The Road Ahead may look different as pandemic moves on; Mental health now a school board

Good Morning. Here are some of the top stories from around the region.

WEATHER

The rain that moved in overnight leaves us with a bit of a cooler day for Sunday. The sun will still be peaking through the clouds as we reach for a high of 57 degrees.

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NEWS

COVID pandemic has forced us to adapt in many areas of life

Let’s face it, the last two years have been unlike any in our lifetime. It was two years ago this month that the COVID-19 pandemic swept onto our shores and swept away all semblance of normalcy. Everything changed. Schools and businesses were closed, jobs were lost, hospitals were overwhelmed and, most importantly, thousands upon thousands of people died.

Protesters stage ‘die-in’ as Delaware County mulls over new contract with Covanta

More than 50 people gathered in the Delaware County Government Center courtyard Wednesday to stage a “die-in” to protest Delaware County’s use of the Covanta waste-to-steam facility in Chester as the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority is negotiating with the company for a new agreement. “Shut it down! Shut it down!” were chanted by the attendants, as was “Do the right thing!”

Chester County attorneys set to vote on union

Chester County prosecutors and public defenders will have the opportunity to decide whether to form a bargaining unit within the county to negotiate their salaries and terms of their employment, according to a statement from the union that would represent them — the Teamsters. The election in which assistant district attorneys and some assistant public defenders, along with other court-related employees, would choose between representation by Teamsters Union Local 115 of Philadelphia or no representation at all will take place next month, according to a release from the union last week.

Songbird die-off still a mystery; make sure feeders are clean this spring

Last spring songbirds began dying off in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas and the reports began spreading, leading the Pennsylvania Game Commission to issue an alert July 1 asking state residents to take down bird feeders and birdbaths to prevent avians from congregating. It was thought the birds could be spreading the illness that caused crusty eyes, neurological symptoms and eventually death as they fed and bathed. The feeding ban was lifted by the commission on Aug. 13.

North Penn board, parents spar over mental health

North Penn parents and school board members sounded off about a new topic on Thursday night, in addition to the same familiar talk on masks and vaccinations. Board Vice President Christian Fusco addressed, and several parents and board members added their thoughts, on a recent column in the high school’s newspaper about his mental health. “I wasn’t sure at first, whether it was something I really wanted to talk about. But anxiety has touched other members of my family as well,” Fusco said.

SPORTS

Ex-Flyers captain Giroux bows out for greener playoff pastures of Florida

Consider it a final straw that had to be stirred if anything positive were to be strained from this poisonous season. The Flyers sold their heart and soul Saturday, trading team captain Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers. But it is considered unlikely that Giroux’s departure after 14 seasons of building a Hall of Fame resume in Philadelphia has resulted in any kind of changing of face for a franchise which lost its face this season.

Cox returns to Eagles, Scott re-signs for a year

The Eagles made an announcement Saturday, although they were upstaged by the Cleveland Browns and former Eagles executive Andrew Berry. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, the player the Eagles couldn’t trade, then cut Thursday, agreed to return via a one-year contract. The Browns and their general manager, Berry, celebrated the acquisition of franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson, whom the Eagles pursued for two years.

Villanova vets remember last meeting with Ohio State

The last time Villanova played Ohio State the Wildcats didn’t fare so well. The Buckeyes led from start to finish on Nov. 13, 2019 in what would be a 76-51 win in Columbus. Ohio State scored the first nine points, dominated inside and received 23 points from its bench. “I remember a little bit from that game, their physicality, their toughness,” Villanova guard Collin Gillespie said Saturday. “They’re well-coached. They have a lot of experience. A couple guys that were on that team are still playing for them now, so we have a lot of respect for them. We know how great of a team they are, a lot of great players starting at the top and then going all the way down. We have a lot of respect for them and we know it’s going to be a battle.”

Union finally gets a win at Yankee Stadium

There is a first time for everything. After six unsuccessful trips the Union finally got its first win at Yankee Stadium with a 2-0 triumph over New York City FC Saturday afternoon. Alejandro Bedoya and Daniel Gazdag scored in the first half and goalie Andre Blake, with a little help from Matt Freese, made those two scores stand up with his second consecutive clean sheet and 175th of his career.