Pennsylvania's Supreme Court is turning down a request by Jerry Sandusky for a new trial. The court rejected most of the former Penn State assistant football coach's arguments Wednesday, seven years after he was convicted of sexually abusing ten boys. Sandusky's appeal argued his lawyers and investigators made significant errors during the case and he was improperly sentenced in 2012. A federal court appeal is likely.
Christmas is five months from today and the city of Allentown is looking at making over its Lights in the Parkway display. City Council's Community and Economic Development Committee has received a proposal from Mayor Ray O'Connell to include a walk-through display surrounding the Bogert Covered Bridge along the Lehigh Parkway and renovate the Hunter's Cabin and move the Lights in the Parkway gift shop into it. The estimated cost of doing that work is $60,000.
A Monroe County killing stemmed from the robbery of a bottle of Hennessy. Three people are now charged with homicide and a fourth with robbery in the shooting death of Daniel Santana in Coolbaugh Township Sunday night. The group robbed Santana and two others of a bottle of Hennessy cognac earlier in the night, then opened fire on their vehicle when the victims tried tracking them down.
A motorcyclist is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Bethlehem. Police responded to a collision between a car and a motorcycle Wednesday at Stefko Boulevard and Glenwood Street. 40-year-old Jeremy Johnson, of Freemansburg, was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill but could not be saved. No charges have been filed against the other driver, but the crash does remain under investigation.
A man was killed Wednesday afternoon in a garbage truck crash in Monroe County. The truck crashed into a home in Kunkletown around 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Investigators say the truck ran a stop sign on Point Philips Road, tried to turn right onto Lower Smith Gap Road, but lost control and drove off the road. The garbage truck hit a house, rolled on its side and hit a car parked in the driveway. The driver was identified as 49-year-old Oscar Benavides of Albrightsville.
A Walnutport woman is heading to jail for causing an accident while driving drowsy that left one person dead. Susan Queen has been sentenced to serve six months to about two years for involuntary manslaughter and various traffic violations. Queen was driving on Route 145 in Lehigh Township back in June 2017 when she admittedly dozed off and crashed head-on into 22-year-old Alana Hein, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gov. Tom Wolf is saying several Pennsylvanians may be eligible for low-interest loans following storm damage occurring last month. Wolf says homeowners, renters and businesses in Chester, Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery and Schuylkill counties affected by the storms that struck on June 20th and 21st may be able to borrow from the state's SBA Disaster Loan Programs. Low-interest loans of up to $200,000 may be available to homeowners to fix or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. The filing deadline to return applications for loans to cover physical property damage is September 20th, while those seeking economic injury disaster loans have until April 22nd of next year.
PennDOT wants your opinions on traffic safety and driving behavior in an online survey. The 2019 PennDOT Highway Safety Survey is used to help the state adjust its safety activities to help reduce accidents. It's available on the state's website until August 12th.
Hersheypark is unwrapping details on its newest roller coaster coming next summer. Candymonium will be the amusement park's 15th rollercoaster and will be its tallest, fastest and longest. The hypercoaster will anchor the park's new Chocolatetown expansion which is set to be complete next summer.
The Luzerne County school district that threatened parents that their kids could be taken away over debt related to school lunches is now accepting an offer to cover the liability. The Wyoming Valley West School District recently sent a letter to families that alleges owing money could land families Dependency Court, which could result in children being removed from their home and placed in foster care. In response, Philadelphia businessman Todd Carmichael, the CEO of La Colombe coffee, offered to pay the debt in full but the district refused his offer. However, Wyoming Valley West school board president Joseph Mazur posted a letter Wednesday that the district will now accept the offer, calling it a generous donation. Mazur added that it just so happens the district now qualifies for the Community Eligibility Program, meaning all students in the district will receive free breakfasts and lunches for the next five years.
The New Jersey Health Department says the number of people participating in the stat'e medical marijuana program has tripled and the number of participating physicians has doubled since Gov. Phil Murphy took office. The governor says he's proud of the reforms that have occurred on his watch that have made the state's medicinal marijuana program compassionate, progressive and modernized. 51,000 patients, 2000 caregivers and 1000 doctors are now involved in the program.
The Philadelphia Eagles kick training camp into full gear today when they hold their first practice. The Eagles first preseason game is August 8th at home against the Tennessee Titans.