Category: News

Pennsylvanians Encouraged To Shop Virtual, Curbside This Holiday Season

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Department of Community of Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin encouraged Pennsylvanians to support local businesses safely this year by only shopping virtually and utilizing curbside pickup options.

“Black Friday is enjoyed by both consumers and retailers alike and is a tradition that we encourage people to celebrate in the safest way this year,” said Sec. Davin. “With the recent additions of Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, shoppers now have a vast array of options this holiday season to safely support their favorite retailers—including e-commerce platforms, ordering by phone, purchasing downloadable gift certificates, and picking up products curbside. This year, to keep Pennsylvanians safe and healthy, those options are more important than ever.”

COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air by coughing or sneezing; through close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; and by touching an object or surface with the virus on it—all vehicles for transmission when individuals are gathered in groups, crowds, or public settings. While masks are required at all times in all retail establishments in the commonwealth, by shopping virtually and using curbside pickup, Pennsylvanians can limit their risk of contracting and spreading the virus.

Wolf vetoes bills on firearms during emergency, gas drilling

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf is rejecting bills on firearms during the pandemic or other emergencies and about the regulation and plugging of conventional oil and gas wells. All three bills had passed the politically split General Assembly with mostly Republican support and mostly Democratic opposition. Wolf announced his vetoes on Wednesday. Two of the vetoed bills would have allowed people to carry guns during an emergency proclamation and to keep open gun and ammunition related businesses during an emergency. Wolf also signed a couple dozen bills into law, including measures on organ donation, parole of violent offenders, recycling and broadband.

Biden seeks unity as Trump stokes fading embers of campaign

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden is summoning Americans to overcome their divisions and join in common purpose against the coronavirus pandemic and the raw divisions left by the election. In a Thanksgiving-eve address to the nation, Biden put the surging pandemic front and center, pledging to tap the “vast powers” of the federal government and to “change the course of the disease” once in office. But for that to work, he said, Americans also must step up for their own safety and that of their fellow citizens. President Donald Trump was not on board with unity. He made a futile call “to turn the election over.”

Beaver County Commissioners Asking Public to Try and Not Visit County Offices

(File Photo)

(Beaver, Pa.) The Beaver County Commissioners via a press release are asking the public to not go to county offices including the courthouse  unless it is absolutely necessary. The Press release stated:   As a result of the recent resurgence of COVID–19 cases in our region, and as part of an effort to continue providing a safe working environment for our employees and the public at large, the Beaver County Courthouse and other facilities continue to remain open, but the County is attempting to limit the need for the public to enter the facilities. 

The public is strongly encourage if they have business with any County Department, to contact that Department by phone before proceeding to go there in person. Many Departments are providing services remotely, by way of appointment only, or are utilizing a drop–box. The phone numbers for the particular Department can be found at the County‘s website, www.beavercountypa.gov. 

Picture of US economy is worrisome as virus inflicts damage

Picture of US economy is worrisome as virus inflicts damage
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER and PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gripped by the accelerating viral outbreak, the U.S. economy is under pressure from persistent layoffs, diminished income and nervous consumers, whose spending is needed to drive a recovery from the pandemic. A flurry of data released Wednesday suggested that the spread of the virus is intensifying the threats to an economy still struggling to recover from the deep recession that struck in early spring. The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose last week for a second straight week to 778,000, evidence that many employers are still slashing jobs more than eight months after the virus hit.

Pennsylvania judge orders halt to further vote certification

Pennsylvania judge orders halt to further vote certification
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania appeals court judge ordered state officials on Wednesday to halt any further steps toward certifying election results. The ruling comes a day after Gov. Tom Wolf said he had certified Democrat Joe Biden as the state’s winner of the presidential election. It wasn’t immediately clear if the order from Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough could hold up the certification of state and local contests on the ballot or interrupt the scheduled Dec. 14 meeting of the state’s 20 electors. Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly and others are challenging approximately 2.5 million mail-in ballots that were predominantly cast by Democrats.

Defying warnings, millions in the US travel for Thanksgiving

Defying warnings, millions in the US travel for Thanksgiving
By LISA MARIE PANE and SOPHIA TULP Associated Press
Millions of Americans are taking to the skies and hitting the road ahead of Thanksgiving at the risk of pouring gasoline on the coronavirus fire. They are disregarding increasingly dire warnings that they stay home and limit their holiday gatherings to members of their own household. Those who are flying are witnessing a distinctly 2020 landscape at the nation’s airports: plexiglass barriers in front of the ID stations, rapid virus testing sites inside terminals and paperwork asking them to quarantine upon arrival.

Ravens-Steelers game moved from Thursday night to Sunday

Ravens-Steelers game moved from Thursday night to Sunday
By The Associated Press undefined
The Thanksgiving night game between the Ravens and Steelers has been switched to Sunday because of coronavirus issues with Baltimore. The NFL announced the move Wednesday, but did not specify a time of game nor which network would televise it. Previously, it was scheduled for NBC’s prime-time telecast. Baltimore placed outside linebacker Pernell McPhee on the reserve/COVID-19 list, joining running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins and defensive tackle Brandon Williams. The Ravens also have been doing team work virtually.

Governor Wolf Signs Renewal to COVID-19 Disaster Declaration

Governor Wolf Signs Renewal to COVID-19 Disaster Declaration

Harrisburg, PA – Yesterday Governor Tom Wolf signed a third renewal of his 90-day Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. The first proclamation was signed on March 6, following the announcement of the first two presumptive positive cases of the virus in Pennsylvania.

“With cases and hospitalizations increasing, we cannot afford to let down our guard,” said Governor Wolf. “This renewal will allow the commonwealth to maintain its response and support efforts as we face increasing case numbers and decreasing hospital capacity.”

The emergency disaster declaration provides for increased support to state agencies involved in the continued response to the virus and recovery for the state during reopening. This includes expediting supply procurement and lifting certain regulations to allow for efficient and effective mitigation.

The disaster declaration has allowed for waivers and extensions to continue to provide for Pennsylvanians and businesses under the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic, including the ability to waive the one-week waiting period to receive unemployment compensation, work search requirements, and the registration with PA CareerLink for applicants, and to provide relief from charges for employers; and allowing the commonwealth to suspend numerous training requirements and certification and licensure renewals for health care professionals, child care workers, direct care workers, direct support professionals, among other professional groups who provide life-sustaining services to our children, seniors, and vulnerable residents.

Through the disaster declaration, PEMA has been able to mission assign the National Guard to provide various types of support for long term care facilities, including providing direct patient care support, ancillary support, and testing, and at community-based testing sites. It also provides PEMA with the ability to leverage continued federal support such as non-congregate sheltering.

The renewed disaster declaration will continue to support all of these efforts, as well as allow the commonwealth to rapidly scale response efforts and employ new intervention tactics, such as the administration of a vaccine.

The Department of Health’s Department Operations Center at PEMA continues to be active, as is the Commonwealth Response Coordination Center there.

A Proclamation of Disaster Emergency is effective for a 90-day period unless sooner rescinded or extended by official action of the Governor.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to march on despite pandemic

NEW YORK (AP) — The pandemic may have upended most traditions this holiday season, but the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will march on with balloons, dancers, floats, Broadway shows and Santa all heavily tweaked for safety. The biggest change this year is that the usual 2 1/2-mile route through crowded Manhattan has been scrapped in favor of concentrating events to a one-block stretch of 34th Street in front of the retailer’s flagship Manhattan store. Many performances have been pre-taped and most of the parade’s performers will be locally based to cut down on travel.