Pennsylvania man sentenced to 10 years in office firebombing
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man who pleaded guilty to charges that he firebombed a child welfare office during a custody dispute has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Philip Finn Jr. of Plains was sentenced Thursday. He pleaded guilty in October to use of fire to commit stalking. Federal prosecutors say Finn used three Molotov cocktails to firebomb the Children and Youth Services building in Wilkes-Barre in 2017 to harass and intimidate two Children and Youth Employees. A federal judge also ordered Finn to pay $398,756 in restitution for the fire and water damage to the building.

 

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Health today urged all Pennsylvanians to take steps to prevent eye injuries that can occur more frequently during the summer months.

“During the summer, many children and adults are staying active by playing outside and taking part in organized or recreational sports,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “While we need people to take additional precautions as part of COVID-19 when participating these types of activities, it is also very important that individuals take the proper steps to protect their eyes from serious injuries. Eye injuries can be severe and impact an individual’s future and entire way of life.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, while many eye injuries occur on the job, nearly half of all eye injuries occur in the home. These include conducting home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. More than 40 percent of eye injuries each year are related to sports or recreational activities. The sun can also damage eyes, which is why it is important to wear sunglasses and sport-appropriate UV-protective goggles.

Eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children in the United States, and most injuries that are reported in school-aged children are sports-related. These injuries account for nearly 100,000 physician visits each year and cost more than $175 million.

Sports-related eye injuries are very common. Sports where most eye injuries occur include baseball and softball, basketball, lacrosse, hockey, and racquet sports. Baseball is the most common cause of sports-related eye injuries for children ages 5 to 14. Basketball is the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries for teens and adults ages 15 to 64.

Ninety percent of eye injuries can be prevented through wearing protective eyewear, including safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards. Ordinary prescription glasses, contacts and sunglasses do not protect against eye injuries.

As part of COVID-19, it is important to take steps to protect yourself from the spread of the virus while participating in organized sports. Everyone must wear a face covering, such as a mask, unless they fall under an exception to the Sec. of Health mask-wearing order. Coaches, athletes and spectators must wear face coverings, unless they are outdoors and can consistently maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet. Athletes are not required to wear face coverings while actively engaged in workouts and competition that prevent the wearing of face coverings, but must wear face coverings when on the sidelines, in the dugout, etc. and any time 6 feet of social distancing is not possible.

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have suffered an eye injury, it is important to seek medical treatment. Some eye issues, such as a detached retina, can only be detected by a doctor during an examination. Even eye injuries that seem minor at first should be checked out, as serious eye issues can cause vision loss or blindness.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• If you must go out for a life-sustaining reason, please wear a mask.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials
• Map with the number of COVID-19 cases

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

US wholesale prices fell 0.2% in June as food costs plunged
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. wholesale prices fell 0.2% in June as food costs dropped sharply, offsetting a big increase in energy prices. The Labor Department said the drop in its Producer Price Index, which measures inflation pressures before they reach consumers, followed a 0.4% gain in May. Wholesale prices have fallen in four of the past five months. The country has been pushed into a deep recession which is expected to see the economy shrink in the April-June quarter by a record-shattering amount. That downturn, triggered by efforts to contan the coronavirus pandemic, is expected to keep inflation under control.The 0.2% drop in wholesale prices in June reflected a 5.2% decline in food costs which helped to offset a 7.7% jump in energy prices.

Easy Tips to Feel Cooler and Conserve Energy During Summer Heatwaves

 

HARRISBURG – As daytime temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic Region continue to top 90 degrees, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) offers a series of simple ways that residents can stay cool, conserve energy and keep their bills manageable.

“There are quick and easy ways to increase comfort while managing energy usage during hot weather,” noted PUC Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille. “Simple things like using fans, adjusting thermostats by a few degrees, drawing your blinds and delaying the use of heat-generating appliances can go a long way toward helping you stay cool without dramatically increasing summer utility bills.”

#WaysToStayCool

Increase summer comfort while keeping energy costs low:

• Fan Yourself – Fans circulate the air, keeping you feeling cooler, even at higher temperatures.
• Follow the Shade – Relax in rooms that do not receive direct sunlight.
• Block the Heat – Use window blinds and coverings at the sunniest time of day to reduce unwanted heat buildup.
• Don’t Add Extra Heat – Postpone using heat-producing appliances, such as clothes dryers, dishwashers and stoves until it is cooler.
• Cookout, Anyone? – Consider cooking with outdoor barbecue grills or microwaves, rather than stoves or ovens, which add indoor heat.

Circulating air with a fan can help you feel up to 4 degrees cooler,
without needing to lower your thermostat.

In addition to simple ways to feel cooler on hot summer days, the PUC also underscored a series of ways to help conserve energy and avoid generating unwanted heat inside your home.

Ways to Save

Conserve energy and save money while staying cool:

• Check your Thermostat – The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill.
• Clean is “Green” – Clean and replace air conditioner filters regularly and make sure air circulation paths are clear.
• Power Off – Turn off non-essential appliances and lights to reduce power use and unwanted heat.
• Don’t Cool Unneeded Space – Close off unused rooms adjust air vents or thermostats to avoid unnecessary cooling expenses.
• Keep the Heat Outside – Seal cracks and openings to prevent warm air from leaking into your home.

Every degree you raise your air conditioning thermostat
above 72 degrees can save up to 3% on cooling expenses.

In addition to cooling and conservation tips, the PUC also encouraged residents to review the hot weather safety information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, along with tips for keeping pets safe during hot weather, from the Humane Society of the United States.

Hot Weather & Utilities

The PUC notes that hot and humid weather can prompt PJM – the region’s power transmission organization – to issue “Hot Weather Alerts”, preparing utilities and generation operators for conditions that could stress the power grid and working to ensure that resources are available to meet energy demands.

In response to hot weather alerts, electric distribution companies (EDCs) across Pennsylvania take steps to prepare for high demand and other hot-weather issues, including the postponement or rescheduling of routine maintenance-related outages, placing additional staff and equipment on stand-by in the event of outages and reaching out to customers regarding energy conservation and/or access to ice, water, cooling centers and other support services, should they be needed during any outages.

The PUC is in close communication with EDCs, PJM and other key stakeholders during these types of weather alerts and continues to actively monitor utility systems across the state.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Facebook for easy access to information on utilities

 

Biden pledges New Deal-like economic agenda to counter Trump
By BILL BARROW and MARC LEVY Associated Press
DUNMORE, Pa. (AP) — Democrat Joe Biden is turning his campaign against President Donald Trump toward the economy. On Thursday, he introduced a New Deal-like economic agenda while drawing a sharp contrast with a billionaire incumbent he said has abandoned working-class Americans amid cascading crises. Biden presented details of a comprehensive agenda that he touted as the most aggressive government investment in the U.S. economy since World War II. He also accused Trump of ignoring the coronavirus pandemic and the climate crisis while encouraging division amid a national reckoning with systemic racism. The economy was expected to be a strength for Trump in his reelection bid before the pandemic.

Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen back in federal prison
By JIM MUSTIAN and MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, has been returned to federal prison. The federal Bureau of Prisons told The Associated Press on Thursday that Cohen had “refused the conditions of his home confinement.” A legal adviser says Cohen refused to accept conditions requiring him to avoid speaking with media and to not publish his tell-all book. The move comes weeks after the 53-year-old was released in late May to serve the remainder of his sentence at home because of the coronavirus pandemic. Cohen pleaded guilty to tax evasion, campaign finance fraud and lying to Congress.

Keystone State News Connection

Andrea Sears

PHILADELPHIA – Three community-based organizations have received major grants to help underserved Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 crisis.

Funded by UnitedHealthCare, the Empowering Health grants total more than $200,000. They were given to Philabundance – a hunger relief program in Philadelphia – the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and the Preeclampsia Foundation – that’s getting blood pressure cuffs to home-bound, pregnant women and new mothers for telehealth visits.

According to Corey Coleman, vice president of Community and Strategic Partnerships at UHC, the goal is to help uninsured individuals and communities at risk lead healthier lives.

“Helping them get more access to health care,” says Coleman. “Helping them get more access to fresh foods and fresh vegetables, and additional services that they may need in their communities.”

He adds that challenges from social distancing, food insecurity and social isolation are among the most urgent problems facing underserved communities during the COVID pandemic.

The grants are intended to address what Coleman calls the social determinants of health for these communities, including barriers that often prevent access to health and health care.

“Barriers that could include things like the ability to access public transportation, or the ability to access your hospital system,” says Coleman, “not being able to get access to fresh food and fresh groceries.”

Coleman notes that the economic impact of the COVID pandemic has made food banks in particular critical resources for the populations they serve.

“A number of individuals in Pennsylvania have been negatively impacted in terms of losing their jobs,” says Coleman. “And these are organizations that are serving as a safety net for vulnerable families who don’t have access to food.”

Since launching in 2018, more than $12 million in Empowering Health grants have been awarded in 21 states across the country.