Pennsylvania's Department of Health added 450 new COVID-19 cases to the state's overall total Tuesday. 35 new deaths related to the virus, leaving the state's death toll at 27,395.
The Pennsylvania House is moving to end Gov. Tom Wolf's COVID emergency disaster declaration. The governor initiated the disaster declaration in March of last year and has renewed it five times since then. House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff says it's clear to the Caucus that this emergency is over, that COVID mitigation orders have ended and the mask mandate will be lifted later this month. Wolf says the disaster declaration was critical to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and allowed for waivers and extensions to provide for Pennsylvanians and businesses. The resolution now heads to the state Senate.
A Phillipsburg man is facing attempted murder charges for gunshots fired last month at a Somerset County home. 51-year-old Ronnie Lyles and Miguel Hernandez, 37, of Somerville, were involved in the May 23 shooting at an occupied home near Third and Center streets in Somerville. No one was injured in the shooting. The incident is still being investigated.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is ready to start repairs later this year on the Easton-Phillipsburg free bridge. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of repairs but the commission says it's now set to rehab the 125-year-old bridge over the Delaware River. Work will run into 2023.
A 19-year-old Monroe County woman, driving without a license, led Pennsylvania State Police on a high-speed chase Monday evening on Route 33 North, going faster than 110 mph. The chase began in Plainfield Township when Devena Purcell, of Hilltop Drive in Polk Township drove past a state trooper’s vehicle. The trooper determined the license plate on the station wagon wasn’t registered to the vehicle and began chasing her. The chase ended when Purcell eventually crashed into a guardrail.
Pennsylvania has a new unemployment system up and running. Acting Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier says it launched very early Tuesday morning. "We completed the activation of Pennsylvania's newer, faster and easier to use unemployment compensation system. The new system went live for soft launch at 3:08am and by 1pm, more than 62,000 users had successfully filed for their benefits," Berrier says. She admits the launch wasn't glitch free. Some users couldn't log in. Berrier says glitches are to be expected with any information technology project rollout and L & I is working to fix the issues.
One elected official won't run a statewide race, while another is looking at doing so. Democrat Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan has decided not to run next year for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Pat Toomey. While declining a statewide race, Houlahan says she's running for re-election in her suburban Philadelphia district. Meanwhile, Lancaster County St. Sen. Scott Martin has formed an exploratory committee to run for the Republican nomination for governor next year.
St. Sen. Katie Muth is suing the Pennsylvania Public Employees' Retirement System for not turning over financial records to her. It comes after speculation over the system's investments including a grand jury probe and allegations of bribery. Muth says her requests for financial records in the past were met with claims that it could not be released due to ongoing investigations involving the FBI. She added that if the system has nothing to hide, then why won't they share the information.
A Pennsylvania man is facing federal charges after allegedly impersonating members of the Trump family and collecting more than $7000. Joshua Hall, of Mechanicsburg, was arrested yesterday on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after amassing over 100,000 followers and making a GoFundMe to collect money. The 22-year-old faces up to 20 years in prison for allegedly impersonating two of the former President's sisters, his brother and his 14-year-old son Barron.
Republican Jack Ciattarelli will try to unseat New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy after winning his primary race yesterday. Murphy ran unopposed on the Democratic side and went after Republicans in general yesterday. "These folks may decisions either based on a pack of lies or made up myths or they put their finger in the air and see which way the political winds are blowing. We will never do that folks," Murphy said. Ciattarelli is a former Assembly member who defeated three other Republicans. Ciattarelli promises to lower New Jersey's high property taxes and criticized Murphy's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
A top New Jersey prison official is stepping down after reports of abuse. The state's corrections commissioner Marcus Hicks handed down his resignation Tuesday and will leave the position on June 18th. A report by the former state comptroller revealed Hicks failed to stop abuse at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Hunterdon County, the state's only women's prison. That report also led Gov. Phil Murphy to announce his plans to shut the facility down.
The 76ers evened their NBA playoff series with Atlanta at one game apiece. Tobias Harris said after the 118-102 win his team pulled together after losing game one. "When different things came at us whether it's injuries or a loss we just get onto the next page. I think you saw that tonight," Harris says. Games three and four are in Atlanta.