Two people were killed in a fiery crash on Route 378 in Bethlehem. Two vehicles were involved in the crash around 11:30 last night near the exit for Eighth Avenue. Part of 378 was closed overnight before finally reopening around 5:30 this morning.
Pennsylvania's two senators have very different opinions on the issue of impeaching President Trump. In a statement, Republican Sen. Pat Toomey says, "While the conversation reported in the memorandum relating to alleged Ukrainian corruption and Vice President Biden's son was inappropriate, it does not rise to the level of an impeachable offense." On the other hand, Democrat Sen. Bob Casey says, "The recent revelation that President Trump pressured a foreign government to investigate his political opponents is a textbook case of abuse of power which demands action. I believe the conduct is within the well-established definition of the "high crimes and misdemeanors" that the Senate would consider in an impeachment trial."
Gov. Tom Wolf has completed his review of Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's listening tour on the idea of legalizing marijuana in Pennsylvania. "In the report the lieutenant governor concluded that Pennsylvanians support the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana," Wolf says. And now the governor has announced he does too. Wolf is also calling on state lawmakers to decriminalize minor cannibis-related offenses and to expunge past convictions of people convicted of those types of crimes.
The state Senate is moving along legislation that would raise the minimum age in Pennsylvania to purchase tobacco and vaping products to 21. Approved by a 43-6 margin, the bill is now on its way to the House for consideration. The bill is sponsored by Mario Scavello, who represents parts of Northampton and Monroe counties. If signed into law, the legislation would also create new penalties for tobacco use in schools and allow schools to upgrade their on-grounds tobacco use policies.
A Carbon County man is facing charges for sexual assaults committed around 20 years ago. Jim Thorpe police say Robert Hunsicker has been jailed on counts related to the sexual assault of a child aged eight to ten back between 1998 and 2001. Meanwhile, his brother David Hunsicker was arrested in June on charges related to the rape of an underage and mentally impaired girl between 1992 and 1996. That victim was attacked between the ages of five and nine.
A former Allentown man is charged with trying to arrange a sexual encounter with an underage girl. Allentown police are charging Nathan MacDonald with sharing explicit sexual materials with a minor and for having unlawful contact with a minor. MacDonald allegedly used a phone app to have sexually explicit conversations with a 13-year-old girl, then sent her videos of himself committing a lewd act before eventually trying to set up a date for sex.
Some former and current Boyertown Area School District students are dropping their lawsuit over the school's transgender policy. The Independence Law Center said the students voluntarily dismissed the case last week after expressing concerns over privacy after the district initiated a policy allowing transgender students to use the restroom and locker room of their choice. A federal appeals court and lower courts all sided with the district to keep the policy in place.
A special election is going to be held to fill the seat of former St. Sen. Mike Folmer. The special election will be held January 14th for all of Lebanon County and parts of Dauphin and York counties to fill the 48th Senatorial District seat after child pornography possession allegations surfaced against Folmer. So far, Matt Brouillette has announced his candidacy for the position.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez will remain locked up in Westmoreland County while he awaits trial. Vazquez's attorney and prosecutor agreed not to challenge his bond Wednesday, citing the seriousness of the case against him. Vazquez is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at her Scottdale home in 2017.
Batting for former baseball star Lenny Dykstra, it's Screech from "Saved By The Bell." Actor Dustin Diamond, best-known for his portrayal of Screech, has signed on to box the Bagel Boss Guy, also known as Chris Morgan. He found fame earlier this year by throwing a tantrum in a Long Island bagel restaurant. Dykstra, the former Mets and Phillies star, was scheduled to box Morgan, but backed out earlier this week. Now, Diamond and Morgan will throw down Saturday at Atlantic City's Showboat Hotel.