>>Interim Police Chief Named in Lancaster

(Lancaster, PA) -- John T. Bey is going to lead the Lancaster Police Department. Lancaster City Council approved Mayor Danene Sorace's pick for interim chief at a meeting yesterday evening. Bey is a 25-year veteran with the Pennsylvania State Police and he was a former chief of the Middletown Borough Police Department. Bey will start as the new interim chief on December 7th and he says he is interested in a permanent role.

>>Juniata County School District Going Remote for Rest of the Year

(Juniata County, PA) -- Juniata County School District students are moving to remote-learning for the rest of the year. The superintendent announced the decision through a letter sent to parents yesterday. The decision was made because of the rise of COVID-19 cases in the state, including over 80 new cases coming out of the county in the past three days. The superintendent says the school district plans to monitor the situation but will keep students learning at home until at least the beginning of next year.

>>Harrisburg Women Warriors Place Donation Boxes for Animal Rescue Groups

(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Women Warriors of the Harrisburg Police Department are asking for donations to support two animal rescue groups. Donation boxes were placed yesterday at the Abrams-And-Weakley General Store, located at 3963 North 6th Street, and Keystone K9, located at 147 North Cameron Street. Donations will be given to Speranza and the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area. You can also drop off donations at the Harrisburg Police Station but donations must be received by December 13th.

>>Over 20 Civilian Positions A Part of Proposed Harrisburg Budget

(Harrisburg, PA) -- Harrisburg's proposed budget for next year is offering 21 new civilian positions for the police's Community Services Division. City council members saw the proposed 2021 budget for the first time at a legislative meeting yesterday. The City Council is creating a new Community Services Division in their police department and at least one-million-dollars of the new spending for next year will pay for it. Mayor Eric Papenfuse says the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the budget but they plan to move forward in a positive direction. The final vote for the budget will take place on December 10th.

>>Dauphin County Library System Changing Hours

(Dauphin County, PA) -- The Dauphin County Library System is going to be changing its hours starting this Sunday. The system announced the new operating hours yesterday in a press release. Library system officials say they're adjusting to reflect the public's changing needs and because of the statewide increase of COVID-19 cases. The new hours will be listed on the Dauphin County Library System website after this Sunday.

>>Department Of Heath Announces 66-Hundred-69 New COVID-19 Cases In -A

(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health is announcing 6,669 new COVID-19 cases statewide. That brings the total number of confirmed or probably coronavirus cases to 321,070 since the start of the pandemic. There were 81 new deaths attributed to COVID-19 complications, bringing the death toll to 9,951.

>>COVID-19 Related Hospitalizations Rise In PA

(Harrisburg, PA) -- There are nearly 3,900 people hospitalized across Pennsylvania who are testing positive for COVID-19. State Department of Health officials report that most of those hospitalized with the virus are 65-years-old and older. They’re adding that most of the deaths related to coronavirus complications are occurring in that same demographic.

>>County Officials Report Five Residents Deaths Related To COVID-19 At Claremont Nursing Home

(Middlesex Twp., PA) -- Cumberland County officials say five residents of Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Middlesex Township have died due to COVID-19 complications over the past four days. Since November 5th, there have been 52 residents and 20 employees who have tested positive for the virus. The county commissioners have been considering selling the nursing home for the past several months and discussed the matter Monday night.

>>One Hurt In Springettsbury Township Shooting

(Springettsbury Twp., PA) -- One person is hurt after a shooting in Springettsbury Township Tuesday morning. It happened at the intersection of Route 30 and North Hills Road, with a Honda Accord with multiple bullet holes stopped about a mile away. There’s no word on the injured person’s condition nor what may have led to the shooting.

>>Penn State’s Season Tip Off Postponed

(State College, PA) -- The Penn State Nittany Lions are going to have to wait to tip off their college basketball season. They are postponing their opener with Drexel due to COVID-19 protocols, according to Dragons officials. It’s unclear which team has coronavirus issues, and they didn’t announce when they would make the game up. That makes Penn State’s first game Saturday against VMI.

>>Berks County Woman Accused Of Stealing Over One-Million-Dollars

(Shillington, PA) -- A Reading woman is being accused of stealing over one-million-dollars from the Shillington Social Quarters. Fifty-year-old Vycky Macri was arrested yesterday after she was allegedly embezzling money from the Berks County organization for more than five years. She is facing charges of theft and receiving stolen property. Macri was a bar manager and a secretary during her 12-year tenure with the organization.

>>Reading Man Killed After Being Hit By Car

(Reading, PA) -- A Reading man is dead after being hit and killed by a car. The incident happened Monday night on Route 422 near the Lancaster Avenue exit. Investigators say the man was walking near the median or sitting against it before he was hit. The Berks County coroner ruled the death as an accident.

>>Hamburg Area School District To Move To Online Learning

(Hamburg, PA) -- The Hamburg Area School District is moving to virtual learning after Thanksgiving break. The superintendent made the announcement on the school district's YouTube page yesterday. The decision was made because of the rising COVID-19 cases in Berks County. In-person classes will start again on December 14th.

>>Salvation Army Of Reading Starting Holiday Fundraising Early

(Reading, PA) -- The Salvation Army of Reading will be starting their holiday fundraising campaign early. While the Salvation Army usually holds their campaign a day after Thanksgiving, they received over one-thousand Thanksgiving meal donations yesterday. The organization also started its Red Kettle campaign early this year as well. Anyone interested in donating can visit the Salvation Army's website.

>>Four People Injured In Lancaster County Car Crash

(Lancaster County, PA) -- Four people are being treated at the hospital after a multi-vehicle car crash in Lancaster County. The crash happened yesterday afternoon at the intersection of Millport Road and Route 501. Police say three vehicles were involved, and at least four people were injured. The condition of those four people is unknown.

>>Lehigh Valley Health Network Doctors Worried Over Rising COVID Patients

(Lehigh, PA) -- Lehigh Valley Health Network is close to surpassing its COVID-19 patient levels from the first wave last spring. Doctors say the health network has a plan in place and is prepared to care for COVID-19 and all patients, but it can only be done with the community's help to prevent them from being overrun with coronavirus patients. St. Luke's University Health Network officials don't think they will reach peak levels of cases as patients are being treated more effectively this fall and discharged sooner. Nonetheless, doctors recommend people continue to follow guidelines and limit social gatherings to the people in one household over the holidays.

>>Pennsylvania Department Of State Certifies Joe Biden's Victory

(Harrisburg, PA) -- Pennsylvania's election results are official as the Department of State certified the results yesterday. This means Governor Tom Wolf signed the Certificate of Ascertainment yesterday, and now state electors will meet on December 14th to officially cast their votes for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Biden and Harris beat President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence by more than 80-thousand votes.

>>Nazareth Area School District Applying To Keep In-Person Classes

(Nazareth, PA) -- The Nazareth Area School Board is planning to sign a formal letter of attestation from the state to continue holding in-person classes. Yesterday, the governor revealed his new COVID-19 measures which recommends schools move to fully remote learning. Schools must file a certification form to the state and be approved to continue with in-person classes. The form must include the district's COVID-19 safety protocols and measures to ensure they are complying with state guidelines. District officials say if their schools are unable to follow the district safety plan as outlined then they will suspend their hybrid learning model and transition to fully remote.

>>Dogs Saved After Found Living In Deplorable Conditions

(Lackawanna County, PA) -- Animal rescue workers are shocked as they found more than 30 dogs living in terrible conditions in a South Abington Township home yesterday. Griffin Pond Animal Rescue officials say police responded to a report of a gas leak in the house, and they found 37 dogs that all needed medical attention as some had missing eyes and most had serious skin problems. Those dogs have been taken to shelters and were given medical baths, but officials say it could take weeks or months before the dogs recover and are cleared for adoption.

WRAW Newsroom