IMPORTANT MEETING TONIGHT FOR WILLIAMSPORT CITY COUNCIL

A public hearing discussing the transit authority its creation, use and how it affects the public will be held tonight at the Williamsport City Council Meeting. The meeting will be tonight at the Trade and Transit Center 2 at 7pm. The public is welcome to attend and to voice concerns and opinions.

BURNING ORDINANCE FOR SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT

An amendment based on a dimensional setback allowance with a fine increase to $300 per offense was approved by the South Williamsport Borough Council for their outdoor burning ordinance. As reported by SUN Gazette, the setback is written to be 15 feet requirement for a fire pit or fireplace away from the homeowner’s structure or the adjoining property. According to South Williamsport Borough Manager and Public Safety Director Steven W. Cappelli, this amendment is to help improve the safety of the residents while burning outdoors and to prevent fires.  Enforcement of the ordinance will be done by borough codes, South Williamsport Fire Department and/or South Williamsport Police Department.

COVID UPDATES FOR LOCAL AREAS

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday reported new cases of COVID-19. Clinton County reported 31 new cases. Centre County added 35; Tioga County added 16 and Lycoming County listed 29. In The Valley, there are 38 in Northumberland County; 10 new cases in Snyder County; 18 new cases in Union County and 11 new cases in Montour.

MS-13 TRANSFER TO USP LEWISBURG

The U.S. Penitentiary at Lewisburg is bracing for some new guests. Many of the members of the violent MS-13 gang are held across the country are being transferred to Lewisburg, Pa. As reported by the Daily Item, staffs at USP Lewisburg were advised Monday that current inmates would need to be moved in order to make room for an undisclosed number of gang members who are being transferred in. According to Fred Keller, the chairman of the House Bureau of Prisons Reform Caucus, his office is investigating the reports and remains in communications with officials from the Bureau of Prisons and the Council of Prison Locals.

WOLF RENEWS HIGHER-ED SCHOLARSHIP IDEA, AMID WORKER SHORTAGE

Gov. Tom Wolf says it’s time for lawmakers to get on board with his proposed college scholarship program, saying it’s urgently needed because of difficulties finding workers across industries. In an interview Wednesday, Wolf said the program makes sense because Pennsylvania’s state government is currently in a strong financial position, and because of a growing demand for workers, including college graduates. But, by just about every measure there is, Pennsylvania is still ranked at the bottom among states in the level of state aid for higher education, size of student debt and affordability of its colleges.

WOLF ADMINISTRATION ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES INCREASE PROTECTION FROM WILDFIRES IN RURAL AREAS

​ The Wolf Administration today announced that the application window is now open for grants to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities increase protection from wildfires. Acting State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook pointed to volunteer fire companies’ service to communities close to home, noting that many volunteer firefighters often join DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry crews battling wildfires across the U.S. Grant applications must be electronically submitted through DCNR’s grant website by 4:00 P.M., Thursday, May 12, 2022. To expedite applications and decision-making processes, DCNR is accepting only online applications. Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents qualify for the aid, which is used for training and equipment purchases directly related to fighting brush and forest fires.

ARREST OF WATSONTOWN MAN ON FELONY CHARGES

On Tuesday at approximately 1750 hours, Officers from the Watsontown Police Department, Milton Police Department and Troopers from the Milton State Police Barracks, arrived at a Delaware Drive address in Delaware Twp. in an attempt to take Logan Mathias, of Watsontown, into custody on felony forgery charges. Mathias fled, but was taken into custody by troopers. Mathias was arraigned by District Judge Michael I Diehl and incarcerated at the Northumberland County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.

PENNDOT, STATE POLICE HIGHLIGHT LAW AWARENESS WEEK, URGE SAFE DRIVING

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) came together with Penn State Health at their Life Lion Hangar to highlight driver safety laws and urge motorists to put safety first. According to early estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), national traffic fatalities in the first nine months of 2021 rose approximately 12 percent over 2020. In Pennsylvania, 2021 preliminary data shows deaths on our roadways increased by as much as 10 percent, including increases in fatalities in speeding crashes, distracted driving crashes, crashes involving a 16- or 17-year-old driver, as well as unrestrained fatalities. While fatalities in crashes involving impaired driving have remained relatively flat in recent years, data shows fatalities in crashes involving drinking drivers have been declining, while fatalities in crashes involving drugged drivers have been increasing.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE INVESTIGATING 1980 BABY DOE COLD CASE, SEEKING TIPS

​ The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today that it continues to investigate a 1980 cold case involving the homicide of Baby Boy John Doe in Larksville Borough, Luzerne County. In addition to a partnership with the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office and Othram Inc. to modernize the investigative response, PSP encourages the public to submit tips to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers.