St. Rep. Martina White is among five female Republican state lawmakers supporting the Fairness In Women's Sports Act. She says there's a pretty simple reason why. "Gifted biological males will always have physical advantages over women," White says. Corinne Goodwin, with the Eastern Pennsylvania Trans Equity Project, says the bill is based on a false premise. "There is nothing that shows that trans people are dominating sports. They weren't able to come up with a single case in the state of Pennsylvania where trans kids are dominating sports," Goodwin says. Goodwin calls the measure transphobic. Supporters say it promotes gender equality. Gov. Tom Wolf has already said if it passes, he will veto it.
Pennsylvania's Department of Health added a two-day total 6651 new coronavirus cases to the commonwealth's overall total, which now stands at 1,045,400. A dozen new COVID-19-related deaths were also addes over those two days. Pennsylvania's death count stands at 25,200. Pennsylvania's statewide percent positivity for the seven-day period ending April 1st was 9.4-percent.
Pennsylvania has now fully vaccinated almost two-million people against COVID-19. The state has distributed almost 5.6-million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine so far and expanded eligibility to all groups in Phase 1B Monday. The state also plans to further expand eligibility on April 12th to all residents in Phase 1C and then to all adults on April 19th.
Appointments are still available for the upcoming mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic that will be held at Pocono Raceway. Lehigh Valley Health Network is planning to administer at least 3000 doses of the Moderna vaccine at the raceway tomorrow from 8am to 4pm. If you're interested in scheduling an appointment for the clinic, go to www.mylvhn.org or call LVHN's COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-833-584-6283.
Beginning today, Pennsylvanians who work in New York are eligible to be vaccinated there. You must be over the age of 18 to be vaccinated. Those who work in New York can make appointments by calling 607-734-3929 or by going online to www.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov.
Most New Jerseyans will become eligible for the coronavirus vaccine later this month. Gov. Phil Murphy says beginning April 19th, people 16 and older will be able to roll up their sleeves. Murphy originally planned for this expansion to happen in May. The goal is now to vaccinate nearly 5,000,000 people by the end of May.
New Jersey is updating its coronavirus travel guidelines to align with CDC recommendations. Gov. Phil Murphy says the pandemic is far from over but the COVID vaccine has made it possible for fully vaccinated people who travel domestically to avoid quarantine. Officials are strongly discouraging residents who are not fully vaccinated against traveling at this time, which is also in line with the CDC.
An Allentown man is accused of pointing a loaded handgun at five people, including two children. Allentown police arrested Emanuel Torres-Rivera, of South Idaho Street, following a foot chase and say Torres-Rivera pointed a handgun at those five people as they sat in a car on South Church Street and threatened to shoot the driver in the head. He lowered the gun, raised it again and pointed it at the victims allegedly threatening a second time to shoot the driver. Police are not saying how or if Torres-Rivera knew the people in the car.
A senior residence proposed on Corriere Road in Palmer Township has gotten a thumbs down from township supervisors. Citing questions about the project as a whole and safety issues in particular, Palmer Township supervisors voted Monday to oppose a plan for a 145-bed senior residence on 4.4-acres near the Walmart on Route 248. The township's zoning hearing board will review the project at a meeting today.
A police chase that began in Fountain Hill ended in a crash in Bethlehem early this morning. A car hit a tree along West Third Street. At least one person was taken to the hospital. Their condition has not been released. Police aren't saying what led to the crash.
The state House of Representatives is pushing forward a bill that could keep you from having to change your clocks twice a year. The state House passed the bill by a narrow margin to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. It now moves to the Senate for consideration. There are 15 other states passing legislation for the change which currently isn't allowed under federal law.
Visitors to the Pennsylvania State Capitol can get a guided tour again. The tours are limited to ten people, with everyone required to follow masking and social distancing guidelines. Those looking to visit the Capitol without taking a tour may do so as well.
The Phillies are now 4-0 after a 5-3 win Monday night against NL East rival New York. Manager Joe Girardi says grinding out victories will be something his team will need to do. "I think it's really important because we've gotta win some games like this. It's a really tough division and I think there's going to be a lot of tight ballgames because there's so much good pitching and our bullpen has been really, really good," Girardi says. The Phils host the Mets again tonight.