>>Harrisburg City Council Approves Spending over $15M in Federal Funds
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Harrisburg City Council has approved ways to spend more than 15-million dollars in American Rescue Act Plan funds. The plans were given the go-ahead at a legislative session Tuesday night by a 7-0 vote. Some five and a half million dollars will go for HVAC improvements at the public safety building. Other money will go toward budget items that couldn't be funded due to lost revenue from the pandemic. Also, five-thousand-dollars bonuses will go to qualifying city firefighters and police officers.
>>Person Drowns at Codorus State Park in York County
(York County, PA) -- The York County Coroner has not yet released a name but has confirmed one person has drowned at Codorus State Park. Officials say crews were dispatched for a water rescue Tuesday evening around 5:20 p.m. The section of the park involved reportedly is in West Manheim Township. No further details have been available.
>> January 6th Defendant Insinuates Threats from Jail
(Harrisburg, PA) -- A Pennsylvania man being held on charges that he assaulted a law enforcement officer during the January 6th riots at the U.S. Capitol is now making threats against politicians from jail. Court documents filed Monday show that Ryan Samsel of Bristol talked about getting rid of politicians with a woodchipper. The letter was dated June 2nd was referred to in court as it asked for more time for Samsel so that he could undergo an independent medical examination.
>>Mother Charged After Ingesting Fentanyl Then Feeding Baby
(Harrisburg, PA) -- A 31-year-old mother has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for killing her six-day-old son after taking drugs. Court records show Destinee Griffin-Bailey passed out after ingesting a combination drug with fentanyl called "scramble" with her baby on her lap. She told police she woke up slumped over him to find the baby dead. Authorities have said the death was caused by positional asphyxia, which happens when someone's position prevents a baby from breathing. The mother was charged Monday.
>>School District Votes Against Transgender Athletes
(Hempfield, PA) -- The Hempfield school board is making changes to its policy regarding gender in sports. Under the new policy 'Sex-based Distinctions in Athletics,' student-athletes will be required to play on teams that correspond with their birth gender. It is the second time this month that the board voted to make changes. Those against the policy change say it will not only marginalize transgender students but may also trigger loss of federal Title IX funding.
>>Colleagues, Mayor Mourn Death of City Council President
(Reading, PA) -- Positive words of remembrance are being spoken about Reading City Council President Jeffrey S. Waltman Senior. The council and Mayor Eddie Moran have announced Waltman passed away early Monday at the age of 58. Waltman served 22 years on council, first as a District 6 representative and later as vice president before becoming president. Mayor Moran said Waltman leaves a legacy that will have an impact on generations to come. The cause of death was not disclosed.
>>Firefighters Battle Many Hours on Multi-Level Auto Shop, Office
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Harrisburg's Fire Chief says crews were working through Tuesday night to keep an eye on a fire that ignited inside a car shop. It started a little before five p.m. Tuesday when responding crews saw flames coming through the roof of the multi-level building in the 2,300 block of North 7th Street. Chief Brian Enterline says there were about nine cars in the basement still burning hours later and his crews were unable to get to them. One employee did suffer minor burns, but no other injuries were reported as of late Tuesday night.
>>Governor Announced Funding for Affordable Housing Across the State
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Nearly 245 housing and community developments across the state will soon get an infusion of state money for affordable housing. Governor Tom Wolf says the more than $48 million will help create new, single-family homes, assist new homebuyers with down payments and closing costs and create housing for those who are in danger of homelessness. The money comes from the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement fund.
>>Senator Casey Working To Keep More Kids Out Of Detention Facilities
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey and a lawmaker from California have introduced a measure to keep more children out of detention facilities. Casey says thousands of kids are imprisoned for acts that would not be crimes if they were committed by an adult. Those include truancy, breaking curfew or running away from home. He says the legislation could change the path of young people's lives by helping them get support when they're going through a difficult time.
>>Toomey Calls for Stronger Measures for Protection from Educators' Sexual Misconduct
(Washington, DC) -- Republican U.S. Senator Pat Toomey wants more done to protect students from educators who engage in sexual misconduct. He wants further action from the Department of Education on the matter, including preventing schools from allowing a sexually abusive educator from moving from one school to another. Toomey says sixty percent of states have failed to ban the confidentiality and resignation agreements that endanger students by allowing predators to continue as educators.
>>Senators Beat Richmond In First of Six Outings
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Harrisburg Senators have beaten Richmond in the first of six games with the visitors Tuesday night. The final score was two to one. The two teams meet each other again Wednesday in a game with a 12-noon start. It's also Wet-Nose Wednesday, when your four-legged friend can go to the game with you.
>>Man Gets Prison Time for Aggravated Indecent Assault
(Reading, PA) -- A South Heidelberg Township man has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a teenage girl in a township residence early last summer. Township police filed the charges following allegations brought to the authorities in June of last year. Alcides Mull had pleaded guilty in Berks County Court to a charge of aggravated indecent assault. He was sentenced last week to two to ten years in prison followed by three years of probation.
>>Lancaster County Man Convicted Of Sexual Abuse After 10 Years
(Lancaster, PA) -- A Lancaster County man has been convicted of sexually assaulting two teens more than ten years ago. A jury deliberated for about four hours before returning its guilty verdict late last week for Shane Richardson, who is from Lititz. The district attorney's office says the teens were between the ages of 13 and 17 when they were abused between the years of 2008 and 2011. The counts against Richardson include unlawful contact with a minor and indecent assault.
>>Reading Hockey Coach Resigns to take Job in Dubuque
(Reading, PA) -- The Reading Royals have announced head coach Kirk MacDonald has resigned. He'd been coach and director of hockey operations for the past five years. His leadership took the team to conference titles and to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. A statement issued from the team says MacDonald will soon be head coach of the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League, one of the top junior leagues in North America.
>>Lancaster Recreation Commission Hosts Beer Garden Fundraiser
(Lancaster, PA) -- A benefit beer garden will open at Reservoir Park late Wednesday afternoon with proceeds going to the Lancaster Recreation Department. It doesn't cost anything to go but you do pay for food and drinks. Tellus 360 is providing alcohol and other beverages and there will be food trucks on site as well as games. The money raised goes for scholarships for kids to take part in summer sports programs and to beautify parks. The event runs through Sunday and is the last one until September.
>>Hopes and Dreams
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Time is ticking before we find out whether Philadelphia will be the host site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The announcement is set for tomorrow evening at 5:00 p.m. There will be a pep rally at Love Park ahead of the big announcement beginning at 3:00-p.m. Everyone is invited to enjoy live music, food trucks, giveaways, and hopefully some good news at the end. Details can be found online.