It's a done deal. Jefferson Health and Lehigh Valley Health Network have received regulatory approval to combine. That will place the new health system among the 15 biggest non-for-profit health systems in America with 32 hospitals, more than 700 locations and roughly 65,000 employees and an estimated annual revenue of between $12 and $14 billion. Jefferson Health's CEO says the revised name will include both Jefferson and Lehigh Valley in some form. When the merger was finalized, president and CEO of LVHN Dr. Brian Nester became executive vice president and COO of Jefferson, while leading what Jefferson calls "the legacy Lehigh Valley Health Network”.
Three people were taken to the hospital after a crash in the Lehigh Valley yesterday. Police say the wreck happened on Route 22 in Bethlehem and involved five vehicles, including a pickup truck with a camper. The victims' conditions are not known at this time.
After seven years of business, a prominent downtown Easton dining establishment is set to end operations later this summer. The Bayou Easton, a full-service restaurant offering “a creative take on classic New Orleans cooking,” will permanently close on Sept. 1 at 64 Centre Square. The Bayou Easton, featuring a full bar and two private party spaces, opened in 2017 in a renovated space that previously housed a different restaurant.
Congratulations to WFMZ-TV's 69 News, whose staff has been nominated for 19 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy® Awards. The Emmy awards for Excellence in Journalism nominations were released Thursday morning. The awards ceremony is scheduled for September 21st in Pittsburgh.
The annual extravaganza that is Musikfest got underway Thursday evening in Bethlehem at six o'clock. The music resumes Friday afternoon at four at nearly 20 locations spread across Bethlehem.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is telling people to pay their unpaid tolls. The Turnpike Commission yesterday said it is ramping-up collection efforts to get some of the 180-million dollars in tolls that remain unpaid. No one is saying just how much of that 180-million the commission expects to recoup. Drivers who don't pay their tolls could see their registration suspended after they rack up 250-dollars in tolls. The Turnpike Commission says it works with collections agencies to get those unpaid tolls paid, but about 40-percent of the Turnpike's unpaid tolls are owed by out-of-state drivers who cannot be suspended. Lawmakers say that's a problem.
Pennsylvania's new 911 cell phone tax is paying off. Pennsylvania's Emergency Management Agency says the tax brought in more than 97 million-dollars in the second quarter of the year. That's five-million more than expected. The tax increased the 911 service fee on cell phones from a dollar-65 to a dollar-95. PEMA Director Randy Padfield said the money is earmarked for Pennsylvania's current 911 systems, as well as the plan to upgrade the system to next-gen.
Organizers of the Butler Farm Show are working to move on from the deadly shooting that happened on their property during the Trump rally last month. Volunteers have been busy at the grounds setting up for the show, which kicks off on Monday. A statement on the farm show website says those behind the event are "grieved by" what happened at the rally, but they want to be clear that they only rented the venue for the campaign gathering and had no other involvement. Planners say they are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all of their guests next week.
The Hershey Company has unveiled multiple new snack products, including a collaboration with NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. Hershey announced a new product to their “oversized gummy line” called Shaq-a-licious XL Gummies. The treats, come in multiple flavors including orange, berry punch, and peach and will only be available at Walmart. There are also sour flavors of pineapple, watermelon, and mixed berry. Hershey also unveiled a new Parmesan Garlic-flavored Dot’s Homestyle Pretzel that is now available in stores. The third product unveiled was Jolly Rancher Ropes that Hershey says “captures new occasions in a fast-growing segment.”
Family members are upset after finding that Marc Fogel was not included in a historic prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia yesterday. Marc's sister Anne Fogel calls his omission from the deal "a devastating blow" as he remains incarcerated in a Russian penal colony for possession of a small amount of medical marijuana. Three American citizens, including former Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, were among the two dozen prisoners who were allowed to return to their home countries. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan did label Fogel as wrongfully detained for the first time yesterday, saying federal officials are "actively working on" his release as well.
New Jersey health officials say they've recorded the first two confirmed cases of West Nile virus in humans this year. Health officials say the virus was confirmed in a senior citizen and a minor. Both tested positive for West Nile after they experienced symptoms last month. Officials say the cases were most likely found in Union and Middlesex Counties. There were 14 confirmed cases of the virus in the Garden State last year.
A report from the New Jersey Attorney General's office shows 58 police officers were fired and more than 400 were suspended last year. The report on discipline of New Jersey officers also states eight officers were demoted and 80 resigned or retired while internal investigations were pending. Issues reported included rookies punished for attendance failures to two officers who were disciplined for misconduct.