TOP HEADLINES 12/29

>>COVID-19 Cases Continue To Increase In Pennsylvania

(Harrisburg, PA) -- Positive COVID-19 cases are continuing to increase in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced more than 35-hundred new cases yesterday. This brings the state's current total of active cases to nearly 615-thousand. Almost six-thousand people are hospitalized statewide due to the coronavirus, which is double what the state had in spring.

>>U.S. Attorney David Freed Announces Resignation

(Harrisburg, PA) -- U.S. Attorney David Freed is going to resign on New Year's Day. Freed announced his resignation yesterday after he has served about three years as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Brandler is going to take over the position after Freed's leave. Brandler has been a member of the office for over 30 years and served as U.S. Attorney from 2016 to 2017.

>>New Chief Magistrate Judge Named For Middle District Of Pennsylvania

(Harrisburg, PA) -- A new chief magistrate judge is being appointed for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Officials announced yesterday that Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick is going to succeed Judge Susan Schwab for the position. Mehalchick is going to begin her four-year term on January 4th of 2021. She has been a U.S. magistrate judge since 2013.

>>York County Magisterial District Court Closing Temporarily

(York, PA) -- Another York County Magisterial District Court is going to be temporarily closing. The York County Court Administration announced yesterday it will be closing the court located at 745 West Mason Avenue in York because an employee has tested positive for COVID-19. Officials say the employee was last at the court on December 23rd and was following health and safety guidelines. The court is going to remain closed to the public as the building is deep-cleaned and sanitized. Neighboring court offices will be handling any time-sensitive matters.

>>PennDOT Driver License And Photo Centers Close For New Year's Day

(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is going to be closing all driver license and photo centers on New Year's Day. PennDOT announced yesterday that license and photo center locations will be closing at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday in observance of the New Year's Day holiday. The Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg will also be closed. Driver and vehicle products and services will still be made available online on PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website.

>>West Shore Cops Looking For Help Identifying Man Involved In Fight

(Lemoyne, PA) -- West Shore Regional police are asking for help identifying the man they say was involved in a fight at a store last week. It happened December 21stat the Lemoyne Mart, with the suspect driving off in a red minivan. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact West Shore Regional police.

>>Man Shot Monday Afternoon In York

(York, PA) -- Investigators say an 18-year-old is hurt after a shooting yesterday afternoon in York. It happened on the 600-block of South Pershing Avenue, with the man suffering multiple injuries. He was taken to the hospital and there’s no word on his condition.

>>Lower Allen Township Coffeeshop Latest COVID-19 Pandemic Victim

(Lower Allen Twp., PA) -- A Lower Allen Township coffeeshop is the latest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. BCB Rossmoyne’s owners said in a Facebook post they are permanently closed at their Louise Drive location at Rossmoyne Business Center. They are still operating Brew Cumberland’s Best in New Cumberland on Bridge Street, according to Pennlive.

>>Penn State Defensive Lineman Declares For The NFL Draft

(State College, PA) -- Penn State defensive end Shaka Toney is declaring for the NFL Draft. The All-Big Ten first teamer is tenth all time in sacks for the Nittany Lions, who finished 2020 four-and-five. Toney says he will play in the Senior Bowl next month.

(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: More COVID-19 related deaths are being reported from Berks County. A Lancaster house fire that killed one man is being ruled as accidental. The Downtown Improvement District in Reading is getting an extra 45 days before it will close for good.

>>COVID-19 Related Deaths Reported In Berks County

(Berks County, PA) -- More COVID-19-related deaths are being reported from Berks County. The Berks County coroner announced yesterday that 17 people have passed away due to complications of the coronavirus. The total number of COVID deaths this month is now at 116, which is the second highest the county has had since the beginning of the pandemic.

>>Lancaster Fire That Killed Man Ruled Accidental

(Lancaster, PA) -- A Lancaster house fire that killed one man is being ruled as accidental. The Lancaster City Bureau of Fire announced yesterday that the Saturday morning fire in the 500-block of Beaver Street started in a kitchen area and was caused by electric extension cords and a power strip. A 33-year-old man perished in the flames. The bureau is encouraging people to review electric cord and power strip safety reminders or contact the Fire Marshal Division.

>>Downtown Improvement District In Reading Given 45 Extra Days

(Reading, PA) -- The Downtown Improvement District in Reading is getting an extra 45 days before it will close for good. Reading City Council voted yesterday to give the organization an extra 30 to 45 days to prepare to close its business. A request to allow the DID to have a 90-day extension was denied, but the vote for the 45 days passed six-to-one. The council voted last week to not reauthorize the DID for another five years, and it was expected to close on December 31st before yesterday's extension.

>>Red Rose Transit Authority To Increase Bus, Parking Fare

(Lancaster County, PA) -- Red Rose Transit Authority is going to increase bus and parking fares for next year. The RRTA announced yesterday that it will be restructuring for 2021. Due to the new changes, officials say the cash fare for buses will increase by ten-cents and the student cash fare will be one-dollar per ride. There will also be rate changes for the Queen Street Station Parking Garage located on the corner of Chestnut and Queen streets in Lancaster. New Ride Guide information is available on the Red Rose Transit website.

>>DeLong Christmas Tree Farm Sells For 930-Thousand-Dollars

(Berks County, PA) -- DeLong Christmas Tree Farm is going to have a different owner after it sold for about 930-thousand-dollars. The farm in Brecknock Township was put up for auction yesterday. The 42-acre property that was sold includes a bank barn, a pole barn and a custom ranch home. Its previous owner R.T. Custer says the property is expected to stay as a Christmas tree farm.

>>Brewery Blasted For Controversial Sign

(Camp Hill, PA) -- The owner of Highway Manor Brewery in Camp Hill is under fire for hanging a sign on the building that some locals considered xenophobic and ignorant. Owner Johnnie Compton the third says he and his staff put up what they considered to be a funny sign to alert customers of their to-go options and didn't want to attribute it to COVID-19 as he's sick of hearing about the virus. The sign they posted read "TO GO ONLY BLAME CHINA." People didn't like the sign, saying it's ignorant, xenophobic and racist. Since receiving backlash, Compton removed the sign saying he's not racist and it was a joke that was misconstrued.

>>Williamsport Ranked As 19th Highest COVID-19 Infection Rate Nationwide

(Williamsport, PA) -- A report from the New York Times is ranking Williamsport as the city with the 19th-highest rate of COVID-19 infections in the country. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Susquehanna officials say they're aware of the report and they see patients coming in, but when they look at the big picture, many of their patients do not need to be hospitalized. However, they are still monitoring the situation, working their capacity plans and are carefully working with all of their plans to care for everyone who needs it when they come to the hospital. Officials also say the way to not be on that list is to wear masks, social distance, wash our hands and avoid large family gatherings.

>>Update: Missing Woman Found Dead

(Bloomsburg, PA) -- Police are releasing more details in the death of Erica Shultz who went missing earlier this month. Investigators say they found out that Shultz was seeing Harold David Haulman the third after meeting on MeetMe.com. Prior to his arrest, police tracked Haulman to Duncannon, and on December 26th, an agent approached him before Haulman proceeded to cut his wrist with a boxcutter. Haulman admitted to asking Shultz for a drive then walk in the woods where he hit her in the head with a mallet and stabbed her several times, killing her. He led officers to her body Sunday in a wooded area by Hobbie Road. He's currently being held on charges of homicide, kidnapping and abuse of a corpse.

>>Gym Owner Opens Facility Again Despite Restrictions

(Mountain Top, PA) -- Despite the state's restrictions on gyms, which ends on January 4th, the owner of 10X Fitness is keeping his gym open. Owner Daniel Cronauer says he's not trying to be defiant to any state order, and that he reopened his facility due the chances of losing his business completely. He added that equipment is spaced out for social distancing, people have their masks on and they're constantly cleaning. However, the governor's office says any business that reopens is risking the safety and health of their customers and community. Failure to follow orders can result in citations from state or local authorities, and Cronauer has already been warned by police.


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