AG Shapiro Releases Rights & Resources Guide for Pennsylvanians During COVID-19 Emergency

HARRISBURG― Attorney General Shapiro today released a new guide advising Pennsylvanians of their rights, protections, and supportive programs available to the over one million recently unemployed Pennsylvanians who have been impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.

“My office is working to protect the health, safety, and financial security of all

Pennsylvanians during this public health and economic emergency,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “With the intense amount of information and misinformation out there, we wanted to help individuals impacted by this crisis, know the facts, their rights, and what they are entitled to during these uncertain times.”

The rights and resources guide details benefits available to Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 emergency, including:

 

• Guaranteed access to utilities like heat, water, and electricity;
• Moratorium on evictions, foreclosures, and auto repossessions;
• Grace period for paying student loans;
• Grace period for paying home and auto loans;
• Waived payments from banks for late and overdraft fees;
• Expanded unemployment eligibility to gig workers, contract workers who use 1099 forms to pay, workers with previously inadequate employment history, and part time workers;
• Increased unemployment benefits, roughly double the previously available;
• And up to 2 weeks paid-leave for individuals caring for a sick family member or child whose school has closed.

 

The guide is available to Pennsylvanians, and contains information about who to contact for each of the benefits and protections it discusses.

Gov. Wolf: Department of Corrections to Establish Temporary Program to Reprieve Sentences of Incarceration

Harrisburg, PA – Under the authority granted to him by the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Emergency Management Services Code, Governor Tom Wolf today ordered Department of Corrections officials to establish a Temporary Program to Reprieve Sentences of Incarceration to help aid the department in the transfer of qualifying individuals to community corrections facilities or home confinement amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Wolf Administration continues to take every possible action – and asks all Pennsylvanians to do the same – to help stop the spread of COVID-19. These actions, including those in the state corrections system, will save lives, help stop the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming our already-burdened health care system.

“We can reduce our non-violent prison population and leave fewer inmates at risk for contracting COVID-19 while maintaining public safety with this program,” Gov. Wolf said. “I am pleased to direct the Department of Corrections to begin the process to release vulnerable and non-violent inmates at or nearing their release dates in an organized way that maintain supervision post-release and ensures home and health care plans are in place for all reentrants.”

The Temporary Program to Reprieve Sentences of Incarceration Program only applies to state prison inmates who have been identified as being non-violent and who otherwise would be eligible for release within the next 9 months or who are considered at high risk for complications of coronavirus and are within 12 months of their release.

“Just as everyone in the community is dealing with COVID-19, the state prison system is doing the same,” Corrections Sec. John Wetzel said. “We must reduce our inmate population to be able to manage this virus. Without this temporary program, we are risking the health, and potentially lives, of employees and inmates. We can safely release individuals to the community to reduce their vulnerability and allow the department to successfully manage COVID-19.

“Without any current legislation, we are moving forward with the understanding that future legislation could further advance these efforts.”

As of this morning, there are 11 COVID-19 cases at one prison, SCI Phoenix in Montgomery County, but concern for cases spreading to other facilities is another reason for the expedited release of eligible inmates.

Under the temporary reprieve program, approximately 1,500 to 1,800 inmates would be eligible, although given the reentry challenges of ensuring connection to the health care and behavioral health system, housing and food security, the number will likely be less than the eligible pool.

Vulnerable inmates will include inmates aged 65 or older; anyone with an autoimmune disorder; pregnant inmates; anyone with a serious, chronic medical condition such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, bone marrow or organ transplantation, severe obesity, kidney disease, liver disease,[and] cancer; or another medical condition that places them at higher risk for complications of coronavirus as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The releases could begin as early as Tuesday, April 14.

Sec. Wetzel stressed that a thorough reentry component has been developed to ensure inmates will be successful.

“While we need to release inmates to protect them and to allow us space to mitigate the impact of the virus in our system, we also know that we need to prepare inmates for release,” Sec. Wetzel said. “Our reentry plans will include several days of release planning with the inmate, preparing and connecting the inmate to treatment programs in the community, release transportation and a complete medical screening to ensure that we are not releasing sick inmates. We’ll also provide them with an appropriate medication supply and connect them to medical providers in the community.”

While on temporary reprieve, individuals will be monitored similarly to parolees and will be supervised by parole agents. Upon expiration of the order, individuals would be returned to prison to complete any remaining portion of their sentences.

A copy of the governor’s order can be found as a PDF here or on Scribd.

Find the latest information, including a daily dashboard, on the DOC’s COVID-19 efforts here.

Rochester Manor has released an update in regards to their first known case of COVID-19. Beaver County Radio news correspondent Sandy Giordano has details:

Hours after the shutdown of schools for the remainder of the year in Pennsylvania, the state’s Secretary of Education spoke to the media about some of the new changes. Beaver County Radio news correspondent Sandy Giordano has details:

Though progress has been made by Duquesne Light, there’s still houses in Beaver County without power this morning. Beaver County Radio news correspondent Sandy Giordano has the latest numbers:

In a test of faith, Christians mark Good Friday in isolation
By JOSEPH KRAUSS Associated Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — Christians are commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion without the solemn church services or emotional processions of past years, marking Good Friday in a world locked down by the coronavirus pandemic. A small group of clerics held a closed-door service in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. The torch-lit Way of the Cross procession in Rome has been canceled, and Pope Francis will preside over a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square with only around a dozen people. Also, folk rituals featuring real-life crucifixions have been called off in the Philippines.

Joe Biden’s next big decision: Choosing a running mate
By BILL BARROW Associated Press
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden expects to name a vice presidential vetting committee next week. That’s according to three Democrats with knowledge of the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal plans. He has already committed to picking a woman as his running mate. Biden told donors during a virtual fundraiser that his team has discussed naming his choice well ahead of the Democratic convention in mid-August. Biden must consider the demands of a diverse party. And he’s stated his desire for a governing partner who is “simpatico” with his approach and “ready to be president on a moment’s notice.”

Economic devastation looms on a Good Friday like no other
By ARITZ PARRA and ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press
MADRID (AP) — Christians around the world observed a Good Friday like no other, at home watching livestreams instead of at church.  Meanwhile, pressures are rapidly mounting on governments to restart some industries in order to fend off further economic devastation from the coronavirus.  Politicians and health officials have warned that the hard-won gains against the pandemic must not be jeopardized by relaxing social distancing over the Easter holiday weekend. Worldwide, the death toll headed toward 100,000, with the confirmed number of  infected people topping 1.6 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Biden woos skeptical Sanders supporters with new proposals
By WILL WEISSERT, ALEXANDRA JAFFE and BILL BARROW Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden has unveiled plans to expand eligibility for Medicare and forgive college debt. The former vice president has begun courting progressives who lost their standard bearer when Bernie Sanders left the presidential race. Biden’s swift move to shore up his left flank underscores the difficult choice many progressives were left with following Sanders’ withdrawal: Side with the more centrist Biden or keep up the fight and potentially lose the White House again. Biden will likely need those voters to defeat President Donald Trump in November.

Mad magazine illustrator Mort Drucker dies at 91
NEW YORK (AP) — One of Mad Magazine’s most loved and enduring illustrators has died. Mort Drucker, the Mad Magazine cartoonist who for decades lovingly spoofed politicians, celebrities and popular culture, died Thursday at 91. Drucker joined Mad in its early days, the mid-1950s, and remained well into the 21st century. Few major events or public figures during that time escaped Drucker’s attention, from “Star Trek” to Jerry Seinfeld. In large strokes, Drucker took in every crease, crevice and bold feature. The big jaw of Jay Leno bulged even larger, while the ears of Barack Obama looked like wings about to take flight.