The Lehigh County Board of Elections has voted to not certify the results of last November's election for Lehigh County Court. On behalf of five Lehigh County voters, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit over whether 257 mail-in votes should be counted despite those ballots failing to have a date on them, which is required by law. Lehigh County's Board of Elections decided to hold off on certifying the results until a federal judge rules on the suit. Right now, Republican David Ritter holds a 74 vote lead over Democrat Zachary Cohen for the third and final seat on Lehigh County Court and it's possible Cohen could pick up enough of those disputed mail-in ballots to flip the race's result.
The City of Allentown has told Waste Management to enforce rules regarding the maximum size for trash cans picked up curbside. City laws state no more than five 30-gallon trash bags, each weighing no more than 40 pounds, or two 32-gallon trash containers, each weighing no more than 70 pounds may be placed out for pickup. From February 6 to February 18, warning tags will be left on any trash can exceeding 32 gallons, but the trash will be taken away. After that, any trash can going beyond that limit will be rejected and the trash inside will not be hauled away.
One person is dead following a crash in Monroe County. The accident happened last night along Burger Hollow Road near Gilbert. A tow truck and a pickup truck collided and the driver of the pickup truck was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the accident is still being investigated.
Firefighters were called to a Salisbury Township home late Tuesday night. The fire happened in the 1300 block of Byfield Street around 11 o'clock. There's no word if anybody was hurt.
Just before 7:30 this morning, Punxsutawney Phil made his annual weather prediction. "I couldn't imagine a better fate, with my shadow I have cast, than a long, lustrous six more weeks of winter," Phil's handler announced. This is the 105th time Phil has predicted another six weeks of winter.
Democrats in Harrisburg have unveiled a plan to inject $2.75 billion into state classrooms and another billion for school buildings. St. Sen. Vincent Hughes says the funding will come from what's reported to be a $7 billion surplus in the state's treasury as well as "historic" revenues in Pennsylvania. But state Republicans say there is no surplus and that an extra two billion comes from federal dollars. They say they expect that money to be spent on increases in human services and other education spending.
After nine weeks, petitioners in the fair funding lawsuit have concluded their case in court. Now, it's up to respondents for Pennsylvania's legislature to make theirs. In November 2021, petitioning school districts, superintendents, and parents finally got their opportunity to argue the constitutionality of Pennsylvania's system of education funding in Commonwealth Court. Now the fair funding trial will hear from respondents from the legislature, who'll defend the current system. Republican Speaker of the House, Bryan Cutler and Senate President Pro Tempore, Jake Corman, will present witnesses for the legislature to make their case. It has taken more than seven years since the case was originally filed to come to court.
The majority of Pennsylvania deer hunters who have responded to a Pennsylvania Game Commission survey say they support a Saturday-after-Thanksgiving start to the firearms deer season. Some 60 percent are in favor of the idea, while another 12 percent say they have no preference between a Saturday or Monday opener, and 27 percent oppose a Saturday opener. The top reasons cited by hunters who support the move are that they have work on Monday, that Saturday provides increased hunting opportunities, and convenience with their child's school schedule. Opposition to the Saturday opener is higher among hunters who are 55 and older and among those who use a hunting camp on opening day, compared to those who didn't.