DATA CORRECTION DROPS COVID VACCINE RATES IN PENNSYLVANIA
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week dropped its percentage of vaccinated adults in Pennsylvania by nearly five percentage points in what apparently was a data correction to weed out duplicates. The agency on Wednesday adjusted the percentage to 68.9%, after a day earlier putting the percentage at 73.7% of Pennsylvanians 18 and older. The downward revision amounted to a reduction of about 1.2 million doses. Pennsylvania’s Department of Health said it sends its data to the CDC, and began in July to refine its data to remove duplicate information and correct data on first, second and booster doses. The data correction comes as infections, hospitalizations and intensive-care unit cases are rising in Pennsylvania and many other states.
LUNG SCREENING PROGRAM AT GMC
Geisinger’s lung cancer screening program, launched over the last year, is the best way for at-risk patients to receive annual screenings key to the early detection of lung cancer. When detected early, lung cancer is easier to treat, and screenings become an important diagnostic tool in the process. Lung cancer is responsible for the most cancer-related deaths in men and women in the U.S and lung cancer screenings are non-invasive diagnostic tests that can help detect cancer in its earliest stages. Patients are eligible for yearly lung cancer screening if they do not have lung cancer symptoms and meet all of the following criteria: Are between the ages of 55 and 77, have a 30-pack-year history of smoking, Currently smoke or quit smoking within the last 15 years.
MAN FLEES POLICE WITH CHILD IN CAR
A Linden man fled from police with a child in his car. A State Police Corporal stopped Jarod Tedesco, on Wednesday night, as he was weaving in-and-out of his driving lane and traveling well below the posted speed limit. The stop, just outside of Williamsport, was brief because Tedesco took off when a second trooper arrived to assist. The pursuit, winded south on Route 220 and ended in Woodward Township on Stewart Street. He was cooperative until he was searched and then he became belligerent and struggled with troopers. Again, he attempted to flee, this time on foot, until a trooper deployed his tazer.
Tedesco was medically cleared by UPMC Williamsport, arraigned in front of District Judge William Solomon on multiple charges, and committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $99,000 bail.
RACE FOR THE NEXT U.S. SEAT IN PA
The Republican field of candidates aiming to capture Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat in next year’s election is churning anew, with the candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump out and intriguing new candidates possibly in. Out is Sean Parnell — a favorite of Donald Trump Jr. — who ended his campaign after losing a custody battle in court in which the judge said he believed allegations of abuse made by Parnell’s estranged wife. The high-stakes campaign to replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey in the battleground state could determine control of the Senate in next year’s election. March 8 is the last day to file petitions with enough voter signatures to get on the May 17 primary ballot.
MAN KILLED MOTHER AND USED HER ATM CARD
A Coal Township man allegedly struck his mother in the head with a baseball bat, killing her, in their home last weekend. Christopher Depka is charged with killing Sarah Jones and wrapping her body in blankets in her bedroom. According to WNEP, Depka was seen via surveillance video at Rite Aid with her ATM card one day before she was found dead. A search of the property, revealed a bloody aluminum baseball bat in Depka’s bedroom. He was arraigned and committed to Northumberland County Jail with no known bail.
COVID-19 CASES IN PA REPORTED YESTERDAY
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday reported new COVID-19 cases. Clinton County reported 33 new cases. In Centre County 91 new cases were recorded. Lycoming County added 97 new cases. Northumberland County’s total increased by 75. Tioga County had 24 new covid-19 cases.
SUNBURY FIREFIGHTERS KEPT BUSY WITH SECOND FIRE
For the second day, Sunbury firefighters dealt with a house fire in the city. The fire, on Susquehanna Avenue on Friday afternoon, damaged multiple rooms of an apartment complex. It began in a bedroom of the second floor, extended to the attic and out a first floor window, where it lit a neighboring residence on fire. The two alarm blaze brought firefighters from Sunbury, Northumberland, Shamokin Dam, Selinsgrove and 9 other companies. According to an online media outlet, the home is a loss and uninhabitable. Although no injuries were reported, the Red Cross was on scene to help residents. The fire is under investigation.
MONEY SCHEME GETS CASH FROM GLOBAL CASH CARD PURCHASES AT LOWE’S
A money scheme has been running on local Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. Montoursville police reported possibly three suspects entered Lowe’s and preyed on cashiers, and made purchases using a Global Cash Card and not cash, then went to a neighboring Lowe’s and returned the items, receiving cash back. Montoursville Police identified Savannah Danielle Dillard and Ahman Shantone Mack Boxley both from Michigan, charged with multiple felonies and committed to jail without bail. According to the Northcentralpa.com, the third individual has not yet been identified.
PA TURNPIKE EXPECTS A BUSY WEEKEND FOR TRAVEL
The Pennsylvania Turnpike expects Thanksgiving to be the busiest travel holiday of the year with 3.15 million motorists traveling during the six-day period starting today and ending on Sunday. Overall, holiday traffic is up 39 percent over the same travel period last year. Operation Safe Holiday kicked off on November 15 with the “Click It or Ticket” Thanksgiving enforcement mobilization which runs through November 28. During the effort, PSP will offer no-cost child passenger safety seat fitting clinics at several locations statewide, with the goal of keeping Pennsylvania’s youngest travelers safe on the road. Throughout Operation Safe Holiday, law enforcement will also conduct sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols, and regular traffic safety patrols beginning the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, November 24, through the New Year’s holiday to crack down on drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol.
