The Lehigh Valley hasn't had a heat wave all summer...until now. "We got to 91 yesterday. Today is day two of our heat wave. It is going to be an official heat wave. We're going get to three and probably four days, that would include Thursday, before there will be some relief from the heat, not so much the humidity, as we go to Friday and the weekend," says Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg. He says this will almost certainly be the only official heat wave of the entire year.
A stretch of Wood Avenue in Easton will be closed starting today for some much-needed work. Acting city administrator Dave Hopkins says not much has been done to improve the roadway since it was built over 60 years ago. A nearly $2 million agreement with Grace Industries will fund the improvements, which will include new ramps and so-called traffic-calming islands. City engineers say Wood Avenue will remain closed between North 12th and North Warren Streets, both day and night for about three weeks. Depending on weather, the whole project is expected to be complete in spring of 2024.
Officials will be meeting in Allentown tonight to decide whether to nominate a historic building to the national register. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has requested comments from the City of Allentown concerning the Nineteenth Street Theater and Civic Theater. The theater at 527 N. 19th was built in 1927-28 and supporters say it's an outstanding example of the Art Deco style. One of the questions to be addressed is whether the city plans to support its preservation.
A man is dead after being hit by a car Saturday night on Route 309 near Quakertown. The man, who's identity has not yet been released, was hit by a vehicle while he was walking along Route 309, in Richland Township. It happened Saturday night just after 9 o'clock on the stretch of 309 between Pumping Station Road and Sunshine Drive.
At least one person was taken to the hospital following a house fire in Hanover Township, Northampton County. The fire happened just before 7 o'clock Monday night in the 4200 block of Kathi Drive. The fire appeared to have started in the garage.
Overnight road work will again cause delays and restrict lanes along Interstate 78 this week in Lehigh County. PennDOT said the work will begin Tuesday and continue through Saturday. Crews will be patching the road 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday through Friday in Upper Macungie, Lower Macungie and South Whitehall townships, between Exits 49 and 54.
A couple of people are locked-up for driving under the influence over Labor Day weekend. State Police set-up sobriety checkpoints on several roadways in Monroe and Carbon County over the holiday weekend. Police announced three people were arrested on D-U-I charges.
The manhunt continues for escaped Chester County inmate Danelo Cavalcante, who broke out of prison last week. Lt. Col. George Bivens with the Pennsylvania State Police says they've enlisted the help of one of Cavalcante's family members. "One of the things we have done is we have had the individual's mother make a recording asking him to surrender peacefully. It's being broadcast in an effort to facilitate his peaceful surrender," Bivens says. Cavalcante was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend. There's also an arrest warrant out for him in Brazil related to a 2017 murder.
A fund set up to help victims of the explosion that leveled a West Reading chocolate factory in March has passed the $1 million mark. United Way president Tammy White says $990,000 of the West Reading Disaster Recovery Fund has already been distributed to the families of the seven workers who died in the blast as well as to people who were displaced from their homes. White says a small portion of the fund will be used by West Reading to create a tribute honoring the memory of those who died as well as the heroic efforts of first responders. The fund is a joint effort of the Berks County Community Foundation and the United Way of Berks County.
Two state lawmakers from Luzerne County say they'll introduce bills to address problems with old telephone poles. Representatives Alec Ryncavage and Aaron Kaufer plan to introduce legislation that will require utilities to issue reports about problem poles if a formal complaint is made to the state Public Utility Commission. Another proposal would allow state regulators to crack down on old utility poles, known as "double poles" or "ghost poles," that remain standing after they've been replaced.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and his wife Blayre Holmes Davis have announced the birth of their first child, a daughter. The little girl named Harper was born over the weekend. A statement says the couple is thankful for the doctors, nurses and doula who provided care over the past nine months. It also expressed their gratitude that those caretakers "ensured her birthing experience was empowering." Davis is both the first African American and the youngest person - at age 33 - to be elected lieutenant governor.
Pennsylvania lottery players and players around the country will be checking their tickets tonight to find out if they are the latest winner in the Mega Millions game. The estimated jackpot for tonight's drawing is $101 million. Winning numbers will be drawn at 11 p.m.
A person remains missing and two others are dead along the New Jersey shore because of strong rip currents. Lifeguards in Beach Haven rescued two swimmers on Sunday but they were unable to save a 22-year-old man, who was killed in the rough surf. In Belmar, numerous swimmers had to be rescued but a 42-year-old man drowned. In Seaside Park, a 31-year-old swimmer remains missing. Lifeguards there made several other rescues over the holiday weekend.