Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey says 12 years in the Senate will be enough. He has officially announced he won't seek re-election in 2022. Why do it now and not wait until at least after next month's election? "In recent weeks especially I've been getting phone calls on an almost daily basis from people saying they want to help me run for governor or help my re-election campaign and once I reached the decision I needed to be candid with them and I feel like I should be candid with everybody," Toomey says. Toomey also says he won't run for governor in 2022. Instead he plans to return to the private sector and spend more time with his wife and three children at the same time.
A Lehigh County elections judge faces charges stemming from the June primary. District Attorney Jim Martin says Everett Bickford, who now prefers to be called 'Erika' Bickford colored bubbles on about 30 ballots and trimmed some so they would fit in the scanning machine, however Martin says they weren't able to conclude that Bickford altered votes in favor of a particular candidate. The charges come after Enid Santiago, who lost the Democratic primary by 55 votes, raised concerns of voter fraud and claimed Bickford tampered with votes in favor of her opponent, Peter Schweyer. Investigators say Bickford told them she colored in the bubbles on the ballots so the machine could read them and did not alter any votes, however elections officials say that is not permitted.
State police are investigating a shooting in Carbon County Monday. It happened at the 3900 block of Forest Inn Road in Lower Towamensing Township. State police say the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the surrounding communities. Police say they are not releasing any other details about the shooting at this time.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 672 new COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the overall total to 164,207 since the pandemic began. 11 new coronavirus-related deaths were also reported, pushing Pennsylvania's death toll to 8227.
The U.S. Supreme Court is declining to hear a challenge to Gov. Tom Wolf's shutdown orders that closed so-called nonessential businesses and limited gatherings amid the pandemic. Despite the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in favor of the governor's response to the pandemic, business owners and a state House candidate petitioned for the challenge as they felt the orders were unconstitutional. When they sided with Wolf, one Pennsylvania justice said the orders didn't limit the ability to speak or assemble as it didn't prohibit other means of communication such as telephone, online chats or video-conferencing.
You may soon have to find a new place to watch a movie. That's because Regal Cinemas says it will be temporarily closing all of its theaters nationwide, including the three local theaters in Easton, Quakertown and Phillipsburg. Regal officials say the lack of business due to the coronavirus pandemic has forced the decision. The closures begin Thursday night.
The York State Police barracks is closed after a case of COVID-19. They're routing all calls to the Lancaster barracks. There are 11 Pennsylvania State Police employees currently out due to coronavirus.
Penn State's academic calendar has been changed. Penn State is delaying the start of the 2021 spring semester by about one week. Classes will now start on January 18th and will end on April 30th, with final exams running May 3rd through the 7th. Officials also canceled spring break.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is wishing President Trump well and pulling for his recovery from COVID-19, but also expressing his frustration at what he calls the President's "reckless" decision to hold a fundraiser last week in Bedminster. "With the knowledge that they had before they left for New Jersey, that there was exposure to a COVID-positive individual, that trip was completely unacceptable, completely reckless," the governor says. Last Thursday President Trump's golf club hosted the event, which included a round table, photos with the President and a reception. Murphy urges anyone who attended that event to get tested, but to wait five or seven days before doing so to ensure the test's accuracy.
New Jersey health officials are giving the green light when it comes to trick-or-treating as long as everyone wears a mask or face covering. In addition, they've recommended not to use communal candy bowls, while making sure all treats are individually wrapped. Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli is asking people not to hand out the candy directly, but rather leave it where kids can grab it. She's also suggesting people who are answering the door and providing candy to trick-or-treaters wash their hands frequently with soap and water.
Gov. Tom Wolf is asking President Trump to declare a major disaster for nine counties, including Berks, Bucks, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties. Those areas were impacted by Tropical Storm Isaias in August. The governor is requesting public assistance for response costs and repairs, along with individual assistance for homeowners to help them recover.
Nine people charged in connection with a protest outside the Lancaster police station are being held over for trial. Seven of the people waived preliminary hearings and two opted to have them. Each defendant faces a range of charges, including seven who are charged with felony riot. Some original charges were modified or withdrawn.
Joe Biden's fight to win the battleground state of Pennsylvania will take him to the state's most famous battleground. The Democratic nominee for president will stop in Gettysburg today. There's no word yet from his campaign on how he'll spend the visit.
New Jersey is ending bear hunting after this year. Gov. Phil Murphy says as long as he's governor no one will be able to hunt bears after the 2020 season. The state's Fish and Game Council proposed the change, which would alter the region's game code while working to protect wildlife. The measure calls for New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to review data and create policy that promotes public safety and welfare while also focusing on non-lethal bear management techniques.
Doc Rivers was officially introduced Monday as the new coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers parted ways last week after seven years and losing in the playoffs to the Denver Nuggets. Rivers says there's a lot of talent in Philadelphia and that's what attracted him to the job instead of the other two teams that were recruiting him.