McConnell urges Americans to ‘get vaccinated’

July 21, 2021

WASHINGTON — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell implored unvaccinated Americans Tuesday to take the COVID-19 shot, issuing a stark and grave warning of a repeat of last year’s rising caseloads and shutdowns if people refuse to protect themselves from the coronavirus. McConnell urged Americans to ignore the “demonstrably bad advice” coming from pundits and others against the vaccines. As cases skyrocket, he noted that nearly all the new virus hospitalizations in the U.S. are among people who have not been vaccinated. “If there is anybody out there willing to listen: ...

Appeals court: Indiana must resume unemployment benefits

July 13, 2021

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the state temporarily continue payment of federal unemployment benefits, affirming an earlier court order that Indiana must restart the extra $300 weekly payments to unemployed workers. Chief judge Cale Bradford denied a request from the state government to issue a stay on a Marion County judge's order that Indiana must resume participation in the federal government's programs that unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has pushed to drop the state from the federal programs ...

Pfizer to discuss possible vaccine booster

July 12, 2021

WASHINGTON — Pfizer says it plans to meet with top U.S. health officials Monday to discuss the drugmaker’s request for federal authorization of a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine as President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser acknowledged that “it is entirely conceivable, maybe likely” that booster shots will be needed. The company said it was scheduled to have the meeting with the Food and Drug Administration and other officials Monday, days after Pfizer asserted that booster shots would be needed within 12 months. Pfizer’s Dr. Mikael Dolsten told The Associated Press ...

COVID numbers improve

July 3, 2021

COVID-19 metrics for the six local counties are generally far better now than a month ago in terms of new cases and the percentage of tests that are positive, according to Friday’s update of the state’s early warning dashboard. The numbers are best in Blair, Cambria and Clearfield. They’re a little less favorable in Bedford and Centre counties and least favorable in Huntingdon — where the numbers are actually worse than a month ago. In Blair County this week, there was only one new confirmed case, down from 44 a month ago. And the positivity rate was 0.2 percent, down from ...

Mental health toll from isolation affects kids on reentry

June 30, 2021

After two suicidal crises during pandemic isolation, 16-year-old Zach Sampson feels stronger but worries his social skills have gone stale. Amara Bhatia has overcome her pandemic depression but the teen feels worn down, in a state of “neutralness.’’ Virginia Shipp is adjusting but ...

Plan allows students to repeat year

June 25, 2021

HARRISBURG (AP) — Lawmakers made a final vote Thursday to approve a bill to let parents decide whether to have their children repeat a year of school, a measure designed to help children catch up after a year of schooling disrupted by the pandemic. The Senate voted 50-0 for the proposal, which also would permit students in special education to return for another year, even if they have reached the maximum age of 21. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has not taken a stand for or against the bill, although his office said Thursday there are concerns about how it might affect schools’ ...