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COVID-19

US jobless claims fall below 1 million but remain high

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment dropped below 1 million last week for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak took hold in the U.S. five months ago, but layoffs are still running extraordinarily high. The figures show that the crisis continues to throw people out of work just as the expiration of an extra $600 a week in federal jobless benefits has deepened the hardship for many — and posed another threat to the U.S. economy. Applications for jobless benefits declined to 963,000, the second straight drop, from 1.2 million the previous ...

For Americans waiting on aid amid the ongoing pandemic, no new relief in sight

WASHINGTON (AP) — With talks on emergency coronavirus aid having stalled out, both sides played the blame game Thursday rather than make any serious moves to try to break their stalemate. Official Washington is emptying, national politics is consuming the airwaves and the chasm between the warring sides appears too great for now. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pressed the case for funding for the U.S. Postal Service, rental assistance, food aid and rapid testing for the virus at her weekly press event, blasting Republicans as not giving a damn and declaring flatly that “people will ...

Mummers won’t strut through South Side this year

The 75th annual South Williamsport Mummers Parade that had been set for October has been canceled, with organizers citing regulatory obstacles in obtaining a permit from the state Department of Transportation. “I’m very frustrated,” Dori Rankinen, who has been involved with organizing ...

Evangelical officials seek more funding, PPE, telehealth permanence

LEWISBURG — “I don’t think anybody would have imagined that we would all be sitting in a room wearing masks to do many things,” Congressman Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, said in a roundtable discussion with Evangelical Community Hospital administration this week. Keller, alongside ...

United Way survey examines virus impact on working poor

The United Way of Pennsylvania is conducting an online survey on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on people categorized as “Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed” (ALICE), or the working poor. “ALICE represents the 24 percent of Pennsylvanians who work, but struggle to survive,” according to the United Way’s website. Results of the survey will be used to inform how to best support Pennsylvania families throughout long-term recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and beyond, the website states. “ALICE is your neighbor,” Ronald Frick, Lycoming County ...

Not everyone happy with hybrid model in Montoursville

Montoursville Area School District’s plan for students to start the school year under the hybrid model was discussed at Tuesday’s board meeting with some people expressing concern that students will not be in classrooms five days a week. Superintendent Christina Bason told residents and concerned parents tuned to the virtual meeting that returning to a normal school week will depend upon numbers of coronavirus cases in Lycoming County. Bason noted that the hybrid model calling for students to report to classrooms two days a week and learn remotely other days was not the most ...