothing, Coyotes over the Ducks 4-3, Wild beat Sharks 6-2