Security at the Pennsylvania State Capitol is growing stronger because of last week's riot in Washington DC. The Department of General Services says it's teaming up with local, state and federal law enforcement to increase security at the state Capitol. Witnesses say officers were carrying long guns on the steps of the building Monday.
New Jersey officials are preparing for a possible demonstration this Sunday at the statehouse in Trenton, while an internal memo from the FBI indicates similar protests are planned for all 50 state capitals. Gov. Phil Murphy says the state is taking their security preparations seriously, something that was echoed by State Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan.
A petition asking Susquehanna Township School District officials to fire a teacher who attended last week's President Trump rally in Washington DC is gaining momentum. There have been more than 5300 signatures asking for the elementary school teacher to be removed despite there being no indication they were among the group that entered the U.S. Capitol building. The school district says it's investigating the matter.
The number of residents and employees at Gracedale Nursing Home in Northampton County getting vaccinated against the coronavirus continues to grow. So far, about one-third of staff and 57-percent of the residents have received the first dose of the vaccine. County employees working at Gracedale are eligible for a $750 incentive the county is using as an incentive to get everybody vaccinated. that money comes from federal CARES Act funding. Vaccinations at Gracedale are expected to continue through February.
Easton Mayor Sal Panto is threatening a homeless encampment on Mount Ida to clean up their mess or he will dismantle the encampment. Panto says he doesn't want to evict the group, but he says the trash is starting to get a little bit more than anticipated and he reports they're throwing garbage and human waste all over the mountain. Panto says the city tried to accommodate the camp by setting up port-a-potties and trash cans, which he says they trashed.
Police are launching an investigation after the death of a one-year-old child in Monroe County. Police were called to a home on Lakeside Road in Chestnuthill Township Monday, for a report of an unresponsive 17-month-old girl. First responders say the child was dead.
The Hamburg Municipal Authority is issuing a boil water advisory for the Berks County borough. The advisory started Monday and will be effective until further notice for all water system customers. Officials say customers may have a loss of water service or cloudy water while they complete emergency repairs.
Officials with Weis Markets are recalling some ice cream they say may be contaminated. They're asking for just below 10,900 half gallons of Weis Quality Cookies and Cream Ice Cream to be recalled over concerns about small pieces of metal. They say there has been one report of an intact piece of metal found in one of the packages.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella is keeping a promise of donating any pay increase above his $160,000 salary to charities. Torsella donated more than $7700 to Keystone Scholars Monday. That's a program that gives a $100 deposit in the Pennsylvania 529 college savings plan for every baby born or adopted in the state.
Schools across New Jersey are facing several challenges because of the coronavirus pandemic and Gov. Phil Murphy is aiming to lessen the burden. Monday, the governor signed an executive that would make three changes to the 2020-2021 academic year, which includes waiving state assessment tests that 12th graders typically must pass in order to graduate. He's also removing student growth objectives, which set up academic goals and is a way of evaluating a teacher's ability along with an increase in service time for substitute teachers. Murphy says the adjustments will help ensure that districts have the flexibility needed to better address students' and educators' needs.
New Jersey is once again working to expand outdoor dining in order to keep struggling restaurants afloat. Both houses of the state Legislature approved a fast-tracked bill similar to one Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed a few weeks ago. The bill would allow restaurants, bars, breweries and distilleries to serve customers in parking lots, yards, patios, decks and public sidewalks. The bill unanimously passed in both houses and is now waiting on Gov. Phil Murphy's signature.
All of New Jersey's ten House Democrats are supporting resolutions to impeach President Trump. They are among 200 sponsors of the resolution, which was introduced Monday, less than a week after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The matter is scheduled to be considered on Wednesday.
The Philadelphia Eagles are looking for a new head coach after firing Doug Pederson Monday. Pederson and owner Jeffrey Lurie met for several hours Monday before the firing was announced. Lurie says Pederson was let go even though he didn't deserve to get a pink slip. "It's not about did Doug deserve to be let go. No, he did not deserve to be let go. That's not where I'm coming from and that's not the bar in the evaluation process," Lurie says. Instead Lurie says dismissing Pederson was about whether it would be better for the franchise to have a new coach. The Eagles were 4-11-1 last season, leaving Pederson's record at 42-37-1 in Philadelphia. Pederson made the playoffs in three of his five seasons and won the Super Bowl three years ago.