A Northampton County eyesore is a step closer to a major facelift. In an 8-1 vote, Wilson Borough Council voted to give Skyline Investment Group tentative approval on its application to convert the former Dixie Cup Factory into 405 one- and two-bedroom apartments known as "1921 at Dixie." Neil Griffin is with the developer and says the site is a mess right now. "It's pretty rough. There's lead paint everywhere. There's asbestos falling from the ceiling. There's some damage on the concrete There's a lot of graffiti," Griffin says. About 300 apartments would be one-bedroom units starting around $1,900 per month, while the remaining 100 are scheduled to be two-bedroom apartments. Griffin says the project should be wrapped up in 18 months' time, and residents will begin moving into their new homes.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk says a city policeman is in good spirits at the hospital after a medical emergency Monday. Police were called to the 600 block of North 9th Street just before 1 o'clock Monday afternoon to arrest a wanted person. While trying to arrest that individual, an unidentified officer experienced what police are calling a medical episode. A police supervisor says the officer will likely survive thanks to the quick action of other officers and medics on the scene. The wanted person was arrested.
An Allentown man is charged with stalking a Darby woman. 30-year-old Matthew Kwatyra allegedly tracked a woman to her residence by using an air tag. He reportedly worked with the woman at a car dealership and had tried contacting her several times before he allegedly tracked her to her home. Police believe there may be other victims who have been stalked by Kwatyra, who remains in Delaware County Prison.
A spokesperson for Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman says he and his wife are doing well after being involved in a weekend vehicle crash. The Fettermans were traveling on I-70 in Maryland Sunday when they hit the rear-end of another vehicle. Senator Fetterman was treated at a local hospital for a bruised shoulder and the other driver also was taken to the hospital for treatment. The Maryland State Police says troopers did not issue any tickets or citations in the crash, yet.
Pennsylvania lawmakers are looking to give more veterans a break on their property taxes. State Senator Tracy Pennycuick is moving her plan, which would exclude disability payments for veterans when it comes to property tax breaks, through the legislature. Pennycuick's plan would only apply to vets with 100 percent disability. She tried to move a separate piece for less-disabled veterans, but that idea hasn't moved forward in Harrisburg. Pennycuick says expanding the income eligibility will mean more disabled veterans will get a break on their property taxes.
The latest plan to send more money to poorer schools in Pennsylvania is gaining steam at the Capitol in Harrisburg. Democrats in the Pennsylvania House are hoping to find the support to get their so-called 'fair funding' package through the Senate and onto Governor Shapiro's desk. The proposal would spend an extra five-billion-dollars on 370 different school districts across the state. The legislation comes after a lawsuit that said the Commonwealth wasn't sending enough money to low income schools. Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate, however, remain unconvinced.