Stocks claw higher worldwide; oil prices crawl off the floor
By STAN CHOE and DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writers
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks around the world are clawing higher on Wednesday, and the S&P 500 climbed toward the first gain of what’s been a dismal week for markets. Even the oil market turned higher. U.S. oil prices jumped 21% after President Donald Trump threatened the destruction of any Iranian gunboats that harass U.S. Navy ships, raising the possibility of a disruption to oil supplies. The S&P 500 was up 2.3% in afternoon trading, following milder gains in Europe and Asia. Energy stocks jumped to the biggest gains. Treasury yields also ticked higher in a sign of a bit less pessimism in the market.

Tyson Foods idles its largest pork plant after Iowa outbreak
By RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Tyson Foods is suspending operations indefinitely at a large Iowa pork processing plant that was blamed for fueling a coronavirus outbreak in the community. The company warned Wednesday that its closing of the plant in Waterloo would be a blow to hog farmers and potentially disrupt the nation’s pork supply. Tyson kept the plant open in recent days over the objections of the mayor and other local officials. The plant employs 2,800 workers and can process about 19,500 hogs per day, almost 4% of the nation’s pork processing capacity. Several other meatpacking plants have temporarily closed due to coronavirus outbreaks.

Wolf Administration Announces Business Loan Deferrals

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin announced that the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA), Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority (PMBDA), and Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) are deferring loans and that the maturity dates and amortization schedules of all applicable loans are extended by three additional calendar months.

“As we look to the future for a phased reopening of Pennsylvania’s economy, it is imperative that we provide relief to businesses affected by the administration’s stay-at-home order,” said Sec. Davin. “Businesses statewide have been cooperative and made sacrifices for the health and safety of their communities, and we are committed to supporting them through the next steps ahead.”

PIDA borrowers with payments due in April, May, and June of 2020 are deferred. All other terms and conditions of all applicable loans remain unchanged.

PMBDA borrowers with payments due in April, May, and June of 2020, including principal, interest, and any associated feeds are deferred. Accrual of interest that would be included with deferred payments is suspended. All other terms and conditions of all applicable loans remain unchanged.

CFA borrowers except for PENNWORKS loans, with payments due in April, May, and June of 2020, including principal, interest, and any associated fees are deferred. Accrual of interest that would be included with deferred payments is suspended. All other terms of all applicable loans remain unchanged.

DCED continues to update its website with financial and other resources.

Businesses seeking further guidance and clarification from DCED can also contact its customer service resource account at ra-dcedcs@pa.gov. For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, Pennsylvanians should follow www.governor.pa.gov and www.doh.pa.gov.

AG Shapiro: If You’ve Lost Your Job and Health Insurance, Apply at Healthcare.gov

Job loss serves as a qualifying life event to enroll in the Affordable Care Act’s health care exchange

HARRISBURG—Attorney General Shapiro is reminding the nearly 1.5 million unemployed Pennsylvanians who have lost their employer-sponsored health insurance coverage that they are eligible to obtain health insurance through Healthcare.gov.

“Our job is to work together to protect the health and safety of Pennsylvanians as we beat this crisis, and the Administration isn’t doing it’s part,” ​said Attorney General Shapiro.​ “Pennsylvanians who’ve lost health insurance can sign up for coverage now at www.healthcare.gov. During these uncertain times, the last thing Pennsylvanians need to worry about is how they are going to be covered if they need to see their doctor or go to the emergency room.”

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 those set periods, 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. In 2018, over half of individuals under age 65 had insurance through an employer.

The Attorney General has been urging 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, families and individuals need to take advantage of the special enrollment period for qualifying live events to ensure more comprehensive healthcare.

 

Pennsylvania boosting efforts to promote voting by mail
By MARC LEVY AND MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is boosting its efforts to get voters to cast their primary election ballots by mail and says it would help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The administration said Wednesday it has sent 4.2 million postcards to primary voters and is mounting a public awareness campaign on radio, television, social media, streaming services, mobile apps and email. More than 462,000 voters have applied for a mail-in ballot, and over 139,000 have applied for an absentee ballot so far. Some county officials fear the virus will make it difficult to find polling places and get poll workers to staff them.

Feral cat found in East Pittsburgh tests positive for rabies
EAST PITTSBURGH (AP) — Authorities in western Pennsylvania say a feral cat found in the Pittsburgh area has tested positive for rabies. The Allegheny County health department says the cat was recently brought to the department’s laboratory after if was picked up in the borough of East Pittsburgh. Authorities say four animals have tested positive for rabies in the county so far this year: a bat, a cat, a groundhog and a raccoon. Last year, 25 animals were confirmed to have rabies in the county: a dozen raccoons, nine bats, two cats, a fox and a groundhog.

Trump tweets order to destroy harassing Iranian gunboats
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, JON GAMBRELL and ROBERT BURNS Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s ordered the Navy to “shoot down and destroy” any Iranian gunboats that harass U.S. ships. His directive comes a week after the Navy reported a group of Iranian boats made “dangerous and harassing approaches” to American vessels in the Persian Gulf. Trump isn’t citing a specific Iranian provocation in his tweet and he’s not providing details beyond the tweet. Senior Pentagon officials are giving no indication that Trump has directed a fundamental change in military policy on Iran. A spokesman for Iran’s armed forces accuses Trump of “bullying” and says Trump should focus on taking care of U.S service members infected with the coronavirus.

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 1,156 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 35,684

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 22, that there are 1,156 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 35,684. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

The department is continuing to work to increase the types of cases that are being added to our death case counts. Today, 58 new deaths are reported among positive and probable cases, bringing the statewide total to 1,622. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here. All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.

Locally in Beaver County we have increased by 14 positive cases to 317 of the COVID-19.  1638 people have tested negative so and the county is up 4 deaths to a total of 47.

In the Nursing Homes in the County 3 are reporting that they have had a positive cases during the Pandemic. Today there was an increse of 10 cases to 191 and still only 11 employee cases. There has also been an additonal 4 deaths  bringing the total up to 38 of the counties 47 deaths.

“As we see the number of new COVID-19 cases continuously change across the state that does not mean we can stop practicing social distancing,” Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families and our community. If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but others. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”

There are 136,272 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Nearly 1% are aged 0-4;
• Nearly 1% are aged 5-12;
• 1% are aged 13-18;
• Nearly 6% are aged 19-24;
• Nearly 39% are aged 25-49;
• Nearly 28% are aged 50-64; and
• 25% are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date. More data is available here.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 5,337 resident cases of COVID-19, and 617 cases among employees, for a total of 5,954 at 407 distinct facilities in 39 counties. Out of our total deaths, 845 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

All non-life-sustaining businesses are ordered to be closed and schools are closed statewide through the remainder of the academic year. Currently the entire state is under a stay-at-home order.

County Case Counts to Date

Department of Agriculture Confirms Pennsylvania’s First Spotted Lanternfly Hatch, Encourages Residents to be Vigilant 

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today reported the first confirmed Spotted Lanternfly hatch of the year. The first-instar nymph was located by a USDA employee yesterday in the University City section of western Philadelphia, near the University of Pennsylvania/Drexel University.

“Let’s use this time at home to make a positive impact on Spotted Lanternfly this season; scrape and destroy any remaining egg masses you find and band your trees now,” said Agriculture Secretary Redding. “We need every Pennsylvanian to keep their eyes peeled for this bad bug, we can’t let our guard down.”

The majority of Spotted Lanternfly hatches begin in southern Pennsylvania in mid to late April and with a lag in timing for Pennsylvania’s more northern counties. As the first instars of Spotted Lanternfly hatch from eggs, they instantly seek tender plant tissue to feed.

The Spotted Lanternfly is capable of decimating entire grape vineyards and damaging fruit orchards, hops, walnuts, hardwoods and decorative trees. In addition to endangering agriculture, this bad bug threatens our ability to enjoy the outdoors during spring and summer months – they’re known to swarm in the air, cover trees, and coat decks and play equipment with their excrement, known as honeydew. Honeydew, along with sap from weeping plant wounds that result from feeding of Spotted Lanternfly, can attract bees and other insects and also stimulate the growth of fungi.

Scraping egg masses is the most efficient way to kill 30-50 of the invasive pests at once. If you discover Spotted Lanternfly egg masses, scrape them off, using a putty knife, credit card, or other firm, blunt edged tool. Penn State Extension has a helpful tutorial on how to destroy egg masses. During the nymph stage, tree banding is the most effective method to capture and kill Spotted Lanternfly. It’s a non-toxic, inexpensive technique that can be used on any tree.

Prior to the 2020 spring hatch, twelve counties were added to Pennsylvania’s Spotted Lanternfly quarantine zone. With this addition, the quarantine for this invasive pest is now at 26 counties. Businesses in the quarantine zone must obtain a permit; fines associated with noncompliance can be up to $300 for a criminal citation or up to $20,000 for a civil penalty. Homeowners with questions about treatment are encouraged to contact their local Penn State Extension office or learn about management, including approved sprays, online. Pennsylvanians who live inside the quarantine zone should also review and sign the Compliance Checklist for residents.

If you scrape an egg mass or squash a Spotted Lanternfly, always report your sighting. Sightings can be reported online or via phone by calling 1-888-4BAD-FLY. For more information on Spotted Lanternfly, visit agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternfly.

AAA East Central Appoints First Woman President

Teresa Petrick brings healthcare leadership expertise to nearly 120-year-old Club

AAA East Central is announcing the appointment of Teresa “Terri” Petrick to the position of president of AAA East Central, effective April 1, 2020. She becomes the first woman appointed to the role in the Club’s 117-year history.

Petrick previously served as senior vice president, with responsibilities including branch operations, human resources, the member service center, facilities, information technology, along with systems integration and strategic planning.

Petrick spent more than 30 years in the healthcare industry prior to joining AAA East Central in 2013. Her career began at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh as hospital planner. Her time with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) included the roles such as executive vice president of its McKeesport hospital, where she had overall operational responsibility. In 2001, she was appointed to a corporate vice president role for UPMC, with responsibilities encompassing integration and development of care management. She then moved on to president of UPMC Passavant and then UPMC St. Margaret.

“Being chosen to lead such a storied organization is a great honor,” says Petrick. “I look forward to maintaining the high level of service to our AAA members as well as serving the communities throughout the AAA East Central footprint.”

She serves as chairwoman of Excela Health Board of Trustees, and her community service includes board memberships with LaRoche University and The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

Petrick earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh, and a master’s degree in public management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Pitt-Greensburg honored Petrick in 2014 by awarding her the Alumni Association’s Alumna of Distinction, which recognizes excellence among the Unviersity’s alumni based on their professional achievements, service to the university, and community service. She was also an Athena Award finalist in 2009.

Petrick succeeds James Lehman, who retired after a 42-year career with AAA East Central. He served as president since 2013.