SHOTS FIRED IN CITY, SUSPECT ARRESTED

A 19-year-old Williamsport man was angry with his girlfriend, according to reports, so he fired 14 rounds into the air from a handgun. It was the same handgun he had used the day before to fire shots toward an occupied vehicle in the 800 block of Wilson Street on Sunday morning. As reported by SUN Gazette,  John Brady Spiotto, was taken into custody minutes after the second shooting, arraigned before District Judge William Solomon on multiple charges including a felony and released on $50,000 bail.

GOVERNOR MANDATING MASKING FOR STATE EMPOLYEES

After only two months without masking policies, Gov. Tom Wolf is now ordering all state employees and contractual state employees under his jurisdiction, to begin masking once more. According to SUN Gazette, with COVID-19 cases again on the rise with the new Delta variant of the virus, state employees were notified on Friday about the new policy which takes effect today. In the memo to state employees, the administration cited recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control as the basis for this most recent action. Visitors, however, will have the option to mask or not.

DOMESTIC LED TO ATTEMPTING TO FLEE CHARGES ON SNYDER COUNTY MAN

A domestic led a man in Snyder County to a felony charge for attempting to escape from police custody. Alexander Schaffner allegedly led State Police at Selinsgrove on a short foot chase Thursday morning around 1:20 a.m. to in the 2000 block of N. Susquehanna Trail in Shamokin Dam, as reported by a media outlet. A third-degree felony charge of escape and other charges were filed,  he was arraigned and bail set at $25,000 monetary.

COAL TOWNSHIP HAS 30 DAYS TO PAY NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY

Northumberland County has won its long dispute with Coal Township over county prison permit fees. According to the Daily Item and  Northumberland County Court Administrator Kevin O’Hearn, Lycoming County Judge Dudley Anderson ruled yesterday the township has 30 days to pay the county over $267,000. Northumberland County originally filed suit against Coal Township in January 2018 over the battle of fees from the county’s $2.2 million prison project.

SECOND ARREST IN JULY 25 FOOT PURSUIT ON PACKER ISLAND

It was July 25 and troopers attempted to stop a vehicle on Packer Island. A foot pursuit ensued and Eric Locke of Williamsport was taken into custody. According to a media report, now, a second Williamsport man is jailed following this investigation.  Court papers say Milton State Police say 19-year-old Isaiah Keyes was taken into custody Sunday. Keyes appeared in front of District Judge Mike Toomey via video and is now jailed in the Lycoming County Prison. He is facing a felony gun charge and is being held on $200,000 bail. Keyes is scheduled for a preliminary hearing September 7.

FDA HAS FULLY APPROVED PFIZER BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE

Governor ​Tom Wolf today issued a statement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) full approval of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 and older.“Today’s announcement is great news as we continue to fight COVID-19 and its variants,” said Gov. Wolf. “Full approval by the FDA solidifies the overall safety and efficacy of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. According to a media source, we hope this encourages people to get vaccinated who may have been hesitant while it was classified as emergency use to not only protect themselves, but their loved ones and everyone else around them.” Visit www.vaccines.gov to find a location closest to you.”

PA TASK FORCE TO HELP WITH TROPICAL STORM HENRI DAMAGE

Governor Tom Wolf today announced that 16 members of Pennsylvania-Task Force 1 (PA-TF1) have arrived in Connecticut to assist with Tropical Storm Henri water rescue efforts in New England, according to a media source. “I’m proud that Pennsylvanians have stepped up to assist with any water rescue efforts due to Tropical Storm Henri,” Gov. Wolf said. “Water rescues are dangerous so I’m grateful to these volunteers for answering the call to support communities who may be experiencing horrific flooding.” PA-TF 1 is one of 28 teams that are part of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System and is a federal resource that can quickly be mobilized to deploy to incidents anywhere in the country. The team is sponsored by the Philadelphia Fire Department.

GOVERNOR CALLS FOR HELP FROM PENNSYLVANIA

Gov. Tom Wolf said Pennsylvania will do its part to welcome refugees from Afghanistan.  The governor said on Twitter his administration is working with federal and local partners to help settle refugees. Many aided U.S. military units or served as interpreters and fear for their lives if they can’t get out. According to Governor Wolf on Twitter. “Our commonwealth has long served as a refuge for those seeking peace and stability amid crisis, and we will continue to help in any way possible.”

BIG TEN ADMINISTRATORS SET COVID-19 RULES

The Big Ten presented another strong incentive for its teams to get vaccinated and heed COVID-19 protocols in a statement yesterday. In collaboration with Big Ten administrators, the Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Sports Medicine Committee, the conference ruled games that can’t be staged due to COVID-19 issues will result in a forfeit, with a loss for the team impacted by the virus. According to the Daily Item, if both teams are impacted by COVID-19, the game will be declared a no contest.

END RESULT OF FALLON HOTEL INVESTIGATION

The results are back from a July 15 code inspection at the Fallon Hotel and they show the historic building is “unfit for human habitation and constitutes a hazard” and must be vacated. According to an investigation by The Record, the notice provided to the building owners, is the building is “unsafe and unfit for human habitation or use and constitutes a hazard and danger to human life and/or the public welfare.” The owners are directed to correct the deficiencies within 45 days. According to the Record has learned there is an out-of-the-area developer with an interest in restoring the pre-Civil War structure if feasible.

PA DEPT OF HEALTH COVID-19 RESULTS

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports 7,652 new positive cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, bringing the statewide total to 1,269,555 and continuing a recent statewide upward trend, according to a media outlet. New cases in Clinton County over the last three days were 6, 7, and 8, for a total of 21, increasing the county total to 3,588. Centre County reported 64 new cases over the three days, Lycoming with 75 new cases.

PENN STATE NOT REQUIRING MASKS IN BEAVER STADIUM

Penn State Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour says Nittany Lion football fans will not be required to wear masks in open air areas of Beaver Stadium this fall and the school will not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. She made her comments in an online session with reporters on Saturday. But she said the policy could change, based on changing circumstances: “We’re not going to require masking outdoors unless the CDC were to change its guidance. We certainly will monitor and review that, but if someone feels that’s what they want to do from a health and safety standpoint, wear a mask, that that certainly is encouraged. ”She did say press box occupants and fans in stadium suites must be masked, as well as indoor events on campus, including the Bryce Jordan Center and the Pegula Ice Arena, according to a media source.