Local: Franklin County cold shelters fill to brim

Chambersburg — The cold weather is driving homeless people to any shelter they can find. The problem, however, is not finding volunteers or donations to help at shelters in Franklin County — the main issue is space.

There are waiting lists for several homeless shelters in the area, according to the Public Opinion. The Chambersburg Cold Weather Drop In Shelter has all 20 of its beds full. The New Hope Shelter in Waynesboro faces a similar situation.

The Public Opinion reported that many families are among those seeking shelter or some type of assistance.

Cold weather increases the demand for the safety of a warm shelter, but those who cannot fit are staying with friends or battling the elements outside.

The director of the Chambersburg Cold Weather Drop In Shelter told the Public Opinion that donations are always welcome.

For now, local shelters have to do the best they can to help the homeless.

Source: The Public Opinion

State: State employees make more than $100,000

Harrisburg — As of 2014 there are more than 6,300 workers employed by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania who make at least $100,000 annually, according to the Patriot News. That number is twice as many people as it was in 2007.

State troopers, doctors, football coaches, lawyers, judges, technology managers, lawmakers and engineers are just some of the people that make up this group.

In the last year alone, 783 people joined the ranking to reach the current total.

The person raking in the most cash is Donna Malpezzi, former Senate Republican counsel, who made $375,760.

Gov. Tom Wolf receives an annual salary of $190,823, but the new governor said he would decline it. Due to a 20-year-old law that states Wolf is not allowed to forgo his salary, the governor decided to give it to charity.

There are 79 employees who made more than $200,000, and five who made more than $300,000 in 2014.

Source: Patriot News

National: ‘Superbug’ infects unsuspecting patients

Los Angeles — Patients who went through endoscopic procedures may be in danger from a tiny bacterium, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).

The “superbug” is credited with causing the deaths of two people in Los Angeles, Nevada and now one death in North Carolina, according to CNN. So far, 18 people have been found with CRE in their systems.

Officials from the Ronald Reagan University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center said patients contracted the bug through two medical scopes that carried the bacteria, although the scopes were cleaned properly, according to CNN.

The Food and Drug Administration is conducting a review of data from companies that made the medical scopes.

Those who went through endoscopic procedures between October and January are being contacted and tested for CRE, CNN reported.

Source: CNN

World: Ceasefire in danger of collapse, rebels fire

Kiev — The Feb. 12 ceasefire is being tested as rebels continue to fire on the Ukrainian military.

Shelling in the Donetsk region occurred on Sunday, and rebels were accused of attempting to attack the village of Shyrokyne, according to the BBC.

The next step for Ukraine’s military is to withdraw its heavy weapons from the battlefront, but fire from the rebels makes the task difficult, the BBC reports.

On Sunday, Feb. 22, two Ukrainian soldiers died and one rebel died, according to the BBC.

The Minsk agreement allots both sides two weeks from Feb. 15 to withdraw heavy weapons. That deadline is closing in.

It is expected that the rebels will begin pulling back after Monday after a public holiday, according to the BBC.

Since the fighting started in April, the death toll has come to nearly 5,700 and 1.5 million people have left their homes, according to the United Nations, as reported by the BBC.

Source: BBC

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