The Cadets Drum Corps, based in Allentown for about 20 years, is leaving town. The music and marching organization says it's moving its operations to Erie through at least 2034. The group has signed a partnership with Erie Sports Center for rehearsal space there. Cadets officials say they've been searching for many years to find one facility that could accomodate all its needs and the Erie Sports Center fits the bill. The organization hopes to have all equipment moved sometime this spring.
A proposed new music venue is moving closer to reality in Allentown. The city's planning commission has approved plans for the Archer Music Hall, a two-story music hall in the 900 block of Hamilton Street that would include two stages, a rooftop terrace and have a standing-room capacity of 1500 to 1800 people. City Center Investment Corp. plans to begin construction later in May and complete it in the spring of 2024. City Center representatives are expected to return to the planning commission next month for approval of a 140-room boutique hotel next to the venue.
About 175 people were evacuated because of a fire at an assisted living facility in Northampton County. Fire was reported around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Saucon Valley Manor in Hellertown. No injuries were reported, however a few people were taken to the hospital for shortness of breath. Investigators say the fire began in the facility's HVAC system. Most of the damage was contained to the room where it began.
A big residential complex has been given the green light by the Pen Argyl Borough Council. The approval is for a proposed 276-unit residential complex at 410 S. Main Street, which will feature a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments and 48 three-bedroom townhouses. Currently that land is heavily wooded. Developers aren't yet putting a timeline together on when work will begin and be finished.
We're learning more about a Friday afternoon crash on the William Penn Highway in Palmer Township. Police say 38-year-old Justin Ostrander took fentanyl before hitting a pedestrian with his car, before crashing into another vehicle. Ostrander faces numerous charges after allegedly speeding through a red light at Milford Street and hitting a pedestrian and then driving off and hitting another vehicle. The pedestrian was seriously hurt, and the driver of the other vehicle was also hurt, police say.
Senator Bob Casey is recovering from prostate cancer surgery. The Pennsylvania Democrat had surgery on Tuesday and his spokesperson said afterward that the procedure went well. Casey's office said in a statement that his doctor confirmed that the 62-year-old Senator should not require further treatment.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro traveled to Beaver County yesterday to meet with emergency leaders about the recent train derailment near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border. An estimated 50 train cars went off the rails earlier this month in East Palestine Ohio. Some of those car contained hazardous chemicals and the response to the accident led to an evacuation order for residents in the area. People inside the meeting said the group, including the governor, addressed topics such as the clean-up of the derailment and the need to hold Norfolk Southern accountable.
Pennsylvania's favorite Valentine's Day candy is Hershey's Kisses. That's according to a recent survey by Candy-Store-dot-com. It used 15 years of online bulk candy sales data to determine the most popular Valentine's Day candy in each state. Rounding out the top three in Pennsylvania are M&M's and conversation hearts. Candy-Store-dot-com says it expects a record 57-percent of consumers to buy Valentine's Day candy this year.
Governor Phil Murphy has announced an expansion of African-American studies in 26 New Jersey schools as he criticizes Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for cutting back on such classes. Murphy says next year, Advanced Placement courses in African-American studies will be offered in 26 high schools. Right now, they're offered in one school as part of a pilot program. DeSantis says Florida has rejected the College Board's A-P course because he calls it indoctrination and it defines people as privileged based on their race.
The sponsor of a bill to ban smoking in New Jersey casinos says she hopes the state Senate will yet vote on her proposal. Monday, a hearing into the proposed legislation drew hundreds of casino workers, housekeepers, card dealers and casino customers who testified in support of the bill. It would remove an exemption in current state law that allows for smoking in casinos. Critics say it would discourage people from coming to Atlantic City. Senator Shirley Turner says 24 other states ban smoking in gambling halls. She says she hopes the full Senate will act on the bill at its next voting session.
Operators of fried chicken chain KFC say they are paring down menus nationwide to help maintain efficiency for kitchen staff and make ordering easier. Officials say wings, popcorn chicken, chocolate chip cookies, and Nashville hot sauce are among the products that are being cut. Corporate leaders have not provided specific dates for when those items will no longer be available, saying the menu change is currently being introduced across the U.S.
Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is leaving the team. He's been hired by the Arizona Cardinals to become their new head coach. Gannon was with the Eagles for only two-seasons but he made an immediate impact on the defense, finishing second in the league last season. Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen is leaving the team to become the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Steichen helped propel the Eagles offense into one of the best in the NFL last season. Philly has become the last Super Bowl team to lose booth coordinators since the 49ers back in the 90s.
A former Philadelphia Eagles team captain is awarded more than 43-million dollars in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The litigation filed by former defensive back Chris Maragos names the Philadelphia-based Rothman Institute and Steelers team surgeon Doctor James Bradley as defendants. The suit claimed Bradley failed to diagnose a torn meniscus while performing surgery to repair a PCL in 2017. Maragos did not not play in the NFL again following the procedure. He claims the injury cost him more than eight-million dollars in future earnings.
Familiar voices on the Phillies' broadcast team will be sticking around for a while. The Athletic reports Tom McCarthy and Scott Franzke signed new, multi-year deals with the team. McCarthy is going into his 15th season as the lead announcer on the TV side while Franzke has been doing play-by-play since 2007. The Phillies begin their spring training workouts from Florida Thursday.