Lehigh County DA Jim Martin calls the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Xavier Arnold of Coplay by an Allentown police officer “unquestionably justified”. Because of that, Martin says officer Zane Struss will not face any charges for the February 10th shooting near Eighth and Maple streets. Martin says Allentown police officers saw a dispute between three people in the 700 block of West Linden Street. A man told Struss Arnold had pistol whipped him and was armed. At that point, Struss began chasing Arnold on foot and surveillance video shows Struss yelling at Arnold to drop his gun. It was then the two men exchange gunfire. Struss was hit once in his protective vest. Arnold was shot four times, killing him. The DA says “It is clear that Struss reasonably believed Xavier Arnold presented an imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury to himself and to others.”
We're learning more about what investigators found inside Bryan Kohberger's car and the Monroe County home of Kohberger's parents. A Knife, knife sheath, handgun, empty magazines were among the items taken. Investigators say they also seized a cell phone and a "green leafy substance" in a container and bag, black face masks, black gloves and dark-colored jackets and shirts.
The office of Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild says she missed voted this week because of what's described as "an unexpected medical condition." The statement says Wild was treated here in the Lehigh Valley for that issue and will return to work next week.
A wintry mix is coming later today. "I'd say between 3 and 4 o'lock, that's when we expect precipitation to begin across the area," says Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg. When that precipitation begins it'll be a rain and snow mix, leaving perhaps an inch accumulation behind. Later tonight it will become all rain, heavy at times.
State Senate Democrats are accusing Republicans of blocking a proposed sexual assault victim's amendment bill by wrapping it up in another amendment-measure dealing with voting issues. Democrat Sharif Street says, "I'm not against political bargaining. But people who are victims of sexual assault should not be bargaining chips," Street says. Republican Senate President Kim Ward says Democrats are so against voter ID they are blocking assault victims getting justice.
Twelve lucky winners will get a behind-the-scenes tour of Knoebels Amusement Resort's Haunted Mansion this spring. The raffle is part of a fundraiser to benefit Give Kids The World, which runs an 89-acre resort and children's amusement park in Florida that offers vacations to critically-ill children and their families. Winners will take a walk-through tour with Knoebel family members and Haunted Mansion caretakers on Sunday, April 30 at 10:30 a.m. to learn the history behind the 50-year-old attraction and the stories behind all those scares. The cost is $5 for one raffle ticket or $10 for three. The deadline for ticket sales is April 15. The winners will be announced the week of April 16 and they must be able to attend the Knoebels Haunted Mansion tour on the specified date.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is scheduled to speak at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference in Harrisburg next month. According to the conference's website, the potential 2024 Republican presidential nominee is among the eight featured speakers at the event, which will start March 30th. The conference agenda lists DeSantis as a special guest during a leadership luncheon April 1st.
Members of the state Senate Banking Committee say they'll soon vote on legislation that would require insurance companies to expand coverage for breast cancer screenings. Senate Bill 8 would require insurance companies to cover the cost of genetic testing if a person is diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer or has a family history of either. The legislation would also require insurers to cover all costs associated with a supplemental breast screening by MRI or Ultrasound for women who are at a greater risk for developing breast cancer.
Penn State University researchers say U.S. workers in the food supply chain are at greater risk for serious injury than people in other industries. A study published in the Journal of Safety Research says fractures to the lower extremities were most common, with the most frequent accidents being transportation-related. Judd Michael, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering, says he and his team used data from OSHA in their studies.
Federal officials say they'll begin to determine eligibility for potential jurors in the trial of Robert Bowers Monday morning. The jurors could serve for the trial of the man accused of killing eleven people in a racially-charged shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue five years ago. Actual jury selection is set to start on April 24th at the federal courthouse in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Craft breweries across Pennsylvania are facing off to find the best beer in the state. Voting is now open for the 2023 "Malt Mania" tournament. A number of Western Pennsylvania beer makers have made it into the 64-brand, bracket-style contest. Visit breweries-in-P-A-dot-com to cast a vote.
The positive test average for COVID-19 in New Jersey has plummeted by as much as 50 percent in the last month. State health officials say New Jersey's seven-day average for confirmed positive test results fell by 15 percent from a week ago and 50 percent from a month ago. In addition, the transmission rate in New Jersey continues to fall -- from point-95 earlier last week to point-80 this week. Anything under one means the transmission rate of the outbreak is falling.
A majority of New Jerseyans seem to be happy living in the Garden State. According to a poll from Monmouth University, six in ten residents give positive ratings to their home state, however residents in urban areas seem to be the least satisfied with overall views of the state's quality of life. More than six in ten New Jerseyans say the state is either an excellent or a good place to live. The current positive rating of 63-percent is one percent lower than its 2022 rating, but above the 59-percent rating in 2021. The all-time high ranking was 84-percent positive in 1987.
As dead dolphins and whales continue to wash ashore in New Jersey and up and down the east coast, officials are planning to monitor and research the Atlantic Coastline. Twenty-five animals have washed ashore on surrounding beaches in New Jersey and New York have died since December 1st of last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Several elected officials are calling on President Joe Biden and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to halt all offshore wind energy projects since the recent spike in marine mammal deaths. Multiple federal agencies have announced there is no connection between the animal deaths and offshore wind energy projects, according to The Press of Atlantic City.
The wife of Philadelphia Eagles fan favorite Jeremiah Trotter has died after a battle with breast cancer. Tammi Trotter died earlier this week.