US labs buckle amid testing surge; world virus cases top 15M
By MATTHEW PERRONE, TAMMY WEBBER and MATT SEDENSKY Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Laboratories across the U.S. are buckling under a surge of coronavirus tests, creating long processing delays that experts say are actually undercutting the pandemic response. The bottlenecks are creating problems for workers kept off the job while awaiting results, nursing homes struggling to keep the virus out and for the labs themselves, dealing with a crushing workload. That comes as cases are rising in most U.S. states, with particular hot spots developing across the South and West. Worldwide, the count of people infected with the coronavirus passed a staggering 15 million people, with some 618,000 killed by the pandemic.

County sues Wolf, seeking $13M in virus funding he withheld
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania county has filed suit to compel Gov. Tom Wolf to release $12.8 million in federal coronavirus relief funding that he withheld after county leaders defied his shutdown orders. Wolf withheld nearly $12.8 million in funding from Lebanon County, where local Republican leaders voted in mid-May to lift pandemic restrictions in defiance of the Democratic governor. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Commonwealth Court, says Wolf had no legal right to withhold funding appropriated by the legislature. The suit accuses him of a “gross abuse of power” and acting like a “de facto King.” A message was left with Wolf’s office seeking comment.

World virus cases near 15M; Trump says things will get worse
By MATT SEDENSKY AP National Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The global count of people infected with the coronavirus is nearing a staggering 15 million people, with more than 617,000 killed by the pandemic. The latest shocking milestone comes while in the worst-hit pandemic hot spot of the United States, President Donald Trump is adopting a shifted tone, acknowledging it is likely to “get worse before it gets better.” Meantime in Washington, lawmakers are crafting the next stage of the government’s response to the coronavirus, the fifth bill to provide aid. Leaders are seeking compromise between a sweeping $3 trillion proposal from the Democratic-controlled House and a more modest $1 trillion proposal emerging from Republicans.

AG Shapiro: We’ll Act If DeVos Illegally Withholds School Funding

HARRISBURG―Attorney General Josh Shapiro today wrote a letter to school district superintendents across the Commonwealth addressing the recent threats made by Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to withhold federal funding from schools that do not open for full-time, in-person instruction due to COVID-19. AG Shapiro assured educators that the Office of Attorney General would act if DeVos illegally withholds funding appropriated by Congress.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, educators across our Commonwealth are being forced to make incredibly difficult choices,” wrote Attorney General Shapiro. “Your decisions must balance children’s educational and emotional needs, parents’ ability to return to work, the health and safety of your teachers and staff, and overall public health.

The CDC, Pennsylvania’s Department of Health, and Pennsylvania’s Department of Education have all outlined steps schools can take to mitigate the risk of the virus. While we have learned much about COVID-19, there is still much we do not know about how physical reopening will affect students and their families along with faculty and staff – despite Secretary DeVos’ statements to the contrary.”

DeVos recently announced that she would support the Trump Administration’s plan to force students and faculty back to school in the Fall. The majority of federal education funding is allocated to support low-income communities and students with learning challenges.

“Secretary DeVos has indicated that she may attempt to unilaterally stop Congressionally-appropriated funds from flowing to certain districts and schools in violation of the law. If that happens, in a way that impacts the Commonwealth, I’ll take all appropriate actions,” Attorney General Shapiro concluded.