We're learning more about the deal approved by 93% of United Auto Workers union members, which ends their 39-day strike at Mack Trucks in Lower Macungie and other locations in Pennsylvania, Florida and Maryland. The length of a work day will be 8.5 hours. The Lehigh Valley will be the main facility for Mack Class 8 Trucks and Heavy Trucks; assurances the company will not close the Lehigh Valley plant for the term of the agreement and at minimum, the local plant will continue to operate two shifts on one production line and one shift on the other production line for the life of the deal. Union workers will see a 19% wage increase, including an immediate 10% raise once the deal is ratified; a $3500 ratification bonus and increased retiree health care benefits. The new contract is for five years.
A $1 million lottery ticket was recently sold at a store in Bethlehem. The Pennsylvania Lottery says the ticket was sold at Pantry 1 Food Mart on E. Union Blvd. The winning ticket was a $1 Million Money Tree, a $20 game that offers a top prize of $1 million. The store that sold the ticket will get a $5,000 bonus.
More than four years after a high-speed drunk driving crash, the driver of the car pleads guilty. 44-year-old Alfredo Delgado Jr., of North Whitehall Township, was driving 117 mph while drunk when he crashed his McLaren into a box truck on Route 22 West near Airport Road around 3:30 in the morning. Delgado's passenger, 30-year-old Kelsey Gibson, was thrown from the McLaren and suffered serious injuries. Gibson is suing both Delgado and bars that allegedly served him. Delgado will be sentenced in January.
An animal control officer who leads a Northampton County dog rescue is accused of animal cruelty. Investigators say Stacey Kellner, president of Pibbles Paw Safe Haven in Moore Township, neglected two dogs, resulting to their deaths, and another dog by exposing it to sick dogs. The 53-year-old Kellner, of Hellertown, is charged with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, as well as a misdemeanor of animal cruelty and was sent to Northampton County Prison on $25,000 bail. Pibbles Paw Safe Haven, was a licensed kennel by the state Department of Agriculture, which revoked the license earlier this week.
Thursday, Allegiant announced new direct flights from Lehigh Valley International Airport to Orlando International Airport. Today, Allegiant is announcing new flights from LVIA to Melbourne Orlando International airport. The new flights will operate twice weekly and Allegiant is offering one-way fares on the new routes as low as $45. Those fares are eligible on tickets bought by November 19th and used by January 26, 2024.
A Wednesday night fire killed an elderly woman in Schuylkill County. It happened in the 1200 block of West Main Street in Hegins Township around 8:30 Wednesday night. The coroner says the victim is 76-year-old Eileen Erdman. There's no word yet on what caused the fire.
Local high school football teams are in four playoff games tonight. Accu-Weather's Bill Deger says fans may want to take an umbrella with them. "Certainly, the beginning of the games look dry, but maybe by the end of the games we could see our first drops," Deger says. The high school football playoffs continue with local teams involved in four games. 12-0 Parkland plays 11-1 Nazareth in the District 11 6A championship game. The District 11 3A title game features Northwestern Lehigh versus Palmerton. Both teams are a perfect 12-0. The PIAA 5A first round gets underway tonight with 9-3 Delaware Valley taking on 8-4 Whitehall and the 4A first round features 7-5 Bethlehem Catholic taking on 11-0-1 Selinsgrove. All four games kick off at 7pm.
Pennsylvania House lawmakers have voted to extend jobless benefits to workers who are on strike. House Bill 1481 passed the House on a vote of 106-97. It would make workers who are unemployed due to a labor dispute eligible for compensation, alongside others who haven't voluntarily quit their jobs. Opponents say it likely won't pass in the Senate. They say it would use taxpayer money to support union strikes.
Legislation to expand Pennsylvania's indoor smoking laws has taken a step forward. The House Health Committee approved House Bill 1657 Wednesday. The measure essentially would allow local governments to enact tougher anti-smoking ordinances if they want. That would end a state law preemption ban for local governments under the existing law. It would also exempt casinos, bars, and private clubs and other places that are currently covered under the Clean Indoor Air Act.
A state appellate court has ruled that an employer is obligated to reimburse an employee for the costs of CBD oil to treat a workplace injury. That's if the treatment has been prescribed by a doctor. The 5-2 decision by Commonwealth Court overturns a ruling by an administrative appeals board. Workplace injury lawyer Mark Schmidt had brought the original suit, reportedly because he saw the issue as a test case on whether insurers would pay for many different kinds of over-the-counter medicines and treatments. There was previously no case law on the issue. The two appellate judges who dissented in the ruling argued that the benefits of CBD oil are unproven and that its legal status is in flux.