COVID-19

50 new coronavirus cases in Berks County as southeast Pa. continues elevated levels

https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/50-new-coronavirus-cases-in-berks-county-as-southeast-pa-continues-elevated-levels/article_ae1b7648-978a-11ea-a913-8f7feebcdbe3.html

Pennsylvania coronavirus update: deaths top 4,400 with the case count nearing 62,000

https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-count-saturday-20200516-jenkaeg4i5andhyhod4tqtg3aq-story.html

‘COVID toes,’ other skin rashes are the latest possible rare coronavirus signs

https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/covid-toes-other-skin-rashes-are-the-latest-possible-rare-coronavirus-signs.html

Allegheny Township personal care home hit with unknown number of covid-19 cases

https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/allegheny-township-personal-care-home-hit-with-unknown-number-of-covid-19-cases/

Pennsylvania reports 61 more covid-19 deaths; 69% of deaths linked to nursing homes

https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-reports-61-more-covid-19-deaths-989-more-cases-69-of-deaths-linked-to-nursing-homes/

County adds 22 new virus cases

https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/county-adds-22-new-virus-cases-1.2629008

Post Offices, Beloved Community Hubs, Fight Virus-Era Threat

https://hosted.ap.org/citizensvoice/article/3eff7f39d46b87b0042f9bba68d607de/post-offices-beloved-community-hubs-fight-virus-era-threat

Reopening

Whitehall tattoo parlor defies state order and opens, hoping other small businesses follow suit

https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-whitehall-tattoo-business-owner-opens-defying-wolf-20200516-a4z5z6tbsve5pin65odeissrjq-story.html

Monroe County anticipates turn to yellow, asks Wolf to move more quickly

https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-monroe-commissioners-coronavirus-20200516-7pdrjob2onedlef52vck2nd5vq-story.html

Officials ‘disappointed’ Schuylkill Co. not moved into yellow phase

https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/officials-disappointed-schuylkill-co-not-moved-into-yellow-phase-1.2628992

Daunting outlook for 18 Pennsylvania counties that will remain under coronavirus lockdown

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/daunting-outlook-for-18-pennsylvania-counties-that-will-remain-under-coronavirus-lockdown/article_b8e8e340-96df-11ea-99b0-e35155b8c00f.html

Would-be travelers expected to stay home this Memorial Day weekend

https://www.delcotimes.com/news/coronavirus/would-be-travelers-expected-to-stay-home-this-memorial-day-weekend/article_4ce9a4ce-9796-11ea-9804-3f9b2c93f629.html

Festivals, concerts and other summertime gatherings in flux as a result of COVID-19

https://observer-reporter.com/series/coronavirus/festivals-concerts-and-other-summertime-gatherings-in-flux-as-a-result-of-covid-19/article_f248eb50-96e7-11ea-92ef-afa080efe3dd.html

Unity rally participants want fewer covid-19 restrictions, more open businesses

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/unity-rally-participants-want-to-see-fewer-covid-19-restrictions-more-open-businesses/

As businesses start to open, workers weigh health risk versus paycheck — and potential loss of unemployment benefits

https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2020/05/17/unemployment-compensation-as-businesses-open-counties-move-to-yellow-phase-Pennsylvania-Department-of-Labor-and-Industry/stories/202005130124

Legislature

5 actions Pa. lawmakers took last week on coronavirus crisis: Nursing home testing, assistance for utility bills

https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-pa-coronavirus-actions-nursing-20200517-43jwtk5r4rdengcx2uxrjtw4km-story.html

State

Nursing home staffing and oversight problems existed long before coronavirus | Editorial

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/covid-deaths-nursing-homes-pennsylvania-new-jersey-investigations-testing-20200517.html

Editorial: Accounting for the way Wolf’s waivers went

https://triblive.com/opinion/editorial-accounting-for-the-way-wolfs-waivers-went/

Called back to work? Here’s what to expect from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry

https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2020/05/17/worker-options-unemployment-compensation-as-businesses-open-counties-move-to-yellow-phase-Pennsylvania-Department-of-Labor-and-Industry/stories/202005150124

Rough terrain: Regional transportation plan includes less money for local roads next four years

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2020/05/16/Southwestern-Pennsylvania-Commission-draft-transportation-plan-less-local-road-money-Rich-Fitzgerald/stories/202005160004

Business

Pet groomers see their industry as essential, so why are they closed in the red phase of Pa.’s reopening plan?

https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/pet-groomers-see-their-industry-as-essential-so-why-are-they-closed-in-the-red-phase-of-pas-reopening-plan.html

Pa. hospitals say coronavirus killing them, state must become better ‘partner’

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/pa-hospitals-say-coronavirus-killing-them-state-must-become-better-partner.html

Coronavirus grocery spending: Here’s how much more we’re spending during each shopping trip amid pandemic

https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2020/05/coronavirus-grocery-spending-heres-how-much-more-were-spending-during-each-shopping-trip-amid-pandemic.html

As construction resumes, some workers are finding a shortage of recommended N95 masks

https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/coronavirus-construction-n95-masks-pennsylvania-20200517.html

Should insurance companies pay for coronavirus shutdown losses? Philly businesses are taking them to court.

https://www.inquirer.com/business/small-business/philly-businesses-are-suing-their-insurance-companies-over-covid-19-losses-20200517.html

Malls look toward rocky future following pandemic

https://triblive.com/local/regional/malls-look-toward-rocky-future-following-pandemic/

Reopening the economy doesn’t necessarily mean people are opening wallets

https://triblive.com/news/world/reopening-the-economy-doesnt-necessarily-mean-people-are-opening-wallets/

With barrels of cash, Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank controls its own destiny

https://www.post-gazette.com/business/pittsburgh-company-news/2020/05/16/PNC-Bank-National-City-Blackrock-acquisition/stories/202005160021

Elections/Politics

Berks County GOP stands behind Facebook posts some criticized as anti-Semitic; governor target of one

https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/berks-county-gop-stands-behind-facebook-posts-some-criticized-as-anti-semitic-governor-target-of/article_a33ce7c0-9794-11ea-b0eb-3710a3861d40.html

Pandemic throws campaign challenges in way of candidates looking to win June 2 primaries

https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pandemic-throws-campaign-challenges-in-way-of-candidates-looking-to-win-june-2-primaries/

Allegheny County announces consolidated polling places for June 2 primary election

https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-announces-consolidated-polling-places-for-june-2-primary-election/

Virus forces changes to primary election

https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/virus-forces-changes-to-primary-election-1.2629011

Deadline to register to vote in June 2 primary is imminent

https://www.witf.org/2020/05/17/deadline-to-register-to-vote-in-primary-election-approaches/

Local

Hazleton awaits $3M to complete paving project

https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazleton-awaits-3m-to-complete-paving-project-1.2628993

Long-awaited federal approval granted for Alcosan wet weather plan

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2020/05/15/Long-awaited-federal-approval-of-Alcosan-wet-weatehr-plan/stories/202005150129

MCCC Foundation’s micro-campaign raises more than $61K for student emergency fund

https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/coronavirus/mccc-foundation-s-micro-campaign-raises-more-than-61k-for-student-emergency-fund/article_bede6bb2-970c-11ea-8dd5-47f519d55d9b.html

Scranton says sick time requests have not increased in police, fire departments

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-says-sick-time-requests-have-not-increased-in-police-fire-departments-1.2629112

Scranton residents sue city over stormwater issue

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-residents-sue-city-over-stormwater-issue-1.2629111