Attorney Gloria Allred says she's not through pursuing justice for Bill Cosby's accusers, despite a state court ruling which overturned his conviction for a 2004 sexual assault. "Even though the court overturned the conviction, it was on technical grounds. It did not vindicate Bill Cosby's conduct," Allred says. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby's conviction, saying his trial was tainted because it allowed past alleged sexual assaults to be presented. Allred represented 33 Cosby accusers. She says she will still get a chance to depose Cosby under oath in a Los ngeles lawsuit with one of those accusers.
Gov. Tom Wolf has signed a $40.8 billion budget, one he calls 'good'. In particular, the governor is pleased with the massive amount of money earmarked for education. "I was honored to sign this year's budget. It's a really important step. This budget includes the largest education funding increase in the history of this commonwealth," says the governor. Wolf says this budget features the largest education funding increase in the history of the commonwealth.
Gov. Tom Wolf was a busy man Wednesday. On the same morning he approved the new state budget, he vetoed an election reform law. "I think that the people of Pennsylvania, in general, do not want to see voter suppression in Pennsylvania. We don't want to be Arizona or Texas or Florida or any of the other states," Wolf says. The governor says the vetoed bill is discriminatory and suppresses the vote.
One member of Allentown City Council says a fellow member should resign. Candida Affa tells the Morning Call charges against Ce-Ce Gerlach are a distraction and Gerlach should do the honorable thing and step down. Gerlach is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and failing to report suspected child abuse. While working for Valley Youth House at the time, Gerlach was required by law to report the teen's case to the state. Gerlach denies the charges.
Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health added 202 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,212,071. Another eight new COVID-related deaths were also added, leaving the state at 27,678 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began.
The nation's first reported case of a rare blood clotting diagnosis in a patient who received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is coming out of Pittsburgh. The Allegheny Health Network confirmed yesterday that a 65-year-old man passed away at West Penn Hospital after he was diagnosed with the rare syndrome. Officials say the man received his second dose of the moderna vaccine within ten days of going to the hospital.
Smoking sections are coming back to the commonwealth's casinos. During the pandemic, Gov. Tom Wolf's emergency order banned smoking on the casino floor. Casinos are among the few exemptions under the state's clean air law.
A man was stabbed overnight in Easton. Police were called to the area of South 11th and Northampton streets around 12:30 this morning. Michael Tran was found hiding nearby after the incident and was taken into custody and charged with the attack.
A-Treat is partnering with Just Born to craft new soft drinks that include two favorite Mike and Ike flavors, cherry and strawberry. A-Treat says it began production of the new Mike and Ike sodas in June, and the two flavors will be available in 20oz plastic bottles this month.
Updates to the state's medical marijuana act are official as Gov. Yom Eolf signed the bill yesterday. Yhe 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.
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.
The race for the Republican nomination to be Pennsylvania's next governor has a new candidate this week. John Ventre threw his hat into the political ring on Wednesday. Ventre, who ran an unsuccessful campaign to become a Westmoreland County commissioner in 2019, becomes the party's sixth candidate to announce a campaign for the state's top office. He previously served as state director of an organization that investigated reported ufo sightings. Ventre touts himself as a man who been a Trump supporter since day one.
Grab your shopping bag the next time you head to the store in Philadelphia. 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.