>>Lancaster Mayor Announces Search For New Police Chief
(Lancaster, PA) -- A search is getting underway to find a new Lancaster police chief. Mayor Danene Sorace announced yesterday that the search would start this week. The move comes after a report last week that Democrat Sorace told Jarrad Berkihiser to resign after his wife posted comments on Facebook saying she planned to vote for President Trump. The chief officially retires at the end of the month. A person who doesn't live or work in Lancaster has started an online petition to get Berkihiser reinstated which already has over seven thousand signatures.
>>Reading City Council May Refinance Debt To Improve 2021 Budget
(Reading, PA) -- The Reading City Council is proposing an ordinance that would refinance 45-million dollars in existing debt. The move comes as a way to increase revenue in the 2021 budget. A financial advisor told the council yesterday that restructuring the debt would allow them to be "budget neutral." Council president Jeffrey Waltman says the action would let the city use about a half million in savings for the 2021 general fund budget.
>>FirstEnergy Stadium Host For COVID-19 Testing Site
(Reading, PA) -- Reading's FirstEnergy Stadium is the host site for COVID-19 testing sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The ballpark's North Front Street parking lot is being used as an outdoor testing site. Berks County has experienced a spike of nearly 15-hundred positive tests since the beginning of September.
>>Kutztown University Announces Spring 2021 Plans
(Kutztown, PA) -- Kutztown University is announcing its Spring 2021 plans. President Kenneth Hawkinson released a plan yesterday that includes a similar profile of course offerings. Hawkinson says students will have some face-to-face classes available, as well as synchronized classes and asynchronous classes. The emergency management team is reevaluating protocols and see what still applies for spring.
>>Helping Harvest Working To Meet Berks, Schuylkill Counties Food Demands
(Spring Township, PA) -- Helping Harvest is working to meet increased food demands in Berks and Schuylkill counties. The organization says its yearly budget has doubled, and that they are receiving more financial support through donations, the CARES Act, and other means. Representatives say the organization has refinanced its mortgage and has purchased more trucks, as well as bringing in more employees and volunteers at their Spring Township warehouse.