(Harrisburg, Pa.) Pa. Governor Tom Wolf and Pa. Health Secretary Dr.R Levine are having a press conference tomorrow, May 8, 2020, to announce more counties that will be moving from the red to yellow phase at a pre- determined date in the future.
Stay tuned to Beaver County Radio 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, 99.3 FM, and beavercountyradio.com for an announcement of what time the press conference will be and also live coverage of the press conference as it happens on the air.
Gov. Wolf, Sec. of Health Take Actions on Stay-at-Home Orders, Issue Yellow Phase Orders
Governor’s Stay-at-Home Amendment
Health Secretary’s Stay-at-Home Amendment
Governor’s Yellow Phase Order
Health Secretary’s Yellow Phase Order
Harrisburg, PA – With the April 1 statewide stay-at-home orders set to expire tonight at midnight, Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today extended the orders for all counties in red, and signed new orders for the 24 counties moving to yellow at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow morning, May 8.
The extended stay-at-home order remains the same as the original statewide stay-at-home order announced on April 1, which was set to expire tonight at midnight and is now extended to June 4. The yellow phase order provides guidance for those counties entering the yellow phase of reopening tomorrow.
The yellow phase order applies to these 24 counties: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango, and Warren.
The yellow phase order also addresses the limited reopening of businesses in the yellow phase, detailing those businesses previously deemed non-life-sustaining as being permitted to reopen if they follow the guidance for safety for staff, customers, and facility. The guidance for businesses can be found here.
FAQs for businesses in each phase can be found here.
CDC guidance on child care that reopens under the yellow phase is here.
Tomorrow, there will be an announcement of additional counties moving to the yellow phase at a to-be-determined date.
Trump valet has coronavirus; president again tests negative
By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A member of the military serving as one of President Donald Trump’s valets has tested positive for the coronavirus. The White House says Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have since tested negative for the virus and “remain in good health.” It marks the latest coronavirus scare for the president. It’s the first known instance where a person who has come in close proximity to the president has tested positive since several people present at his private Florida club were diagnosed with COVID-19 in early March. The White House instituted safety protocols nearly two months ago to protect the nation’s political leaders, including frequent temperature checks
Justice Department is dropping Flynn’s Trump-Russia case
By MICHAEL BALSAMO and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says it’s dropping its criminal case against President Donald Trump’s first national security adviser Michael Flynn. That’s according to a court filing Thursday obtained by The Associated Press. Trump quickly celebrating the decision and said he hoped a “big price” would be paid by those who had brought it. The case was brought by special counsel Robert Mueller. Prosecutors said Flynn had lied to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador in a January 2017 interview. Flynn became a key cooperator for Mueller’s probe into ties between Russia and Trump’s campaign.
Route 351 Lane Restrictions Begin Friday in Beaver County
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing lane restrictions on Route 351 (Crescent Drive, Fairlane Boulevard) in Darlington Township and Big Beaver Borough, Beaver County will begin Friday, May 8 weather permitting.
Single-lane alternating traffic will occur from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays between Lawrence County and Shenango Road (Route 4001) in Big Beaver. Crews will conduct miscellaneous construction activities through late May.
The work is part of a $1.95 million group paving contract. Completed improvements include milling and paving, base repairs, signing upgrades, pavement marking installation, shoulder repairs, seeding and mulching, and other miscellaneous construction activities.
Lindy Paving is the prime contractor.
Work on this project will be in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which will include protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job-site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the jobsite, and relevant training.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 950 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Pennsylvania adds 310 virus deaths, over 1,000 new cases
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania Department of Health says that 310 more people with COVID-19 have died, raising the statewide death toll to 4,316. The deaths took place over the last several weeks. The department has been reconciling its records with data from health officials and care providers. Residents of nursing homes and personal care homes account for nearly 70% of the total deaths. Health officials reported 1,070 additional people have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, the first time new infections have topped 1,000 since Saturday. To date, the virus has been confirmed in about 53,000 people in Pennsylvania.
Locally in Beaver County we are at 472 positive cases an increase of 1 since yesterday. 2317 people have tested negative in the county and the county is up 2 deaths to 78. Both Deaths being reported in nursing homes in the County.
In the 3 nursing homes that are reporting positive cases in the county there are now 307 positive cases no increase since yesterday. Employee cases are still at 24 and the death toll has increased by 2 to 71.
(File Photo)
Gov. Wolf, Attorney General Shapiro Announce Protections from Foreclosures and Evictions Through July 10
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf was joined by Attorney General Josh Shapiro today to announce that he signed an executive order that protects Pennsylvanians from foreclosures or evictions through July 10. The action builds on a Pennsylvania Supreme Court order which closed court eviction proceedings until May 11 and ensures no renter or homeowner will be removed from their home for 60 more days.
“At a time when people need to stay home to protect their heath, they should not have to worry about losing their homes,” said Governor Wolf. “Ensuring that people can remain in their homes will help them to better protect their loved ones. It gives families the comfort of knowing they will have a place to live while all of us work together to fight COVID-19 and prepare to move Pennsylvania forward.”
“I commend the Governor for his decision to delay eviction and foreclosure proceedings. We know it’s critical for public health, and for our economic recovery, that people stay in their homes during this emergency,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “This order gives people struggling with lost income something they can count on — a roof over their heads.”
In almost all circumstances, renters and homeowners are required to continue making monthly payments. If you are a Pennsylvanian struggling to make your monthly payments, you should contact your landlord or mortgage servicer immediately.
The Wolf Administration provided recommendations last week to stem foreclosures, evictions and help people experiencing homelessness. The Department of Human Services activated the commonwealth’s Sheltering Taskforce and is working with local and state partners to coordinate resources for people without housing. The Department of Community and Economic Development is also accepting applications for Emergency Solutions Grants to assist with the rapid rehousing of people experiencing homelessness, street outreach, homelessness prevention, and emergency shelter activities.
PHFA is also taking action to help homeowners and renters. The agency has stopped foreclosures and evictions and is offering forbearances with late fee waivers to homeowners with a PHFA mortgage who are experiencing a financial hardship because of COVID-19. PHFA also developed a list of renters’ rights and responsibilities to clarify the situation for apartment residents and is working with landlords and property managers to distribute it to renters. PHFA is also encouraging Low-Income Housing Tax Credit building managers to be flexible on rent payments and to waive late fees for tenants whose employment has been affected by the crisis.
“During the past few weeks, we’ve had great cooperation from Pennsylvanians who understand that staying home is not just about protecting themselves, it’s about protecting everyone in the community,” said Gov. Wolf. This executive order takes one more burden off people who are struggling and gives them more time to get back on their feet.
More helpful information is available from the following:
PUC Continues to Educate Consumers About Available Resources & Utility Assistance Programs During COVID-19 Pandemic & Recovery
HARRISBURG – Utilizing the latest technology and coordinating with front-line community partners, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) continues to educate utility customers about their rights and responsibilities, assistance programs, and available resources – during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as during the recovery period that will follow.
“In these uncertain times, the Commission is keenly aware that many people are struggling to keep their utility bills manageable and current and are seeking guidance and help,” said PUC Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille. “From the beginning of this crisis our Commission has taken steps to safeguard consumers and to reach out through our community partnerships and social media channels. The PUC remains ‘here for you’ – and we are committed to using all available methods to get valuable information into the hands of the utility customers during these extreme and trying times.”
Reach the PUC by Phone or Online
To schedule a virtual presentation or for more information, email the PUC’s consumer-education team at PA-PC-CMU_ConsumerEd@pa.gov.
Educational Topics, Resources and Presentations
The PUC consumer-educator team consistently partners with various statewide community groups, state government agencies, legislators, human service providers, utility companies, community based organizations and many other partners to help educate, spread awareness and share many useful programs, tools and resources throughout this COVID-19 crisis. Among the educational topics, programs, presentations and resources available virtually and/or teleconferencing are the following:
Utility Customer Assistance Programs
Under PUC regulation, every major electric and natural gas utility overseen by the Commission offers CAPs, under which qualifying low-income customers pay discounted bills. Qualification in CAP programs is based on household size and gross household income.
Utilities also have other options to help consumers, including:
Energy Conservation Saves Money
The PUC also encourages families to explore energy conservation to help manage bills – especially as more people are working remotely. The PUC has interactive information and tips for saving energy on its energy shopping websites – PAPowerSwitch.com and PAGasSwitch.com – to help identify ways to save on energy usage.
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.
33 million have sought US unemployment aid since virus hit
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 3.2 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the business shutdowns caused by the viral outbreak deepened the worst U.S. economic catastrophe in decades. Roughly 33.5 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the seven weeks since the coronavirus began forcing millions of companies to close their doors and slash their workforces. That is the equivalent of one in five Americans who had been employed back in February, when the unemployment rate had reached a 50-year low of just 3.5%.
Indianapolis officer fatally shoots man, prompting protests
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indianapolis police officer’s fatal shooting of a black man following a pursuit was apparently captured in part on Facebook Live video, prompting dozens of angry people to converge on the shooting scene. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Chris Bailey says an officer shot the man Wednesday evening after other officers observed someone driving recklessly and began a pursuit. Bailey says that after the man parked his car, an officer left his vehicle and the man ran before the officer shot him during an ensuing confrontation. The Indianapolis Star reports that the shooting involved only the man and the officer, both of whom are black.