Tuesday PA Capitol & Coronavirus NewsClips 3.17.20

House Cancels Session Tuesday, Wednesday, On A 12-Hour Call

Senate Cancels Session Tuesday, On A 12-Hour Call

Katie Meyer: Judge Denies Effort To Delay Bucks Special House Election Due To Coronavirus

AP: County Judge Rejects Bid To Delay Special Election In Philly Suburb

Bucks County Special Election To Go On Despite Coronavirus Concerns

Katie Meyer: A Plumber And A Funeral Director Face Off In Bellweather Special House Election In Bucks County

[Social Experiment - Republican Speaker Turzai Allows Special House Elections Today In Bucks, Mercer Westmoreland Counties To Go Ahead In The Face Of Coronavirus Warnings: It will be interesting to watch how many people actually come out to vote and how many poll workers (who are in the demographic most vulnerable to the coronavirus) are at their posts in the face of strong recommendations they stay home and avoid nonessential travel and groups of 10 or more as the CDC has recommended. Let's look at the numbers when they’re done.]

The Guardian: Ohio Leaders Call Off Primary Election Due To Coronavirus Concerns

The Guardian: Arizona, Florida, Illinois Still Hold Primaries, Georgia, Louisiana Delay

Erie County, State Working To Address Safety Of Voters, Poll Workers

Laura Olson: PA Officials Considering Whether To Change April 28 Primary Date

PA Legislature Will Vote Remotely As Coronavirus Spreads

Editorial: Sunshine [Transparency] Something We Need More Of In Our Democracy

AP: Prosecutors File Notice Of Appeal In Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Case

Some Northeast PA Colleges Will Offer Refunds, Credits To Students

Op-Ed: Raising PA’s Minimum Wage Will Cause Maximum Damage

Editorial: Too Many Rural Areas Have Limited Or No Internet Service

Editorial: Fare Breaks Are Agreat, But SEPTA’s Funding Future Still Cloudy

Other States/National/International
Attorney General, State Treasurer Endorse Joe Biden

Laura Olson: Toomey Worried Paid Sick Leave Provisions Of Virus Assistance Bill Too Costly For Businesses, Will Cost Jobs

Will Bunch: Republicans, Fox News Waged War On Science, With Coronavirus, Will Their Aging Fans Pay The Price?

Coronavirus
Dept. Of Health Reports 96 Virus Cases In PA; Next Live Update 2:00 TODAY
AP-Marc Levy/Mark Scolforo: State Health Dept. Aims To Open Up Public Virus Testing Sites
State Waives One Week Waiting Period For Unemployment, Workers’ Comp Benefits

Gov. Wolf Extends Coronavirus Mitigation Efforts Statewide, Urges Every Pennsylvanian To Take Action To Stop The Spread  [This Includes All The Announcements Made March 16]

AP: Governor Orders Statewide Shutdown Of All Nonessential Businesses 

Spotlight PA: Gov. Wolf Orders Statewide Shutdown Over Coronavirus

Ed Mahon: What Happens If Businesses Don’t Comply With Governor’s Order?

House Republicans Say Wolf’s Virus Shutdown Blindsided Small-Business Owners

Nonessential Business Owners Grin And Bear State-Ordered Closure

Coronavirus Forcing Businesses To Cut Back, Get Creative

Business Owners Fear Long-Term Impacts Of Wolf’s Order

Philadelphia Asks All Nonessential Businesses To Close

Philly Orders Shutdown Of Nonessential Businesses Due To Coronavirus 

Andrew Maykuth: Coronavirus Closures Deal A Crippling Bow To Philly Small Businesses

As Philly Restaurants Close, Food Is At Risk Of Going To Waste, Here’s How To Help

Allegheny County Asks All Nonessential Businesses To Close Voluntarily

Dept. Of Health Reports 76 Coronavirus Cases

Beaver County Officials Confirm First Coronavirus Case

Stephen Caruso: PA Senate Staffer Tested For Coronavirus After Showing Symptoms; Could Affect Session Schedule

Amid Virus Pandemic, What Information Should Be Made Public?

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Declares General Statewide Judicial Emergency

Judicial Emergency Allows County Judges To Suspend Jury Trials, Court Deadlines, More

Philly DA: Curb Low-Level Arrests To Slow Spread Of Coronavirus

Workers Affected By Coronavirus May Be Eligible For Unemployment, Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Out Of Work Because Of Coronavirus?  You May Qualify For Unemployment Benefits

Lost Income For Some, 12-Hour Days For Others: How Coronavirus Response Affects Workers

Did You Just Pay $39.99 For Toilet Paper?  Attorney General Wants To Know

WITF Smart Talk: Consumer Protection During The Coronavirus Is Attorney General’s Top Priority - TODAY 9:00 a.m.

PennDOT Suspends ALL Construction Projects Statewide, Closed District, County Offices, Licensing Centers

Liquor Control Board Will Close All Liquor Stores Statewide March 17; Close Website For Online Orders

Consumers Scramble As Liquor Stores Set To Close

People Make Mad Dash For Alcohol

PA Marijuana Dispensaries Call For Volunteer Caregivers, Ask State To Allow Home Deliveries

Gaming Control Board Suspends Gaming Operations For All Casinos

PUC Suspends Door-To-Door, In-Person Marketing By Energy Suppliers During Coronavirus Emergency

PUC: Utility, Internet Companies Act To Assist Consumers During Coronavirus Outbreak

PA Turnpike Temporarily Will Not Accept Cash To Safeguard Employee, Traveler Health

Dept. Of Drug & Alcohol Programs Encourages Provider Partnerships Outside Southeast Mitigation Region

DCNR Closing State Park, Forest Facilities Statewide, Open Spaces Will Remain Accessible 

ALL DEP Offices Statewide Are Closed Until March 31

DEP Cancels Hearings On Land Recycling Cleanup Standard Changes, Including PFAS, Lead; Comments Can Be Submitted Online

Fish & Boat Commission Sets Single, Statewide Opening Day For Trout Season For April 18, Eliminates Volunteer Role In Stocking

Brett Sholtis: PA Hospitals Rationing Protective Gear As Coronavirus Cases Grows

Paul Muschick: Don’t Bash Lehigh Valley Health System For Not Revealing Employee Being Tested For Virus

AP: Distilleries In PA Using High-Proof Alcohol To Make Hand Sanitizer

Centre County Emergency Responders, Hospital Take Steps To Prepare Coronavirus

Grocery Stores Say They Will Not Close Or Run Out Of Food Amid Shopping Surge

Many People Doing Many Great Things To Enable Students To Pick Up Lunches At Schools

Grab-And-Go Meal Distributions Begin At Luzerne Schools Amid Closures

Vulnerable Students Are Desperate As Coronavirus Shuts Down Philly Colleges

Penn Relays In Philadelphia Canceled For First Time In 125 Years

Pittsburgh Foundations Pledge $10 Million To Help Those Hardest Hit By Virus

Rachel McDevitt: United Way Offices Launching Fundraisers To Help During Pandemic

Some Lehigh Valley Golf Courses Plan To Remain Open As Voluntary Shutdown Begins

Coronavirus Shutdown Prompts SEPTA To Reduce Regional Rail, City Transit Service
Coronavirus Sends Penn National Stock Plunging As Investors Worry About Cash Flow

Editorial: State, Erie Dig Into Virus Fight

Mary Ann Thomas: Gun, Ammo Sales Soar, Permits Issued More Than Double In Western PA

I’m An Essential Business: PA Gun Shops Packed Ahead Of Coronavirus Closure
AP: Trump Wants Quick Checks Sent To Public In Virus Response

AP: Feds Tell Older People To Stay Home; All Ages To Avoid Crowds Of 10 Or More

AP: Trump Changes Tone, Gets Real On Virus Threat

EPA Adds To List Of Disinfectants To Use Against Coronavirus
Amazon Temporarily Suspends Shipment Of Non-Essential Items To Warehouses

AP: Amazon Seeks To Hire 100,000 To Keep Up With Surge In Orders

Immigration Courts Are Still Operating Despite The Spread Of Coronavirus

AP: Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson Reportedly Released From Hospital

AP: Global Shares Bounce After Wall St. Dive, Recession Warning

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FairDistrictsPA: Fix Our Broken Redistricting Process 

[Posted: March 17, 2020]