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COVID-19

Judge cancels selection of juries

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County President Judge Elizabeth Doyle has canceled criminal court jury selections for January and February because of the recent increase in the COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. “I just don’t think it’s safe,” the judge stated in an interview late Tuesday morning, following a meeting of the Blair County commissioners in which one of the items presented for discussion was an agreement with Fullington Trailways LLC to transport prospective jurors to and from the Antique Depot in Duncansville to the courthouse for jury selections in ...

Local COVID stats better

Both key metrics for all six local counties on the state’s Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard have improved for the most recent week, compared to the previous week — but all are still far above the thresholds of concern. The same is true for the state as a whole — good news that will not, however, mean the administration is considering an early end to its indoor dining ban, scheduled to expire on the morning of Jan. 4, according to Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, speaking at a virtual news conference this week. Blair County’s incidence rate — the number of new cases ...

Bigger checks stall in Senate

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s push for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks stalled out Tuesday in the Senate as Republicans blocked a swift vote proposed by Democrats and split within their own ranks over whether to boost spending or defy the White House. The roadblock mounted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may not be sustainable as pressure mounts. Trump wants the Republican-led chamber to follow the House and increase the checks from $600 for millions of Americans. A growing number of Republicans, including two senators in runoff elections on Jan. 5 in ...

Bella Italia ordered to close

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has listed the names of restaurants that have been closed for offering dine-in services in violation of temporary COVID-19 mitigation orders from Dec. 21 through Dec. 27. Three area restaurants are among those cited. Only one is in Blair County — Bella Italia Restaurant, 328 S. Logan Blvd., Altoona. Two eateries in Bedford County also have been cited. They are: * Mandy Jo’s Country Corral, 126 Raystown Road, Everett. * Marteen’s Family Restaurant, 2 W. Main St., Everett. The information is specific to COVID-19 ...

Nursing homes receive vaccines

COVID-19 vaccinations at Pennsylvania nursing homes began Monday, with at least one Blair County facility among those receiving immunizations the first day. Sixty-one residents and 53 staffers at the Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg got shots of the Pfizer vaccine from employees of CVS, which, along with Walgreens and several other pharmacy firms, has contracted with federal Operation Warp Speed to dispense immunizations at long-term facilities across the country. Other area nursing homes have received schedules for visits from pharmacy personnel, including Garvey Manor, where ...

All eyes on Senate as House OKs Trump’s $2,000 checks

WASHINGTON — The House voted overwhelmingly Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000, meeting President Donald Trump’s demand for bigger payments and sending the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate, where the outcome is uncertain. Democrats led passage, 275-134, their majority favoring additional assistance, but dozens of Republicans joined in approval. Congress had settled on smaller $600 payments in a compromise over the big year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law. Democrats favored higher payments, but Trump’s push put his GOP allies in a difficult ...