COVID Status
Glorious weather offers respite from the pandemic; reopening plans continue as cases and deaths grow
https://www.inquirer.com/news/coronavirus-wolf-murphy-philadelphia-pandemic-reopening-golf-20200502.html
‘Open Pa.’s doors’: Protesters voice opinion of Gov. Wolf’s handling of pandemic
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2020/05/02/open-pa-s-doors-protesters-tell-gov-wolf-his-house/3056476001/
Editorial: Wolf needs consistent message
https://triblive.com/opinion/editorial-wolf-needs-consistent-message/
No hard and fast rules for counties to go from red to yellow
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/05/02/No-hard-fast-rules-for-counties-to-go-from-red-to-yellow/stories/202005020055
Vigilance needed: Opportunists leverage crisis to erode civil liberties
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/05/03/Vigilance-needed-Opportunists-leverage-crisis-to-erode-civil-liberties/stories/202005010017
Pennsylvania reports new virus cases, deaths in NEPA
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/coronavirus/pennsylvania-reports-new-virus-cases-deaths-in-region-1.2624545
Coronavirus: A long wait to reopen in Southeastern Pa.
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20200502/coronavirus-long-wait-to-reopen-in-southeastern-pa
5 actions Pa. lawmakers took last week on coronavirus crisis: outdoor recreation, telemdicine, new funding for hospitals
https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-pa-coronavirus-lawmakers-actions-outdoors-telemedicine-20200503-5fpvyd52rreddmnz4ny5dwdlqa-story.html
Pa.’s death toll for Philadelphia lags behind city’s count, part of state’s ongoing struggle to compile timely data
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/spl/pennsylvania-philadelphia-coronavirus-death-toll-20200502.html
What you know about coronavirus victims in Pennsylvania depends on where you live
https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-information-sharing-and-privacy-20200503-jfuh4i565rgmpno52uhzhvsp5i-story.html
Gene Therapy: Is mental health the pandemic after the pandemic?
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/gene-collier-columns/2020/05/02/Gene-Collier-therapy-CORVID-19-mental-health-Gallup-statistics/stories/202005020015
As pandemic rages and we desperately need good science, Trump denigrates true experts
https://www.timesonline.com/opinion/20200503/as-pandemic-rages-and-we-desperately-need-good-science-trump-denigrates-true-experts
Revenue
Pennsylvania revenue plunges in April, due mainly due to extending filing deadlines, officials say
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/coronavirus/pennsylvania-revenue-plunges-in-april-due-mainly-due-to-extending-filing-deadlines-officials-say/article_193b020e-4b73-5ece-a923-e6b8f25d8a4f.html
Gov. Tom Wolf says he won’t abandon ambitious spending plan as massive budget deficit looms
https://www.meadvilletribune.com/coronavirus/gov-tom-wolf-says-he-won-t-abandon-ambitious-spending-plan-as-massive-budget-deficit/article_0d1f8a01-609c-571c-9c26-855bd3e8fd8c.html
Justice/Law
Domestic abuse: Hidden threat during pandemic
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/coronavirus/domestic-abuse-hidden-threat-during-pandemic/article_37f69f28-8b24-11ea-a7cb-3f9c4bd7ffb1.html
Juvenile justice during COVID-19 is closer to no justice at all | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/coronavirus-covid-prison-jail-juvenile-justice-youth-20200503.html
Stay-at-home orders tax addicts’ resilience
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/stay-at-home-orders-tax-addicts-resilience/article_350f44ff-0362-5c93-af44-b1c7cc473159.html
Essential Workers
These heroes of the coronavirus pandemic may be forgotten – until you need them
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/these-heroes-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic-may-be-forgotten-until-you-need-them.html
Letter to the Editor: An open letter to nurses, staff at Brighton Rehab
https://www.timesonline.com/opinion/20200503/letter-to-editor-open-letter-to-nurses-staff-at-brighton-rehab
Advocates: COVID-19 crisis heightens risks for foster youth
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20200503/advocates-covid-19-crisis-heightens-risks-for-foster-youth
Pa. leads nation in virus-stricken meat plant workers, CDC says
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2020/05/03/Pa-leads-nation-in-virus-stricken-meat-plant-workers-CDC-says/stories/202005030095
State and federal government seek to shore up meat supply
https://www.meadvilletribune.com/coronavirus/state-and-federal-government-seek-to-shore-up-meat-supply/article_bb6dc4a4-f78e-53b9-b11b-f23982896fc5.html
Thanks to coronavirus, volunteer fire companies face uncertain future
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/thanks-to-coronavirus-volunteer-fire-companies-face-uncertain-future-1.2624513
His final days: Ambridge police chief widow tells how a COVID-caused stroke killed her husband
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200503/his-final-days-ambridge-police-chief-widow-tells-how-covid-caused-stroke-killed-her-husband
Nursing Homes
Calls to uncover secret COVID-19 numbers at some Pa. nursing homes grow louder
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/calls-to-uncover-secret-covid-19-numbers-at-some-pa-nursing-homes-grow-louder.html
Lawmaker calls for increased inspection of nursing homes
https://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/local_news/lawmaker-calls-for-increased-inspection-of-nursing-homes/article_eab27607-a90b-5964-a9e0-bc5ad873cb89.html
As COVID-19 cases in Pa. nursing homes increase, so does frustration with reporting process
https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/article242234566.html#storylink=cpy
‘Tinder boxes’: Secret data reveal how COVID-19 swept through Philadelphia nursing homes
https://www.inquirer.com/news/coronavirus-nursing-homes-philadelphia-data-farley-deaths-rates-20200503.html
Education
Schools brace for budget cuts as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the economy
https://www.inquirer.com/education/school-budgets-funding-coronavirus-pennsylvania-new-jersey-20200503.html
Editorial: School funding inequity affects online learning
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/coronavirus/editorial-school-funding-inequity-affects-online-learning/article_227f395b-f473-5389-8cf0-f45bb3fd6182.html
Pandemic plays havoc with school budgets
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/pandemic-plays-havoc-with-school-budgets-1.2624455
Pocono school districts prep for ‘worst case scenario’
https://www.poconorecord.com/news/20200502/pocono-school-districts-prep-for-worst-case-scenariorsquo
Business
Area restaurants, businesses make changes in order to survive pandemic
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/area-restaurants-businesses-make-changes-in-order-to-survive-pandemic-1.2624356
Businesses upset over continued restrictions
http://www.butlereagle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20200502/NEWS01/705029986
LETTER: Lawmakers need to do their job
https://www.meadvilletribune.com/opinion/letter-lawmakers-need-to-do-their-job/article_81c0ccb4-8b0b-11ea-b4bd-279f9e7ba0a4.html
Local Government/Regional
Issues deeper than pandemic
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/issues-deeper-than-pandemic-1.2624268
‘Tough decisions’ loom after pandemic: City, state officials say bankruptcy bad choice despite budget challenges
https://www.tribdem.com/coronavirus/tough-decisions-loom-after-pandemic-city-state-officials-say-bankruptcy-bad-choice-despite-budget-challenges/article_1b41445e-8cf1-11ea-ba3c-27a3d7acca4a.html
Editorial: Online meetings represent challenges for municipalities
https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/coronavirus/editorial-online-meetings-represent-challenges-for-municipalities/article_f06b5a96-a94d-592a-a874-0699652c6fcc.html
UAHS officials say pandemic causing financial hardship
http://www.bradfordera.com/news/local/uahs-officials-say-pandemic-causing-financial-hardship/article_70e97301-4b1f-59ab-897e-1dc4afa49bd9.html
Elections
Unprecedented volume of mail-in voting looming in primary
https://www.meadvilletribune.com/coronavirus/unprecedented-volume-of-mail-in-voting-looming-in-primary/article_14b43f0e-7142-59cb-a62c-2e5f916d113d.html
COVID-19 and the presidential election | Mark S. Singel
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2020/05/covid-19-and-the-presidential-election-mark-s-singel.html
The best is yet to come from President Trump | Charlie Gerow
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2020/05/the-best-is-yet-to-come-from-president-trump-charlie-gerow.html
Pandemic changes approach to Erie politics, primary
https://www.goerie.com/news/20200503/pandemic-changes-approach-to-erie-politics-primary
Reade: ‘I didn’t use sexual harassment’ in Biden complaint
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2020/05/02/Harassment-assault-absent-in-Biden-complaint/stories/202005020059