>>Governor Tom Wolf Vetoes Voter I-D Bill
(Harrisburg, PA) -- A proposed bill that would require voter IDs in all elections in Pennsylvania is being blocked from reaching legislation. Governor Tom Wolf vetoed House Bill 1300 yesterday. Governor Wolf says he decided to veto the bill because he believes it is a voter suppression measure.
>>U.S. Postal Service To Hold Job Fair At Office In Harrisburg
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Those looking for work in the Midstate are being invited to attend a job fair that's being hosted by the U.S. Postal Service. The fair will be held on July 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Harrisburg Post Office along Crooked Hill Road. Officials with the service say they are looking to hire rural carrier associates and city carrier assistants.
>>Newville Woman Accused Of Abusing Three Children
(Newville, PA) -- A Newville woman is being accused of abusing three children between the ages of five-and-nine-years old. Shelley Noreika was taken into custody recently, and she is facing several charges including aggravated assault, strangulation, endangering the welfare of children and simple assault. She is being held in the Cumberland County Prison on $25,000 bail, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15th.
>>Police In Berks County To Increase Patrols Over Holiday Weekend
(Reading, PA) -- Law enforcement in Berks County is preparing for the holiday weekend. Authorities say that law enforcement will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign starting tomorrow. Berks County Police are going to be conducting DUI Roving Patrols as well as checkpoints to get drunk drivers off the road.
>>Lancaster City Police Now Taking Zero-Tolerance Stance On Illegal Fireworks
(Lancaster, PA) -- Lancaster City Police are now taking a zero-tolerance stance on illegal fireworks after receiving several neighbor complaints. Police are reminding Lancaster residents that it is illegal to launch fireworks from public property and within 150 feet of an occupied building. You can find more information on the city's fireworks laws by going to cityoflancasterpa.com/fireworks.
>>Mayor Eddie Moran Announces Return Of Friday Night Events In Downtown Reading
(Reading, PA) -- People in Reading are going to see Friday night events in Downtown Reading again. Mayor Eddie Moran announced yesterday that the return of signature events on Friday nights in the city will feature live art, local musicians, beer gardens and food trucks. The first event will kick off tomorrow with the Big Boy Brass Band marching down Penn Street as well as the First Friday Downtown Beer Garden that will be held on the first Friday of every month until October.
>>Children's Home Of Reading Youth And Family Services Receives National Accreditation
(Reading, PA) -- The Children's Home of Reading Youth and Family Services is receiving national accreditation. Officials with the organization announced recently that it has achieved accreditation through the New York-based COA after six months of hard work. The Children's Home of Reading Youth and Family Services offers mental, behavioral and educational programs to the community as well as foster care, adoption and post-permanency services.
>>Reading Woman Pleads Guilty For Role In Nationwide Scheme
(Reading, PA) -- A Reading woman is going to be serving some time behind bars after she pleaded guilty to being involved with a nationwide scam that cost victims about 300-thousand-dollars. Officials announced yesterday that Jacqueline Velazquez has entered a guilty plea on multiple counts of mail fraud. Officials say she was involved in a grandparents scheme from December of 2018 through last March.
>>State Supreme Court Overturns Bill Cosby's Sexual Assault Conviction
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Bill Cosby is back in his Montgomery County home after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his sexual assault conviction yesterday. Cosby was released over a "procedural issue" with the case. The Supreme Court says that in 2005, the Montgomery County District Attorney announced he will not prosecute Cosby for the reported sexual assault from 2004. They added that this allowed for Cosby to be forced to testify in a subsequent civil action, under penalty of perjury, without the benefit of his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. Cosby was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to ten years in prison.
>>Governor Tom Wolf Vetoes Election Reform Bill
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Governor Tom Wolf is vetoing the Legislature's proposed election reform bill. Wolf has said in the past that he did not approve of the bill's provision to require voters to show I.D. every time they went to the polls. The bill would have also added restrictions to mail-in voting, allow for early in-person voting starting in 2025, and cut off voter registration earlier. Republican lawmakers have already moved to try and put the topic of voter I.D. on the ballot for voters to decide through a constitutional amendment, which doesn't need the governor's approval.
>>Bradford County Coroner Resigns Amid Investigation
(Bradford County, PA) -- Bradford County Coroner Tom Carman is resigning from his position as he is being investigated. The investigation reportedly stems from accusations made by a man, who calls himself the Luzerne County Predator Catcher. That man was posing online as a 15-year-old boy and allegedly caught Carman on video at a store in Kingston on Tuesday, where he was trying to meet with the "teen." The investigation is ongoing, and the Chief Deputy Coroner will temporarily replace Carman until the governor appoints a new coroner.
>>License To Carry Permits Ending In Two Weeks
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Wolf Administration is extending the expiration dates of license to carry firearms permits. They were supposed to expire yesterday, but have been pushed to July 15th. Officials say this was necessary due to the closures of courthouses and sheriff's offices as well as other COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Those with expired permits are advised to renew them now.
>>Governor Signs Bill Expanding Access To Medical Marijuana
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Updates to the state's Medical Marijuana Act are official as Governor Tom Wolf signed the bill yesterday. The legislation would allow for dispensaries to continue offering curbside services and also allow patents to purchase up to three months' worth of marijuana. Wolf says it has been five years since the state legalized medical marijuana, and this legislation provides important updates to the program to ensure that patients have improved access to medication.
>>Philly Plastic Bag Ban Begins Today
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Philadelphians will need to grab their shopping bag the next time they head to the store. That's because the city's ban on plastic bags begins today. Retail stores are no longer allowed to have plastic and paper bags that are not at least 40-percent recyclable. But, they can sell the approved bags if they wish to do so. Come October 1st, warnings will be given to stores that are caught in the wrong, and they will be fined next April if they are found with the wrong bags.