>>Pinchot Lake To Drawdown Starting Next Monday
(Lewisberry, PA) -- Gifford Pinchot State Park will begin a drawdown of Pinchot Lake next Monday. It’s anticipated to drop by five feet in lake elevation by November 2nd. This will limit the ability to launch larger boats and will impact overall access to the lake. Officials say once maintenance projects are completed, the lake will be returned to its normal level.
>>York Police Say They’ve Had Four Shootings Over The Past Four Days
(York, PA) -- Police in York say they’ve had four shootings over the past four days. A man is in custody for the most recent of the incidents, but three others are still under investigation. Each of the shooting victims is expected to survive.
>>Man Struck, Killed Along Carlisle Pike
(Silver Spring Twp., PA) -- Police say a man was struck and killed by a tractor without a trailer this week along the Carlisle Pike in Silver Spring Township. It happened yesterday morning at the intersection with North Locust Point Road. The driver reportedly told police he didn’t see the pedestrian.
>>PA COVID-19 Case Counts Exceed 186,000
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Officials with the PA Department of Health say there are 1,425 new cases of COVID-19 across the commonwealth. That brings the statewide total to 186,297 since the start of the pandemic. It’s the 16th straight day over one-thousand new cases were reported.
>>Churches To Take Part In Free COVID-19 Testing
(Swatara Twp., PA) -- The state Department of Health is partnering with local churches to provide free COVID-19 testing. In Swatara Township, they will have testing available this Sunday at Shiloh Church of God in Christ on the 5,900 block of Derry Street. Next Sunday, they will hold testing at LCBC Church on Chambers Hill Road.
>>Dauphin Co Commissioners Award Money To Small Businesses
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Millions of dollars are being awarded to businesses and nonprofits in Dauphin County. Commissioners Jeff Haste, Mike Pries, and George Hartwick-the-third announced the grants for municipalities that applied for financial assistance with coronavirus-related expenses. Businesses with less than 100 employees or companies with less than 500 workers in the tourism industry were eligible for up to $3,500. More than
$17-million will be given out.
>>Chambers Out As Penn State B-Ball Coach
(State College, PA) -- Pat Chambers has resigned as the men's basketball coach at Penn State. The news comes after allegations of inappropriate conduct by the former coach. University officials launched an internal investigation, and Chambers stepped away after he made racial comments to one of his ball players, saying he wanted to "loosen the noose around his neck." Assistant coach Jim Ferry will take over as the interim head coach in the meantime.
>>Franklin Co Needs More Firefighters
(Shippensburg, PA) -- Help fighting fires is needed in Franklin County. That's according to the county's emergency services study that shows the population is growing in the area, but the emergency staff is not. The study was conducted for nearly two years, and it laid out several ways to attract new help. New bills approved by the Senate this week will also help the fire and EMS services throughout the state.
>>Harrisburg Encouraging Safe Halloween Plans
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Health experts in Harrisburg are calling on residents to make the safest decision when it comes to Halloween. That's why the city is encouraging folks to participate in the "Grab and Go Treat Night." It will take place on October 29th at the fire stations along North 6th, North 16th, and South 13th streets. Each fire station will run the event from 5 to 7 p.m.
>>Second Lady Karen Pence Visits Lancaster County
(Mount Joy, PA) -- Second Lady Karen Pence is following up her husband Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Pennsylvania. Karen Pence visited Lancaster County yesterday to campaign for her husband and President Trump. She spoke at an event at Acorn Farms Reception and Conference Center in Mount Joy. In her talk, she praised the administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and called on the U.S. Senate to confirm Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
>>Greater Reading LGBT Community Applauding Pope's Announcement
(Reading, PA) -- The Greater Reading LGBT community is applauding Pope Francis for his endorsement of same-sex civil unions. The Pope's announcement came in an interview regarding a documentary about him that premiered yesterday at the Rome Film Festival. It is being seen as a progressive step forward for the Catholic Church. Executive Director of the LGBT Center of Greater Reading says she appreciates the Pope's "evolving support" for the LGBT community.
>>Berks Commissioners Urge Caution Following Increase In COVID-19 Cases
(Berks County, PA) -- Berks County Commissioners are urging residents to respond to an increase in COVID-19 cases with caution and common sense. The number of new cases of the virus in the county reached a five-month high last week, but has been trending downward with state health officials reporting 73 new cases yesterday. Free testing is available at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.
>>Reading Police Charge Second Man In Deadly Shooting
(Reading, PA) -- A second man is facing charges in connection with a deadly shooting in Reading. Police arrested 21-year-old Devon Starr yesterday for his alleged role in the shooting of Albert Pena-Pena and a second person in August in the 1,200-block of Church Street. Pena-Pena died from his injuries. Joewel Keita is already in custody on a murder charge in connection with the case.
>>Berks County Lawmaker's Bill Headed To Governor's Desk
(Harrisburg, PA) -- A Berks County state lawmaker's bill is headed to Governor Wolf's desk. State Representative David Maloney's bill would add the POW/MIA flag to the one's flown on commonwealth property statewide. Maloney says he has been pushing the measure since 2017. He says his uncle was temporarily listed as missing in action during the second World War.
>>Penn State Findings Suggest Mouthwash May Reduce COVID-19 Transmission
(Lehigh, PA) -- A Penn State study is suggesting that mouthwash may help reduce COVID-19 transmission. Penn State College of Medicine researchers say their study found that oral rinses and antiseptics used by an infected person can inactivate up to 99-percent of present coronavirus cells, potentially reducing transmission. This isn't a cure, but researchers say dentists and healthcare workers are at risk of being infected when dealing with COVID patients, and even if these solutions could reduce transmission by 50-percent, it could have a huge impact. They added that clinical trials are still needed to determine the effectiveness of these products in reducing the amount of COVID-19 spread through talking, breathing and coughing.
>>No Mail-In Ballot Drop Off Boxes In Schuylkill County
(Pottsville, PA) -- There are currently no mail-in ballot drop off boxes in Schuylkill County, and Election Day is less than two-weeks away. Despite having ballot boxes during the primaries and several counties across northeastern and central Pennsylvania offering mail-in ballot drop off boxes for voters, Schuylkill County decided not to do it this election. Election officials say it's due to a security and safety precaution. However, many voters say they feel more confident in personally dropping off their absentee ballots rather than mailing them out.
>>Carbon County Courthouse Bomb Threat
(Jim Thorpe, PA) -- Police are investigating a bomb threat that was made to the Carbon County Courthouse yesterday. The threat caused officials to close down the courthouse. There has been no word on whether it will impact operations today. No other details were provided by officials, but the investigation is ongoing.
>>Man In Police Custody For Attempted Voter Fraud
(Forty Fort, PA) -- A Forty Fort man is facing charges of voter fraud after allegedly filling out an absentee ballot application for a deceased person. Officials say Robert Lynn allegedly used a typewriter to fill out an absentee ballot application under his mother's name, who has been dead for five years. The 67-year-old is a registered Republican and initially blamed the incident on a relative, but police say he admitted to it later. Detectives traced it to him after the application was flagged down in September, and he may face up to ten-years in prison for charges of forgery and interference of an election.