Today in PA | A PennLive daily news briefing with Claudia Dimuro

Governor Tom Wolf announces plans to reopen Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, it turns out 82 ex employees were getting free health insurance from the Harrisburg School District, costing more than $800,000. Speaking of losing money, Pennsylvania hospitals are slated to lose upwards of $10 billion from the coronavirus pandemic. My nemesis the spotted lanternfly is back, and you know what that means -- it’s...

Autopsies reveal that the first deaths in the United States from COVID-19 were actually weeks earlier than previously thought. Meanwhile, two house cats have tested positive for the virus and a new plan will help those who are uninsured get treated for COVID-19 without having to worry about a medical bill. Finally, a Boston hospital jump starts the creation of hundreds of thousands of much-needed...

In the midst of fighting COVID-19, a Pennsylvania nursing home tests positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires Disease. Meanwhile, UPMC announces plans to resume elective surgeries and to offer universal coronavirus testing to all patients. Pittsburgh earns a failing grade for air pollution. Over in Philadelphia, one teen football fan is getting the chance of a lifetime -- appearing on th...

President Trump’s plan to temporarily freeze immigration is still being worked out. Meanwhile, more than 1,500 people have died from COVID-19 in Pennsylvania and Oktoberfest has been cancelled over the pandemic, despite being five months away. The FDA gives emergency authorization to a take-home coronavirus test. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

State police cite two people for violating the governor’s stay-at-home order by drinking at a friend’s house. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s restaurant industry could lose more than $1.8 billion because of the pandemic and more than 1.5 million have applied for unemployment in the state. The river of the year flows through Pennsylvania. Support the work we do by subscribing to PennLive.com: https://www...

Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home orders extended to May 8 as thousands protest social distancing restrictions at the state capitol. Meanwhile, one neighboring state has struck a deal with South Korea to procure half a million COVID-19 tests and it turns out millions of dollars meant to help small businesses in the pandemic went, instead, to large corporate chains. We’ll do a quick recap of how the worl...

Pennsylvania's COVID-19 death toll rises by more than 300 over the weekend, but not all of the newly reported deaths happened recently -- we'll explain why. Meanwhile, protestors are expected to rally in Harrisburg to protest stay-at-home orders. Fine Wine and Good Spirit stores are now offering curbside pick up. We close with a story about a group of coronaviurs heroes who have been working aroun...

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf releases criteria for reopening the state as the number of deaths from COVID-19 in the state continues to rise. China raises the death toll in Wuhan by 50 percent and we have a warning about a new text message scam exploiting people’s coronavirus fears See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A Pennsylvania city is implementing a curfew in an effort to fight the coronavirus. Meanwhile, Penn State Hershey is the site for clinical trials for a new drug being used to treat COVID-19 patients. It’s about to get easier to buy liquor in the commonwealth and Philadelphia nonprofits have teamed up together to run a new program that feeds the homeless and provides work for local caterers. Suppor...

A decade of economic growth has vanished thanks to COVID-19. Governments around the world consider changing the deadlines for their stay-at-home orders. Facebook is gearing up to send users messages that will let them know if they've interacted with lies about the coronavirus and we’ll talk a little more about Pennsylvania’s new order to wear masks. Support the work we do by subscribing to PennLiv...

A bill aimed at reopening businesses in Pennsylvania is set to be vetoed by the governor. Meanwhile the state health department reports that half of the COVID-19 deaths in the commonwealth are from long term care facilities like nursing homes. State prisons begin temporarily releasing inmates and one school district could have its first school named after a woman -- and she’s pretty darn awesome....

Masks are now required for those going to the grocery store in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile the number of COVID-19 cases jumps to more than 2 million in the world, the SATs have been cancelled and China is launching a major research project to find out how many people got infected with the virus and never showed symptoms. Apple is also releasing a new iPhone which will, in part, help with COVID-19 reli...

Pennsylvania lawmakers come up with their own plan to reopen businesses. Meanwhile, 900 South Carolina inmates are being transferred to a Pennsylvania prison. The federal government is giving more than $239 million to Pennsylvania airports and we have a story about a groundhog eating pizza. Support the work we do by subscribing to PennLive.com: https://www.pennlive.com/digitalsubscription/inline/...

More than 80 percent of the global workforce has had their job hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, federal stimulus checks are beginning to arrive as coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania surpass the 25,000 mark. The Tour de France is canceled and insulin companies are offering their medication either for free or reduced prices. Support the work we do by subscribing to PennLive.com: https://w...

Philadelphia’s murder rate so-far this year is the highest its been for more than a decade. Meanwhile, Ohio stores won’t sell liquor to Pennsylvanians and a new website aims to connect those looking for work with businesses that are hiring in the midst of the pandemic. Sue Paterno donates $100,000 to help PSU students. Support the work we do by subscribing to PennLive.com: https://www.pennlive.com...

Pennsylvania joins forces with New York and 4 other states to come up with a plan for reopening their economies. Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases surpasses 24,000 in the Keystone State. Walmart reveals the next hot item during the pandemic and Bill Gates is spending billions to speed the process of getting a coronavirus vaccine. Support the work we do by subscribing to PennLive.com: https:/...

The death toll for the coronavirus in Pennsylvania continues to climb, reaching 507 over the weekend. Meanwhile, a video of Philadelphia police dragging a man off of a bus for not wearing a mask goes viral -- and now public transit is changing its policy. A bit of relief for the unemployed: that additional $600 from the federal government you’ve been expecting is beginning to be given out. And one...

Pennsylvania’s coronavirus death toll surpasses 400. Meanwhile, the state announces $450 million in loans for local hospitals and the governor is set to release up to 1,800 inmates from prison. Apple and Google have joined forces to work on new apps that could let you know if you’ve come into contact with someone infected with COVID-19. Pennsylvania’s Attorney General has released a list of rights...

Four meat plants in Pennsylvania have shut down over coronavirus concerns after workers test positive. Meanwhile researchers in Pittsburgh have developed a way to find out what drugs doctors should use to treat COVID-19. A corona party results with at least one party goer having symptoms of the disease. A Philadelphia high school could make history during the NFL Draft. See acast.com/privacy for p...

Pennsylvania schools are officially closed for the rest of the academic year. Meanwhile roughly 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 are reported in Pennsylvania and the death toll rises to 338. Unemployment continues to skyrocket, with 6.6 million more Americans claiming joblessness. And we conclude with two good news stories about people helping each other out during the pandemic. See acast.com/privacy f...

Two tornadoes strike in western Pennsylvania. Meanwhile the state secures the power to seize unused medical equipment during the coronavirus pandemic. Prisons continue to release inmates in a bid to lower the jail population and the Philadelphia Shipyard is ready to add 1,200 new jobs thanks to a new contract. Finally, police will be rocking masks that look like Philadelphia Phillies jerseys thank...

Pennsylvania is slated to lose billions in tax revenue over the coronavirus as the number of cases in the commonwealth goes beyond the 16,000 figure. Scientists warn that warm weather may not impact the spread of COVID-19 and in the UK an “army of volunteers” has formed to help deliver groceries and check-in on those self-isolating. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pennsylvania banks are offering customers relief from their mortgages during the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, Dick’s Sporting Goods announces it’ll be furloughing an unspecified number of employees as trout fishing season begins in earnest. And for one Pennsylvania theater, the show must go on as it gears up for performances on Zoom. Text "PennLive" to 717-745-7532 for the latest news on coron...

New York reports the largest single-day COVID-19 death toll in the world, while China reopens Wuhan after an 11 week quarantine. President Donald Trump shakes up a federal watchdog panel in charge of overseeing the implementation of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief plan and Lady Gaga plans a mega concert to benefit healthcare workers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

More than a million people have filed for unemployment in Pennsylvania over the past few weeks. Meanwhile, nearly 100 first responders in Philadelphia have tested positive for the coronavirus. Centralia’s Graffiti Highway is being covered by its owner and Philadelphia sports teams and athletes donate to feed the hungry in their community. Text "PennLive" to 717-745-7532 for the latest news on coro...