Pennsylvania health officials added 719 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, pushing the overall state total to 92,867. 36 additional coronavirus-related deaths were reported Thursday. That number now stands at 6848.
Gov. Tom Wolf is extending an executive order that protects homeowners and renters from eviction or foreclosure until August 31st. The extension is available to anyone who hasn't received assistance from a new program administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency or are not already receiving relief through one of several federal foreclosure moratorium programs or judicial orders.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is rolling out a new grant program to help smaller food retailers struggling amid the pandemic. Wolf says the program is meant to ensure that everyone has access to fresh food. About $10 million in grants is available for retailers that serve customers that live in low-to-moderate income areas and 50-percent of their sales must be from staple and perishable foods. The Department of Agriculture is accepting applications until August 14th.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is directing money from the federal coronavirus relief money to help New Jersey's food banks. Murphy says he'll allocate $20 million to th estate's six Emergency Feeding organizations. Murphy also highlighted another $390 million in federal funding for food assistance to benefit families and children who have suffered from the COVID-19 outbreak.
A local police department has some new blood. Kyle Wehr is the newest police officer in Upper Macungie Township. He's a 2016 graduate of Kutztown High School and attended Lackawanna College Police Academy.
Both the current and former vice president spent their Thursday campaigning in Pennsylvania. Vice President Mike Pence made several stops in Lancaster, Chester County and in Philadelphia where he spoke at a "Back the Blue" rally at the Fraternal Order of Police. "We don't need to choose between supporting our police and supporting African-American families. We can do both. We have done both and we will keep doing both every day," Pence said. Presidential candidate Joe Biden was in Dunmore where he told supporters President Trump continues to embrace Confederate figures. "Donald Trump cynically claims that he's defending American heritage by embracing the Confederate flag and public monuments of generals who rebelled against and were treasonous against the United State of America, people who tried to permanently rip this nation apart," Biden said while touring a manufacturing plant to tout his economic plans, which he calls "Build Back Better."
Bruce Weber is no longer Harrisburg's finance director. Weber resigned Thursday after a photo of him gardening while naked at his home was posted on social media. Dauphin County DA Fran Chardo said neighbors had complained about his lack of clothes while the man was outside. Weber claimed he could do whatever he wanted because he was in his yard.
Penn State's fall sports seasons are going to be exclusively against Big Ten Conference rivals. The Big Ten says its member schools will move to conference-only schedules for football and any other sports that will happen in the fall. That means Penn State's games against Kent State, Virginia Tech and San Jose State will not be played and the Nittany Lions' season begins September 26th at home against Northwestern.
PIAA officials are dispelling rumors that they were planning to cancel the fall sports season during next Wednesday's meeting. Executive Director Bob Lombardi says the rumors are unfounded and in fact, they're looking into what needs to be done to ensure that fall sports can continue.