Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health added 1549 new cases of COVID-19 to the state's total, which is now at 1,196,562. 14 new coronavirus-related deaths were also reported over that two-day time period, leaving Pennsylvania's overall total at 27,043. Statewide percent positivity for the seven days ending May 20th stood at 4.5-percent.
New Jersey's coronavirus hospitalization rate has dropped below 700 for the first time in seven months. It comes as the state reported 260 new infections Monday and confirmed 10 new COVID-related deaths.
Residents in the Poconos who are at least 18-years-old are being encouraged to receive a dose of the Moderna vaccine during a series of clinics what will be held at the Northampton Community College's Monroe Count Campus. The first clinic is this Friday from 8am until 8pm at the campus in Tannersville.
Work search requirements for those receiving unemployment benefits are returning in July. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry says as more Pennsylvanians are vaccinated and our case count continues to decline, workers can more safely return to the workforce. They added that the change affects all unemployment programs and those receiving benefits will have to apply for two jobs and participate in one work search activity each week. The work search requirement returns the week of July 11th.
Licensing and photo services are returning to driver's license centers starting next month. PennDOT says the decision to reopen these services at the centers was based on the most recent guidance from the state and the CDC. Driver's licensing services will return at several locations beginning June 1st. You can learn more at www.dmv.pa.gov.
The University of Pennsylvania health system will require all employees and clinical staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. All employees must be vaccinated by September 1st. Effective July 1st, all new hires must have proof of vaccinations.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is lifting the state's indoor mask requirement for vaccinated people starting this Friday. "Because of the tremendous progress we've made over the past several weeks in particular, today I am signing an executive order that will life the indoor mask mandate this Friday, May 28th," Murphy says. The CDC dropped masking guidelines for vaccinated people a couple weeks back, but Murphy wanted to see vaccine numbers increase before taking the same step for New Jersey.
Authorities say 55-year-old Edward Shadder was the man shot and killed by a trooper in Williams Township over the weekend. State police say a trooper fired two rounds at Shadder during a domestic incident that escalated on Sunday. Police were called to the 900 block of Berger Road around 2:30 Sunday afternoon for reports of a woman screaming. Investigators say the woman who was involved in the incident wasn't injured. One state trooper was treated for minor bruises.
Bethlehem police say as they tried to arrest an assault suspect the man allegedly screamed for officers to shoot him because he didn’t want to go back to jail. 22-year-old Darnell Brown, of Bethlehem, now finds himself behind bars after allegedly punching his girlfriend and struggling with police in the 300 block of Hill Street. Brown previously pleaded guilty in Lehigh County in 2019 to carrying a firearm without a license and fleeing and eluding.
A Lehigh County home was severely damaged by fire Sunday evening. Flames could be seen pouring from the roof of the home on Decatur Street in Lynn Township around 6 o'clock Sunday evening. Crews from Lehigh and Schuylkill counties battled the flames. Authorities have not commented on any injuries.
Pennsylvania Congressman Lloyd Smucker is facing fines for violating the U.S. Capitol's security protocols. Capitol Police Security say the Lancaster County congressman ignored them and walked by their metal detectors to cast a vote in the House chamber. They say it wasn't until after the vote that he submitted to the screening. He is facing a fine of $5000 and a second offense could result in a $10,000 fine. Smucker is expected to appeal the fine.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says his state isn't immune to violence. It comes in the wake of the shooting that killed two and injured a dozen in Cumberland County over the weekend. Murphy is calling on federal lawmakers to put some "common sense gun safety laws in the American books."
IronPigs outfielder Cornelius Randolph has been named the AAA-East Player of the Week. Randolph hit .591 with three home runs and nine runs batted in last week. Overall, Randolph is hitting .377.