>>The Latest
(Undated) -- Here's the latest news: The City of Reading has declared a disaster emergency as the number of COVID-19 cases in Berks County continues to climb. A 48-year-old man from Eagleville has plead guilty to shooting up a Democratic Party office in Norristown after the 2020 election. A former Lancaster City Police officer has been accused of sending out explicit sexual material to a woman using his Facebook account.
>>Reading Declares Disaster Emergency Amid COVID Surge
(Reading, PA) -- Reading has issued a declaration of disaster emergency as the number of COVID-19 cases in Berks County continues to climb. The COVID situation in reading has gotten so bad in recent weeks that overwhelmed medical officials have had to divert ambulances to other hospitals. Mayor Eddie Morán signed the declaration on Wednesday. He said the purpose is to streamline the way emergency officials coordinate their responses. It's the second time the city's declared a disaster emergency during the pandemic.
>>Reading Veterans' Group to Host COVID Vaccine Clinic
(Reading, PA) -- A veterans' non-profit organization called We Agape You has received a 15-thousand-dollar grant from the state to help administer a COVID vaccine clinic. The money is coming from the Grassroots COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach effort, a two-and-a-half-million-dollar program that tries to encourage hesitant residents to get vaccinated. The clinic will take place at the Girls Club on Walnut Street in Reading on Saturday, January 22nd. Nurses and clinicians will be on site to help answer questions. The event, which is open to the public, will also feature a job fair.
>>Eagleville Man Could Get Up to 15 Years in Prison for Shooting Democratic Headquarters
(Norristown, PA) -- A 48-year-old man from Eagleville has plead guilty to shooting up a Democratic Party office in Norristown. Anthony Nero appeared before a judge this week to enter his plea, saying he was committed the shooting out of frustration for former President Donald Trump's election loss. No one was hurt in the incident. Prosecutors say they were able to prove he'd intended to shoot at some Democratic Party's offices somewhere after making remarks on social media. Nero is scheduled to be sentenced April 14th. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
>>Charges Brought Against Former Lancaster Police Officer for Distributing Pornography of Himself
(Lancaster, PA) -- A former Lancaster City Police officer has been accused of sending out explicit sexual material to a woman using his Facebook account. Jayson Drouillard of Mountville is also facing charges of indecent exposure regarding the messages as he reportedly sent two videos of himself to the victim in December. Drouillard was not employed as a police officer at the time. Lancaster Police preserved the messages and videos and were able to identify that the videos showed images of Drouillard in the bathroom of his home at the time. He is free on 10-thousand-dollars bail.
>>Pennsylvanians Get First Look at GOP Gubernatorial Candidates
(Carlisle, PA) -- State voters have gotten their first look at the 13 Republican gubernatorial candidates who are competing to replace Democratic Governor Tom Wolf. A live debate was streamed Wednesday night from Dickinson College in Carlisle in which the candidates got one minute each to answer questions on the economy, jobs, energy, education and governing. The first topic of discussion was how to stop Pennsylvanians from leaving the commonwealth and improve the economy. Each candidate also got a 1-minute closing statement. Attorney General Josh Shapiro is so far running unopposed on the Democratic side.