>Governor Wolf Nominates New State Victim Advocate
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Governor Tom Wolf is welcoming a new Pennsylvania Victim Advocate this year. Governor Wolf announced yesterday that he has nominated Suzanne Estrella to serve as the state's Victim Advocate for the Office of Victim Advocate. Estrella boasts more than 20 years of legal experience serving survivors of sexual and domestic violence. She was most recently the legal director of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.
>>More Workers Needed For Lancaster County's Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Site
(Lancaster, PA) -- Lancaster County's mass COVID-19 vaccination site is looking for more workers to help keep the operation running. TriStarr Staffing announced yesterday that it has been tasked with hiring hundreds of new employees for the site located at Park City Center in Lancaster. Officials say more workers are needed as the site prepares to start giving out about 1,500 doses daily for at least the next seven days. Anyone interested in applying to help the vaccination site can find more information on the TriStarr Staffing's website.
>>Texas Man Dies After Shooting In Harrisburg
(Harrisburg, PA) -- A Texas man who was the victim of a shooting in Harrisburg last week is dead. Officials confirmed yesterday that 26-year-old Christopher Hill of Houston passed away from his injuries sustained in the shooting this past Friday. Hill was shot inside of his vehicle while he was driving to work in the 200-block of Division Street. The investigation is still ongoing.
>>Suspect Wanted For Killing Teen In Reading Arrested In New York City
(Reading, PA) -- The man who is being accused of killing a 17-year-old boy in Reading is now behind bars. Robert Saintkitts was arrested yesterday by police in New York City. R-P-D investigators got a warrant last week for his arrest and charged him of the first and third-degree murder of Francisco Soto Junior in Reading last month. Officials say Saintkitts is being held in a New York state prison until he can be moved to Pennsylvania.
>>Cumru Township Getting About $1.5M From Federal Stimulus Funding
(Cumru Township, PA) -- Cumru Township is going to be getting some help from federal stimulus funding soon. The township's Board of Commissioners announced yesterday that it has been allocated a little over one-and-a-half-million-dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. Officials say they are planning to use the money to replace an outdated water and sewer system at the municipal campus in order to start construction on a new fire station.
>>TEC Centro Opens New Location In Lancaster
(Lancaster, PA) -- TEC Centro is opening a new location in Lancaster to help more people from underserved communities get stable jobs. The Spanish American Civic Association in Lancaster announced yesterday that the new location will open on High Street soon. The TEC Centro program helps train people with low incomes to be HVAC technicians, refrigeration specialists, electrical technicians or plumbers. Officials say they hope the new TEC Centro west location will be fully operational by the end of this December.
>>Kutztown Folk Festival To Go Virtual Again This Year
(Kutztown, PA) -- The popular Kutztown Folk Festival is going to be held virtually again this year. Organizers announced yesterday that the 72nd annual festival will have to be held online from June 26th until July 4th because of concerns over the health and safety of people trying to attend an event in-person. The virtual event will feature social media updates from different craftsmen, entertainers and longtime participants as well as an archive of videos, photos and stories from previous years. The organizers say they are working very hard and are committed to opening the festival for 2022.
>>Albright Colleges To Host Graduation Ceremony
(Reading, PA) -- Albright College is going to have an in-person graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 and the class of 2021. The school announced yesterday that the two commencement ceremonies will be held at the Santander Arena in downtown Reading on May 30th. State Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman will also receive an honorary doctorate of humanities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his Albright College graduation in 1991.
>>FBI Searching For Luzerne County Woman For Storming Nation's Capital
(Luzerne County, PA) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation is searching for a Luzerne County woman who was caught on camera inside the U.S. Capitol building during the January 6th riot in D.C. Officials say Annie Howell of Swoyersville not only crashed the Capitol building but was inciting the crowd to storm it, according to videos she posted on her Facebook page. The FBI has been unsuccessful in locating her or her public defender as she is facing federal charges. Anyone with information on Howell is urged to contact authorities.
>>State Health Officials Address COVID-19 Vaccine Equity
(Harrisburg, PA) -- State health officials say they are working to get members of underserved communities vaccinated from COVID-19. Officials say while they work to get everyone in Phase 1-A appointments by the end of this month, they are trying to dispel rumors and mistrust in underserved communities through targeted campaigns. Their efforts include working with faith-based leaders to address these issues. One pastor from Pittsburgh says many Black citizens, including herself, decided against getting the vaccine as they did not trust the information coming from elected officials. However, they discovered fact from myth and are now telling other members of underserved communities to fear the virus, not the vaccine.
>>Pennsylvania Capitol Building Reopening To Public
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The state Capitol Building is reopening to the public on March 22nd with new measures in place. Department of General Services officials say the Main Capitol, East Wing and North Office Building entrances will be open, and visitors must wear masks and social distance. Officials added that they are working to strengthen security at the building in response to the riot at the nation's capital on January 6th. Visitors who don't work at the Capitol must pass through metal detectors, special press badges are required for those who work in media, and police will increase patrols.
>>Nursing Homes To Pay Fines Amounting To $31k
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Department of Health is fining several nursing homes for violating protocols. Officials say they investigated more than 280 complaints this month and 162 of these inspections were COVID-related. Several nursing homes are being fined as a result of those investigations totaling more than $31-thousand. Officials say they continue to work with facilities to ensure all building safety and patient care standards are maintained, especially as COVID-19 remains a threat.
>>Decision On Little League World Series To Be Made Mid-May
(Williamsport, PA) -- The Little League International Pandemic Advisory Response Commission is debating on whether or not the World Series or regional events will be held this year. Officials have met once this month already and plan on meeting twice in April, but have yet to give a time-frame or confirmation of a return. The president and CEO of Little League says a decision must be made by mid-May at the latest.
>>Daycare Center Targeted by Molotov Cocktail
(Philadelphia, PA) -- A man is behind bars after he threw a Molotov cocktail at a daycare center yesterday morning. This happened outside of the Childrens Positive Palace Too, where the fire bomb shattered the front windows. Police say a small fire was contained quickly on the outside of the building. There were no kids inside of the building at the time of the incident.
>>Brush Fire Near Airport
(Philadelphia, PA) -- An investigation continues after a brush fire was reported near Philadelphia International Airport. Flames went up near Tinicum Island Road and Stevens Drive yesterday afternoon. It still remains unclear just how the fire started, but there were no impacts to any incoming or departing flights.