>>More than 28K Additional Coronavirus Cases Reported Wednesday in PA
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Some 28-thousand additional COVID cases have been reported in Pennsylvania. State health officials say that's broken another record as childhood hospitalizations have tripled within a months' time. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 28-thousand and 18 additional coronavirus cases Wednesday. The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases was just under 22-thousand cases per day, almost double the rate from a week ago, and almost triple the average daily cases recorded a month ago. To date, there have been two point-15-million infections statewide.
>> Harrisburg School District's Court Appointed Receiver Resigns
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Harrisburg School District's Court Appointed Receiver will resign two-and-a-half years into her three-year term. Doctor Janet Samuels says when she agreed to the role, she only committed to the job for one year. She says she's ended up staying in order to finish work on updating the school district's Amended Financial Recovery Plan. Samuels' last day as receiver is January 29th. The Harrisburg School District announced her resignation on Wednesday, July 5th of last year.
>>Penguins Acquire Alex Nylander From Chicago
(Pittsburgh, PA) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are announcing the acquisition of forward Alex Nylander from the Chicago Blackhawks. In exchange for Nylander, Pittsburgh is trading forward Sam Lafferty to the Blackhawks. Nylander is signed through the end of this season and has played in 84 career NHL games. The 23-year-old has recorded 13 goals, 19 assists, and 32-points with the Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres.
>>Governor Wolf To Present His State Budget Soon In A Healthy Economy
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Governor Tom Wolf is heading into his last budget presentation with a financial surplus and unspent money from federal COVID relief funds. Governor Wolf said Wednesday the healthy account balances mean higher taxes or spending cuts won't be required this year. His annual budget address will take place February 8th and will be followed by weeks of hearings by the appropriations committees in the House and Senate. The deadline to for all sides to agree on the budget is July 1st.
>>CDC Recommends Pfizer COVID Booster For Kids As Young As 12
(Harrisburg, PA) -- State officials are encouraging parents to go ahead and get the Pfizer booster shots for their school-aged children. The CDC announced Wednesday that adolescents ages 12-to-17 should receive a Pfizer booster shot five months after their initial series of immunization. The announcement came hours after a panel of CDC advisers voted 13-1 in favor of the recommendation. Currently, only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for teens.
>>Philly Woman Charged Following Police Chase On Turnpike
(Dauphin County, PA) -- A Philadelphia woman is facing charges for allegedly leading state police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car in Dauphin County. A state police spokeswoman says it happened early Wednesday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Police learned the car Tamia Hudson was driving had been reported stolen out of Philadelphia. When they attempted to contact her to take her into custody, she allegedly ignored police commands, backed into a cruiser, and fled the scene. She later crashed the car and was seriously injured, according to officials. When she's released from the hospital, she'll face charges of fleeing or attempting to elude officers and receiving stolen property, among other counts.
>>Harrisburg Native Hopes to Play for Dallas against Eagles After COVID
(Arlington, TX) -- The Cowboys are announcing that linebacker Micah Parsons has landed on the COVID list. Parsons was absent from Wednesday's practice and tweeted later in the afternoon that he was saddened by the news. Under the new NFL COVID protocols, Parsons will have ample flexibility to return for Dallas' regular season finale against the Eagles in Philadelphia. Parsons grew up in Harrisburg. The rookie linebacker has 13 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, and leads the NFL in tackles for loss with 20 through 16 games.
>>Reading Declares Disaster Emergency Amid COVID Surge
(Reading, PA) -- Reading has issued a declaration of disaster emergency as the number of COVID-19 cases in Berks County continues to climb. The COVID situation in reading has gotten so bad in recent weeks that overwhelmed medical officials have had to divert ambulances to other hospitals. Mayor Eddie Morán signed the declaration on Wednesday. He said the purpose is to streamline the way emergency officials coordinate their responses. It's the second time the city's declared a disaster emergency during the pandemic.
>>Reading Veterans' Group to Host COVID Vaccine Clinic
(Reading, PA) -- A veterans' non-profit organization called We Agape You has received a 15-thousand-dollar grant from the state to help administer a COVID vaccine clinic. The money is coming from the Grassroots COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach effort, a two-and-a-half-million-dollar program that tries to encourage hesitant residents to get vaccinated. The clinic will take place at the Girls Club on Walnut Street in Reading on Saturday, January 22nd. Nurses and clinicians will be on site to help answer questions. The event, which is open to the public, will also feature a job fair.
>>Eagleville Man Could Get Up to 15 Years in Prison for Shooting Democratic Headquarters
(Norristown, PA) -- A 48-year-old man from Eagleville has plead guilty to shooting up a Democratic Party office in Norristown. Anthony Nero appeared before a judge this week to enter his plea, saying he was committed the shooting out of frustration for former President Donald Trump's election loss. No one was hurt in the incident. Prosecutors say they were able to prove he'd intended to shoot at some Democratic Party's offices somewhere after making remarks on social media. Nero is scheduled to be sentenced April 14th. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
>>Charges Brought Against Former Lancaster Police Officer for Distributing Pornography of Himself
(Lancaster, PA) -- A former Lancaster City Police officer has been accused of sending out explicit sexual material to a woman using his Facebook account. Jayson Drouillard of Mountville is also facing charges of indecent exposure regarding the messages as he reportedly sent two videos of himself to the victim in December. Drouillard was not employed as a police officer at the time. Lancaster Police preserved the messages and videos and were able to identify that the videos showed images of Drouillard in the bathroom of his home at the time. He is free on 10-thousand-dollars bail.
>>Pennsylvanians Get First Look at GOP Gubernatorial Candidates
(Carlisle, PA) -- State voters have gotten their first look at the 13 Republican gubernatorial candidates who are competing to replace Democratic Governor Tom Wolf. A live debate was streamed Wednesday night from Dickinson College in Carlisle in which the candidates got one minute each to answer questions on the economy, jobs, energy, education and governing. The first topic of discussion was how to stop Pennsylvanians from leaving the commonwealth and improve the economy. Each candidate also got a 1-minute closing statement. Attorney General Josh Shapiro is so far running unopposed on the Democratic side.
>>Wednesday Vigil Honors Quakerstown Man, Two Sons, Who Died in Housefire
(Quakertown, PA) -- Hundreds of people have come out Wednesday night for a vigil to honor the memory of a Quakerstown man and his two sons. Eric King, who was 41, and his two sons, Liam - who was 11, and Patrick, 8, were killed in a Christmas morning fire at their home. Eric King's wife, Kristin, and one of their three sons, Brady, made it out safely, as did the couple who lived in the adjoining home. Fire officials say lights on the King's Christmas tree apparently caused the fire. The community has rallied to support Kristin and Brady by raising more than 600-thousand dollars in the days following the fire.
>>Rowhouse Fire Leaves 12 Dead
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Authorities in Philadelphia are investigating a fire that left 12-people dead in Fairmount. The 9-1-1 calls came pouring in around 6:30 yesterday morning from a rowhome duplex along North 23rd Street. At least eight of the victims who died were children. More than two-dozen people live at the duplex, which is owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, while two-others, including a child were critically hurt. Mayor Jim Kenney teared up yesterday when he spoke about how tragic the situation was. Fire officials learned that the fire could've been sparked by a Christmas tree, but an investigation continues.
>>City Provides Resources for Displaced Duplex Residents
(Philadelphia, PA) -- City officials are coming together to help the residents displaced by the deadly duplex fire in Fairmont. Bache-Martin Elementary School has been converted into the Friends and Relatives Center which provided assistance for the family members and friends of the victims. Meanwhile, the American Red Cross immediately stepped-in and provided housing assistance for the people who were forced out of their apartments. The Philly Hope-Line will also be open all day to give support for people having trouble coping with the loss. Twelve-people, including eight-children died when a fire ripped through a row home early yesterday morning.
>>Sixers Crush Magic to Keep Win Streak Alive
(Philadelphia, PA) -- The Philadelphia 76ers are winners of five-straight games after beating the Orlando Magic 116-to-106 last night. Philadelphia was led by Joel Embiid and his 31-points but a trio of other starters each dropped at least 20-points as well. The Sixers will return to Wells Fargo Center tomorrow night as they look to keep the streak alive.