(New Brighton, Pa.) Two New Brighton Area High School Staff Members have tested positive for COVID-19. The School District released a statement to parents via telephone messaging system last night. Beaver County Radio News Room also received the call and it stated that originally one staff member tested positive earlier in the day and a second message stated that a second staff member has tested positive and the high school only will transition to virtual learning for the remainder of the week. Parents can get more information by going to the districts web-site at nbasd.org/

Dillsburg, PA – At Warrington Farms in Dillsburg today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding commended Pennsylvania’s farmers who take part in the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System for their contributions of more than 4 million pounds of food to date in 2020 to Pennsylvania’s charitable food system amid the coronavirus pandemic. “2020 has been a year of firsts for many, including Pennsylvania’s farmers. But what’s been unwavering is their commitment to community,” said Redding. “Despite their own unknowns, Pennsylvania farmers commit the fruits of their labor to those whose uncertainty lies around the dinner table.”
Warrington Farms is one of 30 Pennsylvania farms currently under contract with Feeding Pennsylvania for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act-funded Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS), which acquires surplus agricultural products from Pennsylvania producers to be funneled through the charitable food system to families in need. Feeding Pennsylvania holds the state contract to administer this traditionally state-funded program, which has been enhanced with $10 million in CARES funding to address food security
in the commonwealth as Pennsylvania endures the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the CARES Act funding, Feeding Pennsylvania has acquired more than 2.4 million pounds of food from Pennsylvania farmers to date in 2020, and expects to acquire another 3 million pounds before the end of the year.
“Farmers and processors are essential to the work of our food banks and their local partner agencies,” said Jane Clements-Smith, executive director of Feeding Pennsylvania. “Thanks to their participation in the PASS program, we are able to provide fresh and nutritious Pennsylvania ag products to families facing hunger, while also reducing food waste and supporting Pennsylvania’s agriculture economy. It is truly a win-win.” PASS reduces agricultural waste by connecting the agriculture industry with the charitable food system in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. The program was originally enacted into law in 2010 and first funded in 2015 by Governor Tom Wolf at $1 million annually. In 2017-18, the program funding was increased to $1.5 million annually. From 2015-2019, the program sourced more than 11.3 million pounds of food that would have gone to waste and distributed it through Pennsylvania’s charitable food system. In this year alone, through September 2020, more than 1.6 million pounds of food were moved from farmers to families in need with state dollars. This is in addition to the 2.4 million pounds of product that have been secured to date using CARES funds. In total for 2020, the 4 million pounds of local  product have been distributed to all 67 counties through the 13 partners that are members of the Feeding Pennsylvania and Hunger-Free Pennsylvania networks of food banks.
Thanks to state PASS dollars, over the past five years the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, a Feeding Pennsylvania partner, has been able to source more than 300 animals from 4-H and FFA youth livestock auctions at agricultural fairs in central Pennsylvania to be processed by Warrington Farms.
For more information about food security and resources for Pennsylvanians in need,
visit agriculture.pa.gov/foodsecurity.
For information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania
visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. For the most accurate, timely information related to Health in
Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 751,000, the lowest since March but a figure that remains historically high and indicates the viral pandemic is still forcing many employers to cut jobs. Rising confirmed virus cases in nearly every state, along with a cutoff in federal aid, are threatening to weaken the economy in the coming months. As temperatures fall, restaurants and bars will likely serve fewer customers outdoors. And many consumers may increasingly stay home to avoid infection. Those trends could force employers to slash more jobs during the winter.

(Photo Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services)
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania health officials say a growing majority of people contracting the coronavirus in Pennsylvania aren’t answering basic questions that would help case investigators trace the source of the infections. The rising lack of cooperation with case investigators comes as Pennsylvania’s positivity rate, number of infections and coronavirus-related hospitalizations are on the rise. Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Monday that 71% of people interviewed in the week of Oct. 11-17 didn’t completely answer questions as to whether they frequented a business or attended a mass gathering before their symptoms showed up. She says this is critical information to share. Of those that did respond, 16% reported going to a business.

(Hopewell Twp., Pa.) Attorney Kelly Tocci, a partner in the law firm  McMillen, Urick and Tocci  issued a statement Friday on the civil suit filed  by her firm against Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center.

Trump aide: ‘We’re not going to control the pandemic’
By JONATHAN LEMIRE, ALEXANDRA JAFFE and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
LONDONDERRY, N.H. (AP) — The coronavirus has reached the upper echelons of the White House again, with an outbreak among aides to Vice President Mike Pence just over a week from Election Day. A top White House official declared on Sunday that “we’re not going to control the pandemic.” Officials also scoffed at the notion of Pence dialing back in-person campaigning despite positive tests among several people in his office, and the vice president was back out on the trail on Sunday. Democrat Joe Biden says that the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, is effectively waving “the white flag of defeat.”

(Harrisburg) Pennsylvania’s Department of Heath reported over 2,000 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, which is the one of the highest single day totals since the pandemic began.

The 2,063 new cases include a faulty data file sent to the system by a laboratory early this week, which prevented some of the lab results from being properly reported, the Department of Health reported. The statewide total cases stand at 188,360.

Pennsylvania is also reporting 30 additional deaths across the state. To date, there has been a total of 8,592 deaths.

Keystone State News Connection

COVID Spreading Fast in Rural PA

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Seven rural counties in Pennsylvania were in the “red zone” for new COVID-19 infections last week as the pandemic spread rapidly in non-metropolitan areas nationwide.

An analysis in The Daily Yonder, which covers news in rural America, says nearly 70% of rural counties across the country now have rates of more than 100 new infections per 100,000 residents, outpacing urban counties.

According to Tim Marema, editor of the publication, after an early surge of COVID infections in more densely populated areas, last week the rate in rural Pennsylvania counties was 6.5% higher than in metropolitan areas.

“Rural areas began to acquire new infections at a much higher rate beginning in late September,” said Marema, “and surpassed the metropolitan rate about the second week of October.”

He said though only 14% of Americans live in non-metropolitan areas, last week more than 21% of new COVID cases originated in rural counties.

Marema pointed out that, earlier in the pandemic, new infections were closely related to specific locations. But since summer, they’re no longer linked as closely to institutions and are spreading generally in the population.

“That means people can’t say, ‘I’m not around that nursing home or that meat packing plant, so I’m not at risk,'” said Marema. “No place is getting a pass on the pandemic now. ”

He added that urban areas also broke a record last week, with infection rates in 54% of the nation’s metropolitan counties that made them “red zones” for new infections.

Marema stressed that the spread of the novel oronavirus can still be controlled by following recommended precautions – like wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding crowds.

“The measures that we’re able to take right now can go a long way in containing the virus,” said Marema. “But they don’t do any good if you don’t practice them. It’s not easy, but it’s not complicated. ”

Last week, there were more than 82,000 new COVID cases in rural areas nationwide, raising the total positive tests for rural residents past one million since the pandemic began.

(File Photo)

Governor Wolf Announces Plan to Waive Liquor License Fees To Provide Financial Relief to Restaurants and Bars

Pittsburgh, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today announced a plan to waive liquor license fees to provide financial relief to restaurants and bars, which have faced significant financial impacts during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

“As we enter the anticipated fall resurgence of COVID-19 cases, the very contagious nature of this virus makes gathering indoors publicly at full capacity dangerous. Still, we know that restaurant and bar owners in Pennsylvania are committed to keeping their employees and customers safe and the vast majority of these businesses have followed safety precautions and invested in new procedures and supplies, but COVID continues to hurt this industry,” Gov. Wolf said. “My administration continues to look for innovative ways that we can support the bar and restaurant industry. Eliminating liquor license fees is an important step toward helping bars and restaurants retain the capital they need to weather the storm of COVID-19.”

Governor Wolf is working with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to waive standard licensing fees through 2021 starting January 1, 2021. More than 16,000 Pennsylvania restaurants and bars, clubs, catering clubs and hotels would see $20 million in relief.

The governor was joined by state Representatives Dan Deasy (D-Allegheny), Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny) and Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny), and Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) at LeMont Restaurant in Pittsburgh.

“I’m glad I could work with Governor Wolf to bring help to our bars, restaurants, taverns and social clubs right now. I know this isn’t a solution to the big problems this pandemic presents, and more help is needed,” said Rep. Deasy. “I’m working hard to enact additional measures that can help keep these vital employers in business.”

“This terrible public health crisis has also stricken our economy and our path to recovery will need to be a well thought out and effective one on several fronts. While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected just about every industry, restaurants and bars have been hit particularly hard and we need to provide relief to these small businesses at the heart of our communities,” said Sen. Fontana. “Over the summer, Senate Democrats introduced a comprehensive proposal to provide emergency relief to Pennsylvania’s restaurants and taverns, which have seen significant financial loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdown. Under our plan, license renewal and permit fees that are paid by restaurants and taverns would be waived for one year along with other administrative changes to help financially benefit these struggling businesses. I’m pleased that the governor is taking steps to implement some of our goals and am encouraged that this will provide meaningful assistance to so many of these establishments that are struggling.”

“This is a step in addressing the concerns that we know that the bars and restaurant community need. I want to thank Governor Wolf for understanding the situation of the bars and restaurants and for offering this plan to waive these fees as we continue to search for solutions to assistance,” Rep. Gainey said. “I know the governor is working hard with our federal officials, as well as our state officials to bring relief to our bars and restaurants.”

“I thank the governor for his constant commitment to help our restaurants and bars,” Rep. Wheatley said. “I look forward to working with our federal legislators and general assembly to get more support for these restaurants.”

“I want to thank the Governor for listening to the concerns of the bar and tavern community,” said Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland). “They’ve been hurting the last seven months, especially here in Western Pennsylvania. Today’s announcement will provide savings that they desperately need to keep their businesses open, and I hope it’s just one step of what we continue to do at the state level to help our small business folks recover.”

“I understand the financial impact that our small business restaurant and tavern owners have endured during this difficult time and their efforts to ensure the safety of their customers and employees, and I’m grateful that the governor has taken this step to ease that financial burden,” said Rep. Mike Driscoll (D-Philadelphia). “This is one step of many steps that we can and will take to help these local businesses and I will continue to support them as we focus on economic recovery efforts.”

“As new cases of the virus have jumped recently, our priority should be to continue to protect the population, and to provide targeted relief to industries most affected,” said Rep. Steve Malagari (D-Montgomery). “Waiving liquor license fees gives some immediate relief to local businesses, while we wait for our colleagues in the General Assembly to take action to release the $1 billion remaining CARES Act funding to our communities.”

As part of his fall legislative agenda, Governor Wolf has called on the General Assembly to provide an additional $225 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding in the form of forgivable loans and grants to small businesses in Pennsylvania through the COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program. In addition, the governor proposed $100 million in forgivable loans and grants for the hospitality, leisure and service industries, including restaurants and bars, salons and barber shops.

The governor also supports the federal Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act. The bipartisan bill in Congress provides $120 billion to help independent restaurants with the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Santa Claus won’t be coming to Macy’s this year
By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Macy’s said Santa Claus won’t be greeting kids at its flagship New York store this year due to the coronavirus, interrupting a holiday tradition started nearly 160 years ago. More than a quarter of a million people come to see Santa at Macy’s in New York each year, the company said. That makes it hard to create a safe environment during a pandemic. Santa also won’t be making in-person visits this year at its Chicago and San Francisco stores, which have similar Santalands. Macy’s said it will be offering a free online experience on its website at the end of November, where families can play games and get a virtual tour of Santa’s workshop.