Biden selects California Sen. Kamala Harris as running mate
By ALEXANDRA JAFFE, KATHLEEN RONAYNE and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden has chosen California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate. It’s a move that fulfills the wish of Democrats clamoring to see a woman of color on a major party’s presidential ticket for the first time in history. The 55-year-old Harris was elected to the Senate in 2016 after serving as California’s attorney general. Harris competed against Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination but left the race before voting began as she struggled to raise money. One of Harris’ standout moments of her presidential campaign came at the expense of Biden, when she slammed his past opposition to school busing.

Pennsylvania mayors appeal to Congress for federal aid
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With Washington in a stalemate, mayors in Pennsylvania want Congress to help them get direct budget aid from the federal government, warning that cities of all sizes face steep deficits and deep service cuts as a result of the coronavirus’ impact on the economy. Mayors say they received little in trickle down from a prior round of federal aid to cover coronavirus costs that went to states and the most heavily populated counties. Warning against more deficit spending, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey says states and counties should spend the federal aid they received in the spring before Congress considers another aid package.

Judge rejects suit by ex-officer acquitted in teen’s death
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a former police officer acquitted in the shooting death of a Black teenager who was seeking reinstatement to another position as a university police officer. The Tribune-Review reports that the judge ruled Michael Rosfeld left his University of Pittsburgh position willingly and hadn’t presented evidence that he was forced to resign. Rosfeld was acquitted of homicide last year in the June 2018 shooting death of Antwon Rose II in East Pittsburgh. Rosfeld previously worked as a University of Pittsburgh officer and alleged that he was forced from that position after filing criminal charges against a school official’s son.

Cosby sex assault appeal takes on non-prosecution deal
By MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bill Cosby’s lawyers are arguing in a new appeals filing that it was “fundamentally unfair” to let prosecutors use Cosby’s damaging deposition from a sex accuser’s lawsuit against him at trial. The filing made Tuesday largely focuses on what Cosby believes was a binding promise from a district attorney that he wouldn’t be charged in the case. A spokeswoman for the Montgomery County district attorney’s office isn’t commenting but says prosecutors will file a response within a month. The 83-year-old Cosby is serving a three- to 10-year prison term for three counts of felony sex assault.

Wolf Administration: Medical Device Company OraSure Expansion to Increase COVID-19 Testing Capabilities, Bring New Jobs

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced that OraSure Technologies Inc., a developer and manufacturer of rapid diagnostic tests, collection and stabilization devices headquartered in Northampton County, will expand its manufacturing operations in the Lehigh Valley, creating 177 new, full-time jobs and retaining 233 jobs.

“At a time when the commonwealth is ramping up COVID-19 testing, OraSure Technologies’ expansion will bring both economic opportunities to the region and increased testing accessibility,” said Gov. Wolf. “OraSure Technologies has been a staple in Bethlehem for decades, and my administration is pleased to support their expansion in the commonwealth.”

OraSure received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $531,000 Pennsylvania First grant and $531,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits to be distributed upon creation of the new jobs. The company may also be eligible for the Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program and the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit program.

“OraSure’s expansion means so much for Pennsylvania, including new career opportunities in the Lehigh Valley and increased testing capability for the state as a whole,” said DCED Secretary Dennis Davin. “As the commonwealth reopens safely, quick, accessible and accurate testing is critical for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and as we keep the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians our first priority.”

OraSure (NASDAQ: OSUR) is developing a rapid antigen self-test that would detect active COVID-19 infection with no need to transport samples to a lab for processing. Individuals would be able to easily self-collect a sample and read the results themselves a short time later. The company intends to submit the antigen test to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization allowing for the rapid self-test to debut into the U.S. market.

OraSure is also developing a highly accurate, lab-based Antibody ELISA Test that would detect prior COVID-19 infection. The company plans to submit the ELISA test to the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization.

​“One of the keys to stopping the spread of COVID-19 is expanding access to testing,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “I want to thank OraSure for its commitment to saving lives, not just in Pennsylvania, but throughout the world.”

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. The company has pledged to invest $7.5 million into the project.

The expansion will support the creation of 177 well-paying manufacturing jobs at OraSure Technologies’ four Bethlehem locations.

“OraSure has a legacy of helping to solve the world’s most difficult diagnostic challenges. Increased COVID-19 testing will be critical as we reopen our economy. We believe our rapid antigen test will be a game changer that enables frequent testing with fast results,” said OraSure President and CEO Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D. “We are proud of our dedicated Pennsylvania team members and the extraordinary work they do. We thank Governor Wolf and his team for the ability to retain and grow our Bethlehem workforce.”

OraSure’s portfolio of products is sold globally to clinical laboratories, hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, public health and community-based organizations, research institutions, government agencies, pharma, commercial entities and direct to consumers.

HARRISBURG – Today, Reps. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland/Somerset) and Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) joined together to unveil two pieces of legislation that will impact sports, extracurricular activities and educational opportunities for students during the upcoming 2020-21 school year.

Last week, the Wolf administration abruptly announced they recommend there be no high school sports until Jan. 1, 2021. This response came as a shock to everyone, including PIAA officials who had already made the determination to move forward with school sports in the fall. As already acknowledged by the Wolf administration, their recommendation to stop school sports until January was issued without evidence, science or data to back it up.

With the 2020-21 school year rapidly approaching and guidance from the administration continuing to change, students, parents and communities need clear and transparent direction for how extracurricular activities will occur in the fall without worrying that the guidance will change at any minute.

Reese’s legislation, House Bill 2787, would allow Pennsylvania’s local school districts to make decisions regarding fall sports and activities.

“The governor’s announcement to stop all high school sports until Jan.1 came as a complete shock to students, parents and even PIAA officials,” said Reese. “Why now, right before the academic year begins, are schools not able to make their own decisions about sports? Will similar announcements be forthcoming regarding other extracurricular activities? These should be local decisions driven by local circumstances and included in each school’s athletic, health and safety plan.”

Topper’s legislation, House Bill 2788, will allow students and families to have the option to continue the student’s education and extracurricular activities for an additional year to make up for the loss of instruction and competition during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

“We must provide options for our students and their families who have already been robbed of so much,” Topper said. “Students in Pennsylvania must have access to exceptional educational opportunities and if they don’t, then we’re simply not doing our job.”

The bills will go to the House Education Committee for consideration.

Trump: Some men insulted that Biden vowed to name female VP
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is criticizing his Democratic rival’s vice presidential selection process, saying some men are “insulted” by Joe Biden’s promise to select a woman as his running mate. In an interview with Fox Sports Radio on Tuesday, Trump said, “I would be inclined to go a different route than what he’s done.” He says Biden “roped himself off into, you know, a certain group of people.” Biden is expected to announce his running mate this week ahead of the Democratic National Convention. Of Biden vowing to pick a woman, Trump says, “Some people would say that men are insulted by that. And some people would say it’s fine.”