Back in December, the doors were closed at the Hamilton Business Center in Allentown because of safety concerns. Now, the city says the first and second floors of the building can reopen. The city has now reissued certificates of occupancy for those floors of the building, more than a month after it found people living in office spaces and an improper fire suppression system, which the city said put lives in jeopardy. The city says city inspectors will review the third and fourth floors by the end of the week, so those could open soon as well. Fixes to the fifth floor and basement will take longer. The building's owner says about half of the building's tenants have vacated, while the other half remain.
The idea of converting an old Allentown church into affordable housing is getting a thumbs down from nearby residents. A developer wants to convert the former Emmanuel United Church of Christ on W. Chew Street into a 12-unit building to house 22 to 30 people, but neighbors like Scott Armstrong say the idea is not a good one for the neighborhood. "Sure enough, this building will be accommodating homeless residents and will, in time, probably become a homeless shelter," Armstrong says. The planned the facility would also includ a community center for the working poor and people struggling to socialize, an office, temporary shelter, ten parking spaces and space for three medical treatment rooms for people who can't afford to be seen elsewhere.
A 64-year-old Montgomery County woman is dead after an unusual accident in Lehigh County over the weekend. Santosh Gupta-Bala was unloading her trunk Sunday evening on Bridge Court in Catasauqua when her car began to roll. When she tried to get back into the car, she fell underneath it. She died about two hours later at the hospital.
A 100-year-old Slate Belt bridge is being replaced and that means detours are now in place. Work began Monday to replace the bridge and that means Lower South Main Street at True Blue Road in Washington Township will be forced to close through October. The bridge carries an average of about 1650 vehicles a day.
Pennsylvania State Police are processing arrests made at the state Capitol Monday. A demonstration that began as part of a noon rally outside ended up with more than 120 arrests made inside, as the protestors called for the state to end its investments in Israel bonds. The group was specifically protesting State Treasurer Stacy Garrity reportedly joining a financial advisory board for the Israel Bonds corporation. Garrity released a statement on the matter saying Pennsylvania state treasurers have proudly invested in Israel Bonds for more than 30 years. She also said she "unequivocally" stands in solidarity with Israel.
According to judge's ruling, Atlantic City casinos do not have a legal obligation to stop problem gamblers from placing a wager. The ruling tosses out a lawsuit filed by a "self-proclaimed" problem gambler who alleges the Borgata and its parents company, MGM Resorts International, offered him deals even though they knew he had an addiction. Similar lawsuits have previously been tossed in numerous states, including Indiana. The plaintiff in the lawsuit claims he wagered 30-million dollars spread over 100-thousand bets placed over a nine month span in 2019, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart and four other current or ex-NHL players are now officially charged with a 2018 sexual assault inside an Ontario hotel room. London, Ontario police chief Thai Truong explains why it took more than five years for charges to be filed. "The initial investigation conducted from June 2018 to February 2019 concluded without charges. It was determined by investigators at that time that there were insufficient grounds to lay a charge. This decision led to the case being closed," Truong says. He says a comprehensive review was initiated in July 2022, reopening the investigation as more evidence was gathered. All five players are away from their current teams and attorneys for all five say their clients are innocent.
The Eagles will open next season in South America. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Monday that Philadelphia will be the host team in the inaugural Brazil game on Friday night of kickoff weekend. The Eagles last played an international game in 2018 and will face their opponent in Sao Paolo on September 6th. The game will likely be played at Corinthians Arena, which seats 49-thousand people and has played host to World Cup and Olympic soccer matches. The NFL is also targeting Spain as its next site for a new international game.
Anthony Contreras is returning for his third season as the IronPigs manager. Contreras has led Lehigh Valley to consecutive winning seasons, including an 80-66 record last year. Overall, his record stands at 156-138 with the IronPigs. The Philadelphia Phillies announced its entire minor league staff Monday.