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LATEST NEPA CORONAVIRUS NEWS

Luzerne County Responds Amid Investigation Over Discarded Military Ballots

On Friday, September 25, 2020, Luzerne County Manager C. David Pedri issued a twelve point press release, in response to the investigation into reports of potential issues with a small number of mail-in ballots at the Luzerne County Board of Elections. Here are the twelve points FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Luzerne County’s Response to the Requested Investigation of UMOVA Ballots Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (September 25, 2020) 1. The Luzerne County Elections Bureau began transmitting Uniformed Military and Overseas Voters Act (UMOVA) ballots for the November 2020 general election on August 25, 2020 in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of State 2020 Election Calendar. UMOVA ballots are provided to US citizens living aboard and military voters. 2. The Luzerne County Elections Bureau has a longstanding practice of adding temporary seasonal independent contractors to assist with office tasks in the months leading up to an election. 3. One individual was contracted to assist with the 2020 General Election as a temporary seasonal independent contractor and began work on Monday, September 14, 2020. This contractor was assigned to sort the mail received by the Elections Bureau. 4. During the afternoon of Wednesday, September 16, 2020 it was discovered by Luzerne County Elections Director Shelby Watchilla, that this contractor incorrectly discarded into the office trash UMOVA ballots. Ms. Watchilla immediately began an internal inquiry and informed her direct supervisor. 5. The temporary independent contractor was removed from service and informed not to return. 6. After the internal inquiry was completed, Ms. Watchilla contacted Luzerne County Office of Law who researched the matter and advised that this needed to be reported to the authorities. An official request was immediately made by County staff to the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office for investigation and assistance. 7. All garbage from the Elections Bureau from Monday, September 14 through Wednesday September 16 (the time period when this independent contractor was present on County property) was placed in a dumpster and secured by Luzerne County staff. Each bag of garbage from the entire building in the dumpster was searched by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police as well as Luzerne County staff. All items of concern were taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. 2 8. Luzerne County Elections staff were unaware for whom the ballots were cast until the disclosure via Press Release of the United States Attorney on September 24, 2020. 9. Upon return of the ballots currently held by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the County will attempt to contact the voters involved and process their votes. The County encourages all individuals who have already mailed their UMOVA ballots back to Luzerne County to check their ballot status at the Pennsylvania Department of State website (www.dos.pa.gov). 10. Elections Bureau Director Shelby Watchilla discovered the activity listed above and initiated this investigation. The County is fully cooperating with the investigation and thanks the US Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office for their professional work. 11. Luzerne County will be providing supplemental extensive training to both full time staff and temporary seasonal independent contractors and has a security camera in the Elections Bureau to actively monitor and ensure that all staff are strictly adhering to proper procedures and protocols. The Pennsylvania Department of State has also been contacted to provide additional assistance regarding training and best practices. 12. Mail in ballots for the general public are on track to be mailed out starting on October 5, 2020. All additional training and updates for staff will be completed by that date. While the actions of this individual has cast a concern, the above statement shows that the system of checks and balances set forth in Pennsylvania elections works. An error was made, a public servant discovered it and reported it to law enforcement at the local, State and Federal level who took over to ensure the integrity of the system in place. The Luzerne County voters should be assured that the election will move forward with transparency and integrity. Every properly cast vote will be counted. While the actions of this individual has cast a concern, the above statement shows that the system of checks and balances set forth in Pennsylvania elections works. An error was made, a public servant discovered it and reported it to law enforcement at the local, State and Federal level who took over to ensure the integrity of the system in place. The Luzerne County voters should be assured that the election will move forward with transparency and integrity. Every properly cast vote will be counted.C.David Pedri County ManagerLuzerne County, Pennsylvania

September 25, 2020

Pa. Prison COVID Unemployment Scam Unravels

HARRISBURG― Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced state charges against 20 inmates and accomplices in three state prisons in central and eastern Pennsylvania. These arrests are linked to at least two existing rings, or organized groups of inmates and outside accomplices who conspired to provide false information on COVID-19 unemployment benefit applications.“After announcing our first round of arrests in these COVID unemployment scams, I promised that there were more to come,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “Today, 20 more individuals have been charged with illegally taking benefits away from hard-working Pennsylvanians who are struggling during this crisis. These arrests are not the end of our investigation, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues at the federal level to track down those heading these schemes, along with those who are willfully participating and breaking the law.”The first and larger ring was operated in Centre County, out of State Correctional Institution (SCI) Benner. The second ring was operated in Schuylkill County, out of SCI Mahanoy.The Benner ring included two ringleaders and eight additional co-conspirator inmates. Adele Moore, of State College, and James G. Neff Zonge, an inmate at SCI Benner, began operating the fraud ring out of SCI Benner after Moore successfully applied for COVID-19 unemployment benefits on behalf of Neff Zonge. Moore and Neff Zonge established a system in which Moore would use an inmate’s personal identifying information, apply for COVID-19 benefits from her address, and then give the inmate a portion of the collected benefits. Moore would often keep the majority of the money for her own personal use. In total, the SCI Benner ring obtained $153,470 in fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits.The Mahanoy ring included two ringleaders, Wendy Danfora and Markal Munford, as well as two additional inmates. Danfora, of York, also took the personal identifying information of her inmate co-conspirators to apply for COVID-19 unemployment benefits. As part of the scheme, Danfora gave a portion of the benefits to the inmates, but kept the majority for her personal use. In total, the SCI Mahanoy ring obtained $109,900 in fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits.There were also six individual inmates arrested without any known links to a ring. These arrests are part of an ongoing investigation by the Office of Attorney General in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the eastern district of Pennsylvania.Individuals are only eligible for PUA benefits if they are both unemployed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic and available to work. In order to receive benefits, an individual must access the PUA website and file a PUA claim. The applicant is required to enter personal identifying information and answer eligibility questions. Individuals who are serving a sentence of incarceration, or who are detained pending a criminal trial, are neither available for work nor unemployed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, they are not eligible to receive PUA benefits for the period of their incarceration.Individuals who apply for emergency unemployment benefits when they are employed or incarcerated are breaking federal and state law. Individuals found to be involved with organized efforts to obtain emergency unemployment benefits illegally can face significant prison time and financial penalties. In some instances, like the arrests today, ringleaders of these schemes can face over 60 years, and their co-conspirators can face well over 40 years.To read the full press release from the office of the Attorney General, click here.

September 23, 2020

NBC Today Show: How the Pandemic Is Affecting Small Business In Scranton

NBC's Today Show aired a story about the affect the pandemic has had on local business in Scranton. Watch the story below in the video player, or click here

September 23, 2020

Judge Denies Wolf Request for Stay of Ruling Over Crowd Size Limitations

Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf received some bad news in Pittsburgh. The same federal judge, who previously invalidated key parts of the Wolf administration response to the COVID19 pandemic, declined to stay his own ruling. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV ruled that the Wolf administration did not show that “imminent and irreparable harm” would occur if the Governor’s crowd size limits were removed. The administration’s pandemic response currently limits event crowds to 25 people inside and 250 people outside.Wolf had hoped to have Stickman’s ruling stayed, while his administration worked on their appeal. The judge stated that the currently imposed crowd size limitations violated citizens’ constitutional right to assemble. The often mentioned “double standard” was used when explaining why the stay was rejected. Stickman said the state failed to provide an adequate explanation as to why they felt the need to impose strict crowd size regulations on “social, political, cultural, and other gatherings,” but failed to impose the same kinds of strict regulations to commercial businesses who often have hundreds of patrons shopping inside.In the days since the original September 14th ruling, changes to the Governor’s orders have already been put into action. Most notably, many Pennsylvania school districts have announced plans to boost the number of fans allowed in attendance at high school football games.While another setback, Wolf announced his administration will continue to appeal. Next stop: 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.

September 22, 2020

COVID-19 Exposure Notification Mobile App Goes Live In Pennsylvania

Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of the Department of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today launched the COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app, COVID Alert PA, to help fight the spread of the virus. The app, COVID Alert PA, is now available, free to smartphone users. You can download the app from the Apple App store or Google Play store.“The last seven months have shown that we are most successful when we unite against COVID-19 and work together for the common good, and I am proud to be here with Dr. Levine to announce an important new technology that will allow us to do just that,” Gov. Wolf said. “Today, we are launching the COVID Alert PA mobile app. This app is a simple tool you can use to help fight COVID-19 every day, everywhere you go. I encourage you to visit your app store and download it for free today.”“We all play a part in stopping the spread of COVID-19, which is why I am encouraging every Pennsylvanian to add their phone to the fight and download COVID Alert PA today,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “By utilizing this technology, we can quickly notify more people who have been exposed to COVID-19. This innovative solution will enhance our COVID-19 response and give residents another tool to stay calm, stay alert and stay safe all in the palm of their hands.”COVID Alert PA uses Exposure Notification System technology developed by Apple and Google. The app can detect if you have been in close contact with another user who later tested positive for COVID-19 and will send a notification to your phone called a “COVID-19 Exposure Alert”. If you tap on the notification, you will be given public health guidance on what to do next.More information about COVID Alert PA can be found here

September 22, 2020

Special Edition Bi Polar concerns during the pandemic, MOM's program at the Wright Center, A message from the PA Dept of Health for students

September 19 and 20 Joining us on behalf of Abbvie , Dr. Kathy Flanagan a Board Certified Psychiatrist and President of the Houston Medical Forum, who specials in Mood Disorders . The Wright Center for Community Health in Scranton received a grant for their MOM’s Program from the US Department of Health and Human Services. Entercom’s Frank Andrews spoke with Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak CEO of the Wright Center about the program and how the grant will be used. PA Dept of Health Dr Rachel Levine with a message for college and university students across the Commonwealth. Details from Atty Mark Scaringi out of Harrisburg on a judge’s decision earlier this week regarding the pandemic shutdown in the state.

September 21, 2020

Pelosi to church: 'Follow science' on COVID-19 restrictions

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed back Friday against the Catholic archbishop of San Francisco's criticism of COVID-related restrictions, saying he should “follow science” rather than advocate for fuller in-person gatherings for Mass and worship. Asked about Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone's recent op-ed protesting limits on larger public gatherings, Pelosi, a practicing Catholic, said he should not be putting people's lives at risk. “With all due respect to my archbishop, I think we should follow science on this,” Pelosi said. The right to worship has become a fierce touchstone in the debate over state and local rules to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The bishop said worshipers' rights are being “unjustly repressed” by the government. Nationwide, several churches are suing to halt restrictions. “We recognize that the government has a right to impose reasonable public health rules,” he wrote in The Washington Post. “But when government asserts authority over the church’s very right to worship, it crosses a line.” Pelosi said she attended in-person service recently in her San Francisco hometown, and received communion — picking up the wafer from the priest, as is allowed, rather than having it placed directly on the tongue. She regularly joins online services. “I miss going to church regularly,” she said. The California Democrat said she had to sign up in advance to attend, and found about a dozen people spread out once she arrived. “Very, very, very spaced,” she said. She questioned whether the archbishop's message was misunderstood. “I'm sure he must have meant if it is scientifically safe, rather than jeopardizing people's health if they want to go to church,” she said. Pelosi noted that faith and science are sometimes seen at odds. “Around here, people say to me, You're a person of faith, why do you believe in science?" she said. “I say, I believe science is an answer to our prayers. It is a creation of God, and one that is an answer to our prayers.”

September 18, 2020

Push is underway to test COVID-19 vaccines in diverse groups

TAKOMA PARK, Md. (AP) — In front of baskets of tomatoes and peppers, near a sizzling burrito grill, the “promotoras” stop masked shoppers at a busy Latino farmers market: Want to test a COVID-19 vaccine? Aided by Spanish-speaking “health promoters” and Black pastors, a stepped-up effort is underway around the U.S. to recruit minorities to ensure potential vaccines against the scourge are tested in the populations most ravaged by the virus. Many thousands of volunteers from minority groups are needed for huge clinical trials underway or about to begin. Scientists say a diverse group of test subjects is vital to determining whether a vaccine is safe and effective for everyone and instilling broad public confidence in the shots once they become available. The expanded outreach by vaccine researchers and health officials is getting a late start in communities that, because of a history of scientific exploitation and racism, may be the most reluctant to roll up their sleeves. Just getting the word out takes time. “I didn’t know anything about the vaccine until now,” said Ingrid Guerra, who signed up last week at the farmers market in Takoma Park, Maryland, outside the nation’s capital. The health promoters from CASA, a Hispanic advocacy group, explained how the research process works and how a vaccine could help end the coronavirus pandemic. “I’m not afraid,” Guerra decided. “I want to participate for me, my family, my people.” University of Maryland researchers agreed to set up a temporary lab at CASA's local community center so that people struggling financially wouldn’t have to travel to participate. The hardest part, many experts say, is gaining trust. “A white guy from NIH is probably not going to be as effective by far in convincing somebody from a minority community that this is the kind of science they might want to trust, as would a doctor from their own community,” said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. Recruiting African Americans in particular will be “a heavy, heavy lift,” Collins said, because of the legacy of mistrust after the infamous Tuskegee experiment, when Black men in Alabama were left untreated for syphilis as part of a study that ran from the 1930s into the ‘70s. Some Black doctors, too, are wrestling with doubts. Dr. Tina Carroll-Scott, medical director of the South Miami Children's Clinic, described a “really, really tough” time, considering the political influence that the Trump administration has exerted on long-trusted health agencies like the Food and Drug Administration. “Wondering whether that's going to affect the trials and even the vaccine that comes out I think are all valid concerns,” said Carroll-Scott, who ultimately decided to recommend the studies. "We know that Blacks and Latinos are bearing the brunt of this virus and, yeah, we definitely need to make sure that this vaccine works for them.” In the U.S., Black, Latino, Native Americans and Asians are more at risk of hospitalization and death from the coronavirus. Together they make up nearly 40% of the U.S. population, and an equitable vaccine study would match those demographics, though health officials would like to see even greater numbers. As Moderna Inc. neared its goal of 30,000 study participants, some sites slowed recruitment in recent weeks to increase minority enrollment, now at about 28%. Pfizer Inc., which recently asked the FDA for permission to expand to 44,000 volunteers, says about a quarter of its U.S. participants are from communities of color, more when counting trial sites in Brazil and Argentina. Both companies are having the most success in recruiting Hispanics. “It’s really important that this vaccine work for everyone, or if it doesn’t, that we understand why,” said Dr. Susanne Doblecki-Lewis of the University of Miami, who is helping to test the Moderna vaccine. Researchers might need to compare the different vaccines “and see how one might better fit a population than another.” A lack of diversity in the research would have ripple effects once any vaccine is approved for widespread use. Even before final testing began, a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found just 25% of African Americans and 37% of Hispanics would get a vaccine once it's available, compared with 56% of whites. “If and when we have a vaccine ready, if you didn’t have enrollment of minorities, then people are going to say, ‘Why should I put the vaccine in myself?’” said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University, another study site. Yet too often, when Dr. Christian Ramers of Family Health Centers of San Diego tries to recruit, he is told: “How can you possibly expect me to be a guinea pig when time and again we’ve volunteered our community members and not seen the benefits of the research?” Theresa Hagen of Miami Beach, Florida, hopes she is a role model for other African Americans considering volunteering. “I may be part of history right here,” she said after enrolling in the University of Miami's study. The research “benefits not only African Americans but everyone in general.” Researchers are gearing up to recruit thousands more volunteers over the next two months, as shots made by Johnson & Johnson and Novavax enter final testing and a paused study from AstraZeneca is expected to resume in the U.S. NIH this week began a program to better inform minority populations about the vaccine studies — and other COVID-19 information — and awarded $12 million to help form “community engagement” teams in 11 especially hard-hit states. And as part of the NIH’s COVID-19 Prevention Network, the Rev. Edwin Sanders II of the Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in Nashville is heading a separate national project for “faith ambassadors” and clergy to dispel misinformation about vaccines and research. “We’re not trying to twist anybody’s arm,” said Sanders, who has spent decades working with AIDS researchers to increase Black participation in studies of HIV vaccines and treatments. People will have reasonable questions and fears, he said. The key is bringing them together with scientists and trusted community leaders for respectful, open conversations. “We’re trying to change consciousness and change mindset,” Sanders said. “It’s not a quick fix.” ___ Neergaard reported from Alexandria, Virginia. Associated Press video journalist Cody Jackson in Miami contributed to this report. —- The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

September 18, 2020

Anti-Mask Protest Leads to Public Shaming By Rocker

Are they idiots or heroes? What would you call these anti-mask protestors from Florida? This past weekend, a group of masked people in Florida organized inside a Target store. Then, when the time was right, they cranked up their music, removed their masks, and marched through the store. The protestors called on Americans to “breath” and encouraged people in the store to “take off your mask”. The demonstration was set up as part of something called “Burn Your Mask Day”, with the goal of “spreading some freedom dust over the shoppers and employees.”After the video went viral, critics began to speak out against the stunt. One of those critics was Dee Snider. Snider, best known as the lead singer of the band Twisted Sister, wasn’t happy that the protestors marched to his group’s anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” The always outspoken Snider made it clear that the “retail rabble-rousers” needed to cut it out. Snider further distanced himself from protestors, telling the group they don’t have “my permission or blessing to use my song for their moronic cause.” More on Dee Snider's comments here.

September 17, 2020

Pa. Supreme Court Issues Ruling on Mail-In Voting Law

Pennsylvania's highest court handed victories to the Democratic Party in an election-related lawsuit which sought favorable fixes to glitches and gray areas in the Commonwealth’s fledgling mail-in voting law. The Pa. State Supreme Court also granted the Democratic Party's request for an extension of Pennsylvania's Election Day deadline. After this decision, mail-in ballots will be allowed to be counted for three days after Election day. The court also authorized the use of satellite election offices and drop boxes. Philadelphia is planning to use satellite election offices and drop boxes to help relieve the pressure from an expected avalanche of mail-in ballots coming from the city’s heavily populated suburbs.The Pennsylvania State Supreme Court currently has a 5-2 Democratic Majority.President Trump reacted to the court decision on Twitter:State Supreme Court in Pennsylvania just affirmed that Ballot harvesting remains illegal. We will be watching that the Democrats do not Ballot Harvest - a felony. In other words, the Republican Party won on the atrocious Ballot Harvesting Scam...— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 17, 2020

September 17, 2020