TOP HEADLINES 02/25

>>Legislation Proposed To Legalize Marijuana In Pennsylvania

(Harrisburg, PA) -- Two state senators are proposing a new legislation to legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania. Republican Dan Laughlin and Democrat Sharif Street announced a bipartisan proposal to legalize marijuana in the state yesterday. Laughlin is the first ever Republican lawmaker to co-sponsor a recreational marijuana legalization bill in the state. The Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office reports that marijuana legalization could bring between 400-million-dollars to one-billion-dollars in new tax revenue for the state.

>>HACC To Be Used As Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic

(Harrisburg, PA) -- HACC is agreeing to be used as a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The college announced yesterday that it has reached an agreement with Dauphin County to use its West End parking lot area as a vaccination clinic soon. County officials say the clinic is going to be dependent upon the number of vaccine doses that are allotted to the county from federal and state resources. Residents are being encouraged to register with area providers like Penn State Health and UPMC for vaccination opportunities.

>>New COVID-19 Cases Continue To Rise In Pennsylvania

(Harrisburg, PA) -- New positive COVID-19 cases are increasing in Pennsylvania. The state's Department of Health announced almost 28-hundred new positive cases yesterday. There are currently more than 19-hundred people hospitalized statewide with COVID-19, and of those cases, about 418 patients are being treated in the intensive care unit.

>>Shark Tank-Style Competition To Be Held At Harrisburg University

(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is inviting residents to participate in a Shark-Tank-style competition this year. The university's Center for Innovation-and-Entrepreneurship announced yesterday that it will be hosting the launch-U Start-up Challenge Competition for the public on May 13th. The competition will crown three winners who are looking to bring their business ideas to life with the school's help. Those who are interested in competing can find more information on how to apply on the university's Center for Innovation-and-Entrepreneurship's website. Applications will be accepted until March First. 

>>Man Injured After Being Struck By Vehicle In Middletown

(Middletown, PA) -- Police are investigating a pedestrian-vehicle accident that injured one man in Middletown. The accident happened yesterday afternoon near the intersection of East Main and Spruce streets. One man was transported to the hospital, but his condition is unknown. Anyone with any information on the accident is being asked to contact the Middletown Police Department.

>>Cash Reward Offered for Information on Reading Shooting

(Reading, PA) -- A cash reward is now being offered to the public for any information that leads to an arrest in connection to a shooting in Reading that killed one man. The Berks County coroner's office announced yesterday that a man in his 20s passed away at the hospital after being shot Tuesday night in the 400 block of North 10 Street. Crime Alert Berks County is now offering a ten-thousand-dollar reward for any information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with any information on the shooting is being asked to contact Crime Alert Berks County.

>>CVS Pharmacy to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine in Berks County

(Reading, PA) -- A CVS Pharmacy in Berks County is going to be administering COVID-19 vaccines today. The company announced yesterday that all available slots have been booked for the shots that will begin at the store in Reading today. While officials didn't disclose which of the three stores in the city is giving out the vaccine, they did say it is one of only six CVS Pharmacies in the state that is participating in the company's vaccination program. CVS is encouraging residents to schedule appointments on its website whenever more vaccines become available.

>>Public Invited to Attend Zoom Discussion on Food Insecurity in Berks County

(Muhlenberg Township, PA) -- State Senator Judy Schwank is inviting Berks County residents to participate in a Zoom discussion on food insecurity next month. Schwank announced yesterday that she will be hosting a virtual roundtable discussion next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. on how to battle hunger in the area. She says there will be a panel of guests involved, including the co-founder of 412 Food Rescue in Pittsburgh, the state's secretary of agriculture Russell Redding and Helping Harvest's president Jay Worrall. Questions for the discussion can be submitted on Schwank's official website.

>>Former Bon-Ton Store to Turn into Community Vaccination Center in Lancaster County

(Lancaster, PA) -- Plans are moving forward to turn a former Bon-Ton store in Lancaster into a community vaccination center. The former store is located at Park City Center and will be able to vaccinate more than 200 people at a time when the work is completed. Officials at Lancaster General Health say the system will be offering some of its own vaccination supply to get the project off the ground.

>>Reading Mayor Encourages Residents to Use Libraries to Schedule COVID-19 Vaccine

(Reading, PA) -- Reading Mayor Eddie Moran is encouraging people without internet access to turn towards the city's libraries to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. The mayor made a statement on Tuesday, saying that all four of the city's public libraries are open and ready to assist those who are interested in scheduling a vaccine appointment. The Reading Public Library's executive director says her staff is prepared to help anyone who doesn't have internet access at home.

>>St. Luke's University Health Network Prioritizing Vaccines For Teachers

(Lehigh, PA) -- St. Luke's University Health Network is prioritizing eligible teachers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The health network's vice president, Trevor Micklos, says their hope is that by working to vaccinate educators over the next several months, they can ensure that kids will be back to school as soon as possible. St. Luke's plans on dedicating weekly vaccine appointments to area school districts for teachers age 16 through 64 with high risk conditions and any teacher over the age of 65. Educators can visit slhn.org to create a St. Luke's MyChart account and select their employers to ask questions regarding vaccine appointments. The health network plans on notifying teachers each week when they have appointments available.

>>Former State Representative Facing Forgery, Theft Charges

(Dunmore, PA) -- Former state Representative Kevin Haggerty is facing a list of forgery, fraud and theft related charges. Police say they started investigating him after a woman who was caring for Haggerty's mother reported fraudulent charges on her credit card last month. Investigators say Haggerty allegedly stole and used her credit card to buy food, gas, cigarettes, wine and groceries in December and January, totaling in charges of more than $950. The 112th District's former Representative was arrested yesterday and is due back in court next month.

>>State Senate Passes Bill Letting National Guard Administer Vaccines

(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Pennsylvania State Senate is passing a bill that would allow the National Guard to distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccines. State Senator Kristin Phillips says our neighboring states are further along in the vaccination of their eligible population, and lawmakers are frustrated with the administration's failed rollout of the vaccine. She added that they want to be part of the solution as this legislation will have the National Guard collect, secure and transport doses of the vaccine. Qualified members will also be able to administer doses if it is requested by the Department of Health and Human Services.


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