Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman says he will not debate Mehmet Oz in the first week of September. The Oz campaign said it would pay for any additional medical personnel on standby for Fetterman, who continues to recover from a mid-May stroke. The Oz camp said it would agree to permit him bathroom breaks and allow him to have all of his notes on hand, along with an earpiece to obtain answers from his staff. In a statement, Fetterman said, "Today's statement from Dr. Oz's team made it abundantly clear that they think it is funny to mock a stroke survivor. Any sense that these "challenges" were done in good faith is damaged." An Oz campaign spokesman called Fetterman "a liar, a liberal and a coward."
Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, but it's starting to look like there may not be a 61st season. Grandview's owner, Theresa Rogers, has accepted a deal to sell it to Copart Inc., a vehicle auction and remarketing company. Nothing is official yet and the issue is expected to appear on a future agenda of Washington Township supervisors. In a statement, Rogers writes, "We as a family certainly do appreciate all of the love and passion that everyone has been showing since this news broke and we hope everyone will respect the decisions that I have to make for myself, and my family."
AAA East Central reports the average price of a gallon of unleaded in Pennsylvania has dipped eight cents from last Tuesday. The average price stood at $4.12 Tuesday. That is still 85 cents more than it was one year earlier. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price was $4.01 Tuesday, down 11 cents over the course of one week, but still 80 cents higher than August 30 of last year.
Citing a lack of staff, Wally's Deli in Emmaus says it may close at the end of September. The store says it could remain open depending on whether staff can be hired. Regardless, The Wally's in Allentown will continue to operate.
Construction to expand Saint Luke's campus in Monroe County is now underway. Shovels broke ground yesterday at the Saint Luke's Monroe Campus near Stroudsburg. The campus is building a four-stay patient-care tower that will feature 36 more hospital beds, expanded surgical services and a state-of-the-art radiology suite. The tower is expected to be completed in early 2024.
A Monroe County man is behind bars for allegedly trying to kill his girlfriend. Errol Broomes is facing several charges including attempted homicide. Police say Broomes hit his girlfriend and the drove his car off a cliff in Paradise Township with his girlfriend inside over the weekend.
State lawmakers are reportedly set to get a hefty raise next year that could set them over the $100,000 mark. A law was passed in the 90s that adjusts the pay of state lawmakers and other leaders based on the U.S. Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index. Right now, that stands at 8.8 percent, so officials say that translates to a nearly $8400 raise. That would push the base salary for most lawmakers to nearly $104,000 annually.
Officials at casinos across Pennsylvania say there needs to be a serious crackdown on illegal "skill games” at stores and restaurants. They claim the games are costing the state millions. But St. Sen. Gene Yaw thinks there plenty to go around and says it's time to make the skill games legal. "It's like there's $300 million laying there that we could pick up. The lottery is having record years. Why aren't we doing this,"? Yaw asks.
The state's agricultural history is being celebrated through the release of new beer. The "PA Pride" series is adding a third release for the year with the special 'Multi-Grain Saison,' which is French for "season." It is now available at more than 20 craft breweries in Pennsylvania. The beer is brewed with locally-made grain and malt from Deer Creek Malthouse in West Chester and hops from GEMS Farms in Carlisle. Promoters say the ingredients showcase the robust flavors being produced by Pennsylvania farms.
Lady Gaga’s stop at Hersheypark Stadium on Aug. 28, has become the highest grossing show in Hersheypark Stadium history. Hersheypark Stadium’s previous highest-grossing record was held by The Rolling Stones in 2005.
A judge is vacating the amendment to the Casino Property Tax Stabilization Act which reduced the amount casinos would pay in property taxes. The amended PILOT took away internet and sports gaming revenue from the category of gross revenue, thus lowering the total payment by roughly $55 million a year. The original case was brought by a non-profit group that argues the constitutionality of the PILOT, otherwise known as payment in lieu of taxes. Officials with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's administration are saying the state plans to appeal the ruling.
Six Flags says one of its roller coasters in Jackson Township, New Jersey needs repairs after it was closed last week following a malfunction that led to injuries. "El Toro" jolted violently last Thursday while riders were getting off, injuring 14 people, including five sent to the hospital with neck, back and other injuries. They've all since been released, but the 19-foot tall wooden roller coaster remains shut down. A spokesman for the park sent an email to NJ-dot-com on Monday saying that "a section of the ride's sub-structure needs repair." The state is investigating.