(Harrisburg, Pa.) The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board reported more than $1 million in liquor bottle sales statewide in the first week of online ordering since the system was relaunched on April 1, 2020.

On March 17, 2020 the state closed all of its Fine Wine & Good Spirits liquor stores in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Online ordering was also suspended at the time of the stores closing.

The PLCB reported that orders have been growing steadily since April 1,2022 . The PLCB took 684 orders totaling 3,267 bottles, with total sales of $58,713, the first day. Thursday’s sales totals were 1,807 orders, 9,295 bottles and $175,294 in sales and that the top-selling alcohol brand statewide through Thursday, was Tito’s Handmade Vodka, 80 proof, with 1,712 bottles sold. That’s nearly double the number of the next-best seller, Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Black Label Tennessee Whiskey, 80 proof, at 926 bottles.

AAA East Central Announces $125 Million in Financial Relief

for Auto Insurance Policyholders,

Free Roadside Assistance for Medical Personnel

and First Responders, and

a $1,000,000 Donation to United Way

AAA members who insure their vehicles through the Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club and its affiliate insurers (Auto Club Enterprises Insurance Group) will receive premium refunds totaling approximately $125 million. Every policyholder with auto insurance in effect from March 16, 2020 to May 15, 2020 will receive a 20% policy refund check for this period. We expect to mail refund checks by the end of May. Members do not need to take any action to receive their refund.

This relief package is due to reduced driving and claims because of stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders and recommendations. Auto Club Enterprises Insurance Group provides insurance for over 3.5 million vehicles through AAA clubs in 21 states, including Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

“We recognize the extreme financial toll the COVID-19 pandemic is taking on AAA members across the country. It has impacted many of our members’ livelihoods and changed their routines,” said John Boyle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Auto Club Enterprises Insurance Group. “This is one important way we have been working to help AAA members.”

Another way AAA East Central is helping our communities in these challenging times is by providing free roadside assistance services to medical personnel and front-line first responders. The program will help these critical workers if they have a vehicle breakdown, battery problem, or flat tire. Medical personnel and first responders who need a service during this crisis can call 800-400-4222.

AAA is also announcing a $1 million donation to United Way to bolster their COVID-19 relief efforts across the country. With other corporate contributions, and contributions from our employees, we will contribute over $2.5 million to United Way this year to respond to community needs.

HARRISBURG—Attorney General Shapiro today joined a multistate partnership led by California, Michigan, and North Carolina, in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urging them to immediately develop and implement an outreach plan to inform the millions of Americans who have lost – or may lose – their employer-sponsored health insurance coverage that they are eligible to obtain health insurance through Healthcare.gov, the federal exchange. In the letter, the Attorneys General highlight the importance of providing families with the information and tools they need to navigate their healthcare options and access coverage during the unprecedented international healthcare crisis posed by COVID-19.

“Right now, Pennsylvanians are focused on keeping their families safe and healthy,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “I’m calling on Secretary Azar and Administrator Verma to do the right thing and help those wrestling with this pandemic obtain healthcare coverage on the federal exchange, so we can ensure the continued health and safety of our communities.”

The ACA requires the HHS Secretary to provide yearly open enrollment periods on the Exchanges to permit individuals to enroll in new or different healthcare coverage. Outside of this period, individuals may enroll in coverage through the Exchange if they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to certain life events such as loss of employment offering healthcare coverage. Informing individuals of the potential for replacing the coverage they have lost by enrolling through Healthcare.gov is vital, as most Americans obtain their healthcare coverage through their employer. In 2018, over half of individuals under age 65 had insurance through an employer.

The importance of this outreach will only increase as the economic upheaval of this crisis continues to expand. A new study by the Health Management Associates estimates that 35 million people could lose their employer-sponsored coverage due to layoffs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This same study estimates that the economic impact to the labor market could disproportionately impact the roughly 58 million non-elderly individuals who have employer-sponsored coverage and earn less than $50,000 per year. This heavily-hit population could greatly benefit from navigating their options on the Exchanges where they may qualify for subsidies to help pay for healthcare coverage.

The coalition expresses concern that, without immediate and widespread outreach, Americans who have recently been laid off will not know that they can enroll now and thus not access needed healthcare coverage. Evidence shows that marketplace advertising and consumer assistance increases enrollment numbers and stabilizes markets. Yet, over the last few years, the Trump Administration has actively cut marketplace advertising and consumer assistance. HHS, as the operator of Healthcare.gov, must step in to get the word out to consumers in the 38 states that rely on the federal Exchange–including Pennsylvania. HHS should also ensure that outreach materials are translated into the same range of languages as other HHS vital documents in order to ensure meaningful access to information about enrollment.

The Attorneys General urge HHS to empower individuals and working families across the country to pursue the best coverage option for them, whether it is Exchange coverage, COBRA, Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. While the federal government’s promise to reimburse for the testing and treatment of COVID-19 for the uninsured is a step in the right direction, it will not help provide these Americans the comprehensive healthcare they so desperately need and could leave many families with large hospital and insurance bills in the long-run.

In sending the letter, Attorney General Shapiro joined the attorneys general of  California, Michigan, North Carolina, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

Legislation to Help Secure Paychecks & Healthcare for School Contract Workers During Pandemic Passes PA General Assembly

Today, Senator Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington) announced that her legislation to provide consistent protections for all school contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic passed the Pennsylvania House and Senate as an amendment incorporated into Senate Bill 841, an omnibus COVID-19 response bill which passed the General Assembly along bipartisan lines. Senate Bill 841 also includes provisions to allow e-notary services, which will help families to remotely manage the estates of loved ones, and to aid the operations of municipalities by allowing them to meet remotely and to postpone certain statutory deadlines for pending municipal action. The legislation is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.

The first COVID-19 response bill passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor as Act 13 of 2020 allowed school entities to renegotiate contracts, specifically for school bus transportation services, with the goal of ensuring contracted personnel and fixed costs are maintained during closure. The inclusion of Senator Iovino’s legislation in Senate Bill 841 extends this protection to apply consistently to all other contract service providers, including but not limited to food service, custodial, and security contracts.

“The men and women who work in our schools as contractors are eager to contribute to our children’s education but are unable to due to the necessary physical closure of schools. As a result, the income, healthcare coverage, and economic security of some of these workers and their families are at risk,” said Senator Iovino. “The protections for all school contract workers in this legislation mean consistency for all workers in schools across the Commonwealth during this unprecedented crisis.”

A year after blaze, Notre Dame restoration halted by virus
By ELAINE GANLEY Associated Press
PARIS (AP) — A year after a devastating fire, the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral has been halted by a lockdown in Paris to battle the coronavirus. The April 15, 2019, blaze gutted its interior, toppled its famous spire and horrified the world. The medieval landmark that is the jewel of Paris remains locked in a dangerous web of twisted metal scaffolding that was erected for an earlier renovation. Plans to start removing the 250 tons of scaffolding are on hold amid the pandemic and all of the workers have been sent home. But for the archbishop of Paris, “life is still here” in a cathedral that brings hope for a nation in anguish because of the virus.

(Beaver County, PA) It seems that these are times when we all could use a little good news to help carry us through these dark times created by the reaction to the coronavirus pandemic reaction.  Well, there is some “Good News From The Mountain” being broadcast later this evening on WBVP, WMBA , 99.3 F.M. and the BCR Live Audio Stream from 7  to 7:30 P.M.  Pastor Rod Smith, who normally hosts the weekly Wednesday night worship at Mountain Ministries, will be featured in a half hour recorded segment.   Like all mass gatherings in Pennsylvania, Mountain Ministries has had to temporarily suspend their in person services at Prayer Mountain in Darlington, PA due to the current stay at home orders from PA Governor Tom Wolfe. “Good News From The Mountain” will be a way for Mountain Ministries to stay in touch with their worshipers as well as anyone else tuning in on the radio who needs a little positive insight from a faith based perspective during the traditional gathering hiatus.

“Good News From The Mountain”  will be heard every Wednesday night from 7 to 7:30 P.M. and is an outreach of Mountain Ministries.

(Hopewell Twp., PA) Hopewell Township  Police Chief  Brian Uhrmacher announced this morning in addition 2 losing 2 current colleagues in law enforcement this past weekend, we suffered the loss of a retired member of our department , Officer Greg Gozur, who died following a lengthly illness.   He was a U.S. Navy veteran  and served in the Vietnam War.  His years of service with   the Hopewell Township Police Department  included involvement with the DUI TASK FORCE..

In retirement , he served as a Civil Service Commissioner and continued to have n assisting role  with the DUI Task Force. It is clear that Greg loved his family, this community and being a Hopewell Township police Officer. Rest in peace sir!

Click the play button below to hear Beaver County News Correspondent Sandy Giordano’s report.

Former Royals, Cubs manager Jim Frey dies at age 88
SOMERSET, N.J. (AP) — Former big league manager Jim Frey has died at age 88. Frey managed the Kansas City Royals to the 1980 AL pennant and the Chicago Cubs within one win of the 1984 World Series. Frey became friends in high school with future big league Don Zimmer, then spent 14 years in the minor leagues without reaching the majors. His 1980 Royals swept the Yankees in the ALCS, then lost to Philadelphia in a six-game World Series. His Cubs wasted a 2-0 lead against San Diego in the 1984 NLCS.

Fauci: ‘We’re not there yet’ on key steps to reopen economy
By LAURAN NEERGAARD and JULIE PACE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government’s top infectious disease expert says the U.S. still lacks critical testing and other procedures needed to begin reopening the nation’s economy, adding a dose of caution to increasingly optimistic projections from the White House. Dr. Anthony Fauci told The Associated Press that easing off strict social-distancing rules would be on a “rolling” basis around the country. He says localities should be prepared to see new COVID-19 cases when that happens and act quickly to contain them. Asked about May 1, an increasingly discussed target date, Fauci called that possible but “a bit overly optimistic.”