A Fire Weather Watch is in effect today for our entire listening area. The National Weather Service has placed the watch in the Poconos, the Lehigh Valley, Berks County and southeastern Pennsylvania from 10am to 9pm. With humidity dropping and winds expected to gust as high as 35 miles per hour, officials say conditions across the area are perfect for the spread of wildfires.
A Bethlehem man has died several weeks after a workplace accident. 43-year-old Jared Balogh died Monday night at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg from complications of an ankle fracture. The injury happened when a section of stage platform fell on his foot on March 14th and ArtsQuest in Bethlehem. The Lehigh County coroner's office has ruled Balogh's death an accident.
Officials in Whitehall Township say coyotes are becoming a problem. Sightings of the predators are ramping up, especially in the area of Stiles. Coyotes, while already established in every county in Pennsylvania, have become more common in urban areas. Although they usually avoid people, residents should keep a closer watch on pets and pet food left outdoors as coyotes hunt more aggressively this time of year to feed their young.
The Lehigh Valley has lost another restaurant. Grazie Brewhouse & Restaurant on Catasauqua Road has closed. The former Taste of Italy opened in 2001 in the Valley Plaza shopping center.
The Department of Health reports that more than 100 people have now died during the current flu season in Pennsylvania. According to the latest numbers, the confirmed flu-related fatality count in Pennsylvania now stands at 107, 70 of whom were 65 or older. The total number of flu cases has risen to more than 85,000.
Two former members of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Penn State are getting jail time for their role in the death of pledge Timothy Piazza. Tuesday, Michael Bonatucci was sentenced to up to six months in prison and Joshua Kurczewski was ordered to up to nine months in prison. Joseph Sala was sentenced to three months house arrest and a little more than two-and-a-half years probation. Piazza was a freshman pledging to join the fraternity who died following a night of heavy drinking during a hazing incident.
State officials are urging people to be aware of Lyme disease and ticks as the weather warms up. There were more than 11,700 reported cases of Lyme disease statewide in 2017, which is among the highest in the country. When detected early, Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics.
Bryce Harper's return to Washington DC went well. After striking out in his first two at bats, Harper singled, doubled and homered in the Phils' 8-2 win. Harper was booed every at bat, but said hundreds of Phillies fans who made the trip to DC uplifted him. "I understand the game. I understand the fan-player interaction. Being back at home knowing they're cheering and screaming for me and also having a huge section in right field really fired me up," Harper said. The Phillies are 4-0 for the first time in more than 100 years. They'll visit the Nationals again today.