TOP HEADLINES 05/14

>>Pennsylvania Lawmakers Propose Bill To Allow Parents To Decide If Children Repeat School Year

(Harrisburg, PA) -- Pennsylvania lawmakers are proposing a new bill that would allow parents to decide if their children should repeat a school year due to learning disruptions caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate approved the legislation on Wednesday. If signed into law, the bill would give parents the choice to pass their children to the next grade level instead of the child's school and teachers.

>>Harrisburg Regional Chamber Welcoming New Leader

(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Harrisburg Regional Chamber is welcoming a new leader for the first time in about 20 years. Ryan C. Unger will be replacing David Black to become president and C-E-O of the chamber on July First. He has been the president and C-E-O of Team Pennsylvania since December of 2015.

>>Harrisburg Dentist Accused Of Raping 15-Year-Old Girl

(Harrisburg, PA) -- A Harrisburg dentist is being accused of raping a 15-year-old girl. Michael Boyd Damgaard is being charged with numerous counts including rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse under threat of force and statutory sexual assault. Investigators say the dentist started talking to the girl on the SnapChat app, and they met in-person last year in the woods off Bucksey Road in Penns Creek where they had sex. He surrendered at the office of District Judge Lori Hackenberg on Wednesday and was later released from detainment after he posted a 175-thousand-dollar bail.

>>Berks County Vaccination Center Expanding Hours

(Reading, PA) -- The COVID-19 vaccination center in Berks County is extending its hours. Starting next week, the Berks Cares Vaccine Center in Muhlenberg Township will be operating from seven-in-the-morning until six-in-the-afternoon on Wednesdays and Thursdays, eight-in-the-morning until five-in-the-afternoon on Fridays and eight-in-the-morning until one-in-the-afternoon on Saturdays. The center will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

>>Tower Health Urgent Care Center In Berks County Moving Locations

(Exeter Township, PA) -- Tower Health's urgent care center in Berks County is going to be moving to a new location next week. The site in Exeter Township will start providing services at a building in the Exeter Commons shipping center on Perkiomen Avenue on Monday. Officials say the move will let the care site become a full-service center with radiology services available.

>>BARTA To Give Free Rides To Bicyclists Next Week

(Reading, PA) -- The Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority will be participating in the National Bike to Work Week. BARTA will be offering free rides to bicyclists starting on Monday in Berks County. Each bus has a set of bike racks that can carry two bikes at a time. Officials say all BARTA buses are operating their normal schedules throughout the week, and passengers will be required to wear masks while onboard.

>>Lancaster City Asking Residents To Conserve Water Tonight

(Lancaster, PA) -- The City of Lancaster is asking its water customers to limit water usage tonight. Officials say crews will be repairing a leak in East Hempfield Township, and only one water plant will be operating. Customers are being asked to voluntarily cut back on using water from ten o'clock tonight to six-in-the-morning tomorrow.

>>Dutch Wonderland To Kick Off Its Season Tomorrow

(East Lampeter Township, PA) -- Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster County is preparing to kick off its summer season this weekend. The amusement park will be opening this Saturday. Visitors will still be required to wear masks, and the park will be implementing social distancing safety measures.

>>State Follows CDC's Newest Guidance On Mask Wearing

(Harrisburg, PA) -- Pennsylvania is modifying its mask order in accordance to the CDC's newest guidance for fully vaccinated individuals. The Department of Health says fully vaccinated individuals don't have to wear masks indoors or outdoors, except when in crowded transportation or sensitive environments like hospitals. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people still have to wear a mask until either they're fully vaccinated or 70-percent of adults in the state are fully vaccinated.

>>Bloomsburg University Cuts Ties With Greek Life

(Bloomsburg, PA) -- Bloomsburg University is cutting its ties with Greek Life. Officials say effective immediately, the university is terminating its fraternity and sorority life programs, along with ties with all national and local FSL organizations currently affiliated with the university. They added that the decision was based on repeated violations from fraternities and sororities. This comes after the university reportedly had another student die over the weekend, but officials have yet to confirm if it was related to Greek Life as the investigation is ongoing.

>>Upcoming Election Includes Measures To Limit Emergency Powers

(Harrisburg, PA) -- Two measures that will seek to limit the governor's emergency powers are on the ballot for next Tuesday's Primary Election. One would take away some of the power for the governor to declare emergencies and give it to the state legislature, while the other will limit any emergency declaration to 21-days unless the legislature extends it. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and PEMA director Randy Padfield spoke against the measures yesterday, saying that emergency decisions have to be agile and quick. They added that taking away this power from the governor could have real, even tragic, consequences.

>>Vaccinations Underway For Kids Aged 12 To 15

(Lancaster County, PA) -- COVID-19 vaccinations are underway for kids aged 12 to 15 throughout the state. Families have already been going to clinics like the one at Carter and MacRae Elementary School in Lancaster County to get the Pfizer vaccine. Parents say they felt comfortable making the decision to let their kids get vaccinated as it will help everyone return to a normal life. Those looking to get vaccinated can go to vaccines-dot-gov to find a clinic and available vaccines.

>>Penn State University Officials Vote To Require Vaccinations

(State College, PA) -- The Penn State University Senate is voting in favor of requiring students to be vaccinated from COVID-19. Members want students to be vaccinated before they return to school in the fall, but their word is not final. They don't set policy, and the school has yet to make an official decision. Officials are considering implementing some incentives for students to get vaccinated such as discounts for food or books.

Phillies Increase Capacity

(Philadelphia, PA) -- Crowd sizes will rise at Phillies games over the next few weeks. Beginning next Friday, 16-thousand fans will be welcomed back to Citizens Bank Park. The team announced yesterday that the ball park is currently only allowing 11-thousand fans at each game. Come June 12th, every seat in the stadium will become available for folks to come watch the Phillies play. Additionally, tailgating will be allowed in mid-June as well.


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