It appears St. Luke's University Health Network is buying Easton Hospital. Today's Morning Call reports Easton Hospital's owner has signed a letter of intent to sell the hospital To St. Luke's. In January, both St. Luke's and Lehigh Valley Health Network put in bids for the struggling Easton Hospital.
There's good news coming from Lafayette College, where a student hospitalized for a respiratory infection does not have coronavirus. Testing for the new virus came back negative, the school said in a letter Tuesday. The student, who was recently in China, remains in "good condition" and was cleared by the Department of Health to resume normal activities on campus, the letter said.
The superintendent of Salisbury Township School District said the school board is discussing the possibility of closing Western Salisbury Elementary School. It would reorganize grades, and move fifth grade to the middle school while housing all kindergarten through fourth grade at Harry S. Truman Elementary. Western Salisbury is the oldest school building and needs significant HVAC upgrades after a mold issue in 2018.
A Penn State fraternity is suspended after some serious accusations were made about a social event last month. The Phi Rho chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon was suspended Tuesday pending an investigation about an unregistered social event January 30th. The school said the event potentially endangered several students, with other undisclosed serious accusations made. The university says the interim suspension is being done for the safety and well-being of those associated with the chapter.
2019 was a record season for bear hunters with 4,653 black bears taken. Lycoming County led the way with 284 bears taken by hunters. Clinton and Tioga counties followed, each with 267 bears killed, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. 17 bears were taken in Berks County, 16 in Northampton and four in Lehigh.
An Albany Township woman accused of killing two of her children is expected to waive her preliminary hearing later today. Lisa Snyder allegedly killed her eight-year-old son Connor and four-year-old daughter Brinley. First responders found the children hanging from a dog leash inside the family's Berks County home on September 23rd. Snyder is charged with first- and third-degree murder, child endangerment and other offenses.
Flu-related deaths continue to rise in Pennsylvania. Department of Health officials say there were seven more deaths over the past week, raising the statewide total to 47. Most of the deaths have been individuals older than 65. The commonwealth hasn't said where those deaths occurred.
The Philadelphia Health Department says it's looking into a possible coronavirus case in the city. They say the risk for infection for city residents is very low.
Pennsylvania's two senators have very different takes on President Trump's proposed budget. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey says, "I appreciate that President Trump's proposal includes $4.6 trillion in savings over the next decade. With unemployment at near historic lows, the president is right to slow the growth rates of, and tighten eligibility requirements for, the various welfare programs." Democrat Sen. Bob Casey says, "The President's budget is ripping health care away from millions of families."
President Trump supporters can now buy everything they need from a Bucks County store. The Trump Store opened in Bensalem Tuesday, offering all kinds of Trump merchandise including T-shirts, signs and keychains.
The Trump Administration is approving partial funding for the Gateway Project, specifically to replace the constantly malfunctioning North Portal Bridge. The bridge is over 100 years old and frequently gets stuck in the "open" position when allowing ships to pass along the Hackensack River.
New Phillies manager Joe Girardi has begun his first spring training in the job and says his message to his team is they're good enough to win now. "I do believe there's enough in that clubhouse and I'm really excited about this team," Girardi says. Pitchers and catchers have their first workouts today in Clearwater. The full squad is due to report by Sunday.