Authorities in Perry County say a 48-year-old Newport man died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to State Police at Newport, the victim was found with a single gunshot wound to his chest along with a suicide note Friday morning on Turkey Bird Road in Oliver Township.

A proposed constitutional amendment to limit the length of future emergency disaster declarations unless an extension is approved by the General Assembly received final legislative approval last week, and will be put before the voters to decide in the May 18th primary election. Senate Bill 2 was approved by the House of Representatives on Friday, following approval by the Senate on January 26th. Under current law, a governor’s emergency declaration can last up to 90 days, and be renewed by the governor indefinitely. The emergency declaration under Senate Bill 2would be limited to 21 days unless the General Assembly approved a longer duration.

The Mifflin County School District does not have a bus driver for Bus 147 for today. bus 147 transports students for Lewistown elementary School, Lewistown Intermediate School and Mifflin County Middle School. If students assigned to Bus 147 cannot find alternate transportation to/from school, they will be granted an excused absence and should access their class work using their online platforms if they are able.

Pennsylvania’s raccoon hunting season likely will be slightly longer in the 2021-22 license year because of proposed Sunday hunting opportunities up for adoption in April. The PA Game Commission intends to maintain an October start to the raccoon hunting season and keep the season open through the firearms deer season and beyond. Additionally, raccoon hunters would have three Sundays – November 14th, 21st, and 28th – to hunt, based on the Game Commission’s proposal. The board will consider corrected season dates at its April 17th meeting.