iradiophilly | News - PA House Dems Angry Over Rep's COVID-19 Case; Malcolm Jenkins Keynote PHL Grad; Chester Church Fire

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PA House Dems Angry Over Rep's COVID-19 Case; Malcolm Jenkins Keynote PHL Grad; Chester Church Fire

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 05/28/20 1:53 pm | updated: 05/28/20 1:53 pm

PA House Democrats are furious over claims that the PA House Republicans hid a GOP representative's positive coronavirus COVID-19 diagnosis. Several democrats have taken to social media to express outrage that they were not informed that a fellow representative had tested positive, putting them at risk for possible exposure. GOP leadership says that they followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's workplace exposure guidelines, HIPPA laws, and guidelines from the PA Department of Health. Rep. Andrew Lewis (R-Dauphin) acknowledged on Wednesday, 5/27, that he had tested positive. He stated that he was last at the Capitol on 5/14. He got a test on 5/18 and received the results on 5/20. He then informed the House of Representatives and the Republican caucus Human Resources department of the test. Following contact tracing guidelines, they identified and notified any close contacts from within 48 hours of his symptom onset (5/16). They were told to monitor their own symptoms and quarantine. Lewis' name was not revealed due to HIPPA privacy laws. Democrats say they were not informed that someone had tested positive in the House. Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) posted a video calling for GOP Speaker Turzai to step down and for the Attorney General to investigate. Sims also says that he quietly donated a kidney over the winter.

Former Philadelphia Eagles Safety Malcolm Jenkins has been announced as the keynote speaker for the 2020 Philadelphia School District virtual graduation being held on Tuesday, June 9, at 11 a.m. The graduation will be streamed online and broadcast on the district's television station PSTV. Jenkins played for the Eagles for 6 seasons, winning a Super Bowl with the team in 2018. He was active in the locker room as a leader and in the community promoting social justice. Jenkins returned to the New Orleans Saints during the off season.

"We are so proud of all of our graduates. They have displayed incredible resilience the past few months as so many circumstances outside of their control dictated how they would end their senior year of high school," said Superintendent William Hite. "These students deserve to be celebrated in a special way, so I'm especially grateful to Malcolm Jenkins for agreeing to serve as our commencement speaker. We're looking forward to honoring this outstanding group of students as they embark on this next chapter after high school."

Weâ€™re pleased to announce that 2x Super Bowl champ @malcolmjenkins will be our Virtual Graduation Ceremony keynote speaker on June 9! A leader on & off the field, he is the perfect person to celebrate the resiliency and promise of our Class of 2020 grads! https://t.co/tFpY0pywgZ pic.twitter.com/z43eyRVvmm
â€” Philadelphia Schools (@PHLschools) May 28, 2020

A historic Delaware County church was destroyed by fire overnight Thursday, 5/28, in Chester. The five-alarm blaze broke out around 2:30 a.m. at the Third Presbyterian Church on the 400 block of 9th Street. Fire fighters arrived to heavy flames. It took several hours to bring the fire under control. The roof and steeple have collapsed and only the stone facade and shell remain. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. The Chester Historical Preservation Committee controlled the building and had been fundraising to restore the church which was built in the 1890s. They say that the building was vacant and had no electricity or running water. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms was on the scene investigating, protocol for church fires. Investigators say the fire seems suspicious considering it had been empty for years and did not have any utilities.

SEE: https://chesterpreservation.org/about/old-third-presbyterian-church/

City units still on scene of this 5 alarm church fire at E. 9th & Potter Streets in Chester. Car 3 arrived to find fire throughout and struck an immediate second alarm. Chester Car 1 assumed command and struck a 3rd-5th alarm. No injuries were reported. Use caution in the area. pic.twitter.com/2lj1otNpWy
â€” Chester City Bureau of Fire (@ChesterCityFire) May 28, 2020

WATCH: Heartbreaking cell phone video shows flames ripping through the old Third Presbyterian Church in Chester several hours ago. Crews are still here dealing with flames and the roof of the church is now gone @FOX29philly (Credit: Bill Brogan) pic.twitter.com/LNqJIhAR7o
â€” Kelly Rule (@KellyRuleTV) May 28, 2020