The Pennsylvania Department of health added 791 new COVID-19 cases to the state's overall total, which now stands at 126,949. 15 more coronavirus-related deaths were reported Thursday as well. The death toll has now risen to 7538.
New Jersey health officials say 302 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed as well as eight more coronavirus-related fatalities. The Garden State's transmission rate remains above the key benchmark of one. When the transmission rate is above one, health officials say the virus is still spreading. However, hospitalizations fell to a new five-month low.
A formal decision on Pennsylvania's high school sports season is expected this afternoon. Ahead of today's decision a Let Our Kids Play rally was held on the state capitol steps Thursday in an attempt to persuade the PIAA to allow fall seasons to begin. "After weighing all considerations, risks and necessary safety precautions in the current COVID-19 environment, keep fighting for the opening of fall sports," one speaker said. The PIAA's board of directors is expected to meet at 3 o'clock to decide whether or not they will cancel the fall sports season, which is what's being recommended by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Restaurants in Philadelphia are learning more about some of their seating limitations being lifted. Beginning September 8th, diners can hold up to 25-percent of their normal capacity. In addition, each table can hold no more than four people at a time. Folks cannot sit at bars and alcohol won't be served without the purchase of food. Restaurants have been closed on the inside since mid-March.
A new Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll shows a tight presidential race in Pennsylvania. The poll shows Joe Biden with a 49-to-45-percent lead on President Trump. That four point advantage is within the poll's margin of error. Another question asked was whether they intend to vote in person or by mail. 64-percent of those responders say they plan to vote in person, 26-percent by mail and the other 10-percent still aren't sure. 416 likely Pennsylvania voters were surveyed between August 11th and the 17th.
President Trump says Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden is no friend of Pennsylvania. "He's spent the last half-century in Washington selling out our country and ripping off our jobs and letting other countries steal our jobs," Trump said. The President spoke in Old Forge, just outside of Scranton, where Biden spent some of his childhood.
New Jersey Cory Booker made a case for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden during remarks last night at the Democrat National Convention. Speaking from New York, Booker criticized President Trump's handling of the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. Booker claims the economy is not working for millions of Americans with an estimated 40-million citizens in danger of losing their homes.
Penn State is in the spotlight after videos surfaced of a large student party and a subsequent petition gathered more than 2000 signatures calling for all freshmen to be sent home. The video shows dozens of students outside dancing and jumping around with no social distancing nor any mask wearing. After the party, an online petition began seeking to have Penn State send all freshmen home to continue school through remote learning as the party appeared to consist of almost only freshmen. Penn State president Eric Barron made a statement on the party, asking students "Do you want to be responsible for sending everyone home?" Barron also said it's important all students understand the consequences of ignoring the new coronavirus-related rules. Among those consequences Barron says is expulsion.
Pennsylvania's attorney general is suing an Amazon seller for price gouging hand sanitizer. Josh Shapiro says M&B Multiservices Inc. in Philadelphis sold more than 80, eight-ounce bottles of Purell hand sanitizer for more than $70 each and 34 bottles for nearly $66 each. He added it's illegal to rip off Pennsylvanians during a pandemic as millions are out of work, struggling to pay for food or medicine and playing off people's fears is wrong. His office wants M&B to pay restitution to customers and civil penalties of $10,000 per violation or pay the state more than $800,000.
A Snyder County man is facing charges for allegedly making threats to Gov. Tom Wolf. Robert Kirkpatrick allegedly sent several explicit messages to the governor's office last month. No details were given on what he said exactly, but the man is being charged with harassment and is due in court in a few weeks.
Grabbing a burger from Wawa might be the new hit thing. The convenience store and gas station officially launched its extended dinner menu. It's available after 4pm and includes pasta, burgers, pot roast and more. Wawa says they will begin the limited rollout at only six stores, but they hope to expand to everyone else.
Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez will remain jailed as he awaits trial on sex assault charges. A Westmoreland County judge rejected Vazquez's second request for bond Thursday, citing the nature of his alleged crimes and the potential to flee. Vazquez is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 2017.