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As It Happened - May 17, 2020
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Trump wants live sports back and fans 'practically standing on top of each other’; Jersey Shore beaches reopen in preparation for Memorial Day weekend


Saturday's glorious weather drew surging numbers onto the Ocean City boardwalk, where few wore protective masks despite official guidance, a situation likely to become more common as summer temperatures make face coverings uncomfortable.

Residents of nearby apartments enjoy the Live Drive-In Comedy at The Jersey Shore shore by ACJokes.com in Atlantic City Saturday.

CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Significant developments
  • Some towns on the Jersey Shore reopened beaches Saturday as a dry run ahead of Memorial Day weekend. And Gov. Phil Murphy said boat rentals and fishing charters can resume Sunday.

  • Gov. Tom Wolf said 12 more Pennsylvania counties will move into the first phase of reopening on Friday.

  • Former President Barack Obama says pandemic “has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing.”

  • Philadelphia’s decline in new cases of COVID-19 “seems to be accelerating," officials say. But with more than 200 new confirmed cases per day, they say it is too early to set a date for easing restrictions.

  • SEPTA resumes regular schedules Sunday for buses and trolleys, as well as the Broad Street, Market-Frankford, and Norristown High Speed Lines. The New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway will resume cash collection at toll booths beginning Tuesday.

  • Track the latest data on the spread of the coronavirus in the Philadelphia region here.