Fetterman formally announces run for U.S. Senate

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman BRADDOCK — Literally the biggest thing in Pennsylvania politics — 6-foot-8 Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, made it official Monday, formally announcing his run for U.S. Senate in 2022. The seat will be open with the retirement of U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R). Fetterman, gifted in his use of social media, had started an exploratory committee before filing formal campaign paperwork...

Oh jeez, not again: groundhog sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter predicted

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow Tuesday morning. According to tradition, that means six more weeks of winter. Image courtesy, VisitPa.com PUNXSUTAWNEY – This morning, Pennsylvania’s own world-famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. For the first-ever virtual Groundhog Day celebration, visitors from all over the world tuned in to see Phil make...

Op/Ed: Candles and balloons

By Donna Bullock, State Representative, 195th District State Rep. Donna Bullock My older son celebrated his 13th birthday in January.  We shared this moment virtually with family and friends. As I decorated his backdrop with balloons and he blew out candles on a cake, it hit me. Something so innocent and joyful has been redefined by the growing number of gun deaths. A week before, a 9-year-old...

COVID-19 Update, Dec. 10: Gov. Wolf orders 3 week closure of indoor dining, gyms, school activities to slow virus surge

By Mike McGann, Editor, the Times @mikemcgannpa Gov. Tom Wolf announced a series of new restrictions Thursday afternoon for the three weeks starting at midnight Friday, including a band on indoor dining at restaurants, closure of gyms, music venues, museums, halting of extra-curricular activities and sports in schools and limiting indoor gatherings through Jan. 4, 2021, with the hope of stopping...

COVID-19 Update, Dec. 9: Gov. Wolf tests positive for COVID

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa Gov. Tom Wolf Ahead of expected tightened restrictions in Pennsylvania, as COVID-19 cases continue to spike, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that he has tested positive for the virus. Wolf released the following statement, Wednesday afternoon: “During a routine test yesterday, I tested positive for COVID-19. I have no symptoms and am feeling well....

COVID 19 Update, Nov. 18: State sets records for cases, hospitalizations, state tightens some rules, no changes for Chesco as yet

Editor’s Note: After nearly daily updates from late March through June, the pandemic eased enough for use to reduce coverage. The recent explosion of cases, hospitalizations and deaths nationally and in state have prompted a return to semi-regular reports again. By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa The Wolf Administration moved to boost COVID-19 mitigation efforts, as case numbers...

Wolf: Take a deep breath, the votes will be counted; Chesco officials gather to back complete vote count

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa Despite false claims of voter fraud by President Donald Trump, ballot counting will continue in Pennsylvania and Chester County — and may not be fully complete statewide until Friday. Although Trump falsely declared victory late Tuesday, it appears that Joe Biden is increasingly likely to win a fairly close but definitive victory for the White House,...

Will new COVID spike tamp down in-person voting, leading to a GOP disaster?

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa On Saturday, The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,742 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number reported in the state since April. National sources reported about 55,000 new cases — without Florida numbers — and nearly 1,000 deaths. Since there appear to be no new restrictions to limit the spread of the virus on the horizon, we’re...

When it comes to opening schools, Trump has to either put up or shut up

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Open the schools! Or else. Says President Donald Trump. Okay, there’s almost no one (besides a few kids, maybe) who do not want to see our public schools reopen this fall. My college-age kids are counting the minutes they can return to their campus. As great as our teachers have done over video, there’s no question that kids learn better in the classroom and...

What To Do: Yellow Status means get ‘out’ — but be smart about it

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Jenkins Arboretum “Yellow” is not the most positive word in the English language. Even though it is associated with sunshine, cheerfulness and warmth, yellow carries a surprising number of negative connotations. Psychologically, yellow means happiness and optimism. It is the color of sun shining, or bright light and creativity. It is...