The Lehigh County Courthouse will remain closed today after a small electrical fire closed down the building Wednesday. Investigators say there was a fire about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday in a storage room at the parking garage of the courthouse. Sprinklers contained the fire to that room, but the fire and water damaged the electrical system, which required the courthouse to use a backup generator. Court officials say most hearings that were set for today have been postponed and will be rescheduled. The exception will be Protection from Abuse hearings, which will take place at the Historic Lehigh County Courthouse in Room 1 B. All other hearings that were to be heard at the main courthouse today will be reset for the coming weeks.
In a 6-1 vote, Bethlehem City Council approved a 2.6% property tax increase included in the city’s $113 million budget for 2024. The vote means millage rates in the city’s Northampton County portion would rise from 19.14 mills to 19.64 mills, and rates in Lehigh County from 6.05 mills to 6.21 mills. Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds says the tax increase is needed to cover increasing expenses such as contractual salary increases, hiring four new paramedics, and replacing police body and dashboard cameras.
The future of a North Whitehall Township kitten rescue is up in the air after the township's zoning board ruled the rescue violates zoning law. Township zoning board solicitor John Ashcraft says operators of Foxy's Cradle on Overlook Road in Slatington have 30 days to appeal the ruling. "Once any and all appeals an so forth are taken, she would have to shut down taking care of the kittens," Ashcraft says. Diana Baver volunteers at Foxy's Cradle and says she's disappointed but still hopeful. "It's disappointing to hear. I think as a township resident and home owner, it's sad to see local government to make this type of decision. But, hopefully we can work with them and work with Foxy's Cradle's lawyer to come to some type of agreement," Baver says. Last month, the board held a five-hour meeting on the issue. Wednesday night, the board announced its findings and ruled unanimously against Foxy's Cradle. Ashcraft says placing a business inside a building zoned as residential violates the township's zoning code.
A home in Monroe County is in ruins after a fire. The blaze broke out yesterday morning at the house located along Midway Pines Lane in Polk Township near Brodheadsville. Authorities say flames were through the roof when they arrived, but luckily no one was in the home at the time.
The latest Pennsylvania Bulletin is out and shows the 2024 salaries for top state officials. Most of the annual salaries will increase by three and a half percent to next year. That reflects the annual cost-of-living increase under a 1995 state law. Governor Josh Shapiro leads the list with a top salary of just under $238,000.
FAA investigators are on the scene of that double fatal news helicopter crash that occurred in South New Jersey Tuesday night. The victims are identified as pilot 67-year-old Monroe Smith and a photojournalist for 6ABC 45-year-old Christopher Dougherty. The station says they had been a part of the Action News team for years. They were returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore when the accident occurred. Dougherty was a Kutztown University graduate.
Embattled New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is seeking a two-month delay of his federal corruption trial. The trial is slated to begin May 6th, but Menendez's lawyers want it tabled until after the June primary asking a judge to delay it until July. Menendez faces federal corruption charges as the result of a year long investigation during which he allegedly accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including cash and gold bars to benefit Egyptian leaders. The Democrat's lawyers claim the case is far from open and shut, and the extension request is modest.
The Eagles could be without the services of left guard Landon Dickerson, who underwent surgery on a thumb Wednesday. Dickerson is supposed to miss “minimal time.” His streak of 35 straight starts, including the playoffs is in jeopardy. Additionally, the Eagles will open the practice window Thursday for nickel back Avonte Maddox, sidelined since Week 2 with a pectoral injury.
A player who was expected to be one of the premier players in the NHL is hanging up his skates. Nolan Patrick, who was selected second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2017 NHL Draft, is retiring at the age of 25. Patrick has suffered from a migraine disorder that has sidelined him since March 2022. Patrick spent three seasons in Philadelphia before one year with the Vegas Golden Knights. He ends his career with 32 goals and 45 assists through 222 games.