The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 1488 new cases of coronavirus over a three-day reporting period. That pushes the state's over case count to 1, 202,863 since the pandemic began. 11 new COVID-related deaths were also reported over those three days, leaving Pennsylvania with 27,214 since the beginning of the pandemic. Right now, there are 1028 people hospitalized with the coronavirus, 257 of whom are in the intensive care unit. Statewide percent positivity for the seven days ending May 27th lowered to 3.8-percent.
The Allentown Health Bureau's COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Allentown Fairgrounds is winding down. The Moderna vaccine will be administered on June 10, 17 and 24 from 8:30am-2pm, with no appointment necessary. The second dose will be scheduled for the Allentown Health Bureau on North 6th Street because the health bureau plans to be out of the Agri-Plex by June 30th.
The 28 non-violent offenders who were granted extended furloughs last year during the pandemic will need to return to Northampton County Prison in Easton to finish their sentences. Those furloughed inmates are scheduled to return July 19-21. If an inmate fails to return, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 180 county inmates and 63 corrections officers have tested positive for COVID-19.
Everyone on the University of Pennsylvania campus will need to be vaccinated this fall. It's an update to the previous requirement of only the students needing to be vaccinated. Faculty and staff were notified of the changes Tuesday. All employees must be vaccinated by August 1st.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is pushing the importance of in-person learning. He'll join with U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona to visit Bergenfield High School this morning. It comes just a day after teachers at Paterson public schools returned to the classroom without students. Last month, Murphy said schools across New Jersey would not be offering remote learning in the fall.
In a rare occurrence, Gov. Tom Wolf is siding with Republicans on an issue. The Wolf administration has told Pennsylvania counties that mal-in ballots must be signed and dated and if they aren't, they should be rejected. The announcement leaves the governor on the side of Republican lawmakers who are threatening to impeach Philadelphia elections officials who voted last week to count undated mail-in ballots. Philadelphia received more than 1300 of those undated mail-in ballots.
The Allentown School District is hiring a search firm to help find its next superintendent. Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates has been hired to find the district's next superintendent, hopefully by September. The district is looking for a successor to Thomas Parker, who quit to to a job with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in Flint, Michigan.
100 years ago yesterday, ground was broken on the Hotel Bethlehem. Next May the hotel celebrates 100 years in operation and Brynn Levine wants you to help celebrate with them. "We want to celebrate the history of the hotel from anyone who's had memories here and what the hotel means to anyone who's had anything from birthday parties to a wedding, or just come for dinner," Levine says. She says the hotel would love for the public to submit photos from their Hotel Bethlehem experiences over the years. Tickets for the Hotel Bethlehem's 100th birthday party, which is scheduled for May 28th, go on sale this fall.
The local State Police Memorial Day weekend numbers are in. Troop M, which covers the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County, investigated 53 crashes, seven of which were alcohol-related, between early Friday morning and late Monday night. 13 people were injured in the crashes. Troopers were also busy issuing 417 speeding citations and making 36 DUI arrests.
When their next bill arrives, electric customers across Pennsylvania will see a rate increase. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is reminding people that all of the state's electric distribution companies increased prices on Tuesday for non-shopping customers. Prices are increasing 23-percent for MetEd customers, 3.1-percent for PPL customers and 3.4-percent for UGI Electric users.
Legendary rock group Guns N' Roses is going to be performing in Hershey this summer. The band is scheduled to play at Hersheypark Stadium on July 31st. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon.
A new law has taken effect in New Jersey and that means all patrol officers there must be outfitted with body-worn cameras. "Body cameras are a wise all-around investment in both public safety and in justice. When used properly, they ensure there's an impartial record of the facts that can be used when necessary," says Gov. Phil Murphy. He says the cameras are an important part of building transparency and trust between the community and law enforcement.
The Philadelphia 76ers could be without star center Joel Embiid for game five of their playoff series against Washington tonight. Embiid is listed as doubtful for tonight as he battles right knee soreness. Embiid exited game four against the Wizards because of the issue. He underwent a MRI Tuesday and will be further evaluated.