Two Threats Against Area Schools
Warren/Erie – In Warren County, an 18-year-old has been charged with two counts of terroristic threats against Warren Area High School. While being held in Warren General Hospital’s psychological wing, Jared Rex allegedly admitted to police that he had formulated detailed plans to launch a mass casualty attack against the school while he had homicidal and suicidal ideations earlier this year. In Erie, a student was disenrolled from Cathedral Preparatory School this week when a weapon was discovered during a locker search. According to school administrators, nobody was harmed or threatened by the weapon, but the student was expelled for violating the school’s student code. The nature of the weapon was not revealed.

EHD, Blue Tongue, in WPA
NWPA – The PA Game Commission is warning about two viral infections affecting deer populations in the region this year. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, and blue tongue virus, or BT, have both been detected in deer populations of Mercer and Lawrence counties. EHD has also been detected in Erie and Butler counties this year. Both diseases’ only vector of spread is small biting midges that are sometimes called no-see-ems. These insects appear in late summer and die off as temperatures cool in the fall, usually by the first frost. So far, there is no evidence of infections in any livestock in the region, but both of these diseases can affect domestic livestock. According to the USDA, these diseases tend to affect sheep more often than cattle, but cows with the disease may be asymptomatic. To report sick livestock, contact the PA Department of Agriculture at (717)772-2852.