>>At Least One Dead After Multi-Vehicle Crashes On I-81
(East Hanover Twp., PA) -- At least one person is dead after a series of multi-vehicle crashes on Interstate 81 in Lebanon County Wednesday afternoon. State police there were a total of five crashes within a ten-mile stretch of the highway, including a tractor-trailer that spilled its load. It’s unclear what may have caused the crashes and there’s no word on the identity of the victim.
>>Midstate Activist To Hold Flag Burning In Gettysburg Next Week
(Gettysburg, PA) -- A Midstate activist says he is going to hold another flag-burning protest in Gettysburg. Gene Stilp, who burned several flags on the State Capitol steps last Thursday, says he will burn three flags related to the Trump campaign: a Trump - Russian flag, a Trump - Confederate flag, and a Trump - Nazi flag. The flag burnings will take place on the Adams County Courthouse steps on July 14th. Stilp says he is also protesting the continued commercialization of Confederate symbols by merchants in Gettysburg.
>>PA Department Of Health Adds 849 New COVID-19 Cases To Total
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Pennsylvania Department of Health officials are announcing another 849 positive COVID-19 cases across the Commonwealth. The statewide total is now at 92,148 since the start of the pandemic. The also announced 25 more deaths related to coronavirus complications Wednesday, with the death toll rising to 6,812.
>>State Gaming Control Board To Auction Mini-Casino License This September
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is going to auction off a mini-casino license later this year. The auction is scheduled for September 2nd with the minimum bid for the license set at seven-and-a-half million dollars. In 2018, the Commonwealth had bids on five auctions, but lost momentum for a sixth. There were no bids in an auction last year.
>>PA’s Department Of Labor And Industry To Hold Seventh Virtual Town Hall Today
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry is holding its seventh live virtual town hall this afternoon to discuss unemployment benefits. The event will be accessible thorough a link on the labor and industry website and those without internet will be able to call in to listen. Participants will be able to ask questions, though due to the public nature of the event, specific questions about individual claims won’t be able to be answered.
>>Lancaster Man Facing Sexual Abuse Of Children Charges
(Lancaster, PA) -- Investigators are charging a 28-year-old Lancaster man with sexual abuse of children. Jared Sims allegedly was in possession of 22 videos and 212 child pornography images. A cyber-tip came in to investigators on April 7th and Sims turned himself in on July 7th.
>>Berks County Commissioners Ask People To Do More To Prevent Spread Of COVID-19
(Reading, PA) -- The Berks County Commissioners say people need to do more to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. They say they are aware of complaints, including some calling into the 911 center about patrons and employees not wearing masks at businesses as well as people not social distancing. The commissioners say even though Berks is in the least-restrictive green phase of reopening, it is important to take precautions to prevent the case count from climbing.
>>Great Allentown Fair Canceled
(Allentown, PA) -- The Great Allentown Fair is canceled due to the coronavirus. Officials say the decision to cancel was unanimous as they are concerned for the public's safety from the virus. This is the first time in over a century that there will be no fair. The fair is scheduled to continue in 2021 from August 31st to September 6th. The headliners that were supposed to perform this year like Toby Keith and Carrie Underwood have agreed to perform next year.
>>Investigation On Schuylkill County Commissioner Intensifies
(Pottsville, PA) -- The investigation into multiple accusations of sexual harassment against Schuylkill County Commissioner George Halcovage is intensifying. Now, the state Attorney General's Office is handling it. Several people called for his termination yesterday during a commissioners meeting, including women saying they don't feel comfortable walking around in the hall with someone like Halcovage and the allegations are credible. An internal investigation found that he did violate the county's sexual harassment policy, and Halcovage has only stepped down as chairman of the board. He remains in office as commissioner. The investigation by the Attorney General's Office will determine if criminal charges should be filed.