>>Funding for 3 New State Parks Included in New Budget
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that the Pennsylvania will soon be getting three new state parks. In comments Tuesday, he says the state budget passed late last week includes $56 million to add the three new areas. The sites haven't been chosen, but the governor says the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is working to choose and purchase the land.
>> School District to Bring Back Controversial Mascot
(Harrisburg, PA) -- A central-state school district says it will soon reinstate its controversial school Indian mascot. Dauphin County's Susquehanna Township officials have voted to reinstate the name of "the Indians," but will not continue to use the Indian head logo. The school board recently voted six-to-two to approve the idea. Superintendent Dr. Tamara Willis says the administration will continue to stress that diversity is the district's strength and that includes continuing to teach students about local native American history.
>>Homosexuality Wording Bill Headed to Governor's Desk
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Pennsylvania state senators have voted to send a measure to the governor's desk that will remove the world "homosexuality" from a list of prohibited sexual acts in Pennsylvania's Crime Codes. The General Assembly agreed unanimously on the bill in both chambers. The governor is expected to sign it.
>> Hempfield School District Bans Transgender Girls From Playing Girls' Sports
(Harrisburg, PA) - Board Members from the Hempfield School District have enacted a new policy that will ban transgender girls from playing girls sports. Tuesday night, the board voted six to two in favor of requiring students to play on teams that match the gender they were assigned at birth. President Grant Keener says the ban protects women's sports. The district is the first in central state area to approve such a policy.
>>York Man to Remain Jailed for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting 11-Year-Old Girl
A West Lampeter Township man has been charged with seven felonies for allegedly sexually assaulting a young girl. Prosecutors say Francisco Miguel Herrera's abuse, which officials say lasted more than two years, started when she was eleven years old. Herrera remains in the York County Prison on an unrelated probation violation. His bail on the sexual abuse charges is set at $250,000.
>>New Budget Provides for Improved Water Quality, Avian Flu Recovery for Farmers
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Farmers are getting increased help from the state's new $45 billion budget. It comes in the way of improving water quality and recovering from the spring's avian influenza outbreak. The budget creates a Clean Streams Fund that will route $220 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding to farm conservation and urban stormwater projects. Officials say the funds will help the state meet goals to help clean up its agriculture runoff into the Chesapeake Bay.
>>Chambersburg Welcomes Manure Expo
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The North American Manure Expo starts Wednesday in Chambersburg. Promoters say this year's event will feature field tours, demonstrations, presentations on how manure benefits nutrient and soil health. Several national experts will speak on educational issues and a trade show will also be featured. The event was last held on the East Coast in 2015.
>>Governor's Signature Expected For Bill to Regulate Fertilizer on Turf
(Harrisburg, PA) - New legislation is expected to be signed into law soon that will change fertilizer use as applied to turf areas, such as lawns, golf courses and athletic fields. Senate Bill 251 sets clear standards for fertilizer application to turf. Bagged do-it-yourself fertilizer will not be able to contain phosphorus unless it is labeled for the establishment or repair of a lawn that requires phosphorus. Supporters say the measure will help cut down on excess nitrogen or phosphorus that can get into surface streams and lakes.
>>United Way Merges Services for Five Counties to Form New Agency
(Bloomsburg, PA) - Two boards for two separate United Way groups have given approval for a merger of their local United Way agencies. Directors for the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way and the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties recently voted unanimously to connect their five counties into two agencies. Officials say the combined offices will serve over 260-thousand people when the merger takes effect September 1st.
>>Harrisburg Senators Victorious On The Road in Connecticut
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Harrisburg Senators are spending the next six days in Connecticut to play the Hartford Yard Goats. The got to rest Monday but in action Tuesday night, the Senators held off Hartford 8-7 at Dunkin' Donuts Park. Every Hartford starter was able to reach base during the game. RHP Josh Irvin will start for the Senators when Wednesday night's game gets underway at 7:05 p.m.
>>Lighting Strikes Home, Starts Fire in Lancaster County
(East Hempfield, PA) -- Fire officials say no one has been injured after a house possibly caught fire from a lightning strike in East Hempfield Township. Tuesday night's storms brought a huge crack and a flash to a home in the 1700 block of Glenbrook Avenue just before 5:00 p.m. Two people who lived there were inside when it happened, but officials say they weren't hurt.
>> Coroner Says No Foul Play for Body Found in Sheet
(Reading, PA) -- Officials with the Berks County Coroner's office say there were no signs of assault on a body discovered in Reading. The body of the woman, who has not been identified, was discovered wrapped inside a sheet in an apartment in the 1300 block of Muhlenberg Street Saturday. Chief Deputy Coroner George Holmes said Tuesday the cause of death is still pending based on toxicology results.
>>Over A Dozen Residents Lose Homes in Apartment Fire
(Reading, PA) -- Fire officials say some 14 people made it out safely but are now without homes after an apartment fire in Reading Monday. Crews responded a little before six a.m. to the three-story building at 409 Walnut Street. They determined the fire stemmed from the third floor and that it had been caused by cooking. The residents are being helped by the Red Cross to find other shelter.
>>Pike Café in Reading to be Sold, But Owner Says Nothing Will Change
(Reading, PA) -- A Reading eatery that's been around nearly 40 years will have new owners by this fall. Mike Pullano says he's selling the Pike Café, a business he's had since 1985, because it's time for him to retire. But he says the people he's selling it to are also local and have said they'll keep everything at the Pike in place including workers and menus. Pullano's Shirley's Café and Tequila Bar in Laureldale are also part of the sale.
>> Young Man Dies While Trying to Wave Down Help on Interstate
(Allentown, PA) -- A 23-year-old Lebanon man has been killed on Interstate 78 as he tried to wave down help for his disabled car. Jarrod Evans was killed early Monday when a Toyota plowed into the rear of his car, which state police say was partially in the right lane. Evans was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash eventually involved three other four vehicles in a domino effect. The extent of injuries to the other drivers isn't known. Officials say Evans' death was the 18th this year on Berks County roads.
>>Flyers Make Big Donation
(Philadelphia, PA) -- The Philadelphia Flyers are making a big-time donation to a local cancer organization. This comes after the team waived forward Oskar Lindblom who is also a cancer survivor himself. Both sides agreed that the team would donate $100,000 in Lindblom's name. Philly selected Lindblom in the 2014 draft.
>>Short-Handed Phillies Take an L
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Four Philadelphia Phillies players missed last night's game as the Phillies lost in Toronto 4-to-3. Alec Bohm, Aaron Nola, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Gibson each sat out against the Blue Jays because of restrictions Canada has on unvaccinated players. Philadelphia never led in the game mainly because of Toronto pitcher Jose Berrios who finished with 13-strikeouts. The two-game series will conclude tonight at 7 p.m.