Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) has introduced legislation that would establish a Pennsylvania Bureau of Election Audits under the office of the state’s Auditor General.  The bureau would be required to conduct result-confirming audits of each election in the Commonwealth, completed by the third Friday following the election.  The audits would comprehensively examine all future elections, looking at all aspects of the process and results. The Bureau of Election Audits would be required to provide corrective action plans to address any errors or deficiencies discovered in the audit.

A $300,000 state grant will help remediate the former Central Hotel Building in the Borough of Lewistown.  The grant was announced by Representative John Hershey (R-Mifflin/Juniata/Franklin) and Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre/Huntingdon/Mifflin/Juniata).  The current structure on the property at the corner of East Third and Valley Street in the borough is dilapidated and at risk of collapse. The state funding will aid in the demolition of the building and site redevelopment for a proposed borough police station. 

Authorities are searching for the driver involved in a weekend hit-and-run crash in Lewistown.  Borough Police say a silver Chrysler mini van struck a bicycle near the intersection of South Pine Road and Chestnut Street at about 5:00 pm Saturday.  The operator of the bicycle was injured.  The driver of the van did not stop or attempt to render aid.  Anyone with information should contact Officer Snyder of the Lewistown Police Department.

The Pennsylvania Senate Health and Human Services Committee advanced a measure that would ban the state, as well as local governmental entities and school districts from requiring vaccine passports.  Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28), one of the co-sponsors of the bill, says the measure is in response to other states implementing vaccine passports.   New York paid IBM $2.5 million to create their state-issued vaccine passport known as Excelsior Pass. Other states are requiring proof of vaccination to attend gatherings.