Due to the economic effects of the coronavirus, the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau's board of directors has suspended the 2020 annual grant program.

The decision was made because the bureau is funded by a bed tax, and with stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions, the bureau's revenue streams have disappeared, officials said. The bureau also was forced to make staffing cuts as a result of the virus' effect on the economy.

Jack Cohen, bureau president, said he looks forward to continuing the grant program in the future.

New Beginnings Free Methodist Church, 416 Center Ave., will offer a free warm, takeout community meal from 5 to 6 p.m. every Saturday for those who need it during the cornoavirus pandemic.The meals are served through a porch window at the church. For more information, call Sally Perkins, church officer and volunteer, at 724-290-2384.

Connoquenessing has joined the list of Butler County municipalities to declare a disaster emergency due to COVID-19.On April 2, Lloyd Lesie, borough council president, signed the declaration, which permits the borough to forego a number of otherwise required processes to take action on items such as entering contracts.

Due to the coronavirus, a closure order has been issued by the Allegheny National Forest, a popular recreation venue in Forest, Warren, McKean and Elk counties.The order prohibits all overnight camping and fires in addition to groups larger than 10 congregating in the forest.All developed recreation sites, restrooms, campgrounds, cabins and facilities operated by the Allegheny National Forest will be closed until further notice.The closure does not apply to privately owned camps and cabins.Fishing, kayaking and canoeing on the Allegheny Reservoir, Allegheny and Clarion rivers, hiking, and backpacking remain available to the public in groups of 10 or fewer, so long as social distancing is maintained.More information on the closure is available at fs.usda.gov/allegheny.

State Rep. Tim Bonner, R-8th, was sworn in Monday on the floor of the state House of Representatives.Bonner won a special election held April 17 to replace Republican Ted Nesbit, who resigned to become a common pleas judge in Mercer County. He beat Democrat Phil Heasley.Bonner will serve the remainder of 2020, and will run in the April primary election for the 2021-22 term. Heasley also is on the primary ballot.The district represents 13 municipalities in Butler County.

Peoples Natural Gas is offering support to those having difficulty paying their utility bills due to the coronavirus pandemic.The company is advising customers to call 1-800-400-WARM to learn what programs are available, or access the Program Finder at peoples-gas.com/programs.

The United States Postal Service offers the following tips to mailing packages during the COVID-19 pandemic:Maintain a safe distance at all times from postal employees, including letter carriers and post office clerks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends keeping a distance of six feet or more between others.Items without postage and not related to USPS business should not be placed in mailboxes.“It is important to note the CDC, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Surgeon General have all said there is very low risk that this virus is being spread through mail,” officials said in a recent news release from the Cranberry Township Post Office.“The outpouring of support you have shown has had a great impact on everyone at the Postal Service. Knowing how much you care means everything to us,” the release stated.