>PA Senate Panel Advances Two Abortion Related Bills
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The PA Senate Health & Human Services Committee has approved two bills related to abortion in the state. Senate Bill 152 provides direction to the PA Department of Health as to how it must prioritize the allocation of public funds for family planning purposes. Senate Bill 956 amends the PA Constitution regarding the right to abortion or funding for an abortion. It states that there is no constitutional right to an abortion and says that taxpayer dollars can not be used for elective abortions. The amendment would need to pass in two legislative sessions before going to the voters to decide as a ballot referendum.
>>Pennsylvania Nurses Rally At State Capitol On Staffing Shortages
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Nurses from across Pennsylvania are demanding lawmakers pass the Patient Safety Act to help with staffing shortages caused by the COVID pandemic. The Patient Safety Act would set staffing standards by limiting the number of patients assigned to a nurse depending on the amount of care needed. During a recent hearing, republican Representative Kathy Rapp of Warren reportedly had said the act would not get a vote in the Pennsylvania House Health Committee.
>>Harrisburg University To Remain Virtual Amid COVID Omicron Spike
(Harrisburg, PA) -- School leaders at Harrisburg's University of Science and Technology say they'll continue with virtual learning. It will remain in effect for all undergraduate classes in Harrisburg and Philadelphia until the first week of March. The university says the decision to remain virtual is due to the rise in COVID-19 cases amid the omicron surge. Students were originally scheduled to return to in-person learning on February 7th. University officials say students and faculty should plan to resume all scheduled on-campus courses in-person on March 7th.
>>Keith Yandle Sets Iron Man Record
(Elmont, NY) -- Keith Yandle is the NHL's newest "Iron Man" after breaking Doug Jarvis' all-time record for most consecutive regular season games played. Yandle passed Jarvis when the puck was dropped for the opening faceoff of his 965th consecutive game between the Flyers and Islanders. Yandle has now played 1,075 games with the Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, and Philadelphia Flyers.
>>PA Senate Committee Approves Bill to Report Newborn Opioid Addiction
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The PA Senate Aging and Youth Committee has approved a measure which mandates the reporting of any infant born in PA with an addiction to opioids. Senate Bill 936 would ensure the coordination of reporting through the Department of Health, which would track the information and break it down by county in an effort to be more aggressive in combating the opioid epidemic. The CDC has reported that nearly one in five pregnant women fill an opioid medication prescription during pregnancy and a child is born with neonatal abstinence syndrome every 25 minutes. The bill now goes to the full PA Senate.
>>Company that Builds Modular Cleanroom facilities Coming To Manheim
(Manheim, PA) -- A company that build clean-room facilities for pharma and biotech firms is building a new facility in Manheim that will bring 97 new, full-time jobs. Governor Tom Wolf announced that AES Clean Technology will invest more than $14-million to open the new manufacturing facility in Lancaster County. The company is also retaining 95 jobs at its headquarters in Montgomery County. AES has been a partner in Operation Warp Speed as its cleanroom facilities have supported the manufacturing of COVID vaccines, antibody therapeutics, and diagnostic devices.
>>Two Hospitalized Following Housefire in East Hempfield
(East Hempfield Township, PA) -- Two people have been taken to the hospital for smoke exposure following a late-night housefire in East Hempfield Township. Fire crews were dispatched to the 200 block of Countyplace Drive just before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night. Officials say the residence was severely damaged, but there's no word yet on what caused the fire or a damage estimate.
>>York Police Add Red Flags for Pedestrian Use at Crosswalks
(York, PA) -- Police in York have added crosswalk flags at several intersections across the city. Pedestrians can grab one of the flags from a basket and walk across the street with it then replace it on the other side. The goal is to increase visibility and safety. According to Downtown Inc, research from other cities shows more vehicles stopped for people with flags than without them. The six crossings with flags are along George Street at Mason Avenue, and at Market Street at the Yorktowne, Cherry Lane and Rail Trail Crossings. There are also flags provided at Rail Trail Crossing at King and Princess Streets.
>>Lancaster Police Looking for Missing 16-Year-Old Girl
(Lancaster, PA) -- Police in Lancaster County are looking for a missing 16-year-old girl. East Lampeter Township police said Jocelyn Andrews was last seen by family members around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near Pitney and Hempstead roads. Police believe she might be in the Red Lion are of York County. They say they don't believe she was abducted, but still consider her to be at risk. She is white, with brown hair and grey-blue eyes and just over five feet tall. Anyone with information on Andrews' whereabouts is asked to call police in Lancaster County.
>>Son Accused of Strangling His Mother, Slitting Her Throat
(Berks County, PA) -- State police say a 22-year-old man has admitted to killing his mother by strangling her, then slitting her throat when he thought that didn't work. State Police Trooper David Beohm says Jakob Murray killed his mother, Jill Murray Sunday night in a home in the 200 block of North Brobst Street. The victim's boyfriend discovered her body when he went to check on her after not hearing back from his texts. Jakob Murray was arrested in Philadelphia, after telling police he went there to get heroin.
>>Additional Suspects Charged in Drug Operation Sting
(Reading, PA) -- Detectives in Reading have charged three more men in connection with Operation SmackDown, which resulted in the arrest of more than two dozen people allegedly involved a drug ring operation. Berks County District Attorney John Adams says in a news release that Roberto Mendez-Rodriguez of Reading is one of the accused. He and two men from New York are the additional suspects that reportedly were involved with the operation of heroin mills in the Bronx, NY and in Reading.
>>Suspect Tells Police He Set Home On Fire To Keep Warm
(York, PA) -- Northwest Regional police say a man who is a suspect in other arson investigations in southern York County has been arrested for breaking into a house and lighting a fire there. Robert Connor Castro of New Freedom told police he started the fire to keep warm. An affidavit says he allegedly entered a West Donegal Township home Sunday and started the fire using a butane torch and an aerosol can just before 2:30 a.m. Three people were sleeping inside the home at the time. They got out safely. Castro was later found standing about five houses away from the burning home, when a police officer recognized him as a suspect in other incidents. He is being held in Lancaster County Prison on one million dollars' bail.
>>Police Looking for Woman Suspect in Lancaster Shooting
(Lancaster, PA) -- City police are looking for and have charged a woman in a shooting case early Sunday. They believe Janieca Lynnette Rivera shot the man on Chesapeake Street near Lancaster County Central Park around 4:30 a.m. A news release says the victim is expected to recover but gives no other details of the circumstances of the shooting. Rivera was charged Monday with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and discharging a firearm. She had not been arrested as of Tuesday evening.
>>Phillies Lose Radio Announcer To Washington Nationals
(Philadelphia, PA) -- The Philadelphia Phillies are looking for a new radio color commentator. Kevin Frandsen has left the Phillies radio booth to join the Washington Nationals television broadcast team. The Philadelphia Business Journal reports Frandsen has spent the past four years in the Phillies' booth with play-by-play man Scott Franzke and color commentator Larry Anderson. He has been splitting duties with Anderson after the 2017 season.
>>Ted Cruz Visits Lehigh Valley to Stump for Dave McCormick's Senate Run
(Coplay, PA) -- Pennsylvania State Representative Dave McCormick has gotten some star stumping power at a campaign rally in Coplay. Tuesday, McCormick, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pat Toomey, was endorsed by Texas Senator Ted Cruz who came in person to support his fellow republican. The Lehigh Valley, where Toomey lives, was the site of McCormick's first public campaign appearance in the bid to replace the senator, who isn't running for reelection.
Union Contribution Bill Headed to State House for Full Consideration
(Harrisburg, PA) -- A bill sponsored by a republican representative from Berks/Lehigh that deals with union political contributions has been advanced in the state House. The Labor and Industry Committee on Tuesday approved House Bill 2048, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie. It would prohibit the use of the government payroll system to collect political contributions for public sector unions, though members still could donate on their own. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.
>>Officer Speaks on Son's Death
(Philadelphia, PA) -- A Philadelphia Police officer is speaking up after her son was shot and killed earlier this week. Officer Edwina Ferguson said yesterday that she was vacationing when she found out her son was gunned down. Her 23-year-old son was killed before sunrise Monday morning along West Allegheny Avenue in what started as a robbery. Ferguson said that she is heartbroken, and it goes to show that gun violence is an issue that doesn't exclude anyone, no matter what your job is. The young man was a student at the University of Pennsylvania. $30,000 is being offered for information that will lead to an arrest.
>>Ukraine Support Rally Comes Up This Weekend
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Local Ukrainians are coming together as tensions rise between Ukraine and Russia. There is a rally being organized for Sunday at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Folks will gather there and then march to Love Park. Thousands of people with Ukrainian ancestry live in the Philadelphia region.
>>Flyers Lose 13th Straight Game
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Nothing seems to be working right for the Philadelphia Flyers. The team has lost its 13th consecutive game following a one-point defeat last night against the New York Islanders. Philly last won a game back on December 29th. The Islanders will return home tomorrow night as they hope to get out of the slump.