The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced 1151 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, pushing that overall number to 146,214. Six new coronavirus-related deaths were reported Tuesday, leaving the state's death toll at 7875.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says his administration is appealing a court ruling Monday that deemed his pandemic control orders unconstitutional. He believes the majority of Pennsylvanians back the moves he says he had to make because the federal government did nothing. "I believe the vast majority of Pennsylvanians understand what we had to do in the beginning was necessary to buy the time to keep people safe. Before we got to capacity, we needed to address this virus. And the vast majority simply don't buy into the conspiracy theories or fear-mongering from the President or the Harrisburg Republicans about this virus," the governor says. U.S. District Judge William Stickman invalidated key parts of Wolf's pandemic response, including his orders requiring people to stay at home and shuttering thousands of businesses deemed non-life-sustaining. The judge also ruled against the state’s current size limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings.
The state Senate is considering a bill that would make it a misdemeanor if you are maskless in public. Senate Bill 1287 would make the action essentially reckless endangerment of another person. It's unclear if the measure has enough support to pass the Senate.
Kutztown is delaying enforcement of a portion of its new coronavirus ordinance. The section is related to limitations of gathering sizes, allowing police to warn or fine groups of ten or more people who aren't related. Borough Council approved the move but it follows a federal ruling against Gov. Tom Wolf's limits on gathering sizes.
President Trump says the coronavirus pandemic put the brakes on economic progress for the black community. "There was a gap, but we were doing a good job. It was getting better and then it was artificially shutdown by this disease that came onto our land," the President said. During a Philadelphia town hall event on ABC, the President said the black community had its best unemployment and home ownership rates on record prior to the pandemic hitting. He did acknowledge income inequality is still a problem, but claimed it was worse during the Obama administration.
Bethlehem police are looking for any video from residents or businesses that may help in their investigation of the 11-year-old girl who was shot in the face last week. The girl was shot while answering her Fairland Avenue home's door just before midnight. She suffered significant facial trauma, but is expected to recover. Police want any video recordings showing the roadway or public sidewalks from several areas between 11:45pm on September 9th and 2:30am on September 10th. Those areas include Pennsylvania Avenue between Chatham Road and Union Boulevard, Eaton Avenue between Pennsylvania Avenue and Highland Avenue and several more.
Northampton County District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez will not seek re-election when her current term ends in 2022. Gonzalez decided to publicly share her plans because she respects the election process and wants to be transparent as her seat will be up for grabs in the 2021 primary and general elections. She became the first Hispanic district justice in the state after former Gov. Robert Casey appointed her in June of 1991, then she won the general election the following year and has maintained her seat since.
The three people who died in a shooting in the Gilbertsville area have been identified. Police say 78-year-old George Mihalcik shot his 56-year-old son, Stephen, and his son's wife, 51-year-old Rebecca Hall Evans. And then he shot himself. George Mihalcik and his daughter-in-law died at the home and Stephen Mihalcik died later at the hospital.
It's time to place your bets at Lincoln Financial Field. That's because a new partnershp with FOX Bet will bring a sports book lounge to the stadium. It will be located near the player locker room and parking lot by the service level of the stadium. Nearly 400 fans will be accommodated and it will stay open an hour after each game ends. Eagles officials say ticketed guests will have their opportunity to visit the lounge when full capacity returns to home games.