>>The Latest
(Undated) -- Here's the latest news: There's been a bomb threat at the Lancaster County Courthouse. Job growth is slowly creeping up in Lancaster County, but is still far behind pre-COVID employment levels. The mayor of Reading is inviting public input on how to spend its 61-million dollar share of money from the federal stimulus package.
>>Lancaster County Officials Investigating Bomb Threat at the Courthouse
(Lancaster, PA) -- All elected officials, department heads and employees have been told to be on guard Friday after a bomb threat at the courthouse Thursday night. The Lancaster D.A.'s Office says an office was sent an email at 7:35 p.m. that contained the threat. Sheriff's deputies and a canine unit conducted a floor-by-floor search, but no evidence of a bomb was found. Anyone with information about the threat or who made it is asked to submit a tip through the D.A.'s Crimewatch website.
>>Job Growth Slowly Creeps Upward in Lancaster County
(Lancaster, PA) -- New labor figures out this week for Lancaster County show that job growth is continuing to creep along in the region, but still leaving the area well-short of its pre-pandemic levels. After COVID-19 hit the nation in March 2020, the number of jobs in the county tumbled to 211,600 while the unemployment rate soared to over 15 percent. This week's figures show in September, the unemployment rate in the county fell to four-point-two percent -- down slightly from August's four-point-eight. The county economy added 600 jobs from August to reach just 248-thousand positions. That's about 12-thousand fewer job than before COVID-19 arrived.
>>Reading's Mayor Asks for Citizen Input on How to Spend COVID Money
(Reading, PA) -- Reading's mayor is inviting the public to give input on how to spend more than 61-million dollars in federal funding. The money is from the U.S. government's nearly two-trillion-dollar American Rescue Plan stimulus package. Mayor Eddie Moran says the federal Department of Treasury will be sending out its specific spending guidelines soon, and he plans to have final recommendations to council by the end of this month. He says he already knows how some of the money will be spent: on blighted properties and creating a liaison to assist police in curbing ongoing violence.
>>Part of Lehigh County Under a Boil Water Advisory
(Slatington,PA) -- Part of Lehigh County is under a boil water advisory until further notice. The borough manager in Slatington says crews working on a traffic light hit a water main, causing officials to err to the side of caution in calling for the advisory. The main has been repaired, but water must be boiled until tests reveal it is safe.
>>Dairymen's Association Needs Employees, Volunteers for 2022 Farm Show
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The Pennsylvania Dairymen's Association is looking for new employees and volunteers to work the state farm show in a couple of months. The Farm Show will be held from January 7-15 in Harrisburg. People who sign up will be paid to serve at food court booths, including preparing foods such as toasted cheese, cheese cubes, and ice cream. The association encourages families to apply and says they can sign up for shifts to work together on the Farm Show's website.
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