Both Pennsylvania senators offered thoughts following the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial in Minnesota. Bob Casey said in a statement, "This verdict is about accountability, but it is not justice. While Derek Chauvin will be held accountable for the murder of George Floyd, it’s not enough. Countless others have died at hands of police because of a broken system that must be reformed." Pat Toomey released a statement saying, "Derek Chauvin was convicted by a jury of his peers of the murder of George Floyd. My sympathies remain with the Floyd family. While nothing can cure the hurt the Floyd family lives with every day, I do hope this verdict brings them a degree of solace.”
Gov. Tom Wolf is applauding the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial. The governor says Floyd's murder was a tragedy that has been repeated time and time again in our nation. He added that we may have seen justice in this case, but we must acknowledge that we are living within a broken system.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Tuesday added 4577 new cases of coronavirus to the state total, which is now 1,113,868. 77 new deaths attributed to COVID-19 were also reported, leaving the state with 25,767 since the beginning of the pandemic. Currently, 2705 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, 561 of whom are in the intensive care unit.
Lehigh Valley Health Network has rescheduled today's mass vaccination clinic at Dorney Park. The drive-thru clinic scheduled for Wednesday has been moved to Friday, April 23, due to the threat of thunderstorms. All 4,000 appointments are moved to Friday at the same time as the original appointment. Anyone who needs to reschedule their appointment for a different day or time should call the health network's COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 833-584-6283.
A 14-year-old boy is accused of stabbing a 15-year-old girl around 8:15 Monday night in the area of Bucky Boyle Park in Allentown. The girl suffered serious stab wound injuries and was rushed to the hospital, where she is in stable condition.
A Lower Saucon Township man faces several charges after police responded twice for him randomly firing shots outside a township home early Sunday morning. Kenneth Grimm Jr. was allegedly drunk when police found him shooting into the ground. When police returned more than an hour later, they found a drunk Grimm and a 9mm round in the driveway. The 23-year-old was sent to Northampton County Prison under $50,000 bail.
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are going to be flying high above the Poconos again this year. The Great Pocono Raceway Air Show is scheduled to return August 21st and 22nd in Long Pond. The event will also feature the GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team.
Pennsylvanians in favor of legalizing marijuana gathered at the state Capitol Tuesday. They were joined by Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who says what he tells lawmakers who don't agree with the idea. "I always tell my friends on the other side of the aisle prohibition is so much more work than simply acknowledging that you have evolved on an issue and do what's right for Pennsylvania," Fetterman said. Those at the rally say Pennsylvania must quickly legalize a drug that is less harmful than alcohol and opioids.
It's a good news-bad news report from PennDOT, which says in 2020, the number of statewide traffic deaths were the second-lowest number ever recorded. That's the good news. The bad news is that 1129 number was up 70 from 2019's all-time record low of 1059. The higher number of fatalities comes despite the number of drivers down substantially last year due to the pandemic.
New Jersey's governor is highlighting the Garden State Guarantee Initiative. "The college debt crisis, we all know, is not just in New Jersey, but everywhere in our country. It's unmistakable. The prospect of student debt leads too many students forego college altogether," says Phil Murphy. He says the program will provide two years tuition free at New Jersey's four-year public colleges and universities for students come from a home with an annual gross income of $65,000 or less.
New Jersey officials are reminding residents to register for the Real ID if they want to fly in the United States in six months. The deadline is six months away, but you should plan ahead for a Real ID-compliant driver's license or photo ID card by gathering the required documents. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission says it's processing hundreds of Real ID appointments daily and that demand is very high. The deadline is October 1st.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a bill into law that lets New Jersey police and firefighters retire early. The measure has been dubbed the burnout bill. It lets public safety officers with 20 years of service in the next two years retire with a pension regardless of their age. Current law limits the early retirement benefits for workers hired after 2000 to those older than 55 years. The unions who pushed for the law say it corrects a misinterpretation of an earlier law that created the early retirement benefit.