Former Republican Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden on Sunday, claiming he will cast his first vote for a Democrat because President Donald Trump lacks &#8220;the empathy, integrity, intellect, and maturity to lead.&#8221;
&#8220;I will cast my vote for Joe Biden on Nov. 3,&#8221; Ridge wrote in an op-ed for <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/tom-ridge-trump-biden-election-2020-vote-20200927.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Philadelphia Inquirer</a>. &#8220;It will be my first vote for a Democratic candidate for president of the United States. But it is not the first time I have said &#8216;no&#8217; to Donald Trump. I urge my fellow Pennsylvanians to join me.&#8221;
Ridge went on to remind readers of his anti-Trump bona fides, recalling that he was among the first Republicans to denounce Trump for being &#8220;an embarrassment to the Republican Party and our country.&#8221;
&#8220;I said he belittles, demeans, and ridicules people who disagree with him, and that I’ve never thought that loud, obnoxious, and simpleminded solutions to complex problems are the kind of qualities we want in a president. I believe that earned me my first of several Trump tweets of indignation,&#8221; Ridge continued.
Ridge, who served as the first secretary of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush, also hit at Trump for his response to the coronavirus pandemic, contrasting it with Bush&#8217;s leadership in the wake of 9/11. After recalling Bush&#8217;s speech on the rubble in lower Manhattan, Ridge said:
<blockquote>Compare and contrast that with the crisis of today. Imagine the impact of President Trump traveling to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention back in February, and talking plainly about the challenge Mother Nature intended to throw at us, and how this country, working together, public and private sector, would confront it with all the fortitude and resources we could bring to bear. Then imagine him meeting with journalists the next day, appearing with a face mask, and calmly walking through the steps that his fellow citizens could and should take to do their part to combat this new challenge. Imagine the difference in attitude and outcomes. Perhaps I have more trust in Americans being able to handle the truth than the president.</blockquote>
Ridge continued his broadside against Trump by scolding him for questioning the &#8220;sanctity&#8221; of an election that could hinge on mail-in ballots. Referencing Trump&#8217;s claim that he will only lose if the election is rigged, Ridge wrote, &#8220;Can you imagine the hubris? Can you imagine any other president in our lifetime — or ever — saying something so dangerous and un-American? We are in the midst of a health crisis, when we should be doing all we can to help citizens vote safely, yet he continues to cast doubt on the sanctity of the vote. He’s done so multiple times here in Pennsylvania.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s deplorable, yet utterly consistent with past reprehensible behavior,&#8221; Ridge added. He also said that even though his Republican principles have pushed him to vote for a Democrat, he will still call out Biden when he disagrees with him.
Ridge also took Trump to task in July for dispatching federal officers to quell unrest in Democrat-controlled cities such as Portland. &#8220;The [Department of Homeland Security] was established to protect America from the ever-present threat of global terrorism. It was not established to be the president’s personal militia,&#8221; he said.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dhs-is-not-the-presidents-personal-militia-tom-ridge-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DHS Is Not ‘The President’s Personal Militia,’ Tom Ridge Says</a>
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Tom Ridge

Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge Endorses Biden

Donald Trump

Joe Biden

Pennsylvania

Former Republican Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden on Sunday, claiming he will cast his first vote for a Democrat because

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On Thursday, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court sided with the state&#8217;s Democrats, allowing a three-day extension past Election Day to count mail-in ballots.
The vital battleground state&#8217;s Supreme Court &#8220;granted the Democratic Party’s request to order an extension of Pennsylvania’s Election Day-deadline to count mailed-in ballots for three days after Election Day,&#8221; The Associated Press <a href="https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-supreme-court-mail-in-ballot-20200917-qfcxnhvtsffbvkcagimmw4vaj4-story.html">reported</a> Thursday afternoon.
The PA court has a Democratic majority of 5-2 over Republicans.
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The ruling also &#8220;authorized the use of satellite election offices and drop boxes — which Philadelphia and its heavily populated suburbs are planning to use help relieve the pressure from an avalanche of mailed-in ballots expected in the Nov. 3 presidential election,&#8221; the AP added.
As reported by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-democrats-very-worried-about-mail-in-voting-causing-election-chaos">The Daily Wire</a> earlier this month, elected officials within the state are battling over mail-in ballots, in light of the disastrous June primary process: &#8220;For its June primary, Pennsylvania implemented no-excuse absentee voting, meaning voters did not need an excuse to request an absentee ballot, for the first time ever. Mail-in ballots skyrocketed to over 1.4 million in the state, overloading the system and delaying the outcomes of several races by weeks.&#8221;
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In July, an experiment conducted by CBS News to test the integrity of mail-in voting ended in disaster; a stunning 3% of the votes were never counted.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cbs-mail-in-voting-experiment-shows-potentially-serious-issue">The Daily Wire</a> reported on the experiment:
<blockquote>Dokoupil sent out 100 mock ballots in the Philadelphia area, using the same size envelope, weight, and class of mail to simulate genuine mail-in votes, albeit without the expedited “Election Mail” insignia. After the post office box was set up, 100 more faux ballots were sent out.
“We’re gonna see somewhere between probably 80 and 100 million voters receiving their ballot that way,” a former Arizona election official told Dokoupil.
After a week, 97% of the ballots Dokoupil mailed had been returned. “Three simulated persons, or 3% of voters, were effectively disenfranchised by mail by giving their ballots a week to arrive,” CBS noted. “In a close election, 3% could be pivotal.” Even four days after mailing the second round of fake ballots, 21% of the fake votes had failed to materialize. Almost half of states allow voters to receive ballots less than half-a-week before the election.</blockquote>
On Thursday, The Daily Wire&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-if-the-election-doesnt-end-on-election-day-heres-what-happens-next">Joseph Curl</a> outlined what would happen if there is no declared winner on Election Day.
&#8220;In the Electoral College, the candidate who receives at least 270 of the 538 electoral votes will win the White House. If there’s still no winner, the Constitution kicks in. According to the 12th Amendment, the House of Representatives elects the president and the Senate elects the vice president. That has happened only once, in 1825, when John Quincy Adams won,&#8221; Curl explained.
However, he added, &#8220;it’s not a straight vote by all 435 lawmakers. Instead, each state casts a unified ballot — one state, one vote.&#8221;
&#8220;Twenty-seven states currently have a majority of Republican representatives, 22 have a majority of Democrats, and one state tied. If a president isn’t selected before Congress reconvenes on Jan. 6, 2021, Republicans in the House would eventually pick their candidate: Donald Trump. But all that could change depending on the outcome of House and Senate elections on Nov. 3,&#8221; Curl outlined.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-if-the-election-doesnt-end-on-election-day-heres-what-happens-next">What If The Election Doesn’t End On Election Day? Here’s What Happens Next.</a>
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Court Sides With Pennsylvania Democrats, Mail-In Ballots To Be Counted 3 Days After Election Day

2020 Election

mail-in voting

On Thursday, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court sided with the state&#039;s Democrats, allowing a three-day extension past Election Day to count mail-in ballots. The

Court Sides With Pennsylvania Democrats, Mail-In Ballots To Be Counted 3 Days After Election Day | The Daily Wire

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A Kappa Delta sorority sister at Pennsylvania&#8217;s Franklin &amp; Marshall College found herself behind bars with bail set at $1 million after engaging in alleged criminal protesting.
Kathryn Patterson, 20, joined demonstrations in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, over the fatal police shooting of 27-year-old Ricardo Munoz, who, according to body-cam footage, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/violent-riots-looting-hit-pennsylvania-after-cop-shoots-black-man-suspect-charged-at-cop-with-knife-video-shows">charged an officer</a> while wielding a knife.
The undergrad was charged with arson, among other felony charges.
In total, 12 other alleged criminal rioters were also charged, with nine of them slapped with a $1 million bail, including Patterson.
Speaking to The Associated Press, Patterson&#8217;s father Chip Patterson <a href="https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-lancaster-police-shooting-protest-1-million-bail-20200915-prprb2ohb5ht5oscjebr4x4qpq-story.html">called</a> the $1 million bail &#8220;obscene.&#8221;
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“Everything that I know so far, which is not a lot, indicates that Kat is not guilty of those charges,&#8221; he told the news outlet. &#8220;But then again, we’ll have to wait and see.&#8221;
“I cannot tell you how long this night has been,” Mr. Patterson added. “I think regardless of what these people did or didn’t do, the bail amount is just outrageous and clearly against the Eighth Amendment.&#8221;
The college student has been dubbed an &#8220;ally&#8221; of the Black Student Union at Franklin &amp; Marshall College, where tuition is just under $60,000 a year.
The young woman&#8217;s sorority, too, is boosting Patterson.
&#8220;Last Wednesday, Franklin &amp; Marshall&#8217;s Kappa Delta sorority features one its sisters in a recruitment post on how [Kappa Delta] helped her &#8216;grow exponentially as a person.&#8217; Yesterday, it posted that it needed to raise $10k to help bail her out of jail for arson,&#8221; reported Brent Scher, on Tuesday.
&#8220;Every day, the women in [Kappa Delta] inspire me to pursue my dreams and change the world, and I love them for that,&#8221; Patterson gushed over the sorority, according to the Instagram post.
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Last Wednesday, Franklin &amp; Marshall&#39;s Kappa Delta sorority features one its sisters in a recruitment post on how KD helped her &quot;grow exponentially as a person.&quot; 
Yesterday, it posted that it needed to raise $10k to help bail her out of jail for arson. <a href="https://t.co/K05Eb38i5P">https://t.co/K05Eb38i5P</a> <a href="https://t.co/HMJzci7PqH">pic.twitter.com/HMJzci7PqH</a>
&mdash; Brent Scher (@BrentScher) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentScher/status/1306273371848613894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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As noted by Fox News, the 20-year-old&#8217;s social media pages indicate she&#8217;s been at Black Lives Matter protests before.
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BLM, all day every day.
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katie.patterson.98096">Kat Patterson</a> on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2602490433333254&amp;set=a.1378075735774736&amp;type=3">Saturday, August 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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A GoFundMe set up for Patterson reads:
<blockquote>On Sunday 09/13/2020 Lancaster PD shot and killed Ricardo Munoz. During the protest that evening Lancaster PD detained Kathryn Patterson. Kat is a student at Franklin and Marshall College where she is an ally of BSU, and  a member of Kappa Delta Sorority.
Kat was providing medical attention to injured demonstrators and has now been wrongfully accused of crimes she could not possibly commit.
We as members of the Black Student Union and Kappa Delta Sorority, have created this fund to raise money to support Kat and her family. 
~ In Unity Lies Strength</blockquote>
In response to the fatal shooting of Munoz, the Lancaster Bureau of Police outlined the incident in a public <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/violent-riots-looting-hit-pennsylvania-after-cop-shoots-black-man-suspect-charged-at-cop-with-knife-video-shows">statement</a>:
<blockquote>“The first officer on the scene walked to the front of the residence and made contact with a woman, who was identified as a family member. A male subject then exited the front door of the residence and began chasing the officer. Preliminary information and body worn camera footage indicates that the male subject had a knife in his right hand as he was chasing the officer. The officer fired several shots from his firearm, striking the subject. The subject, identified as 27 year old Lancaster man, did not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was the only police officer on the scene at the time of the shooting and his body worn camera was activated and recorded the encounter.”</blockquote>
UPDATE:
District Court Judge Bruce Roth reduced charged protesters&#8217; bail on Thursday, following backlash from Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and other protester and civil rights groups.
&#8220;Five protesters petitioned for a lower bail, and other protesters had their bail reduced by Judge Roth after he reviewed the bail on Thursday in courthouse A at the Lancaster County Courthouse,&#8221; Lancaster Online <a href="https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/bail-modified-for-9-protesters-arrested-following-lancaster-protests-after-fatal-police-shooting-update/article_35fd855c-f8dd-11ea-b323-8b48a91413cb.html?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=user-share">reported</a>. &#8220;The defense attorneys and the Lancaster County District Attorney&#8217;s office helped the judge come to a conclusion for the new bail amounts, Judge Roth said.&#8221;
Patterson&#8217;s bail has been reduced to $50,000.
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Kathryn Patterson

Judge Sets Allegedly Rioting Sorority Sister’s Bail At $1 Million, Dad Outraged

Prison

Riots

A Kappa Delta sorority sister at Pennsylvania&#039;s Franklin &amp; Marshall College found herself behind bars with bail set at $1 million after engaging in

Judge Sets Allegedly Rioting Sorority Sister’s Bail At $1 Million, Dad Outraged | The Daily Wire

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This was shaping up to be another week of rioting and chaos in an American city. It was Lancaster, Pennsylvania this time, home to Amish villages, cornfields, and other rural attractions. Rioters descended on the town on Sunday night, pillaging, looting, burning, and doing all of the other things we have come to expect, in response to the police shooting of a man who was chasing after an officer while wielding a knife. But then something we have not come to expect: almost as soon as it had started, the rioting stopped.
The next night of protests was <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/09/second-night-of-lancaster-protests-sees-smaller-more-peaceful-crowd.html">small</a> and for the most part peaceful (really peaceful, not &#8220;peaceful&#8221; in the way the media has come to use the word). If there have been any protests since Monday, we haven&#8217;t heard much about them. Things seem to have quieted down in Lancaster. Order rapidly reemerged from the chaos. Contrast this with places like Portland or Seattle, which saw mass anarchy for months on end. Riots plagued Kenosha and Minneapolis for weeks.
Why was Lancaster so lucky? Why isn&#8217;t it the next Kenosha or the new Portland?
It seems they did a number of things differently.
1. The Lancaster Police Department released the body cam footage of the incident within hours. We didn&#8217;t have to wait days or months to see if the narrative from the protesters was actually true, as we did with George Floyd and other high-profile police shootings. Granted, the radical branch of the &#8220;protesters&#8221; don&#8217;t much care about the accuracy of their narrative — truth is an irrelevant detail in their worldview — but it certainly doesn&#8217;t help when the false narrative goes entirely unchallenged for weeks on end.
<div id="attachment_147129" style="width: 860px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-147129" class="wp-image-147129" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cop-1024x576.jpg" alt="Lancaster Police" width="850" height="479" />Lancaster Police</div>
2. The police showed up in force on the first night of the protests. Rioters were given a few warnings to disperse before <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/tear-gas-deadly-lancaster-police-shooting/2532174/">tear gas</a> was deployed. Rubber bullets were also used against the rioters as they began to hurl bricks and other projectiles at law enforcement. One protester, sadly for him, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRightScoop/status/1305507636138463234?s=20">took a rubber bullet to the groin</a>.
3. Police <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahSchaffer/status/1305403142486536192">aggressively pursued</a> those who committed crimes throughout the night. Officers in marked police vans chased down the criminals, swiftly arrested them, and carted them off to jail.
4. Here is perhaps the most important part. The arrested rioters were charged with multiple felonies and kept in jail on bails set at <a href="https://www.fox43.com/article/news/crime/lancaster-judge-sets-protesters-bail-at-1-million/521-effd2ad6-8a44-4910-aac8-cc7f30b6b4c7">up to 1 million dollars</a>. As of Wednesday, at least seven of the accused arsonists and vandals are still in jail, unable to pay the hefty bond.
And this is all it took. Four easy steps to quell the chaos and restore order.
It is not as though the Lancaster Police Department has access to more tools and resources than the police in Portland or Seattle. The difference here is that the people in positions of power actually wanted the law enforced, and took basic steps to see that it was done. The police were allowed to do their jobs, and suspects, once arrested, faced real and life changing consequences. It was that simple.
Which only throws into sharper relief the abysmal and inexcusable failures of the cities that failed — rather, refused — to stop the rioting when they could.
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Police tape

WALSH: Lancaster Solved Its Rioting Problem In One Day. Here’s How They Did It.

George Floyd

Law Enforcement

This was shaping up to be another week of rioting and chaos in an American city. It was Lancaster, Pennsylvania this time, home to Amish villages,

WALSH: Lancaster Solved Its Rioting Problem In One Day. Here’s How They Did It. | The Daily Wire

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Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert announced this week that he has changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican following months of violent riots and attacks on law enforcement by leftists.
“It was a really difficult decision and I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I feel I stand for the ideals of the Republican Party platform more than the Democrats today,” Albert said. “I’ve been a lifelong Democrat, but a conservative Democrat at that. I’m pro-life, a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, a lifetime member of the NRA and, today, I feel my ideals are closer to the Republican Party than Democrats.”
Albert, 77, has worked for more than four decades in both law enforcement and as a judge.
TribLIVE.com <a href="https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-sheriff-albert-explains-switch-to-gop-i-have-not-left-the-democratic-party-the-democratic-party-has-left-me/">said</a> that Albert&#8217;s decision came after he watched months of news coverage showing “arson, mob rule and attacks against law enforcement.”
“I was saddened and enraged by the murder of David Dorn, a 77-year-old African American retired police captain, who was shot by a pawn shop looter during a protest in St. Louis,” Albert said. “These outrageous, lawless acts have been met with silence, acquiescence and, in some instances, outright support from the local, state and national leadership of the Democratic Party.”
A recent report found that there have been approximately 570 violent riots in nearly 220 locations spread across the U.S.
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Princeton University group studies 3 months of Black Lives Matter protests. Intent is to show they are &#39;overwhelmingly peaceful.&#39; But report reveals nearly 570 violent demonstrations&#8211;riots&#8211;in nearly 220 locations spread all across country. <a href="https://t.co/it60GBbTZT">https://t.co/it60GBbTZT</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ph8iECyHIf">pic.twitter.com/Ph8iECyHIf</a>
&mdash; Byron York (@ByronYork) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByronYork/status/1302219095337766912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Albert&#8217;s switch comes after six mayors in Minnesota formerly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/six-democrat-mn-mayors-endorse-trump-democrats-left-us-moved-so-far-left-we-dont-recognize-the-party">endorsed</a> President Donald Trump for re-election late last month.
“Today, we write to formally endorse President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for four more years,” the letter said. It was signed by Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe, Chisholm Mayor John Champa, Ely Mayor Chuck Novak, Two Harbors Mayor Chris Swanson, Eveleth Mayor Robert Vlaisavljevich, and Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich.
“Like many in our region, we have voted for Democrats over many decades,” the letter said. “We have watched as our constituents’ jobs left not only the Iron Range, but our country. By putting tariffs on our products and supporting bad trade deals, politicians like Joe Biden did nothing to help the working class. We lost thousands of jobs, and generations of young people have left the Iron Range in order to provide for their families with good paying jobs elsewhere. Today, we don’t recognize the Democratic Party. It has been moved so far to the left it can no longer claim to be advocates of the working class. The hard-working Minnesotans that built their lives and supported their families here on the Range have been abandoned by radical Democrats. We didn’t choose to leave the Democratic Party, the party left us.”
“Yet, four years ago, something wonderful happened. Donald J. Trump was elected President of the United States, and he stood up to China, implemented tax cuts and fought for the working class,” the letter continued. “Now, four years later, the Iron Range is roaring back to life and for the first time in a very long time, locals are hopeful because of this President’s policies and willingness to fight for us.”
“Lifelong politicians like Joe Biden are out of touch with the working class, out of touch with what the country needs, and out of touch with those of us here on the Iron Range and in small towns like ours across our nation,” the letter concluded. “In this election, there is a lot at stake, but the biggest risk is our jobs, our economy, and our way of life. President Trump delivered the best economy in our nation’s history, and President Trump will deliver for us again. He will continue to fight for every American regardless of party affiliation and continue to stand up for the working class.”
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Philadelphians Kneel In Protest To Systemic Police Violence

Pennsylvania Sheriff Changes To Republican After Violent Riots: ‘Democratic Party Has Left Me’

Democrats

Republicans

Sheriff

Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert announced this week that he has changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican following months of

Pennsylvania Sheriff Changes To Republican After Violent Riots: ‘Democratic Party Has Left Me’ | The Daily Wire

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Rioters, whom some journalists identified as Antifa and Black Lives Matter supporters, attacked a police station in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Sunday night and threw bricks at police officers.
The attack happened after a Lancaster police officer shot a man, identified by police as Ricardo Munoz, 27, who charged at him with a knife earlier in the day.
The Lancaster Police Department said that a group of more than 100 individuals refused to leave the area after an unlawful assembly had been declared.
&#8220;The group failed to follow the instructions and chemical agents were used to disperse the crowd,&#8221; the department said in a statement. &#8220;Members of the crowd damaged a county vehicle parked in the front of the police station. Bricks were thrown through the front of the police station and into the post office window.&#8221;
&#8220;People on the ramp, W. Chestnut St. and the park adjacent to the station threw water bottles, glass bottles, rocks, bricks, gallon jugs of liquids and parts of plastic road barricades at Officers,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;OC spray was also deployed at protestors that refused to move from the ramp and were physically challenging Officers that were moving to clear people from the ramp. As of time of this release, protestors are still gathered outside the station and have thrown traffic barricades, large planters and trash receptacles across the ramp. Protestors have also damaged a County of Lancaster vehicle parked on W. Chestnut St.&#8221;
Journalists Drew Hernandez and Elijah Schaffer posted videos to social media that showed the rioters attacking the police station and the police officers.
WATCH:
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PENNSYLVANIA: black bloc Antifa destroy the windows and body of a Lancaster detective’s car using a bricks 
Black lives matter protesters join in and call to light the car on fire <a href="https://t.co/3tdCL5zaYi">pic.twitter.com/3tdCL5zaYi</a>
&mdash; ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahSchaffer/status/1305377398121213952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PENNSYLVANIA: you can see how many projectiles, including water bottles, rocks and brick fragments were thrown at Lancaster police who were clearing the precinct ramp <a href="https://t.co/8zLBG3CUcV">pic.twitter.com/8zLBG3CUcV</a>
&mdash; ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahSchaffer/status/1305370640153706497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PENNSYLVANIA: After rioters began throwing bricks and breaking windows of the police station 
Police deploy tear gas and rubber bullets again to clear the street and intersection in front of the police station <a href="https://t.co/0xRDMz6o4w">pic.twitter.com/0xRDMz6o4w</a>
&mdash; Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) <a href="https://twitter.com/livesmattershow/status/1305381850479767552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PENNSYLVANIA: Rioters have begun to throw bricks breaking windows of the police station <a href="https://t.co/8zS0aoWn39">pic.twitter.com/8zS0aoWn39</a>
&mdash; Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) <a href="https://twitter.com/livesmattershow/status/1305379235465437184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PENNSYLVANIA: Police have made quick work of the rioters barricade and completely run it over then deploy more tear gas to clear the intersection <a href="https://t.co/srvrqAZEU4">pic.twitter.com/srvrqAZEU4</a>
&mdash; Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) <a href="https://twitter.com/livesmattershow/status/1305395509746716672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PENNSYLVANIA: Last night the BLM rioters seemed to be a bit in experienced with tear gas and continued to result to throwing bricks <a href="https://t.co/W6ObWpTaxO">pic.twitter.com/W6ObWpTaxO</a>
&mdash; Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) <a href="https://twitter.com/livesmattershow/status/1305463473204322306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The violent riots and looting broke out after Munoz died in an officer-involved shooting. “Local authorities quickly released footage from the incident that showed the man running out of house and charging at the police officer with a knife,&#8221; The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/violent-riots-looting-hit-pennsylvania-after-cop-shoots-black-man-suspect-charged-at-cop-with-knife-video-shows">reported</a>. &#8220;Police responded to the home after a woman called them to report that her brother was allegedly becoming aggressive with their mother and trying to break into the home.”
“The first officer on the scene walked to the front of the residence and made contact with a woman, who was identified as a family member,” The Lancaster Bureau of Police said in a statement. “A male subject then exited the front door of the residence and began chasing the officer. Preliminary information and body worn camera footage indicates that the male subject had a knife in his right hand as he was chasing the officer. The officer fired several shots from his firearm, striking the subject. The subject, identified as 27 year old Lancaster man, did not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was the only police officer on the scene at the time of the shooting and his body worn camera was activated and recorded the encounter.”
“The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office was contacted immediately and is now conducting an investigation into the officer-involved shooting,” the statement later added. “While the investigation is still in the early stages and is on-going, the Lancaster City Bureau of Police is releasing this video footage after providing it to the investigators.”
A previous version of this article inaccurately described Munoz as a black man. 
The Daily Wire is one of America’s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

rioter

WATCH: Rioters Throw Bricks At Police In Pennsylvania After Minority Man Shot For Charging Cop With Knife

Police

Shooting

Rioters, whom some journalists identified as Antifa and Black Lives Matter supporters, attacked a police station in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Sunday

WATCH: Rioters Throw Bricks At Police In Pennsylvania After Minority Man Shot For Charging Cop With Knife | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-rioters-throw-bricks-at-police-in-pennsylvania-after-black-man-shot-for-charging-cop-with-knife/

https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/09/BLM-3-e1600087981542.jpg

Violent riots and looting broke out in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Sunday night after a man, identified by police as Ricardo Munoz, 27, died in an officer-involved shooting. Local authorities quickly released footage from the incident that showed the man running out of house and charging at the police officer with a knife.
Police responded to the home after a woman called them to report that her brother was allegedly becoming aggressive with their mother and trying to break into the home.
&#8220;The first officer on the scene walked to the front of the residence and made contact with a woman, who was identified as a family member,&#8221; The Lancaster Bureau of Police <a href="https://twitter.com/LancasterPolice/status/1305333891042082817">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;A male subject then exited the front door of the residence and began chasing the officer. Preliminary information and body worn camera footage indicates that the male subject had a knife in his right hand as he was chasing the officer. The officer fired several shots from his firearm, striking the subject. The subject, identified as 27 year old Lancaster man, did not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was the only police officer on the scene at the time of the shooting and his body worn camera was activated and recorded the encounter.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This is the bodycam footage of the officer-involved shooting in Lancaster, PA that Black Lives Matter is rioting over. The perpetrator charged at the police officer with a knife over his head with clear intent to strike. <a href="https://t.co/xD72TweQK4">pic.twitter.com/xD72TweQK4</a>
&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1305339350419271680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office was contacted immediately and is now conducting an investigation into the officer-involved shooting,&#8221; the statement later added. &#8220;While the investigation is still in the early stages and is on-going, the Lancaster City Bureau of Police is releasing this video footage after providing it to the investigators.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This is a screenshot from the officer’s body cam footage just released by the <a href="https://twitter.com/LancasterPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lancasterpolice</a>. It shows 27-year-old Ricardo Munoz holding a knife and running after the officer.
Just seconds after this the officer shot and killed him.
More —-&gt; <a href="https://t.co/1D6P9qahkA">https://t.co/1D6P9qahkA</a> <a href="https://t.co/gYRIOkm2uY">pic.twitter.com/gYRIOkm2uY</a>
&mdash; Hannah Brandt (@HannahABC27) <a href="https://twitter.com/HannahABC27/status/1305338245488750592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On Sunday night, Lancaster police were forced to use tear gas to <a href="https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/lbop/19659/post/use-chemical-agents-lancaster-bureau-police-station-9142020">disperse</a> violent rioters that gathered in front of the Lancaster Bureau of Police Station and attacked the building.
The Blaze Media journalist and videographer Elijah Schaffer posted video of the alleged looting that broke out in the city following the incident.
&#8220;Looting has started in Lancaster at Villa athletic store approximately 1 hour 50 minutes ago according to the shop owner,&#8221; Schaffer wrote. &#8220;Groups of rioters are roaming the city breaking windows and stealing merchandise. It was too dangerous to follow them since there are no police.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: looting has started in Lancaster at Villa athletic store approximately 1 hour 50 minutes ago according to the shop owner
Groups of rioters are roaming the city breaking windows and stealing merchandise
It was too dangerous to follow them since there are no police <a href="https://t.co/FQIH57hccy">pic.twitter.com/FQIH57hccy</a>
&mdash; ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahSchaffer/status/1305399075676844032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;BLM and Antifa are destroying shop windows and destroying planters,&#8221; Schaffer added. &#8220;They keep asking each other out loud when they are going to start breaking stuff and looting stores in Pennsylvania.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
LANCASTER: BLM and Antifa are destroying shop windows and destroying planters
They keep asking each other out loud when they are going to start breaking stuff and looting stores in Pennsylvania <a href="https://t.co/1yreEJg0Em">pic.twitter.com/1yreEJg0Em</a>
&mdash; ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahSchaffer/status/1305397106060992512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
More broken windows <a href="https://t.co/jMc28RbeLg">pic.twitter.com/jMc28RbeLg</a>
&mdash; ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahSchaffer/status/1305399722916687873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Related:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blm-activists-try-to-block-storm-hospital-where-shot-deputies-were-taken-i-hope-they-fing-die">BLM Activists Try To Block, Storm Hospital Where Shot Deputies Were Taken: ‘I Hope They F***ing Die’</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/after-two-la-cops-shot-in-close-range-ambush-leftist-think-tank-answers-blue-lives-matter-by-tweeting-they-dont">After Two L.A. Cops Shot In Close-Range Ambush, Leftist Think Tank Answers ‘Blue Lives Matter’ By Tweeting ‘They Don’t’</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/la-sherffis-npr-reporter-arrested-for-interfering-with-cops-as-they-tried-to-control-blm-protests-outside-hospital">L.A. Sheriffs: NPR Reporter Arrested For ‘Interfering’ With Cops As They Tried To Control BLM Protests Outside Hospital</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/city-manager-of-lynwood-near-where-la-deputies-were-shot-posts-chickens-come-home-to-roost">City Manager Of Lynwood, Near Where LA Deputies Were Shot, Posts ‘Chickens Come Home To Roost’</a></li>
</ul>
A previous version of this article inaccurately described Munoz as a black man.
The Daily Wire is one of America’s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Lancaster Police

Riots, Looting Hit Pennsylvania After Cop Shoots Minority Man. Suspect Charged At Cop With Knife, Video Shows.

Violent riots and looting broke out in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Sunday night after a man, identified by police as Ricardo Munoz, 27, died in an

Riots, Looting Hit Pennsylvania After Cop Shoots Minority Man. Suspect Charged At Cop With Knife, Video Shows. | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/violent-riots-looting-hit-pennsylvania-after-cop-shoots-black-man-suspect-charged-at-cop-with-knife-video-shows/

https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/09/cop-e1600085968767.jpg

Pennsylvania Democrats are scrambling to bolster the state’s vote-by-mail procedures to avoid a repeat of June’s primary process in the general election.
Gov. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-slap-in-the-face-10-times-democrat-politicians-blew-off-their-own-coronavirus-restrictions">Tom Wolf</a> met with a group of other influential Democratic politicians and power brokers recently to discuss possible reforms to the election process, and how to best counter allegations of malfeasance, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/03/pennsylvania-democrats-election-day-408147">Politico</a>. In the worst-case scenario, Pennsylvania, a battleground state, will not be able to verify the results of its election until weeks after polls close.
For its June primary, Pennsylvania implemented no-excuse absentee voting, meaning voters did not need an excuse to request an absentee ballot, for the first time ever. Mail-in ballots skyrocketed to over 1.4 million in the state, overloading the system and delaying the outcomes of several races by weeks.
Roughly two months out from the general election, lawmakers and strategists are still debating ways to shore up the voting process, causing headaches for those in charge of managing the election’s logistics at the ground level.
“I’ve got a growing list of things that I’d normally do, but I can’t,” Forrest Lehman, elections director for Lycoming County, told <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/decision-2020/lection-chiefs-worry-about-uncertainty-as-voting-nears/2522896/">NBC</a>. “We don’t know what the rules are.”
Republicans in the state legislature are pushing legislation that would allow election officials to begin opening mail-in ballots three days before the election to get a head start on counting absentee votes. Wolf opposes the measure for the limit it would place on the time to request an absentee ballot.
In the meantime, some local governments, such as Philadelphia’s, have been upgrading equipment and purchasing sanitizer and other pandemic supplies with money from private grants as well as government funds. Philadelphia City Commissioners Lisa Deeley said that even with a $10 million grant, the city will be ill-equipped for the flood of mail-in ballots.
“Even with all that equipment, with nearly 400,000 ballots that we expect to receive, it&#8217;s physically impossible that they will all be opened and scanned before the polls close on Election Day,” Deeley told Politico. “The new reality is winners and losers are not going to be known at the end of the night.”
Earlier this week, the Democratic data firm <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-data-firm-says-apparent-trump-election-landslide-could-turn-into-biden-win-days-later-with-mail-in-ballots">Hawkfish</a> predicted a “red mirage” on election night that showed President Trump beating Democratic nominee Joe Biden by a landslide, then slowly losing ground — and eventually the election — days later as mail-in votes were tallied.
Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who has raised election concerns with Wolf’s office, said that an election night fiasco like that would allow Trump to claim victory prematurely “and create fear and doubt in the process.”
“And that is what I am very worried about. And that is certainly very possible in Pennsylvania because of the current restrictions that we have,” Nutter said.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) dismissed Nutter’s concerns as fear-mongering.
“Sounds like someone is worried about losing Pennsylvania this November and it isn’t President Trump,” RNC spokesman Michael Joyce told Politico. “While Democrats zero in on pushing theoretical conspiracy theories, Pennsylvania Trump Victory continues to focus on the voters who will put President Trump over the top once again in the Keystone State.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-attorney-general-william-barr-absolutely-destroys-cnns-wolf-blitzer-on-voter-fraud">WATCH: Attorney General William Barr Absolutely Destroys CNN’s Wolf Blitzer On Voter Fraud</a>
The Daily Wire is one of America’s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Tom Wolf

Pennsylvania Democrats ‘Very Worried’ About Mail-In Voting Causing Election Chaos

Pennsylvania Democrats are scrambling to bolster the state’s vote-by-mail procedures to avoid a repeat of June’s primary process in the general election.

Pennsylvania Democrats ‘Very Worried’ About Mail-In Voting Causing Election Chaos | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-democrats-very-worried-about-mail-in-voting-causing-election-chaos/

https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/09/Tom-Wolf.jpg

The woman who struck a female lector in the face during a Catholic Mass on Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter &amp; Paul in Philadelphia is not being charged with a crime, according to authorities.
The Philadelphia District Attorney&#8217;s Office, working together with the Philadelphia Archdiocese, was deferring any charges against the woman because of her mental illness, sources familiar with the situation told <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/philly-cathedral-punch-mass-charges-suspect-woman-20200825.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Philadelphia Inquirer</a>. A spokesman for the Philadelphia district attorney said, &#8220;As this incident has not been referred to our office for prosecution, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.&#8221;
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senseless-act-of-aggression-catholic-attacked-during-mass-in-philadelphia" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>, the church contacted law enforcement shortly after the incident, which happened about 32 minutes into the Mass <a href="https://vimeo.com/448399790" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">livestream</a> on Facebook.
Rev. Dennis Gill, the priest presiding over the service, said, “We immediately followed up on it off-camera and it’s important for us to do that because people are at home and continuing to participate in Mass. Nonetheless, it was very upsetting. Parishioners attending in person were shocked as were so many that watch the 11 a.m. Mass live-streamed online.”
Sarah Contrucci, the woman who was hit, told the Inquirier, &#8220;I saw somebody there that clearly seemed to be waiting there, and I was a little worried that she was going to attempt to make a scene of some sort, to disrupt the Mass. So I was thinking that I wanted to do whatever I could to keep the situation calm and respectful, and so I just wanted to get back to my pew.&#8221;
&#8220;Please join me in praying for everyone involved in today’s incident and for respect for our fellow brothers and sisters,&#8221; she added.
Regarding the incident, Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson J. Perez said at the time:
<blockquote>During the 11:00 a.m. Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter &amp; Paul, which was broadcast live via my Facebook page and the Archdiocesan Vimeo Channel, a senseless act of aggression took place. One of the lectors was punched by someone in the congregation as she left the altar.
Such behavior is unacceptable at all times, especially within the confines of a church building and during the celebration of the Holy Mass. I was saddened to learn of this incident and regret that it took place. The lector who was assaulted received immediate attention and assistance from Cathedral staff members off camera. She did not require medical attention and is doing well based on the reports I have received. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is working in conjunction with police regarding the matter and will cooperate with them fully. Please be assured that there are safety and security plans in place for the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. We welcome all visitors and work to provide for their safety. Violence has no place in our world and every life is a precious gift from God. Please join me in praying for everyone involved in today’s incident and for respect for our fellow brothers and sisters.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-disturbing-trend-gop-congressman-asks-doj-to-investigate-alleged-anti-catholic-vandalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘A Disturbing Trend’: GOP Congressman Asks DOJ To Investigate Alleged Anti-Catholic Vandalism</a>
The Daily Wire is one of America’s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at Philadelphia.

Woman Who Hit Churchgoer In Philly Cathedral Not Being Charged: Police

Catholicism

Philadelphia

Religion

The woman who struck a female lector in the face during a Catholic Mass on Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter &amp; Paul in Philadelphia is

Woman Who Hit Churchgoer In Philly Cathedral Not Being Charged: Police | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/woman-who-hit-churchgoer-in-philly-cathedral-not-being-charged-police/

https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/08/GettyImages-664938988.jpg

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf called on the State Legislature on Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana to help pay for coronavirus relief efforts.
In a six-tweet thread laying out his fall legislative agenda, Wolf wrote in part, &#8220;I&#8217;m calling on the legislature to legalize recreational marijuana.&#8221; He explained that the revenue from the drug sales would go to &#8220;small business grant funding&#8221; and &#8220;restorative justice programs.&#8221;
&#8220;At the same time, we must pursue policies that restore justice for individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I&#39;m calling on the legislature to legalize recreational marijuana, with the revenue going to:
🔹 Small business grant funding 🔹 Restorative justice programs
At the same time, we must pursue policies that restore justice for individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses.
&mdash; Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorTomWolf/status/1298265399469850633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“The governor is calling on the legislature to legalize recreational marijuana with the proceeds going to existing small business grant funding,&#8221; read a Tuesday <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-calls-on-legislature-to-act-immediately-on-covid-19-recovery-and-government-reform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">press release</a> from the governor&#8217;s office, which continued:
<blockquote>Fifty percent of the funding would be earmarked for historically disadvantaged businesses. Along with the call to the General Assembly to pass legislation legalizing the sale and use of recreational marijuana, the governor proposes that a portion of the revenue be used to further restorative justice programs that give priority to repairing the harm done to crime victims and communities as a result of marijuana criminalization.</blockquote>
<blockquote>Also, the governor wants the General Assembly to pursue criminal justice reform policies that restore justice for individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses.</blockquote>
Wolf and his administration have taken flak for their response to the coronavirus. As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/class-action-lawsuit-alleges-pennsylvania-government-violated-constitutional-rights-when-distributing-coronavirus-business-waivers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>, a class-action lawsuit alleged in May that the Pennsylvania state government violated constitutional rights when it issued waivers to &#8220;life-sustaining&#8221; businesses:
<blockquote>The process was not transparent, and resulted in some businesses within the same industry getting different treatment. As Spotlight PA <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/business/spl/pennsylvania-business-waivers-revoked-coronavirus-shutdown-20200513.html" rel="noopener">reported</a> earlier this month, one photographer was granted a waiver while another was denied. A notary was granted a waiver but had it revoked without explanation the night before a list of waiver recipients was publicly posted. A trucking company that had been denied a waiver was suddenly granted one without explanation at the same time.</blockquote>
Wolf&#8217;s health secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, has also come under scrutiny for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pa-health-official-tasked-with-overseeing-nursing-homes-pulled-out-own-mother-while-policies-wreaked-havoc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pulling her mother</a> out of a nursing home as deaths piled up in long-term care facilities across the state. Levine has become a flashpoint in the state&#8217;s fight against the coronavirus.
Most recently, a report from local Pittsburgh outlet WPXI <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/outrageous-pa-health-secretary-reportedly-cut-secret-deal-with-car-show-to-bypass-covid-19-restrictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">uncovered</a> legal documents indicating that Levine made a confidential agreement with a car show near Harrisburg that allowed them to skirt the state&#8217;s limit on outdoor gatherings. State lawmakers described the agreement as “outrageous,” “ridiculous,” and “not fair.”
Levine also defended Wolf&#8217;s apparent hypocrisy in June after he marched in solidarity with protesters following George Floyd&#8217;s death. As the Daily Wire reported:
<blockquote>Regarding why the governor and protesters were seemingly given a pass, Levine said, “The governor has always said that people have the right to protest, and to demonstrate, and the right to free speech, and so overall, we want large gatherings such as maybe a party or some type of concert or something, to be under 250 people.”
“But, we are not restricting people’s right to protest,” Levine added. “There are all obviously significant social issues that are present, that people feel that they need to have a voice, and so the governor is always supportive of that and is participating.”</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PA Health Sec. won’t allow the state to reopen or people to gather &#8211; and the Gov. who said businesses that disobey are cowards as he marches in protests himself &#8211; actually tries to legitimize limitless protests in the street while standing by restrictions. <a href="https://t.co/4jKwJGBtpG">pic.twitter.com/4jKwJGBtpG</a>
&mdash; Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisStigall/status/1268329029159059456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-speech-pa-governor-scolds-trump-campaign-adviser-for-misgendering-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Hate Speech’: PA Governor Scolds Trump Campaign Adviser For ‘Misgendering’ Health Secretary</a>
The Daily Wire is one of America’s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Tom Wolf marijuana

PA Gov. Tom Wolf Wants To Legalize Weed To Pay For Coronavirus Relief

Coronavirus

Marijuana

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf called on the State Legislature on Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana to help pay for coronavirus relief

PA Gov. Tom Wolf Wants To Legalize Weed To Pay For Coronavirus Relief | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/pa-gov-tom-wolf-wants-to-legalize-weed-to-pay-for-coronavirus-relief/

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Pennsylvania&#8217;s Health Secretary reportedly cut a secret agreement with a car show near the state capital that enabled them to get around coronavirus restrictions on outdoor gatherings.
According to legal documents obtained by local Pittsburgh outlet <a href="https://www.wpxi.com/news/investigates/confidential-agreement-uncovered-allowed-car-show-happen-despite-covid-19-restrictions/BUN43H7C3ZDCJJ2MIIEYXRN6AU/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WPXI</a>, Dr. Rachel Levine made a confidential settlement agreement with the Carlisle Car Show near Harrisburg that allowed 20,000 people to attend their four-day event in June. According to Pennsylvania’s <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">color-coded reopening plan</a>, outdoor gatherings are limited 250 people or less.
The apparent hypocrisy has shocked and dismayed some state lawmakers, who told WPXI the move was &#8220;outrageous,&#8221; &#8220;ridiculous,&#8221; and &#8220;not fair.&#8221; Republican state Rep. Aaron Bernstein, who represents counties in the western part of the state, described it as &#8220;despicable,&#8221; adding, &#8220;It’s not fair that eastern PA set up deals when we abide by rules.&#8221;
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Butler county leaders say this is about much more than a car show on the other side of the state. They say a confidential deal cut last month between the health department and a huge outdoor event allowing 20,000 people in per day shows hypocrisy and favoritism during a pandemic. <a href="https://t.co/ch3vrfTGhT">pic.twitter.com/ch3vrfTGhT</a>
&mdash; Amy Marcinkiewicz (@WPXIAmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/WPXIAmy/status/1296555040958746625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Democratic state Rep. Chris Sainato, who represents Lawrence County on the Ohio border, told WPXI, &#8220;That was surprising to me when you told me we’ve been making the sacrifices for five months.&#8221;
Pointing out how the county fair had to be canceled to comply with the health secretary&#8217;s mandates, Sainato said such a deal transcends political party. &#8220;I don’t think it’s truly fair throughout the state. You have to play by the same rules for everywhere no matter where you are in the state.&#8221;
Republican state Rep. Marci Mustello of Butler County was likewise incensed, saying, &#8220;I think somebody needs to explain why this agreement was allowed or even offered. So yes, it’s outrageous to even think this.&#8221;
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The car show agreement is not the first time Pennsylvania officials have faced accusations of inconsistently applying COVID-19 restrictions. Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/why-did-pa-gov-tom-wolf-join-a-protest-with-thousands-of-people-breaking-the-rules-in-a-yellow-phase-county.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broke his own state’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions</a> on June 3, when he marched in solidarity with hundreds of protesters in Harrisburg following the death of George Floyd. In Harrisburg’s Dauphin County, which was in the &#8220;yellow phase&#8221; at the time, gatherings were restricted to 25 people or less.
Regarding why the governor and protesters were seemingly given a pass, Levine said, “The governor has always said that people have the right to protest, and to demonstrate, and the right to free speech, and so overall, we want large gatherings such as maybe a party or some type of concert or something, to be under 250 people.”
“But, we are not restricting people’s right to protest,” Levine added. “There are all obviously significant social issues that are present, that people feel that they need to have a voice, and so the governor is always supportive of that and is participating.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PA Health Sec. won’t allow the state to reopen or people to gather &#8211; and the Gov. who said businesses that disobey are cowards as he marches in protests himself &#8211; actually tries to legitimize limitless protests in the street while standing by restrictions. <a href="https://t.co/4jKwJGBtpG">pic.twitter.com/4jKwJGBtpG</a>
&mdash; Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisStigall/status/1268329029159059456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Citing it as an &#8220;ongoing legal issue,&#8221; Levine refused WPXI&#8217;s repeated attempts to obtain substantive comment. Wolf also offered no comment, according to the outlet. While neither Levine nor Wolf had anything to say about the confidential agreement, the two have been vocal when it comes to scolding Pennsylvanians who do not acknowledge the biologically male Levine as a woman.
In May, Levine <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-pennsylvania-health-director-melts-down-in-press-conference-after-reporter-uses-wrong-pronoun" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">warned</a> radio personality Marty Griffin against misgendering her after he called Levine &#8220;sir&#8221; several times. Griffin apologized profusely and maintained that he used the wrong pronoun unintentionally, though he did not escape accusations of transphobia. As punishment, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto subsequently canceled an interview on Griffin&#8217;s radio station.
When a county fair in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, featured a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-county-fair-takes-flak-for-transphobic-dunk-tank-mocking-pa-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">dunk tank</a> with a man dressed as a woman in July, Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) went on Twitter to blast those who said he resembled Levine. &#8220;Dr. Levine is an honorable public servant whose tireless work to keep PA safe and healthy has saved countless lives,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;She is owed an apology.&#8221; Wolf echoed him in a rebuke that spanned three tweets, admonishing that &#8220;hate has no place in Pennsylvania.&#8221;
Most recently, Wolf <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-speech-pa-governor-scolds-trump-campaign-adviser-for-misgendering-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lashed out</a> at Trump campaign adviser Jenna Ellis earlier this month, accusing her of hate speech after she called Levine a guy. &#8220;To [Ellis] and whoever else needs to hear this: Misgendering a transgender person is hate speech and it’s unacceptable,&#8221; Wolf said. The Human Rights Campaign accused Ellis of being &#8220;a bigot.&#8221;
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-speech-pa-governor-scolds-trump-campaign-adviser-for-misgendering-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>, Ellis responded in part, &#8220;To be called a bigot for simply acknowledging scientific fact is both hilarious and tragic.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pa-health-official-tasked-with-overseeing-nursing-homes-pulled-out-own-mother-while-policies-wreaked-havoc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PA Health Official Tasked With Overseeing Nursing Homes Pulled Out Own Mother While Policies Wreaked Havoc</a>
The Daily Wire is one of America’s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

rachel levine

‘Outrageous’: PA Health Secretary Reportedly Cut Secret Deal With Car Show To Bypass COVID-19 Restrictions

Pennsylvania&#039;s Health Secretary reportedly cut a secret agreement with a car show near the state capital that enabled them to get around coronavirus

‘Outrageous’: PA Health Secretary Reportedly Cut Secret Deal With Car Show To Bypass COVID-19 Restrictions | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/outrageous-pa-health-secretary-reportedly-cut-secret-deal-with-car-show-to-bypass-covid-19-restrictions/

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Outspokenly liberal actor Rob Reiner took President Donald Trump to task Monday for offering Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as a potential location for his speech accepting the 2020 Republican nomination and accused him of having sinister motives for choosing such a place.
&#8220;Trump brilliantly narrows down the location of his acceptance speech. Either break yet another law and do it at the WH, or do it at Gettysburg and celebrate your devotion to White Supremacy,&#8221; Reiner tweeted.
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Trump brilliantly narrows down the location of his acceptance speech. Either break yet another law and do it at the WH, or do it at Gettysburg and celebrate your devotion to White Supremacy.
&mdash; Rob Reiner (@robreiner) <a href="https://twitter.com/robreiner/status/1292889731437432832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In response, NRSC senior adviser Matt Whitlock asked Reiner what he thought happened at Gettysburg, to which he responded, &#8220;I know exactly what happened at Gettysburg. CSA got its ass kicked. Perfect setting for the dog whistle.&#8221;
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I know exactly what happened at Gettysburg. CSA got its ass kicked. Perfect setting for the dog whistle.
&mdash; Rob Reiner (@robreiner) <a href="https://twitter.com/robreiner/status/1292999881968279554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump recently floated both the historic Civil War battlefield and the White House as potential locations for his acceptance speech after COVID-19 upended planned speeches in both Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. He tweeted Monday, &#8220;We have narrowed the Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, to be delivered on the final night of the Convention (Thursday), to two locations &#8211; The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the White House, Washington, D.C. We will announce the decision soon!&#8221;
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We have narrowed the Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, to be delivered on the final night of the Convention (Thursday), to two locations &#8211; The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the White House, Washington, D.C. We will announce the decision soon!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1292872318562205699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Both locations have raised ethics concerns from those who claim Trump is using federal property for partisan purposes. According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/10/us/politics/trump-gettysburg-convention.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The New York Times</a>, Norman L. Eisen, who served as the chief ethics czar in the Obama White House, said, &#8220;Applicable law does provide a variety of technical exemptions, which a clever lawyer might stitch together to claim that this is permissible. But those loopholes do not contemplate an event of this highly partisan nature of this scope and scale, and the forced political labor of the hundreds, if not thousands, of federal personnel.&#8221;
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosi-blasts-trump-convention-speech-white-house-cant-do" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">claimed</a> an acceptance speech on the South Lawn of the White House would sully the Executive Mansion. &#8220;For the president of the United States to degrade once again the White House, as he has done over and over again, by saying he&#8217;s going to completely politicize it, is something that should be rejected right out of hand,&#8221; she told MSNBC.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not serious thinking,&#8221; Pelosi added. &#8220;It won&#8217;t happen, whether it&#8217;s legally wrong or ethically out of the question, it shouldn&#8217;t have been something that was expressed.&#8221;
While acknowledging that the Gettysburg battlefield is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf reminded Trump that any outdoor gathering in the state exceeding 250 people would violate the state&#8217;s coronavirus lockdown restrictions. According to <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/08/wolf-says-large-crowd-for-a-trump-speech-at-gettysburg-would-violate-state-ban-he-hopes-and-expects-trump-would-abide.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Penn Live</a>, Wolf&#8217;s office said, &#8220;We hope and expect that the President will abide by these commonsense restrictions that will protect the health and safety of the community around Gettysburg and throughout Pennsylvania.&#8221;
Wolf was criticized for <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/why-did-pa-gov-tom-wolf-join-a-protest-with-thousands-of-people-breaking-the-rules-in-a-yellow-phase-county.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">violating his own state’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions</a> on June 3 when he marched in solidarity with hundreds of protesters in Harrisburg following the death of George Floyd. In Harrisburg’s Dauphin County, gatherings were restricted to 25 people or less at the time, according to Pennsylvania’s <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">color-coded reopening plan</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rob-reiner-trump-supporters-youre-all-racists-hank-berrien" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rob Reiner To Trump Supporters: You’re All Racists</a>
The Daily Wire is one of America’s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Reiner and Gettysburg

Rob Reiner Claims Trump Speech At Gettysburg Would Celebrate ‘White Supremacy’

American Civil War

Rob Reiner

Outspokenly liberal actor Rob Reiner took President Donald Trump to task Monday for offering Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as a potential location for his

Rob Reiner Claims Trump Speech At Gettysburg Would Celebrate ‘White Supremacy’ | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/rob-reiner-claims-trump-speech-at-gettysburg-would-celebrate-white-supremacy/

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Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf accused Trump campaign adviser Jenna Ellis of hate speech on Monday after she called his transgender health secretary a &#8220;guy.&#8221;
Ellis, a personal attorney to President Donald Trump and a senior legal adviser to his 2020 campaign, tweeted, &#8220;This guy is making decisions about your health,&#8221; in reference to PA Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. Her tweet referred to a May <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/reporter-calls-pa-health-secretary-sir-multiple-times-in-phone-interview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">story</a> in which Levine corrects a reporter for repeatedly using the word &#8220;sir.&#8221;
Wolf condemned Ellis in response, tweeting, &#8220;To [Ellis] and whoever else needs to hear this: Misgendering a transgender person is hate speech and it&#8217;s unacceptable.&#8221;
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To <a href="https://twitter.com/JennaEllisEsq?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JennaEllisEsq</a> and whoever else needs to hear this: Misgendering a transgender person is hate speech and it’s unacceptable.
&mdash; Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorTomWolf/status/1292878250147024898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In a statement to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/511322-trump-campaign-adviser-sparks-criticism-for-misgendering-pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Hill</a>, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Health said, “Dr. Levine is laser-focused on assisting Pennsylvanians in the midst of a national pandemic. She does not have time for this nonsense.”
Accusing Ellis of bigotry, Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David also attacked the Trump administration. &#8220;Jenna Ellis is a bigot and Dr. Levine is a patriot — plain and simple,&#8221; he told The Hill. &#8220;Dr. Levine illustrates character and patriotism while Ellis cannot even define those terms. Using a person’s pronouns is a basic level of respect. Despite claims of allyship, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and their staff have gone out of their way to dehumanize and attack transgender and non-binary people simply for existing.&#8221;
Ellis was unapologetic in the face of such accusations, releasing a <a href="https://twitter.com/JennaEllisEsq/status/1292993666970038272" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">statement</a> on Twitter that said neither The Washington Post nor Newsweek were willing to publish in full &#8220;in their coverage of the fauxrage.&#8221; Ellis wrote:
<blockquote>To be called a bigot for simply acknowledging scientific fact is both hilarious and tragic. The truth of biology shows that human beings are created immutably male and female. Yet in our post-truth society, the progressive leftists not only demand that we affirm patently false facts, but also demand we not &#8216;offend&#8217; people who insist on speaking their lies, otherwise we are called insensitive bigots and required to apologize. I won&#8217;t apologize. Our Constitution still protects our fundamental, God-given right to speak and affirm Truth and I&#8217;ll continue to stand firm speaking and affirming Truth.</blockquote>
Pennsylvania officials have taken to Twitter before to scold people who do not acknowledge Levine as a woman. When a fair in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-county-fair-takes-flak-for-transphobic-dunk-tank-mocking-pa-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">featured a dunk tank</a> with a man in a dress last month, the Bloomsburg Fair&#8217;s Facebook page joked that it was Levine. The joke drew swift condemnation from Wolf, as well as from Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), who said, &#8220;Hate and bigotry have no place in our society.&#8221;
Wolf took flak when he <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/why-did-pa-gov-tom-wolf-join-a-protest-with-thousands-of-people-breaking-the-rules-in-a-yellow-phase-county.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">violated his own state’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions</a> on June 3 to march in solidarity with hundreds of protesters in Harrisburg following the death of George Floyd. In Harrisburg’s Dauphin County, gatherings were restricted to 25 people or less at the time, according to Pennsylvania’s <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">color-coded reopening plan</a>.
When pressed on his apparent rule-breaking, Levine said, “The governor has always said that people have the right to protest and to demonstrate, and the right to free speech, and so overall, we want large gatherings such as maybe a party or some type of concert or something, to be under 250 people.”
“But, we are not restricting people’s right to protest,” Levine added. “There are all obviously significant social issues that are present, that people feel that they need to have a voice, and so the governor is always supportive of that and is participating.”
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PA Health Sec. won’t allow the state to reopen or people to gather &#8211; and the Gov. who said businesses that disobey are cowards as he marches in protests himself &#8211; actually tries to legitimize limitless protests in the street while standing by restrictions. <a href="https://t.co/4jKwJGBtpG">pic.twitter.com/4jKwJGBtpG</a>
&mdash; Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisStigall/status/1268329029159059456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-county-fair-takes-flak-for-transphobic-dunk-tank-mocking-pa-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Hate Has No Place In Pennsylvania’: County Fair Takes Flak For ‘Transphobic’ Dunk Tank Mocking PA Health Secretary</a>
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‘Hate Speech’: PA Governor Scolds Trump Campaign Adviser For ‘Misgendering’ Health Secretary

Transgender

Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf accused Trump campaign adviser Jenna Ellis of hate speech on Monday after she called his transgender health

‘Hate Speech’: PA Governor Scolds Trump Campaign Adviser For ‘Misgendering’ Health Secretary | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-speech-pa-governor-scolds-trump-campaign-adviser-for-misgendering-health-secretary/

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In footage of two instances that went viral on Thursday and Friday, Christians gathered in the government-approved venues of a Pennsylvania Wal-Mart and a Las Vegas casino to engage in the worship that authorities have deemed non-essential.
In a Thursday tweet that was retweeted by Vice President Mike Pence, Faith and Freedom Coalition Chairman Ralph Reed posted footage of a worship service in a Vegas casino, writing, &#8220;Packed house at <a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1n1174f r-1loqt21 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" role="link" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EvangelicalsForTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1291539005738164224%7Ctwgr%5E&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.dailywire.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php&amp;src=hashtag_click" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-focusable="true">#EvangelicalsForTrump</a> prayer &amp; praise event in Las Vegas. NV Governor banned church services but casinos can operate at 50% capacity. So we are praying in a casino.&#8221;
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Packed house at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EvangelicalsForTrump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EvangelicalsForTrump</a> prayer &amp; praise event in Las Vegas. NV Governor banned church services but casinos can operate at 50% capacity. So we are praying in a casino. <a href="https://t.co/fP4xE3lPAb">pic.twitter.com/fP4xE3lPAb</a>
&mdash; Ralph Reed (@ralphreed) <a href="https://twitter.com/ralphreed/status/1291539005738164224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley was at the center of a controversial Supreme Court case last month when the Nevada church pleaded for relief from the state&#8217;s strict attendance cap for worship services. Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal majority to deny the church&#8217;s petition, a decision that was met with a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supreme-court-denies-nevada-churchs-challenge-of-coronavirus-restrictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">strong rebuke</a> from dissenting Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Samuel Alito.
In his dissent, Gorsuch contrasted the state&#8217;s treatment of churches with how they treat casinos and other entertainment venues, writing, &#8220;[T]here is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel.&#8221;
According to <a href="https://thepostmillennial.com/watch-worship-at-walmart-not-church" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Post Millennial</a>, a similar event also took place recently in the grocery section of a Wal-Mart in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, a town near Pittsburgh. In April, Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">urged</a> churchgoers to find different ways to practice their religion than gathering in churches. &#8220;Religious leaders are encouraged to find alternatives to in-person gatherings and to avoid endangering their congregants,&#8221; he advised. &#8220;Individuals should not gather in religious buildings or homes for services or celebrations until the stay-at-home order is lifted.&#8221;
Wolf took flak when he <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/why-did-pa-gov-tom-wolf-join-a-protest-with-thousands-of-people-breaking-the-rules-in-a-yellow-phase-county.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broke his own state’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions</a> in June by marching in solidarity with hundreds of protesters in Harrisburg following the death of George Floyd. In Harrisburg’s Dauphin County, gatherings were restricted to 25 people or fewer at the time, according to Pennsylvania’s <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">color-coded reopening plan</a>.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-county-fair-takes-flak-for-transphobic-dunk-tank-mocking-pa-health-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Rachel Levine</a> defended Wolf&#8217;s apparent hypocrisy, saying, &#8220;The governor has always said that people have the right to protest, and to demonstrate, and the right to free speech, and so overall, we want large gatherings such as maybe a party or some type of concert or something, to be under 250 people.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This church decided to worship at their local Walmart since they weren&#39;t allowed to gather anywhere else <a href="https://t.co/Su6ojO4gVA">pic.twitter.com/Su6ojO4gVA</a>
&mdash; Stephanie Smith Parler @stephsmith84 (@use4a_no) <a href="https://twitter.com/use4a_no/status/1291199047093501952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The coronavirus pandemic has increased the tension between civil and ecclesiastical authorities nearly to the breaking point in states such as California, where <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article244346422.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">many congregations are defying</a> Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom&#8217;s July 13 order that re-instated lockdowns for churches and other establishments deemed non-essential by state authorities.
This week, Ventura County <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ca-county-sues-church-for-holding-normal-indoor-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sued</a> Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks, California, for holding no-mask, no-distance indoor services. Rob McCoy, its senior pastor, said, “We would be the first to be masked and distanced, and willingly so, if this were meriting it, and it doesn’t. This isn’t a health issue, it’s an ideological issue.”
Grace Community Church, a congregation in Los Angeles pastored by prominent author and theologian John MacArthur, also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/compliance-would-be-disobedience-prominent-california-church-defies-state-lockdown-to-resume-in-person-assembly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">made headlines</a> last month when he and the church elders penned an extensive statement explaining why they believe the secular government did not have legitimate authority to forbid in-person assembly indefinitely.
Explaining how they complied with state mandates at first, the church leaders justified their civil disobedience in part by claiming that the lockdowns done in the name of public health were causing spiritual damage to their parishioners. &#8220;Opportunities for believers to serve and minister to one another have been missed,&#8221; they wrote. &#8220;And the suffering of Christians who are troubled, fearful, distressed, infirm, or otherwise in urgent need of fellowship and encouragement has been magnified beyond anything that could reasonably be considered just or necessary.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ca-county-sues-church-for-holding-normal-indoor-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CA County Sues Church For Holding Normal Indoor Services</a>
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COVID-19: Christ Cathedral To Hold Services Outdoors

Christians Sidestep Coronavirus Restrictions By Meeting In State-Approved Venues

Christianity

church

Nevada

In footage of two instances that went viral on Thursday and Friday, Christians gathered in the government-approved venues of a Pennsylvania Wal-Mart and a

Christians Sidestep Coronavirus Restrictions By Meeting In State-Approved Venues | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/christians-sidestep-coronavirus-restrictions-by-meeting-in-state-approved-venues/

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Democratic officials in Pennsylvania are worried what impact a lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general against the National Rifle Association (NRA) might have on the 2020 presidential race.
Politico reporter Holly Otterbein said on Thursday after the suit was filed that several Democrats in Pennsylvania, a battleground state President Trump flipped red in 2016, are “panicked” the lawsuit may be interpreted as a Democratic attack on gun rights and the Second Amendment.
“Some Pennsylvania Democratic elected officials are panicked about the NRA lawsuit&#8217;s effect on the presidential race. One told me it was an ‘October surprise’: ‘This is the equivalent of Alabama AG suing to dissolve Planned Parenthood for the left,’” Otterbein tweeted.
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Some Pennsylvania Democratic elected officials are panicked about the NRA lawsuit&#39;s effect on the presidential race. One told me it was an &quot;October surprise&quot;: &quot;This is the equivalent of Alabama AG suing to dissolve Planned Parenthood for the left.&quot;
&mdash; Holly Otterbein (@hollyotterbein) <a href="https://twitter.com/hollyotterbein/status/1291425273100066818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is currently leading Trump by 4.7 points in Pennsylvania, according to the <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/pa/pennsylvania_trump_vs_biden-6861.html">RealClearPolitics</a> polling average. Trump won the state in 2016 after it had gone for the Democratic candidate in six straight presidential elections.
New York Attorney General Letitia James <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-attorney-general-sues-to-dissolve-the-nra-citing-financial-irregularities">announced</a> her lawsuit against the NRA on Thursday morning, aiming to “dissolve” the organization for alleged financial “fraud and abuse” allegedly committed by several current and former NRA executives.
“We are seeking to dissolve the NRA for years of self-dealing and illegal conduct that violate New York’s charities laws and undermine its own mission. The NRA diverted millions of dollars away from its charitable mission for personal use by senior leadership,” James wrote in the lawsuit. “Our lawsuit charges the NRA as a whole and four senior leaders, including Wayne LaPierre, with failing to manage the NRA’s funds and failing to follow numerous state and federal laws. These actions contributed to the loss of more than $64 million in just three years for the NRA.”
The NRA denied the allegations: “The NRA has full confidence in its accounting practices and commitment to good governance. The association’s financials are audited and its tax filings are verified by one of the most reputable firms in the world. Internally, the association has an appropriate conflict of interest policy, which provides that all potential conflicts are reviewed and scrutinized by the audit committee.”
The association’s CEO, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nras-wayne-lapierre-rips-media-democrats-putting-joseph-curl">Wayne LaPierre</a>, who is named in James’ lawsuit, responded in a separate <a href="https://twitter.com/NRA/status/1291468835317518356">statement</a> on the NRA’s Twitter account. LaPierre said, “The NRA is well governed, financially solvent, and committed to good governance. We’re ready for the fight. Bring it on.”
The NRA filed its own <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bring-it-on-nra-counters-new-york-ags-lawsuit-with-one-of-its-own">counter-suit</a> against the New York attorney general’s office, charging that James has unfairly targeted the gun rights organization since her 2018 campaign for office. The suit alleges that James has consistently defamed the NRA and violated its First Amendment rights.
“James boasted that she would strike foul blows against the NRA and pound the NRA into submission. She vowed that she would use the NYAG’s investigative and enforcement powers for the precise purpose of stanching political speech (‘deadly propaganda),” the NRA’s lawsuit says. “She has begun to deliver on her campaign promises to retaliate against the NRA for constitutionally protected speech on issues that James opposes. As NYAG, James has regrettably succumbed to ‘individual passions, and individual malevolence.’”
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Letitia James

Democrats In Battleground State Apoplectic Over NY’s NRA Lawsuit: ‘Equivalent Of Alabama AG Suing To Dissolve Planned Parenthood’

National Rifle Association (NRA)

Democratic officials in Pennsylvania are worried what impact a lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general against the National Rifle Association

Democrats In Battleground State Apoplectic Over NY’s NRA Lawsuit: ‘Equivalent Of Alabama AG Suing To Dissolve Planned Parenthood’ | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-in-battleground-state-apoplectic-over-nys-nra-lawsuit-equivalent-of-alabama-ag-suing-to-dissolve-planned-parenthood/

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A Pennsylvania state fair faced condemnation from state leaders after featuring a dunk tank with a man dressed as a woman in an apparent jab at PA Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, who is transgender.
Bloomsburg, a town along the Susquehanna River about 40 miles southwest of Wilkes-Barre, holds one of Pennsylvania&#8217;s largest state fairs every year. In a carnival held on the fairgrounds last weekend, the local fire department raised money with a dunk tank featuring their fire chief decked out in a flowery dress, as reported by <a href="https://apnews.com/0f2961360d5679c16e9a2135b6a51714" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Associated Press</a>.
In a since-deleted Facebook post, the Bloomsburg Fair Association later wrote, &#8220;Dr. Levine? Thank you, you were a hit and raised a lot of money for the local fire companies. Wonder why so many were trying to dunk you,&#8221; to which was appended a smiley face emoji. &#8220;Thanks everyone that came out to support our local fire companies.&#8221;
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The Pennsylvania Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, is a transgender woman. The Bloomsburg Fair in PA had a man dressed up as her in their dunk tank today. The fair has since deleted the post, but they have made no statement on using blatant transphobia to raise money. <a href="https://t.co/1VpJDPAlxG">pic.twitter.com/1VpJDPAlxG</a>
&mdash; Mikaela (@Iris_and_Honey) <a href="https://twitter.com/Iris_and_Honey/status/1285257657578917889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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After the event began stoking backlash on social media, Fair President Randy Karschner denied that any resemblance to Levine was intentional, saying, &#8220;A fellow dressed up in a dress to get people to throw balls at the dunk tank to raise money. It turned into where people thought we were offending Dr. Rachel Levine, and that was no intention at all.&#8221;
The man in the dress, Main Township Fire Chief David Broadt, likewise maintained that there was no malicious intent behind his costume, telling a local newspaper that he was &#8220;going for a Marilyn Monroe look&#8221; until members of the crowd began calling him Levine and asking where his mask was.
&#8220;It was just in fun,&#8221; Broadt said. &#8220;It wasn’t done to disrespect her.&#8221;
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) condemned the dunk tank, tweeting Monday, &#8220;Dr. Levine is an honorable public servant whose tireless work to keep PA safe and healthy has saved countless lives. She is owed an apology. Hate and bigotry have no place in our society. The members of the Pennsylvania transgender community are our neighbors and friends. Treat them that way.&#8221;
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Hate and bigotry have no place in our society. The members of the Pennsylvania transgender community are our neighbors and friends. Treat them that way.
&mdash; Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenBobCasey/status/1285387528963534848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf echoed Casey in a three-tweet thread on Wednesday, writing, &#8220;I want to talk about the transphobic incident involving the Bloomsburg Fair. This is the latest in a relentless series of vile slurs directed at Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine — a highly skilled and accomplished member of my administration.&#8221;
&#8220;Dr. Levine is a distinguished public servant,&#8221; Wolf continued. &#8220;She’s committed to keeping Pennsylvanians safe and healthy, even those who direct hate-fueled attacks at her. I’m proud of the work she has done in her five years serving Pennsylvanians, and especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Hate has no place in Pennsylvania. I’m calling on all Pennsylvanians: Speak out against hateful comments and acts, including transphobia, when you see them.&#8221;
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I want to talk about the transphobic incident involving the Bloomsburg Fair.
This is the latest in a relentless series of vile slurs directed at Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine — a highly skilled and accomplished member of my administration.
&mdash; Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorTomWolf/status/1286030575107809280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Hate has no place in Pennsylvania.
I’m calling on all Pennsylvanians: Speak out against hateful comments and acts, including transphobia, when you see them.
&mdash; Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorTomWolf/status/1286030576630325260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Both <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/business/spl/pennsylvania-coronavirus-wolf-home-products-essential-business-life-sustaining-20200330.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wolf</a> and <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/health-secretary-rachel-levines-removal-of-mom-from-care-home-amid-epidemic-draws-scrutiny.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Levine</a> have faced criticism for Pennsylvania&#8217;s response to the coronavirus.
Wolf <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/why-did-pa-gov-tom-wolf-join-a-protest-with-thousands-of-people-breaking-the-rules-in-a-yellow-phase-county.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broke his own state&#8217;s coronavirus lockdown restrictions</a> on June 3, when he marched in solidarity with hundreds of protesters in Harrisburg following the death of George Floyd. In Harrisburg&#8217;s Dauphin County, gatherings were restricted to 25 people or less at the time, according to Pennsylvania&#8217;s <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">color-coded reopening plan</a>.
Levine defended the governor&#8217;s apparent hypocrisy, saying, &#8220;The governor has always said that people have the right to protest, and to demonstrate, and the right to free speech, and so overall, we want large gatherings such as maybe a party or some type of concert or something, to be under 250 people.&#8221;
&#8220;But, we are not restricting people’s right to protest,&#8221; Levine added. &#8220;There are all obviously significant social issues that are present, that people feel that they need to have a voice, and so the governor is always supportive of that and is participating.&#8221;
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PA Health Sec. won’t allow the state to reopen or people to gather &#8211; and the Gov. who said businesses that disobey are cowards as he marches in protests himself &#8211; actually tries to legitimize limitless protests in the street while standing by restrictions. <a href="https://t.co/4jKwJGBtpG">pic.twitter.com/4jKwJGBtpG</a>
&mdash; Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisStigall/status/1268329029159059456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nyc-mayor-protesting-and-going-to-church-not-the-same" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NYC Mayor: Protesting And Going To Church ‘Not The Same’</a>
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Rachel Levine

‘Hate Has No Place In Pennsylvania’: County Fair Takes Flak For ‘Transphobic’ Dunk Tank Mocking PA Health Secretary

A Pennsylvania state fair faced condemnation from state leaders after featuring a dunk tank with a man dressed as a woman in an apparent jab at PA Health

‘Hate Has No Place In Pennsylvania’: County Fair Takes Flak For ‘Transphobic’ Dunk Tank Mocking PA Health Secretary | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/hate-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-county-fair-takes-flak-for-transphobic-dunk-tank-mocking-pa-health-secretary/

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When Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) shut down the state to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, his administration began issuing waivers to certain businesses that had been deemed not “life-sustaining,” which would allow them to remain open.
The process was not transparent, and resulted in some businesses within the same industry getting different treatment. As Spotlight PA <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/business/spl/pennsylvania-business-waivers-revoked-coronavirus-shutdown-20200513.html">reported</a> earlier this month, one photographer was granted a waiver while another was denied. A notary was granted a waiver but had it revoked without explanation the night before a list of waiver recipients was publicly posted. A trucking company that had been denied a waiver was suddenly granted one without explanation at the same time.
There was seemingly no rhyme or reason to the process, and business owners and individuals sued. One lawsuit alleged Wolf and his administration violated petitioners “constitutional guarantees against having property taken without compensation and their rights to judicial review, equal protection under the law and free speech,” The Morning Call <a href="https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-alito-orders-wolf-respond-business-shutdown-lawsuit-20200501-fahdr2sevjghtiej4oq2v6kynu-story.html">reported</a>.
The state Supreme Court refused to review the lawsuit, but the U.S. Supreme Court ended up weighing in, ordering Wolf to respond to the lawsuit.
That particular lawsuit includes real estate agent Kathy Gregory, who told the Call that people who had agreed to sell their homes were not able to buy new properties before Wolf’s shut down order went into effect and that members of the military – who are still moving from assignment to assignment – are unable to find homes.
“How do you tell someone that housing is not a priority because the government shut us down?” she asked the outlet, adding that shelter is “basic.”
Another lawsuit, obtained by The Daily Wire includes numerous plaintiffs including a real estate brokerage firm, a home inspection company, and a swimming pool retail store. Wolf’s order essentially destroyed these businesses, who derived the vast majority of their revenue from in-person services.
Walter Zimolong, the attorney representing the plaintiffs in that lawsuit, argues that 42,000 businesses in Pennsylvania applied for waivers to continue operating, and just 7,000 received them, including Wolf’s family business, Wolf Home Products. In an email to The Daily Wire, Zimolong said one of the businesses that was granted a waiver was a hair salon conveniently located in the state capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Kenwood Pools, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, was denied a waiver while two of its competitors’ waivers were granted. Win Homes Inspection, another company suing Wolf and his administration, also was denied a waiver while a competitor’s was granted.
Both lawsuits alleged the Wolf administration violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because they were treated differently than competitors whose businesses were similar in all relevant aspects.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/us/corona-virus-lawsuits.html">reported</a> that Pennsylvania is not the only state getting sued due to business shut downs. Similar lawsuits have been filed in Arizona, New Hampshire, and other states.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Class-action Lawsuit Alleges Pennsylvania Government Violated Constitutional Rights When Distributing Coronavirus Business Waivers

Lawsuit

When Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) shut down the state to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, his administration began issuing waivers to certain

Class-action Lawsuit Alleges Pennsylvania Government Violated Constitutional Rights When Distributing Coronavirus Business Waivers | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/class-action-lawsuit-alleges-pennsylvania-government-violated-constitutional-rights-when-distributing-coronavirus-business-waivers/

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Dr. Rachel Levine, the transgender state official who heads up Pennsylvania&#8217;s health department &#8212; a department now under fire for sending COVID-19 positive, potentially infectious patients back to nursing homes before they were deemed recovered &#8212; melted down during a press conference Wednesday after a reporter referred to Levine several times as &#8220;sir.&#8221;
The incident occurred during a press briefing discussing the state&#8217;s plan to reopen businesses and lift coronavirus related lockdowns. A radio personality named Marty Griffin called Levine, who is a male-to-female transgender individual, &#8220;&#8216;sir&#8217; in both his initial question and follow-up,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/reporter-calls-pa-health-secretary-sir-multiple-times-in-phone-interview.html">a local news outlet</a>.
Levine lashed out, warning Griffin &#8220;please don’t misgender me&#8221; several times and calling the question &#8220;insulting.&#8221;
Griffin said later, on Twitter, that he apologized profusely and that he used the wrong pronoun in error.
&#8220;I apologize. I apologized twice. I truly did. It was not intentional. It was not. I was not focused. I was doing six things at once,&#8221; Griffin wrote, referencing the incident.
It was too little too late, however. Pittsburgh&#8217;s mayor, Bill Peduto, defending Levine, canceled a morning radio interview with Griffin&#8217;s station &#8212; a punishment, he said on social media, for Griffin&#8217;s behavior.
&#8220;Cancelled interview w/ Lynne Hayes-Freeland for tomorrow,&#8221; Peduto wrote. &#8220;Not upset w/her, she’s always been a fair, strong journalist. But will not support <a class="PrettyLink profile customisable h-card" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/KDKARadio" data-mentioned-user-id="22013225" data-scribe="element:mention">@KDKARadio</a> behavior. Growing up, KDKA had good people who made us proud to be from Pittsburgh. Now, it shock-jocks, sensationalism &amp; worse.&#8221;
Critics of the incident took to social media to suggest that Griffin is transphobic, referencing an &#8220;error&#8221; Griffin made years ago, when he called &#8220;Chelsea Manning &#8216;Mr. Bradley,&#8217; and said she’d had some sort of &#8216;bizarre sex-change thing&#8217; going on,&#8221; <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/reporter-calls-pa-health-secretary-sir-multiple-times-in-phone-interview.html">according to PennLive</a>.
Levine and the rest of of the Pennsylvania health department is under fire for a policy requiring state nursing homes to admit COVID-19 positive patients or face state disciplinary procedures &#8212; a policy that led to an eruption of coronavirus cases across the state.  “Nearly 70% of Pennsylvania’s Covid-19 deaths, 2611 of 3806, have occurred in nursing homes or long-term care facilities,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pa-health-official-tasked-with-overseeing-nursing-homes-pulled-out-own-mother-while-policies-wreaked-havoc">The Daily Wire</a> reported Wednesday.
Levine is also facing charges that she pulled her own mother out of a Pennsylvania nursing home before she could become infected with the novel coronavirus, but after it became clear that adult care facilities within the state were ground zero for COVID-19.
Levine insists that her mother requested the move and that it was not prompted by news that the infection was spreading quickly in the state&#8217;s care homes.
“My mother requested, and my sister and I as her children complied to move her to another location during the Covid-19 outbreak,” Levine told reporters. “My mother is 95 years old. She is very intelligent and more than competent to make her own decisions.”
On Tuesday, Levine announced that the state would begin testing nursing home residents and caregivers regularly to control the spread of coronavirus.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Transgender Pennsylvania Health Director Melts Down In Press Conference After Reporter Uses Wrong Pronoun

Dr. Rachel Levine, the transgender state official who heads up Pennsylvania&#039;s health department -- a department now under fire for sending COVID-19

Transgender Pennsylvania Health Director Melts Down In Press Conference After Reporter Uses Wrong Pronoun | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-pennsylvania-health-director-melts-down-in-press-conference-after-reporter-uses-wrong-pronoun/

Pennsylvania&#8217;s State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine pulled her own mother out of a nursing home as long-term care facilities across the state saw deaths pile up under her guidance.
In a report published Wednesday, <a href="https://www.abc27.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-health-secretary-offers-guidance-governor-insists-on-gradual-reopening/">ABC27</a> confirmed that the health secretary’s mother &#8220;recently vacated a personal care home in the Midstate.&#8221;
As noted by ABC27, &#8220;Nearly 70% of Pennsylvania’s Covid-19 deaths, 2611 of 3806, have occurred in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.&#8221;
“My mother requested, and my sister and I as her children complied to move her to another location during the Covid-19 outbreak,” Levine confirmed. “My mother is 95 years old. She is very intelligent and more than competent to make her own decisions.”
&#8220;Many in Harrisburg wondered what kind of message it sends — when a close relative of the person tasked with overseeing those types of facilities doesn’t choose to stay in one,&#8221; the report noted. &#8220;Levine countered that she is working to protect the health of all Pennsylvanians.&#8221;
Back in March, Levine ordered nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania to continue to accept coronavirus-positive patients who had been discharged from hospitals and were unable to return to their homes, according to the <a href="https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20200501/states-ordered-nursing-homes-to-take-covid-19-residents-thousands-died-how-it-happened">Bucks County Courier Times</a>.
&#8220;On March 29, as Pennsylvania, New York and other states began ordering nursing homes to admit medically stable residents infected with the coronavirus, national trade groups warned it could unnecessarily cost more lives,&#8221; the outlet reported. &#8220;The health directives put &#8216;frail and older adults who reside in nursing homes at risk&#8217; and would &#8216;result in more people going to the hospital and more deaths,&#8217; the American Health Care Association and affiliates said at the time.&#8221;
On Tuesday, the health secretary finally announced tighter guidance for the facilities
“By testing every resident and every staff member in every nursing home, we will be able to pinpoint exactly who has Covid-19, who has been exposed but has no symptoms, and cohort positive cases to prevent further spread,” Levine said, noting that PA officials &#8220;will also require nursing homes to report all cases and deaths which will be available publicly.&#8221;
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-forced-to-remove-hundreds-of-deaths-from-coronavirus-death-count-after-coroners-raise-red-flags">The Daily Wire</a> last month, the PA health department had to remove hundreds of coronavirus deaths from its official death count, following questions of accuracy and discrepancies highlighted by area coroners.
Levine, who decided to include “probable deaths” in the department’s total count, acknowledged to the <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/spl/pennsylvania-death-count-changes-confusion-coroanvirus-20200423.html">Philadelphia Inquirer</a> that such deaths may change over time.
“We realize that this category can be confusing, since it does change over time,” the health secretary told the outlet.
“At times, there are things we need to review, and potentially revisit the way the data is being analyzed,” Levine admitted. “And this is one of those times.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-forced-to-remove-hundreds-of-deaths-from-coronavirus-death-count-after-coroners-raise-red-flags">Pennsylvania Forced To Remove Hundreds Of Deaths From Coronavirus Death Count After Coroners Raise Red Flags</a>
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Rachel Levine, MD, physician general for the state of Pennsylvania

PA Health Official Tasked With Overseeing Nursing Homes Pulled Out Own Mother While Policies Wreaked Havoc

Pennsylvania&#039;s State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine pulled her own mother out of a nursing home as long-term care facilities across the state saw

PA Health Official Tasked With Overseeing Nursing Homes Pulled Out Own Mother While Policies Wreaked Havoc | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/pa-health-official-tasked-with-overseeing-nursing-homes-pulled-out-own-mother-while-policies-wreaked-havoc/

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Pennsylvania has been granting waivers to businesses that haven’t been deemed “life-sustaining” to allow them to remain open during the coronavirus shutdown. But this week, some businesses that were granted waivers back in late March have suddenly had them rescinded without explanation, while others who were initially denied a waiver have been surprisingly approved.
Spotlight PA <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/business/spl/pennsylvania-business-waivers-revoked-coronavirus-shutdown-20200513.html">reported</a> on the stories of several business owners caught in the confusing and frustrating process, such as Tiffany Kuhn, who runs a mobile notary business that had received a waiver to continue operating on March 23. Last Thursday evening, around 9:30 p.m., however, Kuhn received an email from Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D-PA) administration saying her waiver had been rescinded. She received no explanation as to why.
Kuhn told Spotlight PA that she had taken precautions while continuing to operate her business by wearing gloves and a mask. “My first thought was, someone turned on me,” Kuhn told the outlet, suspecting a competitor might have said something.
She’s not alone. The confusing and much-criticized waiver process has allowed some businesses to operate while others in the same industry were told to close.
“Businesses have criticized the waiver process, saying the decisions were made in secret and applied unfairly, causing some in the same industry to operate while competitors were forced to remain closed. In some cases, a waiver could mean the difference between a business’ surviving the shutdown or going bankrupt,” Spotlight PA reported.
Micah Durling, who owns a photography business that specializes in real estate photos, had been granted a waiver on March 25, the outlet reported. Like Kuhn, he had taken precautions while operating – wearing protective gear, cleaning equipment after each shoot, and taking pictures when residents were not in their home. On Monday afternoon, Durling’s waiver was pulled – just days after a competitor complained about not receiving a waiver as well.
Last Friday, Wolf’s administration made public a list of those who had received waivers. Many whose names were not included on the list – such as Kuhn and a Central Pennsylvania garden store – were informed their waivers were pulled the night before the list was published. Others, such as Durling, were notified after the list was published.
Then there’s the case of Stacy White, who owns a trucking company with her husband just north of Scranton. They had been told they would not receive a waiver, but the night before the list was published, they received notification that they could now operate.
“I was like, huh, backpedal a little bit? … Fixing what went wrong?” White told the outlet.
More from Spotlight PA:
<blockquote>Officials with the Department of Community and Economic Development said the revocations were part of “a quality control review process” that began several weeks ago. In all, 69 businesses had their waivers revoked, spokesperson Casey Smith said, although she was unable to immediately say when they were notified.
“During that process, which is ongoing, we are rescinding waivers that were issued in error or do not meet the appropriate criteria,” Smith said.
The administration’s handling of the waiver process has been fraught from the start. The Department of Community and Economic Development has never detailed the criteria used to consider applications, nor has it made those applications public. It also hasn’t identified which businesses were denied, or those that were approved and then had their waiver revoked.</blockquote>
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MESS: Pennsylvania Granting, Revoking Coronavirus Shutdown Waivers For Businesses Without Explanation, Sense

Pennsylvania has been granting waivers to businesses that haven’t been deemed “life-sustaining” to allow them to remain open during the coronavirus

MESS: Pennsylvania Granting, Revoking Coronavirus Shutdown Waivers For Businesses Without Explanation, Sense | The Daily Wire

https://www.dailywire.com/news/mess-pennsylvania-granting-revoking-coronavirus-shutdown-waivers-for-businesses-without-explanation-sense/

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