The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 2063 new cases of coronavirus Thursday, pushing the overall total to 188,360 since the pandemic began. Another 30 coronavirus-related deaths were also reported, leaving Pennsylvania's death toll at 8592.
Gov. Tom Wolf says he's is looking to help the hospitality industry left wobbly by coronavirus-related restrictions. "I am working right now with the Liquor Control Board to waive licensing fees for restaurants, clubs, bars and hotels for the entire coming year," the governor says. Wolf says the waiver would result in about $20 million in relief for more than 15,000 businesses. If the LCB adopts his proposal, it could take effect at the start of next year.
Students in the biggest Lehigh Valley school district may not be returning to the classroom any time soon. The superintendent of the Allentown School District is recommending extended virtual learning through the rest of the semester due to the pandemic. Thomas Parker says he's still concerned about the safety of students and staff and the data doesn't say a return to school would be safe. Parker says he will continue to monitor the spread of the virus and then decide which subgroups of students could possibly return to the classroom.
Residents in one Montgomery County town are being told to mask up or pay up. The Borough of Narberth will fine people who are caught without a face mask in parks and the business district. It's a $15 fine with the police responsible for enforcing the rule. Those with health issues and children under the age of two are excluded from the mandate.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says he's not happy that he has to walk off the stage, but calls it necessary. He's referring to his decision to self-isolate over the weekend after two senior staffers tested positive for the coronavirus. The governor and his wife were reportedly in close contact with the staffers at a beer garden in Hoboken last weekend. The Murphy administration's leadership team is reportedly undergoing testing and some of them are self-isolating.
Bystanders helped police pull people trapped inside of a flipped car in Lehigh County Thursday night. Four vehicles were involved in the crash at MacArthur Road and Center Street in Whitehall Township, with one car ending up on its side. Police did not comment on what caused the crash or the extent of any injuries.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is returning to Pennsylvania tomorrow. Biden and his wife, Jill, are scheduled to visit Bucks County and Luzerne County, but no other details were given on exactly where and when. Biden is expected to speak about building up the economy for working families and encouraging Pennsylvanians to vote.
One day after President Trump participated in the final debate against Joe Biden, the president's running mate returns to Pennsylvania later today. Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to host a campaign rally this afternoon at the Allegheny County Airport.
The Trump campaign has been videotaping people as they place their ballots in drop boxes in Philadelphia. Trump campaign officials say they're aware of what's going on and say it's being done to catch violations and one instance showed a person dropping off three ballots. Pennsylvania law requires voters to turn in their own mail-in ballots. City officials have turned over the reports to the district attorney's office.
An internal review by Lancaster police has cleared an officer involved in a shooting last month. The officer shot and killed 27-year-old Ricardo Munoz while responding to a domestic disturbance September 13th. Body cam video shows Munoz chasing the officer while wielding a knife.
Organizers are pulling the plug on the 2021 Great American Outdoor Show. The show, put together by the NRA and held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, draws more than 1100 vendors and exhibitors annually. The 2022 show will be held during the first full week of February that year.
Beginning Monday drivers will be able to pay cash tolls at the George Washington Bridge and Lincoln Tunnel. The Port Authority says it's necessary to do this in order to ramp up electronic tolls to state of the art technology. The cash tolls are temporary and will be phased out in about a year-and-a-half until the new system is completed. Meantime, deep cleanings will be ongoing in toll booths to help protect workers from COVID-19.
Carson Wentz threw two touchdown passes in the final five minutes to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 22-21 comeback win over the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football. Wentz says the win is a big boost for the struggling team. "It does a lot for us. It does a lot for our confidence the way we fought to come back in the last couple of ballgames and now do it and pull out a win and we know it's a divisional game, so it's huge for the NFC East as well," Scott said. The Eagles are now 2-4-1 while the Giants slip to 1-6.