We're getting a better idea of what the future may hold for the old Dixie Cup facility in Wilson. Developers have presented plans to borough council for turning the eyesore into 405 apartments. Stan Margle is the borough solicitor and says it'll be an expensive project. "It's an attractive building. I'm not an engineer or an architect, but I estimate it upwards of $100 million to develop that building," Margle says. A New York City real estate company is behind the proposal, which calls one-bedroom apartments for about 75-percent of the project with the rest two bedrooms. The developer says it would like to begin the project in April with a target date for completion of late 2025.
After Miles Pfeffer waived his preliminary hearing on charges he murdered Temple University policeman Christopher Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald's father, ex-Allentown police chief Joel Fitzgerald, said he wanted an eye-for-an-eye. "What we'd like to see is this person to go through the pain that our son went through. To go through the suffering his family is going through. To go through each and every moment of excruciating agony that we felt," Fitzgerald says. Pfeffer allegedly killed Christopher Fitzgerald as Fitzgerald was investigating reported carjackings and robberies in the area and after a brief chase and struggle. Pfeffer is due back in court on February 13th.
The Easton Area School Board plans to vote on a resolution next week to determine the future of its high school building. Designers have offered four options: a building renovation, a hybrid concept with new construction and adaptive reuse, new construction in the upper lot and new construction in the lower lot. The 378,000-square-foot high school is home to 3,020 students, which is above building capacity. Last April, new construction was estimated to cost between $230 million and $240 million, with a hybrid option costing between $239 million and $247 million. The high school was last renovated in 2003.
A North Whitehall Township man died Monday after a crash on Route 222 in Lehigh County. 91-year-old John Milliman died Monday afternoon after a crash on Route 222 near Kressler Road in Lower Macungie Township. Milliman was the passenger in a vehicle that collided with a tractor-trailer just after 10:30 Monday morning. Another occupant in the vehicle with Milliman was also taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Gas prices in both the Lehigh Valley and across Pennsylvania remained almost unchanged over the past seven days. AAA East Central says the average price across the commonwealth was $3.34 as of Tuesday, one cent above the previous week, but 36 cents lower than last January 23rd. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price was $3.26 a gallon, also a penny more than the week before and 35 cents less than one year earlier.
The Great Allentown Fair has announced its first headliner for the 2024 fair. Country superstar Brad Paisley is coming to the fair the night of Friday, August 30th. It will be Paisley's third Grandstand appearance, following visits in 2007 and 2009. Tickets go on sale to the general public on February 2.
Governor Josh Shapiro's office says thousands of records have been accidentally deleted from state servers. His office said Tuesday that though the majority have been restored, they don't know for sure that the rest can be retrieved. The data was housed on servers managed by Shapiro's Office of Administration. It was deleted on January 3rd during what the administration calls "limited server maintenance."
Former Lehigh Valley IronPigs manager and baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg announced Monday he is being treated for metastatic prostate cancer. IronPigs general manager Kurt Landes expects his former manager to approach cancer the same way he approached baseball. "Ryne was all about work. He would come out every day and put the work in and get better and he pushed the guys to be better," Landes says. Sandberg was the IronPigs manager for two seasons.
Former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Hoskins missed the entire 2023 season after tearing his ACL during spring training. Hoskins played 667 games with the Phillies, hit 148 home runs and knocked in 405 runs.
Third baseman Adrian Beltre, catcher Joe Mauer and first baseman Todd Helton have all been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Former Phillies great Chase Utley received 111 votes, or 28.8 percent, and ex-Phillies star Jimmy Rollins picked up 57 votes, or 14.8 percent. A player must be named on 75 percent of the votes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Philadelphia Eagles are once again searching for coordinators on both sides of the ball this offseason. ESPN reports the team fired offensive coordinator Brian Johnson on Tuesday. The move comes after defensive coordinator Sean Desai was let go on Sunday. Johnson was elevated to OC this season after Shane Steichen accepted a head coaching job with the Indianapolis Colts last offseason. Philly's offense took a step back in points, passing yards and rushing yards per game. Head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman will hold a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the state of the team.