The PA Chamber invites businesses statewide to learn more about the COVID-19 Relief Bill.  The recently approved COVID-19 stimulus package includes $284 billion in forgivable, federally backed loans for hard-hit small businesses.  The free seminar is today from 11:00 am to 12 noon.  Register at pachamber.org/events/.

Hunters who have not purchased their 2020-21 Pennsylvania hunting or furtaker licenses, or who need to purchase a permit should do so this week.  Pennsylvania’s Automated Licensing System (PALS) will be unavailable for a week, beginning Tuesday, January 12th.  PA fishing licenses and permits also will not be sold during this time.

The temporary shutdown is necessary to complete an upgrade to a new licensing system.  Hunters will not be able to report harvests online during the time that PALS is unavailable, but can continue to report through the mail, or by phone at 1-833-463-6293.  If you need assistance with a license issue can call the Game Commission’s Harrisburg headquarters at 1-888-888-3459.

A Mifflintown man was arrested for assaulting two police officers Janauary 4th in Juniata County.  State Police responded to an incident on Casey Lane in Walker Township involving an out-of-control male just before 9:00 am.   Twenty-two-year-old James Casey was arrested after assaulting the troopers.  Charges were filed through the district magistrate. 

PennDOT has announced that the deadline for the fourth annual Innovations Challenge has been extended through Friday, January 15th.  Students in grades 9-12 regardless of their school’s learning model are invited participate in this year’s Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers.  This year’s Innovations Challenge asks students to develop an innovative and implementable solution that helps address Pennsylvania’s transportation revenue shortfall by identifying potential new funding streams, aside from additional gas taxes, tolls or mileage-based user fees, to help ensure adequate transportation funding for the future.