More than 35 years ago, the nephew of a 78-year-old woman found his aunt beaten and stabbed to death inside her Lehigh County home. Thursday, Lehigh County DA Gavin Holihan said her killer has finally been arrested. 65-year-old Michael Breisch was arrested earlier this week in Ohio. "Mr. Breisch is charged with homicide for a killing that took place on January 21, 1989 in North Whitehall Township. The victim was a woman named Rose Hnath who was 78 years old at the time she was killed in North Whitehall Township," Holihan says. Holihan credits recent advancements in DNA technology with finally linking Breisch to her killing. Holihan says there's no evidence the two knew one another and it appears Hnath was killed while Breisch was burglarizing the home.
There's still far more than we don't know that we 'do' know about what's been going on in Slatington this week. The Lehigh County Coroner's Office is now saying 37-year-old David Hittinger, of Slatington was murdered, but isn't saying where or when it happened. Police have been combing Slatington for most of this week but aren't saying that it's related to Hittinger's death. "They haven't really said why they were at the trail, just that there's only an ongoing investigation," one woman said. Investigators have released a statement that reads, "Pennsylvania State Police Troop M is currently conducting an active investigation in Slatington Borough. At this point there is not going to be any further comment." Lehigh County DA Gavin Holihan is holding a news conference later today to update the public.
A local college may not get national attention after all this fall. Several months ago, it was announced Lafayette College would host this year's lone vice presidential debate. Now, that appears to be uncertain after President Biden and former President Trump sidestepped the Commission on Presidential Debates and agreed to one debate next month and another in September. That commission has organized every presidential debate since 1988. Vice President Kamala Harris has said sometime this summer she'd debate Trump's VP choice hosted by CBS News, rather than the commission, leaving the planned Lafayette debate very much up in the air.
Lehigh Valley developer David Jaindl has sold nearly 600 acres of farmland in Warren County, New Jersey. The New Jersey Agriculture Department says it's paying $27.2 million for the property, which Jaindl bought in February 2019 for $11.3 million. State officials said they anticipate retaining ownership of the 566 acres until the land is offered as permanently preserved farmland and returned to private ownership.
A Pennsylvania man is facing federal charges for allegedly threatening President Joe Biden. The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Thursday that 37-year-old Jordan Gee, of Luzerne County, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of threats against the president and related offenses. Investigators say Gee posted several videos on the internet shortly before Pres. Biden's visit to Scranton for a campaign event on April 16. In those videos, Gee allegedly said, "Joe Biden: I'm going to kill you and your whole cabinet," and, "If you come to my city in Scranton, Pennsylvania, I'm cutting your f*****g head off in front of everybody; I promise." The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 20 years in prison, supervised release, and a fine.
UGI says gas cost rates will increase on June 1, 2024. An additional increase is projected on December 1, 2024. UGI will submit its December 1 natural gas cost rate projection in an annual filing with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The bill for a typical home heating customer will increase on June 1 from $90.94 to $95.04 or 4.5 percent. If UGI’s proposed projected rates for December 1 are approved, the bill for a typical residential heating customer will increase to $101.99 or an additional 7.3 percent.
Three state distilleries will soon be producing specific products for the Steelers. Ryan Huzjak, who is director of corporate partnerships, tells the Business Times the enterprise is the first time the team have produced a line of spirits. The only other time the team has dabbled with branded liquor was a commemorative Irish whiskey released last year. Until recent years, teams were not allowed to do promotions with wine and liquor, only beer. The new line includes a vodka and a rum produced by Boyd and Blair, a bourbon produced by Hidden Still Spirits and a gin produced by Noire Distillery, Pittsburgh's first Black-owned distillery. The liquor is available to order online and also will be sold at events and outside of the stadium on game days.
The federal bribery trial of Senator Bob Menendez continues today in a Manhattan courtroom. Yesterday, the New Jersey Democrat revealed his wife is battling breast cancer. He said Nadine Menendez is suffering from Grade 3 breast cancer and that she will have to undergo a mastectomy. He said she wanted her medical condition revealed because of the constant press inquiries. Health issues were the reason that Nadine was granted a trial delay in the federal corruption trial against the couple, who are charged with accepting cash, gold bars and a Mercedes in exchange for political favors. Menendez revealed her diagnosis yesterday as the first pieces of evidence were being presented -- photos of 13 gold bars and more than 480-thousand dollars in cash that was seized from the couple's home.