An Allentown woman is recovering after being shot in the back just before 6 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Allentown Police Chief Tony Alsleben says they were called to the 700 block of North Ninth Street for reports of shots fired. "Upon our arrival at the location we found a 51-year-old female with a gunshot wound to the torso," Alsleben says. He says there was an earlier disturbance between two groups oe people in that area. About an hour after that disturbance, a maroon Honda Accord returned and fired several shots at the other group involved in the earlier incident. That's when the woman was hit, an apparent innocent victim of the city's latest shooting. There have now been 26 people shot in Allentown since the beginning of June.
The state Public Utility Commission is filing a multi-million dollar complaint against Met-Ed in connection to the death of a Northampton County man three years ago. The PUC is seeking more than $4.5 million in civil penalties following its review of the death of Williams Township's Thomas Poynton in July 2016. Poynton was electrocuted outside his home after a Met-Ed high voltage conductor fell into his backyard and damaged his house. Met-Ed contractors allegedly used improper materials and methods when it installed and secured the conductor. Met-Ed has 20 days from the date of the complaint filing to respond.
The Bethlehem Fire Marshal is investigating a two-alarm fire that left a family homeless. Firefighters responded to a duplex home Tuesday on Wyandotte Street where flames were shooting from the roof of the structure. The blaze was brought under control in about an hour, but until three adults and six children living there were displaced. No injuries have been reported.
The elderly Northampton County man arrested for killing his wife will be back in Pennsylvania later this week to face a judge. 80-year-old Edgar Himel was arrested in Colorado on July 13 after allegedly killing his 66-year-old wife, Penny VanTassel-Himel, who was found dead July 7th inside the couple's home on Orchard Drive in Palmer Township. Himel allegedly stole his wife's car and fled Pennsylvania after killing his wife. He's scheduled to be extradited in order to attend a hearing on Friday.
State officials are confirming a mosquito caught in Lehigh County has tested positive for West Nile Virus. The West Nile Virus Control Program says the insect was found in Allentown. While not causing physical signs in everyone who gets infected, the virus can be especially dangerous for the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Reactions can range from basic flu-like symptoms to meningitis, or even death.
A Schuylkill County man accused of sexually assaulting a child and believed to be possibly at large near the Appalachian Trail is dead. The Carbon County coroner confirms that Tamaqua's Craig York killed himself with a shotgun. The coroner says York's body was found Sunday on Broad Mountain in his truck. Officials had placed a warning that York, wanted on counts related to the rape of a person under the age of 16, was reportedly last seen in the Fort Franklin parking area near the trail last Thursday.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials say they are confident in a plan to safely decommission Three Mile Island. During a Tuesday night meeting, the officials said the SAFSTOR plan being used by Exelon beginning near the end of September will cost around $1.2 billion and will take until 2079 before the facility can be dismantled.
The National Weather Service is confirming sightings of cold air funnels spotted in New Jersey. Several people off the Jersey Shore and Delaware coast reported seeing what looked like tornadoes or water spouts over the water Tuesday. However, cold air funnels form under showers or weak thunderstorms when the air overhead is colder than usual, causing air to spiral in funnel fashion. The service says these weather oddities are generally harmless, but can pack as much power as a weak tornado when they touch down.
It took a while but the Phillies finally outlasted the Tigers 3-2 in 15 innings last night in Detroit. Rhys Hoskins knocked in the winning run and says it was a big win. "Obviously you want to win every game, but it's definitely good to come away with the win tonight," Hoskins says. The Phillies have won four of their last five. They're in Detroit again tonight.
Both veterans and rookies report to training camp today for the Philadelphia Eagles. The first practice takes place tomorrow at the NovaCare Complex. The Eagles are only hosting one open practice this season on August 4th. They'll open the preseason at home August 8th against the Tennessee Titans.