ARMED ROBBERY AND POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR SUSPECTS

An armed robbery at the Mulan Massage and Spa on Dotterers Rd in Porter Township, Clinton County is under investigation by the Lamar State Police. According to police, the armed robbery occurred at approximately 7:40pm on Monday evening. Suspect #1, a black male suspect approx. 6’5” tall and skinny, wearing a black jacket, black pants, white socks, and black shoes came in for a massage. Suspect #2 entered, he is a black, and non-hispanic male described as approximately 6’0” tall and skinny, wearing all black clothing, along with a black mask and black gloves. He allegedly grabbed the victim by the neck, pointed a gun at the back of her head and demanded her to give him the money. Both suspects fled the scene in an unknown direction. The victim was not injured during the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the State Police in Lamar.

FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR LYCOMING MALL ROAD

Lycoming County Coroner is investigating a fatal crash that occurred yesterday afternoon. According to police, a FedEx home delivery truck struck the rear of a parked tractor-trailer truck, as it sat along the berm of the Lycoming Mall Road exit ramp of Interstate 180 West in Muncy Township. The driver was killed and his passenger, a male juvenile, was injured and taken to UPMC via ambulance. Identities of both the driver and passenger may be released today, according to SUN Gazette. As the scene was investigated, state police had the off-ramp closed upwards of two hours.

UPDATED COVD-19 CASES

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday reported new COVID-19 cases. Clinton County reported 17 new cases. In Centre County 126 new cases were recorded. Lycoming County added 45 new cases. On Tuesday, the DOH reported 47 in Northumberland County, 34 in Union, 24 in Snyder and 20 in Montour. Tioga County had 11 new cases reported yesterday.

PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKER REFUSES INVITATION

Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania on Tuesday rebuffed a request for him to sit down for an interview and turn over documents to the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection, joining other allies of former President Donald Trump in trying to stonewall the committee. In a statement, Perry called the committee “illegitimate.” In a letter to Perry on Monday night, Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Democratic chairman of the panel, said the panel had received evidence from multiple witnesses, including then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and then-acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, that Perry had “an important role” in efforts to install Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark as acting attorney general.

AMENDMENT ENDED BEFORE IT BEGAN

Pennsylvania’s highest court on Tuesday hammered a final nail into the coffin of a proposed victims’ rights constitutional amendment that has never gone into effect, even though state voters supported it by a large margin in a referendum more than two years ago. The justices ruled 6-1 that the sprawling proposal violated the Pennsylvania Constitution’s requirement that amendments address a single topic to prevent lawmakers from bundling together items that might not pass on their individual merits. Unofficial tallies indicate the so-called “Marsy’s Law” amendment would have spelled out 15 rights for victims, including notification about cases and a right to attend and weigh in during plea hearings, sentencings and parole proceedings. It also would have addressed how victims can recover property and given them an ability to reject defense subpoenas.

WORKERS IN 25 STATES WILL SEE THEIR PAYCHECKS GROW WHEN MINIMUM

Wage increases go into effect in 2022, but Pennsylvania is not one of them. According to a new report from the National Employment Law Project, 21 states have minimum-wage increases set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2022. Four more states have increases slated for later in the year. Each of Pennsylvania’s six neighboring states already have minimum wages higher than Pennsylvania’s $7.25 an hour, and several of them are among the 25 states with planned increases for 2022. On Jan. 1, 2022, Pennsylvania will be surrounded by states with the following minimum wages: Delaware ($10.50); Maryland ($12.20); New Jersey ($13); New York ($13.20); Ohio ($8.80); and West Virginia ($8.75). Modernizing the outdated minimum wage would benefit workers over age 20, as well as women, people of color and workers in rural communities.

FRESH EXPRESS SALAD RECALL

Fresh Express is recalling certain varieties of its branded and private label salad products produced at the company’s Streamwood, Illinois facility because the product has the potential to be contaminated with an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, the infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Consumers with these symptoms should consult their health care provider.  The recall includes all Use-By Dates of fresh salad items with product codes Z324 through Z350. Product codes are located on the front of the packages below the Use-By Date, as shown above. No other Fresh Express products are subject to recall.

TRIAL ENDED WITH A SENTENCE

A New Columbia woman was convicted in a Union County jury trial, where Melissa Keister was charged with felony child welfare for treating a 9 year old girl like that of a dog, according to Union Co DA Pete Johnson. Keister received a 3 year sentence of restrictive probation  including a 4 month term of house arrest with electronic monitoring.

 POLICE CHIEF URGING COMMUNITY TO ASK NOT ASSUME

Conflicting stories surround the reports of a “violent sexual attack” in the borough of Danville.  According to Danville Borough Police Chief Jonathan Swank, on a Facebook statement, The Danville Police Department has been fielding many questions and phone calls regarding the ongoing assault investigation. There have been no further reports of similar assaults in Danville Borough. Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies are working together on this investigation. When information can be released regarding this case, it will come from official sources. The police will provide as much factual information as we can without compromising the investigation. With all that being said, Danville Borough is not Mayberry RFD, but it is also not Chicago  Be smart, Be safe.

WEIS MARKETS PULLING FRESH EXPRESS BAGGED SALADS

According to a report from Weis Markets, they have pulled products from their shelves, following the recent recall of Fresh Express bagged salads with use-by dates that feature codes Z324 through Z350.  Fresh Express is recalling certain varieties of its branded and private label salad products produced at the company’s Streamwood, Illinois facility because the product has the potential to be contaminated with an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO A HEARING

A Coal Township man charged with the violent killing of his mother, waived his right to a hearing, sending the criminal case to Northumberland County Court.  According to a media outlet, Christopher Depka is accused of attacking his mother with a baseball bat and using her credit card. The county prosecutors haven’t said if they’ll seek the death penalty.