Mueller: Draft debate sign of how far Pirates have to go SPORTS, 1B FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021 | ELLWOODCITYLEDGER.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK PA DOH taking Delta Lawrence County variant ‘seriously’ COVID-19 vaccine tracker Ellwood City Ledger USA TODAY NETWORK Some 37% of people living in Law- rence County are fully vaccinated as of June 29, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers someone fully vaccinated two weeks after they’ve been given a single-dose shot (John- son & Johnson) or a second shot (ei- ther Pfizer or Moderna). Pennsylvania reported 1,216,430 to- tal cases of coronavirus, an increase of 0.10% from the week before. The five counties with the highest percentage of their population fully vaccinated in Pennsylvania as of June 29 are Montour County (60%), Forest County (57%), Lackawanna County (54%), Lehigh County (53%) and Alle- gheny County (51%). Here are the latest numbers on CO- VID-19 vaccinations in Lawrence County as of June 29: Olivia Edwards, left, 13, gets a bandage from registered nurse Philene Moore after getting a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination How many people in Lawrence at Montgomery County. MATT SLOCUM/AP County have received a COVID-19 vaccine? Officials push COVID-19 vaccines, but no sign mask mandate will return h 42% of people in Lawrence Coun- ty have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 36,546 people Brian Myszkowski sequenced.” cination rate among adults. h 37% of people in Lawrence Coun- Pocono Record “The potential threat of Delta and all According to the CDC, as of Tues- ty are fully vaccinated, for a total of USA TODAY NETWORK other variants underlines the impor- day, Pennsylvania has administered 32,013 people tance for all eligible people to get fully first doses of vaccine to 62.7% of its en- For a county-by-county look at the State officials continue to promote vaccinated,” Barton said. “The admini- tire population, and ranks eighth vaccination rollout, see our COVID-19 the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines stration encourages all eligible individ- among all 50 states for first doses ad- vaccine tracker, which is updated dai- as the Delta variant of the virus makes uals to get fully vaccinated to protect ministered by percentage of popula- ly. its way across through the country, in- themselves and their loved ones.” tion. Sixty percent of Pennsylvanians cluding Pennsylvania. The CDC is only sharing percentages age 18 and older are fully vaccinated, How many people in Two days after lifting the statewide of variant cases appearing in Pennsyl- while 75.3% have received their first Pennsylvania have been mask mandate, health officials on vania, indicating that only 1% of a total dose, putting the commonwealth fifth vaccinated so far? Wednesday said “vaccines remain our of 1,259 variant cases observed over a among all 50 states for total doses ad- biggest defense against the virus and four-week period ending June 5 were ministered. h 63% of people in Pennsylvania the potential threat of the Delta vari- determined to be the Delta variant. Acting Physician General Dr. Denise have received at least one dose of the ant.” CDC data indicates the currently Johnson echoed the same sentiment vaccine, for a total of 8,023,155 people DOH Deputy Press Secretary Maggi available vaccines from Pfizer-BioN- as Barton during a visit to LIFE Geis- h 50% of people in Pennsylvania Barton noted that state officials are tak- Tech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson inger in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, rec- are fully vaccinated, for a total of ing the Delta variant “very seriously,” offer at least some protection against ommending that vaccinated individ- 6,337,453 people even though information from the Cen- the Delta variant. uals reach out to friends and family We pull data on local vaccine distri- ters for Disease Control and Prevention There’s no indication that officials who have yet to get their shots. bution on a weekly basis. Check back report a very low prevalence of muta- will reinstitute a masking mandate in “I implore you to talk to someone for our next weekly update mid-week tion in the commonwealth, with “1% of Pennsylvania, despite the state not for the latest numbers. cases being sampled and genomically reaching its proposed goal of a 70% vac- See DELTA, Page 2A Why Wolf and Democrats tout education funding win Candy Woodall That’s why the Democratic governor Pennsylvania State Capital Bureau on Wednesday described the results of USA TODAY NETWORK budget negotiations as a “first down” in- stead of a touchdown. Gov. Tom Wolf signed the Pennsylva- “We’re still in the game,” Wolf said nia budget Wednesday and celebrated a during a press conference with report- “small win” in the largest education ers. “We still have the ball. We’re not funding increase in state history. where we want to be. It’s a step.” More than $13 billion in funding is Football metaphors aside, Wolf and headed to schools, but Democrats have House and Senate Democrats stood on said it’s not enough when some stu- the Capitol steps Wednesday morning dents in impoverished districts have to and cheered the education budget as a learn in asbestos-filled buildings where success. It includes: it’s not safe to drink the water. h $200 million more in the Fair Fund- Wolf in his February budget address ing Formula asked for a $1 billion increase in school h $100 million to support underfund- funding, but Republican leaders who ed school districts through the Level Up Gov. Tom Wolf and Democratic lawmakers celebrated increased education control the General Assembly agreed to funding during a news conference Wednesday on the Capitol steps. a $416 million increase. See FUNDING, Page 2A CANDY WOODALL/PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITAL BUREAU Local news Volume 101 | No. 131 Subscribe: 855-303-2660 Restrictions are upheld: Justices back Arizona law barring Sheldon Jeter defense: Juror in recent News Tips: 724-758-5573 ©2021 $1.00 YDDCEJ-00010q advocacy groups from collecting mail ballots. 10A homicide trial was DelTondo’s neighbor. 2A 2A| FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021| ELLWOOD CITY LEDGER Jeter defense: Juror in recent homicide trial was neighbor Chrissy Suttles and Dani imagine, at this point, that if your next- Fitzgerald door neighbor was killed in your front Beaver County Times yard that you didn't watch the ‘48 Hours’ USA TODAY NETWORK story or follow the news.” Jeter’s defense will ask for an eviden- BEAVER — At least one juror who re- tiary hearing on the juror’s impartiality, cently convicted Sheldon Jeter of homi- including subpoenaing members of her cide may have had existing biases, the family. man’s defense lawyers say. “We have information to believe she A Beaver County jury last week found was talking about the trial with family 23-year-old Jeter guilty of first-degree members the whole time,” Santicola murder in the shooting of 30-year-old said. “We must confirm all of that and, Tyric Pugh at the end of a two-week depending on how it goes, it could be a trial. mistrial. We’re in uncharted territory During Wednesday’s verdict, though, here.” a courtroom spectator from Aliquippa Because a verdict has already been recognized one of the jurors as a neigh- handed down in the case, the defense bor of Rachael DelTondo – the teacher would likely have to file an appeal to shot in her driveway on Mother’s Day overturn Jeter’s conviction, said Mari 2018. Pierce, professor-in-charge of the crim- Jeter, although never named a sus- inal justice program at Penn State's Bea- A Beaver County jury last week found 23-year-old Jeter guilty of first-degree pect in the unsolved murder, was ques- ver, New Kensington and Shenango murder in the shooting of 30-year-old Tyric Pugh at the end of a two-week trial. tioned in the case. DelTondo was sus- campuses. BCT FILE pended from her Pennsylvania Cyber If that appeal is successful, the case Charter School job months prior to her would be sent back to the county Dis- death after a leaked 2016 Aliquippa po- trict Attorney’s Office for possible retri- lice report indicated the 33-year-old al, she said. the district attorney’s office early on, From the commonwealth’s perspective, woman had engaged in inappropriate “It would start all over again,” Pierce Santicola said, but it involved discuss- there was overwhelming evidence. But I intimate behavior with then 17-year-old said. “The appellate process cannot find ing the DelTondo case as a condition. do think they targeted him and found a Jeter. him not guilty. All they can do is uphold The former Aliquippa football player way to match it up.” DelTondo’s murder garnered nation- his conviction or overturn his convic- now faces up to life in prison without Little is truly known about jury delib- al attention, and it’s “hard to believe” tion and send it back to the district at- parole; his sentencing is scheduled for erations, Pierce said, because “only the juror whose family lived next door torney’s office." July 21. about 10% of cases go to trial and jury had no prior knowledge of Jeter, his at- If the appeal is denied, Jeter's con- Santicola doesn’t think Jeter’s case deliberations are held in secret.” torney Michael Santicola said. Santicola viction would likely stand. should have made it past a preliminary “We know very, very little about what believes the Beaver County Court and Some Jeter supporters in Aliquippa hearing.