>>COVID-19 Cases Continuing to Increase in the Commonwealth
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The outbreak of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania is continuing to spread. The state's Department of Health announced over 3,300 new positive cases yesterday. The total number of positive cases reported statewide has now surpassed 880,000 since the start of the pandemic. They reported 125 new deaths due to complications of the coronavirus.
>>$145-Million to Be Distributed for Hospitality Relief
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Wolf Administration is trying to give out a helping hand to Pennsylvania's hospitality industry that has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Wolf announced yesterday that his administration is preparing to distribute over $145-million of funding throughout the state. The money will be sent through the state's COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program and will be used to support hospitality industries in all 67 counties. It will be distributed in block grants and is expected to be allocated by February 28th.
>>Reintroduced Legislation Asks for Background Checks on Ammunition Sales
(Harrisburg, PA) -- A legislation is being re-introduced in Pennsylvania that asks for background checks on gun ammunition sales. State lawmaker Brian Sims brought the bill back up on Tuesday. If passed, the bill would only allow licensed firearm dealers to sell ammunition. There are currently only six states in the country that requires background checks for ammunition sales. The bill is currently sitting in the House Judiciary Committee.
>>PennDOT Driver License and Photo Centers Closed this Weekend
(Harrisburg, PA) -- All driver license and photo centers in Pennsylvania are going to be closed from Saturday through Monday. PennDOT announced yesterday that the centers will be closed in observance of Presidents Day. Officials are encouraging people to visit Pennsylvania's D-M-V website to still have access to driver and vehicle products and services.
>>Shooting Injures One in Harrisburg
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Harrisburg Police are investigating a shooting that left one man injured. The shooting happened yesterday evening in the 200-block of Verbeke Street. Police say one person was taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Anyone with any information is being asked to contact the Harrisburg Police Department.
>>US Army War College’s Commandant Suspended Amid Investigation
(Carlisle, PA) -- The Commandant of the US Army War College is being suspended amid an investigation. Major General Stephen Maranian was suspended Tuesday and number two officer Major General David Hills was assigned as acting commandant. It’s unclear what the investigation into the two-star general is for except to say it’s related to Maranian’s position.
>>PA’s Last Old Country Buffett’s Up For Auction
(Lower Paxton Twp., PA) -- The final Old Country Buffet restaurant in Pennsylvania is up for auction. The location on Jonestown Road in Lower Paxton Township has been closed since the start of the pandemic. They are liquidating cooking and cleaning supplies and other items.
>>Jackknifed Tractor-Trailer Cleared In Lancaster County
(Mount Joy, PA) -- Officials with PennDOT say a jackknifed tractor-trailer on Route 283 in Lancaster County is cleared. It happened early this morning at the exit for Route 772 Manheim-Mount Joy. It’s believed that wintry conditions led to the crash.
(Undated) -- Here is the latest news: A man from Lancaster County is facing multiple charges for his actions during the riots at the U.S. Capitol. Tower Health officials in Berks County are investigating a recent shipment it received of fake N-95 masks. A new medical marijuana dispensary is coming to Reading soon.
>>Lancaster County Man Accused of Assaulting Officer in U.S. Capitol Riots
(Lancaster, PA) -- A man from Lancaster County is facing multiple charges for his actions during the riots at the U.S. Capitol. Michael Lopatic Senior was charged yesterday for allegedly assaulting an officer, violent entry and disorderly conduct in a restricted building. Officials say he was seen on body camera footage attacking a Washington D.C. Metropolitan police officer. If convicted, Lopatic could be sentenced to over 21 years in federal prison.
>>Tower Health in Berks County Gets Fake N-95 Masks
(Reading, PA) -- Tower Health officials in Berks County are investigating a recent shipment it received of fake N-95 masks. The health system announced yesterday that it had to recall a lot of N-95 masks because they were counterfeit. Officials say only 12-percent of the counterfeit masks received were distributed throughout the system. The mistake was discovered after Tower Health was notified by the company Three-M that the masks it received from a different vendor were fake. Three-M has filed multiple lawsuits over reports of counterfeit masks.
>>New Medical Marijuana Dispensary Coming to Reading
(Reading, PA) -- A new medical marijuana dispensary is coming to Reading soon. Vision Development and Management announced yesterday that the former Queen City Family Restaurant located at Lancaster Avenue and Morgantown Road will be converted into a medical marijuana dispensary. The management company bought the property for almost two-million-dollars after Queen City was forced to close for good last month. Officials say renovation work will begin as soon as possible and they hope the dispensary will open by the end of the year.
>>Building Collapses in Mount Penn
(Mount Penn, PA) -- Crews are cleaning up another collapsed building in Berks County. Another building collapsed in the 25-hundred block of Grant Street in Mount Penn yesterday. Officials say nobody was reported injured during the incident. It is the third building to collapse in the county due to heavy snow.
>>Woman in Lancaster County Facing Over 200 Charges of Animal Neglect
(Lititz, PA) -- A Lancaster County woman is being accused of neglecting over one-hundred cats. Jaime Grow of Lititz was charged yesterday with over 200 counts of animal neglect. Authorities say Grow failed to provide clean and sanitary shelter for about 105 cats on her property. The Pennsylvania S-P-C-A removed the cats from the property last year.
>>Bethlehem Man Arrested For Setting Hotel Rug On Fire
(Bethlehem, PA) -- A Bethlehem man is in police custody for allegedly setting a rug inside a Comfort Suites hotel room on Southside on fire. Police say they were dispatched to the hotel on Tuesday around 7 a.m. and saw the fire had already been extinguished when they arrived, but the suspect was gone. They later identified the suspect as Jason A. Ahene and arrested him on the 300 block of South Third Street. Ahene is facing charges of arson and risking a catastrophe, in addition to summary criminal mischief.
>>Scranton School District Releases Reopening Plan
(Scranton, PA) -- The Scranton School District is releasing its plan for a return to in-person learning. Officials say two-weeks after teachers and staff return to schools on March 1st, Kindergarten through 5th grade students can start returning to school for a hybrid learning model. Parents can choose to either keep their child on fully-remote learning or switch to the hybrid model. Teachers and staff will be returning despite not having access to the COVID-19 vaccine as they are eligible under Phase One-B of the vaccine distribution plan, which hasn't started yet.
>>Two Williamsport Residents Charged With Storming The Nation's Capital
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Two Williamsport residents are being charged for their involvement in the riot at the nation's Capital on January 6th. Officials say Mark Roderick Aungst and Tammy Bronsburg had their first appearance at the federal courthouse in Williamsport on Tuesday. That same day they were arrested. No other details were provided by officials.