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Coronavirus

Republicans unveil budget that puts pandemic funds in bank

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans who control the Pennsylvania General Assembly rolled out a $39.8 billion general fund budget plan Friday that would put into savings about $5 billion in federal coronavirus relief money and boost K-12 education funding by $300 million. It would pump $279 million into transportation infrastructure and direct $280 million to nursing homes and similar facilities, both drawing from the federal pandemic money. A summary by state House GOP leaders touted putting $2.5 billion into the rainy day fund and not spending much of the rest of the pandemic money ...

Vaccination rates increase while new cases drop

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Warren County hasn’t grown for the better part of a week. There were no new cases reported in the county in the past four days. But, because there were five new cases reported on June 18, the average is still one per day over that stretch. The ...

Budgeteers hashing out ed funding, use of coronavirus money

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's plans for its share of coronavirus relief and a potential boost in education funding are among the issues being negotiated as lawmakers and the governor entered the final week of their budget year on Thursday. Leaders said the 2021-22 budget could wrap ...

Area averaging less than one COVID case a day

Through half of June, there has been an average of less than one new case of COVID-19 per day in the county. At the start of the month, the Pennsylvania Department of Health was reporting a total of 2,622 cases in Warren County. As of Friday, June 18, that number is up to 2,638 – up 16. Of the total, 2,025 are confirmed and 613 are probables. There were three new cases this week, with two reported Thursday and one reported Tuesday. According to the department, there were no COVID-positive patients at Warren General Hospital. The number of COVID-related deaths of county residents ...

Lights of Love II vigil set for Sat.

Lights of Love II community vigil will be held Saturday to show support for those impacted by COVID-19. “COVID-19 has impacted our individual lives, our community, our country, and the entire world,” according to a release from Warren First Presbyterian Church. “It has caused suffering and brought death in unprecedented numbers. And it’s not over.” The first Lights of Love vigil was held on Feb. 19. The public is invited to join this visible demonstration of support. “Our vision is to have as many people as possible show up on Saturday evening, June19 and be in place ...

Panel OKs House GOP bill to ban employer vaccine mandates

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A ban on employers mandating vaccines for their workers inched ahead in the state House on Tuesday with a committee vote supported by all Republicans and opposed by every Democrat. The main sponsor, Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon, called it "a very simple question of workers' rights." Diamond has been a fervent opponent of coronavirus mitigation policies and has been publicly skeptical of mask wearing and vaccines. Labor and Industry Committee Chairman Jim Cox, R-Berks, said lawmakers were responding to increasing reports that employers are requiring vaccines, ...