October 1, 2021 | by Kristina D'Amico Happy October!
From the Firm: National and International News Here is a roundup of the big news this week: :
Australian border to reopen for first time in pandemic
Biden suffers blow as trillion-dollar vote delayed
For the first time since the pandemic began in March 2020, Australia will be reopening its international border in November. The country has had some of the strictest border control measures thus far, even banning their own citizens from traveling outside the country. However, Australia will not be immediately opening back up to tourists or foreigners, PM Scott Morrison said in a briefing on Friday, and citizens will only be allowed to travel once their state's vaccination rate has hit 80%.
Congress has currently delayed a vote on the $1 Trillion infrastructure plan from President Joe Biden, with some of the Democratic Party refusing to move forward with the plan until a separate $3.5T plan dealing with welfare and climate change is also signed off on. Biden's $1t public works bill focuses on routine transportation, broadband, water systems, and other necessary projects. The House is back in session today to try to push the bill through, and President Biden and Congress passed a temporary measure on Thursday to keep the federal government funded until early December.
Clients In the News
PECO establishes $250,000 recovery fund for those affected by Tropical Storm Ida PECO has announced that it is establishing a $250,000 recovery fund to provide further relief efforts to communities affected by Tropical Storm Ida. As part of the effort, PECO, and Exelon — its parent company — will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania and Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia for essential supplies, overnight shelter stays and first aid needs; an additional $100,000 will go directly to organizations across Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties providing temporary housing, food and supplies, and financial assistance to individuals and families; and the remaining funds with be allocated to other counties and community partners on an as-needed basic.
The Biggest Story in Pennsylvania This Week
No vaccine mandate for teachers, no exemptions for masks Pa. Health Secretary says "School is in session, but in the first month, coronavirus has also enrolled." On Thursday, the Secretaries of Education and Health gave Pennsylvanians an update on the start of the school year, stating that 67 of 67 counties in the commonwealth are currently at high or substantial transmission. While kids are excited to be back in classrooms, they are also transmitting the virus: this week last year, there were 745 cases among school-age kids in Pa. This year, it's 7,357 and counting. Despite that, Health Secretary Beam has said that there are currently no plans to mandate the vaccine for educators. The state hopes to continue educating parents on the vaccine's efficacy and hopes that the vaccine will be available for 5 to 11-yearolds by November.
Read the full story here.
News That Made Us Laugh
It's Fat Bear Week!!! Fat Bear Week is from September 29th to October 5th, your vote decides who is the fattest of the fat. Some of the largest brown bears on Earth make their home at Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating their success in preparation for winter hibernation. Above is Mister "32 Chunk".
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