Tuesday PA Capitol & Coronavirus NewsClips 3.24.20

The House will be in voting session March 24 at 11:00 a.m.   Click Here To Watch Live.

The Senate has canceled voting session for March 24.  The Senate will be in voting session March 25.
Live Briefing: Secretary Of Health Provides Coronavirus Update TODAY at 2:00 p.m. Watch Live:  https://www.governor.pa.gov/live/ or facebook.com/governorwolf/  or pacast.com/live/doh

Dept. Of Health Reports 4 More Deaths From COVID-19, Statewide Cases Up To 851 [PaCN]
AP-Marc Levy, Michael Rubinkam, Mark Scolforo: Hospitals, Nursing Homes Warn Of Closures In PA

Micek: Lawmakers, Wolf, PA Hospitals Negotiating COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund 
Depts. Of Insurance, DHS Highlight Health Insurance Special Enrollment Periods, Availability Of Medicaid, CHIP Following COVID-19 Layoffs
Ford Turner: House Panel Takes First Step To Delay Primary To June 2

Op-Ed: Postponing PA Primary Is A Mistake - PA Republican Strategist

Spotlight PA: Legislature Pledges Transparency As It Prepares To Vote Remotely On COVID-19 Relief

Editorial: Senators Must Choose Transparency

COVID-19 Is Challenging Underdog Campaigns In PA Primary Election

Editorial: Get Counted: Go Online Or Call To Be Part Of Census

Dept. of Health Reports 6 Pennsylvanians Have Died As Result Of COVID-19

Gov. Wolf Issues Stay At Home Order, Guidance In 7 Counties; Schools To Remain Closed Statewide Thru April 6 [PaCN]

AP: Gov. Wolf To Issue Stay-At-Home Order For Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Monroe Counties

Philly And Suburbs Ordered To Stay Home; All Of NJ, DE Are Too

Pittsburgh Area Police Confident Businesses Will Comply With Shutdown Order

PA State Police Issue 27 Warnings To Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses On First Day Of Enforcement

Dept. Of Transportation Reopens Additional Rest Areas

Dept. Of Agriculture/DHS Reminder Of Food Assistance Programs Available, Encourages Volunteerism

COVID-19 Math Shows The Importance Of Social Distancing, Horrible Consequences Of Not Doing It

Philadelphia To Open Quarantine Facility For People Who Can’t Go Home

First Day Of Testing Goes Smoothly In Williamsport For Those Screened By A Physician

Emergency Departments Brace For Patient Surge: Calm Before The Storm
Easton Hospital Needs $40 Million By Wednesday Or It Will Close April 1

Dept. Of Education: All K-12 Schools Will Remain Closed Until April 6 [PaCN]

Spotlight: Wolf Extends School Closures To April 6, Issues Stay-At-Home Order In 7 Counties

With PA Schools Closed Until April (At Least), Educators Face Test Of Serving Student Remotely

Jan Murphy: Wolf Imposes Freeze On Hiring, Nonessential Purchases By State Government

Jan Murphy: State Adjust Works Schedules For Agency Employees, Amid Other Changes

Dept. Of Health Reports 165 New Cases Of Coronavirus, PA Total 644 

Spotlight PA: Governor’s Office Says Wolf Was Tested For Virus, Then Backtracks

Editorial: Lack Of Clarity In Communicating Hurting The Message Amid Pandemic

Stephen Caruso: State Human Service Workers Say Their Offices Aren’t Prepared For COVID-19

SCI-Retreat To Be Used For Inmate Quarantine
Micek: House Resolution Blames COVID-19 Outbreak On Our Presumptuous Sins

For Those Battling Alcoholism, COVID-19 Shuttered State Stores Is Added Danger
PHEAA Meeting Amid Outbreak Sets Double Standard, Transparency Advocates Say
PA School Employees Retirement Fund - Guidance To Employers Reporting To PSERS

WITF Smart Talk: Security Of Food Supply, Helping Older Adults
Small Business Development Center March 25 Webinar On SBA Emergency Loan Process

$61 Million In Low-Interest Loans To Be Made Available To PA Small Business Owners

From Virtual Home Remodelling Tools To Fighting For Dry Cleaning Businesses Adjust To Shutdown Orders

Giant Eagle To Pause Reusable Bag Program, Install Plexiglas Dividers

Sheetz Making Changes To Food Service Over COVID-19 Concerns

CVS To Pay Bonuses To Employees Required To Work During Virus Outbreak

Centre County Businesses Find Creative Ways To Give Back To Community During Shutdown

Butler County To Furlough Nonessential Staff

Rural, Smaller Communities In PA Face Different Challenges As COVID-19 Spreads

Lancaster County Gasoline Prices Sink To Lowest Mark Since 2016 

Centre County Transit Cuts Service, Will Continue Serving Those Who Need It Most

Insurance Dept. Issues Guidance To Regulated Entities On COVID-19 Outbreak, Urges Flexibility

DCNR Extends Closure Of Facilities, Canceled All Activities Until April 30 Due To COVID-19; Open Spaces Will Remain Accessible [PaEN]

PIAA Further Delays Start Of Spring Sports

Transfer Of Federal Inmates To Lewisburg Prison From NYC, Other Areas Raises Concerns

Feds Said It Halted Prison Transfers, But They’re Still Happening

Click Here For This Week’s PA Coronavirus NewsClips

Tuesday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips 3.24.20 -- Click Here

National

Laura Olson: Casey, Cong. Wild Call For Emergency Health Insurance Enrollment Period

Infectious Disease Expert Tries To Make White House Listen To Facts Of Pandemic

AP: Trump Says He Intends To Reopen Country In Weeks, Not Months

AP: Congressional Negotiators Close On Nearly $2 Trillion Virus Aid Package
AP: Stocks Surge Toward Huge Gains On Hopes For U.S. Virus Aid

Reuters: U.S. States, Cities Desperate For COVID-19 Help, Military Prepares

AP: Arizona Death Prompts Warning Against Chloroquine Phosphate Touted By Trump

Oct. 1 Deadline For REAL ID Will Be Pushed Back

AP: Asian Stocks Rise After U.S. Fed Promises Economic Support

Helpful Resources:

Click Here for latest PA Capitol NewsClips & News (Daily Subscriber Email 2:00)

Like PA Capitol News on Facebook

Follow PA Capitol News on Twitter

Click Here for latest Environmental NewsClips & News (Daily Subscriber Email 2:00)

Like PA Environment Digest on Facebook

Follow PA Environment Digest on Twitter

Read Weekly PA Environment Digest

FairDistrictsPA: Fix Our Broken Redistricting Process 

[Posted: March 24, 2020]