BACKYARD BROADCASTING LOCAL NEWS APRIL 17, 2020

LYCOMING COUNTY COVID-19 CASES STAYS LOW
There have been no coronavirus deaths reported in Lycoming County as of yesterday with 30 positive cases and 657 negative tests in the county. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, statewide – we’re at 27, 735 with 1, 245 new cases reported.  Sixty new deaths in the commonwealth brings that statewide total to 707.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SEE THE CURVE FLATTENING
Department of Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine announced yesterday during the daily video press conference, that the department has compiled and analyzed more detailed data about the positive and negative cases of COVID-19 by county and gender as well as working to gather a more complete picture of race and ethnicity. She says the results are positive and Pennsylvanian’s sacrifice is working to flatten the curve. Find more break out data regarding Pennsylvania cases of the coronavirus at health.pa.gov.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE REPORTED AFTER GUN FIRED IN HOME
A man surrendered to police without incident Thursday morning after a domestic disturbance at his Hepburn Township home where he allegedly fired a gun in the residence twice with his wife and children inside.  According to the Sun Gazette, police say 48 year old Matthew Zeigler was upset, displayed a handgun and fired it indoors, after which his wife, Christine Ziegler called 911.  Old Lycoming Township Police responded and Ziegler was arrested, later arraigned on charges or reckless endangerment and released on $15,000 bail.

SOME LIQUOR STORES TO OPEN TO HELP MEET DEMAND
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has been given the OK by the Wolf Administration to open 106 closed liquor stores to process the overload of online orders – but they will not be open to the public.  According to the Sun Gazette, employees are getting call backs to train, and to prepare and clean the physical stores.  Before the COVID-19 crisis, online sales had been a small part of the state liquor system’s $2.7 billion in annual sales; but from April 1-8th, through online fulfillment centers in Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia suburbs, the agency was able to fill only about 9,600 orders worth $2.1 million.  Producers, breweries, wineries and distilleries, and privately owned beer distributorships, have been permitted to sell during the shutdown of nonessential businesses.

LOCAL SCHOOL JOINS NATIONAL TRIBUTE FOR STUDENTS, MEDICAL PERSONNEL
The Williamsport area school district is participating in the “Be the Light” campaign.  They will honor the class of 2020 and also support the nurses, doctors, and first responders on the front line of COVID-19 by lighting up the high school stadium tonight at 8:20 PM for 20 minutes.  Residents are urged to remain at home and not travel to stadium grounds but post pictures on social media sites like Twitter or on Facebook searching for “Williamsport Area High School”.  The stadium scoreboard will display 2020 in honor of the graduating class, with fourth down and 19 yards to go signifying COVID-19’s final down.  Schools across the nation are taking part in the “Be the Light” campaign

GEISINGER LEADERSHIP DONATES A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR SALARIES TO HELP EMPLOYEES FACING HARDSHIP
The CEO and President Dr. Ryu and his leadership team at Geisinger Medical Center have all taken a temporary reduction in their salaries to donate to a newly created employee emergency assistance fund.  According to a press release from the hospital system, 250 thousand dollars will be given a month to help employees facing financial hardship.  Information about access to the funds will be forthcoming.

Sports
NBA
Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley won the NBA’s first HORSE competition beating Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine for the title last night. National Basketball Players Association and ESPN teamed up to create the single-elimination NBA HORSE Challenge to provide fans with entertainment. State Farm, the sponsor, donated more than $200,000 in support of coronavirus response efforts.

NFL
Denver Broncos Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller has tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday.  Miller who has asthma,  is the second active NFL player known to have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Sources in the NFL say they are planning a plan B in case they can’t play a full season in full stadiums. A contingency plan could include a shortened season, and playing in empty stadiums.  The league is working to restructure the season with as much flexibility as possible.

NASCAR
Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace, the lone African American competing in one of NASCAR’s national series, said Kyle Larson was wrong to have used a racial slur during a virtual race, adding that he has spoken with Larson and believes he deserves a second chance.Larson issued an apology Monday.  His three primary sponsors in the Cup Series ended their relationships with Larson later Monday and, on Tuesday, Chip Ganassi Racing announced it had fired Larson, leaving him without a team to drive for.

GOLF

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