Noah Esper Staff Writer Nle5099@psu.edu This year’s tax season will begin on January 24, 17 days earlier than it has in previous years due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic causing processing delays. The IRS urges individuals to take the necessary steps to ensure that their tax forms are turned in on time in order…

Stephanie Logue  Staff Writer  As a result of an increase in COVID-19 instances among their personnel and students, a growing number of big school districts across Pennsylvania are returning to remote learning. Last Monday, nearly 100 schools in the Philadelphia area began the process of returning to remote learning. Officials blame a scarcity of staff…

Amy Love Opinions Editor aml7458@psu.edu On January 11, there was a fire that became uncontrolled at the local amusement park, Exposition Park, that was nearby at Conneaut Lake. There were no injuries in this fire, however, the rollercoaster, Blue Streak, was severely damaged.  The Blue Streak was built in 1937, and has been operating on…

Stephanie Logue  Staff Writer    Gregory S. Mancini, a then 29-year-old coach and teacher from Erie, had his scheme disrupted by investigators from a Georgia sheriff’s office in November 2018. He had flown to the Atlanta area to meet a 13-year-old boy with whom he had previously had sexually explicit internet discussions. Mancini told Georgia…

Lydia Glenn News Editor  lmg5921@psu.edu On Tuesday afternoon, January 11, Erie High School was placed on lockdown. The Erie School District decided to shut it down after they believed they uncovered an unfounded threat aimed at the school.  There was said to be an anonymous report of a gun at the school. Investigators were called…

Chantel Rodriguez  Staff Writer Cvr5570@psu.edu Sunday morning, a fire broke out at a Bronx apartment building due to a failing electric space heater, and quick-fire spread with smoke inhalation claiming the lives of 17 people, including eight children.  New York Mayor Eric Adams said Monday, “it is one of the worst fires in the city’s…

Alanna Gillis Opinion Editor amg7393@psu.edu The Erie County Department of Health created a free COVID-19 testing site at the Bayfront Convention Center on Monday January 10, and hundreds of people came out to be tested. Interim director of the Erie County Department of Health, Erin Mrenak, did not think it would end there:  “I think…