Something that hasn't happened here since 2017, is happening today. Lehigh Valley residents will be able to see about 92% coverage during this afternoon's solar eclipse. The eclipse begins at 2:08 and the moon will cover nearly all of the sun at around 3:23. Experts remind you that regular sunglasses are not made to look directly at the eclipse and special glasses are needed to safely view it. You can pick up those glasses at several locations, including Dan's Camera City. They cost $2 there and proceeds go to Moravian University's astronomy program. The solar eclipse seven years ago covered about 74% of the sun.
Dr. Gary Becker and some of his Moravian University astronomy students have headed north to view this afternoon's total solar eclipse. He says even if you're viewing the eclipse from here in the Lehigh Valley, the show should be pretty good. "It is the deepest solar eclipse. About 92 percent of the sun will be covered between 3 to 4pm in the Lehigh Valley," Becker says. He and his students will probably end up in Vermont, where the weather may be the best to view the only total solar eclipse the United States will see until 2044.
State officials are warning consumers about fake glasses being sold to view the solar eclipse today. The state's attorney general's office says the only safe way to look directly at the eclipse is through special-purpose solar filters such as "eclipse glasses" or handheld solar viewers. To make sure yours are legitimate, you should check to make sure they have an international safety standard - certification number on the glasses' frame. The number ISO 123-12-2.
PennDOT is asking motorists to keep safety in mind while out driving during the solar eclipse this afternoon. Transportation officials are reminding people not to park along roadways to watch the eclipse later on today. Headlights should also be turned on after 2:00 p.m. when it begins to get darker. Pennsylvania State Police will be out on extra patrols to help maintain roadway safety. Some routes could see heavy traffic as people travel north of Pittsburgh to see the eclipse in the path of totality.
A fast-moving fire in Nesquehoning, Carbon County sent two people to the hospital. Flames erupted Sunday morning at a home and spread to two others. One person jumped from the second floor to escape. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The conversation about starting school later in Pennsylvania turned to better sleep and better health last week. Lawmakers are considering a plan that wouldn't allow schools in the state to start until 8:30 in the morning. Public health managers say allowing young people to sleep-in has academic, mental and athletic performance benefits. The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators is fighting the proposal. They want local schools to be able to decide their start times for themselves.
The latest snapshot shows a lot fewer people are on Pennsylvania's state health insurance rolls. The Department of Human Services last week said nearly 500 thousand people have been dropped from the state's Medicaid program because of the end of the coronavirus. During COVID, the federal and state governments expanded Medicaid to cover more people. That coverage ended with the end of the president's coronavirus emergency order. In Pennsylvania, that meant the Medicaid rolls shrank from three-point-seven million people to three-point-two million. The DHS says it's now trying to help many of those people as they transition to other coverage, or re-apply for Medicaid.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is warning E-ZPass customers about an ongoing texting scam. The commission says criminals have been attempting to get private financial information from people by sending texts about overdue E-ZPass accounts and late fees. Anyone who gets a message of that nature is advised to avoid clicking any included links. Individuals who need to check on their account can do so on the PA Turnpike E-ZPass website or through the PA Toll Pay app.
State officials say eviction filings are reaching near record levels for the first time since the pandemic. The area most affected is the 20 counties in the southeast region of the state. New figures released by the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania reports the filings are on the rise after tenant protections and financial assistance programs enacted during the pandemic are no longer in effect. The report says on the average, over 90 percent of potential evictions involve past due rent. The figures also relay one in every 14 renter households faces the eviction risk.