The Lehigh County coroner has identified two people killed in separate weekend incidents. The coroner says 22-year-old Christian Torres of North Whitehall Township was the man killed after being struck by two vehicles Saturday night. It happened just after 9pm at Rising Sun Road and Mauser Street. An autopsy is planned for Wednesday. The coroner has also identified the victim of a Sunday morning murder in Allentown. 24-year-old Terrel Meitzler of Allentown was shot to death very early Sunday morning in the area of Grant and Pine streets. Police are investigating both deaths.
41-year-old Eric Gratz has waived his preliminary hearing on charges he offered money for sex. Gratz, who is the borough manager for Fountain Hill was charged back in March after his alleged interaction with a 17-year-old girl, who was serving as a junior firefighter with the Fountain Hill Fire Department. Investigators say Gratz used his borough-provided cell phone to text the girl numerous times, offering to pay her money for sexual acts at his home in Alburtis.
Taxes are going higher in the Whitehall-Coplay School District. A $92.5 million budget was approved Monday. It includes a 2.59-percent property tax increase, which means a $102 higher tax bill for average district property owners.
The Easton Historic District Commission has given its preliminary approval for an apartment building proposed for 513-to-519 Northampton Street. The proposal calls for a 7,200-square-foot, five-story, 27-unit mixed-use building with commercial space. Of the 27 units, 21 will feature two bedrooms, with the remaining six containing one bedroom.
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey visited the site of the collapse of I-95 in Philadelphia Monday. "I know that I and Sen. Fetterman and our entire Congressional delegation will be focused on getting those dollars that are going to be needed to make sure that I-95 is rebuilt so we can get traffic going again," Casey said. Officials believe it'll take several months to rebuild and reopen that portion of I-95. Meanwhile, the body of the tanker truck driver that caught fire beneath I-95 was recovered Monday. Family members identify the body as that of Nathaniel Moody. PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll says it appears Moody was driving too fast to navigate a curve in the road, lost control of his vehicle and flipped it onto its side which ruptured the tank causing the fire that caused the collapse.
The Secretary of Transportation is pledging to help Philadelphia rebuild a collapsed section of Interstate 95. Pete Buttigieg says he is in touch with the officials on the ground. "The people of Philadelphia, PennDOT, the entire region affected by this will have the full support of the United States Department of Transportation for as long as it takes to get that restored to normal," Buttgieg says. He says this accident is another cruel reminder of the importance of America's infrastructure. He pledged full federal support to the state to rebuild that stretch of I-95 as quickly as possible.
Testimony continues to be heard in the trial of Robert Bowers. Bowers is accused of gunning down 11 people in October of 2018 at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill. On Monday, jurors heard more testimony about firearms and ammunition collected at the scene and heard testimony about Bowers' activity on the social media site Gad prior to the mass shooting. A computer expert told the court that Bowers followed a number of accounts where the users had anti-Semitic names and that accounts with such usernames followed him.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry is warning renters to look out for a new scam. Henry says her office has seen individuals posting real estate rental listings with photos of actual properties in the hopes of stealing personal information from those who are looking for a place to live. She says finding and looking at the actual property prior to any exchange of money can help make sure a listing is legitimate. She adds that reputable property owners would not ask for gift cards or wire transfers when collecting rent or security deposit payments.
Legislation that expands online gambling in New Jersey advanced yesterday in the state senate. When internet gambling was first authorized in 2013, it had a ten-year agreement. The bill under consideration would tack another ten-years on the deal, stretching it through 2033. Internet gambling raked in nearly one-hundred-and-fifty-nine-million-dollars in April, which stands as a year-over-year increase of sixteen-percent.
New Jersey is immediately lifting COVID-19 vaccination requirements for healthcare workers. Governor Murphy's latest move applies to those who work in long term care facilities, specialty hospitals, and clinics. He previously lifted the requirement for unvaccinated employees to undergo routine testing while also lifting the vaccination requirement for people who work in shared settings. Murphy says the latest order aligns with federal requirements and reflects the state's different circumstances, adding his administration will continue to take responsible steps to adjust New Jersey's COVID-19 policies.