A handful of Republican state lawmakers and industry leaders this week discussed the prolonged economic damages of the Wolf administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with some advocating defiance of the governor’s orders.

State legislators on Wednesday approved measures that officials say will ensure affordability and financial sustainability of the state’s 14-institution higher education system.

After being shut down since mid-March the Lehigh Valley is finally going green in the state’s COVID-19 pandemic reopening plan.

Lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are considering a bill that would strip state environmental regulators of the authority to offer incentives to the state’s energy sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

During a press conference after the votes, Wolf said ending the disaster declaration would not end the state’s business guideline orders, but would instead remove protections and regulatory rollbacks granted to the state through the declaration.

The Wolf administration will use $225 million from its federal CARES Act allocation to provide liquidity to Pennsylvania small businesses that are financially struggling in the aftermath of the forced shutdown orders instituted to slow the spread of COVID-19.

All long-term care providers in the state, including nursing, personal care and assisted living facilities, are required to complete initial COVID-19 baseline testing on all staff and residents by July 24, according to a new order issued by the Wolf administration.

Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill into law a bill that will provide $500 million in emergency funding to help long-term care providers stop the spread of COVID-19 in their facilities.

A bill that would use $500 million in federal COVID-19 relief to help nursing homes, assisted living communities and personal care homes combat the spread of the virus is on Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk awaiting his signature.

Hospitals in counties transitioning to the green phase of Pennsylvania’s reopening plan may reopen their facilities to visitors at their own discretion, according to updated guidance released Wednesday by the Wolf administration.