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COVID-19

Wolf, GOP spar over virus relief aid

Gov. Tom Wolf called on the Republican majorities in the House and Senate on Thursday to authorize $145 million recently made available from the workers compensation fund to create a program to help businesses damaged by COVID-19. His administration shifted the money to the general fund three weeks ago, but the Republicans in charge of the General Assembly have done nothing about it, Wolf said in a virtual news conference with Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton. “They need to step up and do their part,” Wolf said. His admonition drew ...

AASD votes to stay virtual

The Altoona Area School District board voted 5-4 to stay with virtual learning for all students for now. At its special meeting Thursday, board members voted in favor of sending all PreK-12th grade students back to school using a hybrid model two weeks after all teachers and staff have received the first round of vaccinations. Special education students will go back in-person five days per week at that time. Voting in favor of waiting to start the hybrid model were board Vice President Dr. Frank Meloy, Mike Baker, Dave Francis, Rick Hoover and Ron Johnston. Votes against were from ...

Commissioners reflect on adapting amid pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had its impact on just about everything — including county government. The Blair County commissioners on Thursday touched on several pandemic topics during a Zoom presentation to the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club. Despite the many negatives, the pandemic has created some positives for the commissioners. “We found new ways of doing business,” Commissioner Amy Webster said. “The register and recorder’s office and prothonotary expanded ways they did filing, they kept their services available and opened up other ways of doing ...

HASD to return to in-person learning

HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Hollidaysburg Area School Board voted 5-4 Wednesday night to return to full time face-to-face instruction on Tuesday after a three-hour session. The decision affects all students in the district. Voting in favor of students returning were Melissa Mitchell, Rick Gallagher, Kenneth Snyder, Emanuel Nichols and Nicole Hartman. Against the measure were board President Ronald Sommer, Vice President Scott Brenneman, Lonna Frye and Doug Stephens. Junior and senior high school students have been learning virtually since Nov. 16; students in Kindergarten through sixth ...

First Houtzdale prisoner dies from COVID-19

HOUTZDALE — Officials from the state correctional institute at Houtzdale issued a statement Wednesday confirming their first inmate death from COVID-19. The inmate, 59, had underlying medical conditions and was sent to a hospital Dec. 27, where he tested positive for the virus, according to the press release. He died Tuesday. His name is not being released. He was serving a 24- to 48-year sentence for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child younger than 13. He was housed at this prison for almost a year. “We continue our battle against this dangerous invisible ...

Virus aid cut to nursing homes

A $175-million program involving 11 hospital systems that helped long-term care facilities deal with COVID-19 for six months ended recently, and the Wolf administration has replaced it with a less-well-funded program to hold things together through the end of February. The administration asked for federal money to keep the Regional Response Health Collaboration Program going, but the recent federal stimulus didn’t provide it, so agencies cobbled together a new program, finding money to support it for two months, even as it plans to ask the Biden administration for funding to upgrade ...