Air Products will give up its business in Russia. Company CEO Seifi Ghasemi says the company is developing plans to end its industrial gas business in Russia, which is a tiny portion of the company's business and has less than $25 million in sales. In a statement on the Air Products website, Ghasemi says, "We continue to be deeply concerned by the tragic human suffering being experienced by the people of Ukraine and the impact it has on many others. For our people in Russia, we fully understand and recognize these actions will cause concern. As we move to divest our business in the country, we will continue to give them the support we can during this difficult period and put assistance programs in place."
State Police Captain James Kemm says just after 12:30 Monday morning, state police in Philadelphia were called about a pedestrian walking along I-95 south near the stadium complex. Kemm says troopers Martin Mack and Branden Sisca arrived to tend the unidentified pedestrian. "They exited their vehicle and approached the individual. As they were attempting to put him into custody and walk him back to their vehicle, a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane and struck all three individuals," Kemm says. He says the collision knocked the troopers over the barrier and onto the northbound side of 95. All three were declared dead on the scene. Kemm says the driver of the car is a woman and she was taken into custody and is under investigation for DUI.
The saga of November's election for Lehigh County judge is still not decided. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a temporary injunction to prevent the Lehigh County Board of Elections from certifying the results of the election for the third and final seat on Lehigh County Court. Five voters sued, claiming they would be denied the right to vote if 257 mail-in ballots are not counted. Those ballots, which were tossed out because they were not dated as required by law, could change the result between the third and fourth place candidates for judge. Republican David Ritter has a 74-vote edge over Democrat Zachary Cohen.
ArtsQuest announced the addition of Ziggy Marley to this summer's Musikfest lineup. Marley will headline the Wind Creek Steel Stage on August 9. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday.
There may soon be a new Starbucks in Plainfield Township. A new location is being planned along Sullivan Trail on vacant land next to the First Northern Bank. If approval is given by the township planning commission, work could begin as soon as July.
Cases from previously known variants of COVID-19 are finally beginning to decrease, but cases of a new type are beginning to be seen. Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Health say the stealth omicron variant is currently accounting for 20 percent of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania. The other 80 percent are cases of the omicron variant. The stealth omicron is a cousin variant of the omicron variant that spiked heavily over the winter and officials fear it will be the next dominant strain. The subvariant has been present in the United States for a couple of months.
A bill has been introduced in the State Senate that would cut Pennsylvania's gas tax. Senate President Jake Corman's measure is called the Consumer Gas Prices Relief Act. It would cut the state's gas tax by one-third through the end of the year. The funds would be made up for with federal funds and a bond issue to make sure important infrastructure projects aren't put on hold because of the gas tax cut.
President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing. New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker goes over Jackson's time as a public defender and the impact it had on her decisions as a federal judge. "You wrote that the role of the public defender made you a better judge. You said it gave you a chance to help people in need and to promote core constitutional values," Booker said. Three more days of hearings are planned.
New Jersey is putting more than $1 million towards planting trees in urban communities. The Department of Environmental Protection divided the money between 38 communities, 75-percent of the funds awarded are going towards municipalities with at least one overburdened community. Gov. Phil Murphy and DEP Commissioner Shawn Latourette say the money will promote stewardship of urban and community trees and forests throughout the state.
The Phillies new left fielder has been introduced. Kyle Schwarber says he's won everywhere he's played and he doesn't plan on stopping in Philadelphia. "I'm in the business of winning baseball games and when you look at this team from top to bottom of the lineup, the rotation, the bullpen, this team is a very good ballclub," Schwarber says. Schwarber signed a four-year contract last week.