>PA Department of Labor-And-Industry Launches New Phone System For Unemployment Filing
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Pennsylvania residents are getting another tool to make filing for unemployment easier. The state's Department of Labor-and-Industry announced yesterday that it has launched the Pennsylvania Teleclaims system, which will allow people to file for unemployment benefits by phone. Officials say it is a part of the L&I's new Unemployment Compensation system that launched Tuesday.
>>Rite Aid Launching New Night Shots Program
(Camp Hill, PA) -- Rite Aid is extending its vaccine hours at select stores this month. The company announced yesterday that it is launching a new Night Shots program that will extend vaccinating hours into midnight on every Friday this month starting today. The Rite Aid on Union Deposit Road will stay open 24 hours to give shots to the public, and the York location on East Market Street will be administering doses through midnight.
>>York Man Accused Of Beating Man During Home Invasion
(Spring Garden Township, PA) -- A York County man is being accused of assaulting another man during a home invasion. The incident happened earlier this week in the one-thousand-block of Mount Rose Avenue in Spring Garden Township. Police say 39-year-old Sherman Mayo was one of three suspects involved in the robbery, and he beat the homeowner with a two-by-four piece of wood, breaking the victim's ribs and arm. He was taken into custody yesterday.
>>Berks County To Receive Grants Towards Criminal Justice Programs
(Reading, PA) -- Berks County is going to get some help for funding its criminal justice programs. Senator Judy Schwank, Representatives Mark Rozzi and Manny Guzman announced yesterday that the county will be receiving about 884-thousand-dollars in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Officials say the money will be used to provide treatment for individuals facing drug-related offenses.
>>Berks County Commissioners Approve Second Round Of COVID-19 Funding
(Reading, PA) -- The Berks County Commissioners are approving a resolution for the second round of COVID-19 relief funding for the hospitality industry. The commissioners announced yesterday that the Greater Berks Development Fund has accepted applications for the funding in the amount of about 981-thousand-dollars. Officials say the application process for the third round of funding will close on June 15th. Those who are interested in applying are being encouraged to visit www.rebuildberks.com
>>Berks Cares Vaccine Center To Close At End Of Next Month
(Muhlenberg Township, PA) -- A mass COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Berks County is going to be closing next month. Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt announced yesterday that the Berks Cares Vaccine Center in Muhlenberg Township will be giving out its last round of doses on July 31st. Barnhardt says the county needs about 41-thousand more people to get vaccinated to reach its goal of having 70-percent of the population vaccinated.
>>Boscov's To Close On Thanksgiving Day For Second Year In A Row
(Reading, PA) -- Boscov's is going to be showing its appreciation to its associates again this year. The Reading-based company announced yesterday that it will be closing all locations on Thanksgiving Day. Officials say a list of deals along with revised holiday shopping hours will be released soon.
>>Explosion Destroys Barn In Lancaster County
(East Donegal Township, PA) -- Authorities are looking into what caused a barn to explode in Lancaster County. The incident happened Wednesday night along Donegal Creek Road in East Donegal Township. The damage is estimated at about $300,000. Officials say they believe a 65-gallon drum of oil caused the explosion, and an issue with a lawnmower could be blamed.
>>Legislature Votes To End Disaster Emergency Declaration
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The state Legislature is voting to end the governor's pandemic disaster emergency declaration. However, the Wolf Administration says that this doesn't impact the mask order that is still in place or any other disease prevention orders from the health secretary. They added that they will do whatever they can to maintain federal funding, which was cut by ending the disaster declaration. Though the Legislature voted to end the disaster declaration, they also voted to extend hundreds of regulatory waivers the governor approved over the last year, and the governor plans on signing that bill.
>>Lawmakers Plan To Introduce Election Reform Bill
(Harrisburg, PA) -- State lawmakers are planning to introduce election reform legislation next week. The Voting Rights Protection Act would allow voters to vote in-person a week before the election, establish new drop boxes for mail-in ballots and allow for curbside voting to ensure access for voters with disabilities. It would also allow counties to begin preparing mailed ballots for counting five-days before Election Day, require them to reach out to voters whose mail-in ballots have issues, and allow them to fix it by 8 p.m. on Election Day. However, the legislation would also expand voter identification requirements to anyone who votes in-person, instead of just first-time voters.
>>Wolf Administration Partners With United Way To Battle Vaccine Hesitancy
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Wolf Administration is partnering with the United Way of Pennsylvania to battle vaccine hesitancy in the state. The two entities will be teaming up to provide four-million-dollars in grants to local organizations to reduce hesitancy and ensure that the vaccine distribution plan is equitable. The grants from the Local Innovations in Vaccine Equity in Pennsylvania project will range from $200 to $20,000 per vaccination event. Individuals or organizations interested in applying for these grants are urged to contact a local United Way chapter or email the United Way of Pennsylvania at info-at-uwp-dot-org.
>>Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Limit Solitary Confinement In Prisons
(Harrisburg, PA) -- State Representative Tina Davis is proposing a bill that would limit solitary confinement in prisons to 15 days. Davis says the practice is unethical, inhumane and could have lasting effects on inmates. Her bill would also ban the use of solitary confinement on LGBTQ individuals, pregnant women and inmates younger than 21 and older than 55. The bill is currently waiting for a vote in a House committee.
>>Confrontation Ends With Multiple Homes Set On Fire
(Eagleville, PA) -- Multiple homes have been burned down following a confrontation with an inspector. It was just after 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon that a code enforcement officer arrived to a home in Montgomery County for a follow-up inspection. The homeowner took out a gun, and the code officer ran to call the police. Moments later, the home went up in flames as the fire quickly spread to two other homes. At least one person was hurt, and the suspect remains on the loose. Neighbors were evacuated but were able to return to their homes later in the day.
>>ATVs And Dirt-Bikes Now Illegal
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Dirt bikes and ATVs are now illegal on the streets of Philadelphia. The City Council approved legislation yesterday that modifies the city code that considers ATVs and dirt bikes as illegal vehicles. It gives the Philadelphia Police Department the authority to confiscate them if someone is caught. Officials say that the law is effective immediately.
>>Sixers-Hawks Play Game-Three
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Game-three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Sixers and the Atlanta Hawks goes down tonight. The series is tied one-game-a-piece after Philly responded and won-game two following a tough loss in game-one. Joel Embiid has led the team in scoring in both games so far. Tipoff is set for 7:30 tonight from State Farm Arena in Atlanta.