Wednesday PA Capitol & Coronavirus NewsClips 3.18.20

Senate Returns To Session Wednesday To Pass Rules Allowing Remote Voting

Spotlight PA: Senate To Consider Changing Remove Voting Rules In Response To Virus

House is on 12-hour call

AP: Republicans Sweep 3 Special House Elections

Republican Wins Westmoreland House Seat With Estimated 20% Turnout

Mainly Older Bucks County Voters Saw Special Election Too Important To Stay Home, Even To Avoid Virus

Katie Meyer: Bucks Special Election Candidates Bump Elbows, Carry Sanitizer To Slow Polling Places, Mainly Older Voters Turned Out

Jan Murphy: PA State Workers, Retirees Will Continue To Get Their Checks On Time

Lawmakers Suspend Visits To Offices [Many More Have Done The Same]

Attorney General's Office Receives Over 1,100 Price Gouging Complaints [PaCN]

PA Supreme Court Justice David Wecht Self-Quarantines With Family

Sen. Mastriano: Waive HIPAA Medical Privacy Laws During Virus Outbreak Or We’ll Have Blood On Our Hands

Op-Ed: Surprise Medical Billing Will Discourage People From Seeking Virus Treatment

Editorial: Insulin Prices, Administration Trying To Control Rising Costs

Penn National Gaming Suspending Construction On 2 Mini-Casinos

Penn State, Football Coach Seek Dismissal Of Player Harassment Lawsuit

Op-Ed: Made In America Is A Mantra We Should Follow

Coronavirus
Dept. Of Health Reports 133 Cases Of Coronavirus In PA; Next Live Update At 2:00 p.m. [PaCN]
Gov. Wolf Requests Disaster Declaration For Small Businesses, Nonprofits To Obtain Loans [PaCN]
AP: Trump Invokes Emergency Authority To Keep Production Of Essential Products Going; Big 3 Automakers To Shutdown
Cong. Matt Carwright Self-Quarantining After Contact With Confirmed Coronavirus Patient
Dept. Of Human Services Releases Coronavirus Operational Recommendations For Child Care Providers, Closure Exceptions, Waivers [PaCN]
Dept. Of Aging Releases Coronavirus Guidance For Adult Day Centers, Aging Services Programs [PaCN]
State Police Issues Statement On PA Instant Background Check System For Firearms Purchases [PaCN]
Pennsylvanians Urged To Respond To 2020 U.S. Census Early [PaCN]

Dept. Of Health Reports 96 Virus Cases In PA [PaCN]

AP-Marc Levy/Mark Scolforo: State Health Dept. Aims To Open Up Public Virus Testing Site, Job Losses Spike
AP: Coronavirus Layoffs Spark Surge In State Jobless Claims [PA Claims 70,000 In One Day] 

Stephen Caruso: Drive-Through Testing Sites Planned In Philly Area For Those Who Exhibit Symptoms

State Preparing To Open Two Public Testing Sites In Montgomery County, Philadelphia

Virus Testing Sites In Philadelphia Draw Worried Crowds From Around Region

Cumberland County Man With Virus Describes Difficulty Getting Tested

Health Secretary: Would Not Surprise Us If Virus Cases Start Increasing

Philadelphia Confirms Community Spread, Anticipates Surge At Hospitals

Allegheny County Health: 40-60% Of Adults Likely To Get Coronavirus

Dept. Of Labor & Industry: Employers May Be Eligible For Relief From Unemployment Comp Charges Due To Coronavirus Disaster

Editorial: What Are Essential Businesses In PA?

Daycare Centers Can Request Waiver From Closure If Serving Health Care Workers, First Responders

PA Coalition Unveils Plan Aimed At Protecting Most Vulnerable During Virus Crisis

PennLive.com To Host Facebook Chat Live At Noon On How To Stay Sane During A Pandemic

Op-Ed: Coronavirus Stressing You Out?  Here’s How To Cope

WITF Smart Talk: Virus’ Impact On ER’s, Schools And Prisons - TODAY 9:00 a.m.

Parents Keep Kids Busy With Theme Days, Couch-To-5K Plans, And Play-Doh

Dept. Of Human Services Closes All County Assistance Offices, Encourages Use Of Online Services [PaCN]

DHS Releases Coronavirus Telehealth Guidelines For Behavioral Health Services [PaCN]

Dept. Of Agriculture Directs Families To Emergency Food Assistance [PaCN]

Agriculture Is An Essential Business For Safe, Reliable Food Supply [PaCN]

PA National Guard Troops Assist 38 Residents Returning From Quarantine In Georgia [PaCN]

Sen. Killion Proposes Zero-Interest Loan Program To Aid PA Small Businesses Affected By Coronavirus

Sen. Killion Seeks $125 Million For Small Business Help

Truckers Extremely Disappointed PennDOT Closed Rest Stops

UPMC Shuns Health Experts’ Calls To Cancel Elective Surgeries

Triage Tents Going Up At Geisinger Hospitals To Prevent Virus Spread

PA, NJ Race To Add Hospital Beds, Testing As Virus Spreads

Fox Chapel Student Exposed To Coronavirus Visited High School

Penn In Philadelphia Forces International Students To Leave Due To Coronavirus

Giant Foods Sets Early Morning Shopping Hour For Senior Citizens

Giant Foods Hiring Temp, Part-Time Workers To Meet Demand From Shopping Surge

PJM Reports Electricity Usage Down Across The Region
Police In Central PA Won’t Respond To Some Calls To Avoid Coronavirus

Coronavirus Prompts Calls For Release Of Inmates From Allegheny County Jail

With Philly Courts Closed, Police Stop Low-level Arrests To Manage Jail Crowding

40 to 50 Inmates To Be Released From Mercer County Jail Due To Virus Concerns

Luzerne County Changes Policies On Issuing Marriage Licenses, Pauses Gun Permits Because Too Many People In Line

Grief Takes A Back Seat To Pandemic At Luzerne Funeral Homes

Portable Toilets Replace Public Restrooms, Food Courts Closed Along PA Turnpike

You Probably Won’t Get A Parking Ticket During Quarantine In Philadelphia

Amtrak To Suspend Pennsylvania Passenger Trains

National Park Service Closes Western PA Visitor Centers

Editorial: Life Goes On, Even With Coronairus Disruptions

Editorial: Our New, New Normal With Coronavirus

Editorial: Short-Term Crisis Reveals Need For Better State Health Policy

AP: Tax Deadline Will Be Delayed 90 Days Due To Virus

Deb Erdley: Toomey: Red Tape Hampers Federal Coronavirus Response

Laura Olson: Federal Bureaucracy Held Up Virus Testing At Lehigh Valley Lab Until Toomey Made A Call

U.S. Republican Senators Ask Saudis To Stabilize Oil Market

AP: Asian Stocks Rise, Backslide After Trump Promises Virus Aid

FT: Global Rally Loses Steam As European Stocks Fall

Influenza 

Influenza Deaths Increase In History-Setting Season, State Reports 93 People Have Died

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PA Environment & Energy NewsClips 3.18.20 -- Click Here

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FairDistrictsPA: Fix Our Broken Redistricting Process 

[Posted: March 18, 2020]