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Amish put faith in God’s will, herd immunity over vaccine

When health care leaders in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country began laying out a strategy to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, they knew it would be a tough sell with the Amish, who tend to be wary of preventive shots and government intervention. Early on, they posted flyers at farm supply stores and at auctions where the Amish sell handmade furniture and quilts. They sought advice from members of the deeply religious and conservative sect, who told them not to be pushy. And they asked three newspapers widely read by the Amish to publish ads promoting the vaccine. Two refused. By ...

Trial opens up in shooting death of fast-food worker

ERIE (AP) — Trial has opened for a man charged in the shooting death of an employee during an attempted robbery of a fast-food restaurant in northwestern Pennsylvania last year. Markese Lampley, 21, is charged with first- and second-degree murder in the January 2020 death of 22-year-old Alexander Cavanah at the Wendy’s restaurant in Washington Township near Edinboro. Authorities said the victim, the shift manager, was shot during a struggle and died at a hospital. Authorities said the suspect was wearing a ski mask and a motorcycle helmet, but the helmet fell off during the ...

Name and image compensation for student-athletes in Pa. proposed

HARRISBURG (AP) — College athletes in Pennsylvania would be able to receive compensation for their name, image and likeness in proposed legislation associated with the new state budget package. PennLive.com reports that a document obtained from the state House Republican Appropriations Committee and tied to the state’s budget contains language saying a college student athlete “may earn compensation” for their “name, image or likeness.” “The compensation shall be commensurate with the market value of the student athlete’s name, image or likeness,” the document ...

Bluegrass festival returns to area

CENTRE HALL — The Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival will take place this year, July 1 to July 4 at the Grange Fair grounds in Centre Hall. The event will feature many national bluegrass acts including The Malpass Brothers, Little Roy and Lizzy Show, Ralph Stanley II and The Clinch Mountain Boys, Remington Ryde, Nothin Fancy, The Moron Brothers, Larry Stephenson Band, Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road, Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass, and many more. The event will host several food and craft vendors, have a kids program Saturday and feature plenty of jamming throughout the ...

Republicans unveil budget that puts pandemic funds in bank

HARRISBURG (AP) — Republicans who control the Pennsylvania General Assembly rolled out a $39.8 billion general fund budget plan Friday that would put into savings about $5 billion in federal coronavirus relief money and boost K-12 education funding by $300 million. The first details became public Friday morning, hours before votes in both legislative chambers were expected, although leaders said it may be Saturday before the process wraps up. The state’s budget year ends Wednesday. It would pump $279 million into transportation infrastructure and direct $280 million to nursing ...

EXPLAINER: Will PA evictions spike despite rental help?

HARRISBURG (AP) — A federal freeze on most evictions enacted last year is scheduled to expire July 31, after the Biden administration extended the date by a month. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. Many of them lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic and had fallen months behind on their rent. Landlords successfully challenged the order in court, arguing they also had bills to pay. They pointed out that tenants could access more than $45 billion in federal ...