Officials with the Allentown Police Department want to hear from you. They're inviting residents and local stakeholders to take part in a survey to gather insight and what the department's doing wrong and also what it's getting right. The APD says input received will help to frame their strategic priorities and initiatives for the future. You can take the survey online through March 27th.
An American Civil Liberties Union advocate for the LGBTQ community will visit Muhlenberg College next week. Amber Hikes is the deputy executive director for strategy and culture at the ACLU. She will speak at 6 p.m. at the college on March 26th as part of the series, "Creating a New United States of America." The event is free and open to the public, but requires registration.
Some plans have changed at Dorney Park. The amusement park has withdrawn its proposed bar expansion for the newly themed restaurant coming to the park this season. The 450-square-foot expansion was part of Dorney Park’s rehabilitation of the old Dorney Grille into the Iron Mill Grill & Bar at the park’s Steel Yard, the area of the park that will be home to its newest attraction, the Iron Menace roller coaster. The restaurant still will sell alcohol.
The 65th annual Allentown St. Patrick's Day parade is Sunday at 1:30. It begins at the Allentown Fairgrounds, travels through the West End, west on Liberty, north on 19th, west on Tilghman, south on 25th Street and east on Liberty Street, back to fairgrounds. A bands exhibition will take place at 1 p.m. at 19th and Liberty streets.
Pennsylvania State Police are asking motorists to avoid drinking and driving over the St. Patrick's Day weekend. Trooper Jessica Tobin also says they want people to avoid other dangerous issues if they're out in public trying to have a good time. "If you decide to go out, please do not leave your drink unattended and do not accept an open drink from someone else if you didn't see the bartender prepare," Tobin says.
The U.S. Postal Inspector for Pennsylvania is supporting the Protect Our Letter Carriers legislation proposed by Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. Postal inspector George Clark says there have been increasing cases of carriers being attacked for their keys that open the big blue mailboxes. He says the thieves then take checks from the boxes and wash them, then enter new amounts to be cashed. Fitzpatrick's legislation would speed up the process of replacing the keys with electronic versions that criminals couldn't use. Nearly 650 postal carriers across the country were robbed last year, which officials say is a 30-percent increase from the year before.
A bill has been voted out of the state House Judiciary Committee that would remove syringes from Pennsylvania's drug paraphernalia ban. Lawmakers say the move would eventually allow clean syringe service programs to operate legally across Pennsylvania. They add that using unhealthy syringes can result in death to the drug users. The bill now moves to the House floor for a full vote.
Pennsylvania lawyers may soon have to formalize plans spelling out what happens if they become unable to serve their clients. The Disciplinary Board of the state Supreme Court panel is weighing whether to require attorneys in private practice to codify succession plans in case of death, disability or other unexpected events. The court says the proposal would protect the interest of clients. Comments on the idea are due by May 1st.
A federal judge in New York is declining to dismiss bribery charges against Senator Bob Menendez. Judge Sidney Stein said Thursday that the court found that the allegations against Menendez are not protected by the nature of his job as a U.S. senator. Menendez was looking for the charges, which include conspiracy to commit bribery, extortion, and honest services fraud, to be dismissed. Prosecutors claim the senator conspired with his wife and another person to act as an agent of Egypt in exchange for bribe payments. The news comes as the senator considers running for re-election in November as an independent. Both he and his wife have pleaded not guilty in the case. He's rejected calls to resign, but has yet to confirm whether he's running for re-election as his term is up in January.