The Great Allentown Fair has been held every year since World War I, but it won't this year. President of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society Beverly Gruber has announced this year's Fair, which was scheduled for September 1-7 is being canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
State health officials say the Commonwealth experienced a big increase in daily cases of COVID-19, adding 995 new cases Tuesday. However, those officials say about 400 of those were from delayed results or backlogged. Pennsylvania's overall coronavirus case total stands at 91,299 and the coronavirus-related death toll stands at 6787 after 33 more deaths were reported Tuesday.
There is growing concern among state health officials about a significant increase in coronavirus cases among 19 to 24-year-olds. The state believes many of those cases are associated with travel to other parts of the country and gatherings at parties, restaurants or bars. While the number of cases is increasing among young adults, the age group with the most hospitalizations and deaths related to the virus remains those who are 65 and older.
Pennsylvania businesses, nonprofits, churches and schools were given more than $20 billion in federal loans to keep them alive during the coronavirus pandemic. Today's Morning Call reports among the biggest local recipients receiving $5 to $10 million each were Just Born, guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co. and the Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, which operates local Red Robin restaurants. The Allentown Diocese received $1.6 million to help continue community ministries, while KidsPeace received one loan of between $5 and $10 million and three smaller ones between $2 and $5 million. A Scranton law firm where Congressman Matt Cartwright used to work and where his wife still does, received between $350,000 and $1 million. Cartwright says he had nothing to do with the firm getting the money. The manufacturing company operated by Congressional candidate Lisa Scheller received a loan of between $2 and $5 million.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says Delaware has been added to the growing list of states from which travelers are subject to a 14-day quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to Delaware, Kansas and Oklahoma have been added to the list, which now totals 19 states. The quarantine advisory is for travelers from states where the positive test rate for coronavirus is higher than ten per 100,000 residents. The self-quarantine is voluntary, but state officials say they expect compliance.
Movie theater companies, including AMC and Cinemark, have sued New Jersey over what they call the state's unconstitutional delay in reopening theaters. Gov. Phil Murphy has delayed reopening theaters and indoor dining after a new surge of confirmed COVID-19 cases around the state. But, the lawsuit contends Murphy's decision unfairly punishes businesses such as movie theaters.
Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey calls a potential extension of the $600-per-week unemployment add-on a bad idea. "My Democrat colleagues insist that has to be extended. I this that is a very misguided policy," Toomey said. Speaking at a Pennsylvania Chamber event Tuesday, Toomey said the payment will ultimately separate people from their employer and from their career partly because in some cases the unemployment compensation pays a person 'more' than if they were working. Democrat Sen. Bob Casey is a co-sponsor of the bill extending those benefits and says there's still a long road ahead before the economy recovers from the coronavirus-induced shutdown.
Gov. Tom Wolf is considering signing into law two bills aiming to deal with police reform. The bills that are on the governor's desk would require thorough background checks when hiring police officers and would require more training on the use of force. They would also try to deal with bias and different racial and economic backgrounds.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is coming to Pennsylvania to campaign the same day as current Vice President Mike Pence. Biden plans on touring a metal works plant in Dunmore and to speak on his economic recovery plan. Meanwhile, Pence will be attending a fundraiser in Lancaster County and then talk about the economy in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson is apologizing for posting an anti-Semitic message on social media. Jackson posted the quote on Facebook Monday with a screen shot of Adolf Hitler saying in part, "The white citizens of America will be terrified to know that all this time they've been mistreating and discriminating and lynching the Children of Israel." Jackson's apology said in part, "I do not have hatred towards anyone." The Eagles call the posts offensive, harmful and absolutely appalling and say they'll take appropriate action after fully evaluating the situation.