The Lehigh County Coroner's Office says an 18-year-old from Emmaus is dead after suffering burns from a bonfire last week. Investigators say gasoline was used to ignite the bonfire on August 14 around 12:30 a.m. in the 5000 block of S. Mountain Drive in Upper Milford Twp. Julian Diaz died Sunday morning at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest from complications of 84% of his total body surface area burned in the fire.
Authorities are releasing more information about a crash on I-78 last weekend that sent one person to the hospital. Lehigh County officials say 35-year-old Jamal Linton was drunk when he drove the wrong way on the highway early Sunday morning and collided with another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle was injured, while Linton was allegedly seen throwing a bottle of liquor into the woods after troopers arrived at the crash site. He was arrested after a brief struggle.
A Pennsylvania firefighter set to speak at the Democratic National Convention last night was cut from the schedule. Jeremy Warmkessel was one of several people that lost their speaking slot due to a time crunch at the DNC. Warmkessel is the president of the Allentown Firefighters Union. WFMZ-TV reports Warmkessel will stay in Chicago until Wednesday, but it is unknown if he will speak at the convention.
Tuesday afternoon, former President Donald Trump delivered remarks at machinery manufacturing company, Precision Custom Components in York. The former president compared his policies with Democrat presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. "Under her plan, manufacturers will pay even higher taxes in America than in communist China. By contrast, I will pass gigantic tax cuts for workers and keep their jobs here in the United States. They're going to stay here," Trump said.
Speaking at a rally in Philadelphia, Ohio senator and GOP vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance told a reporter that the Trump-Vance campaign does not support a national abortion ban. "On the abortion question in particular, what President Trump has said has been very direct. Honestly he's tried to find some common ground in this country that has been divided by this question for 50 years. He's said, Pennsylvania is going to want to have a different abortion policy from Ohio, which is going to want to have a different policy from California. Let the states decide," Vance said. Former president Trump had said that he supports access to abortion in cases of rape, incest, or saving the mother's life. Vance previously supported a federal abortion ban, but now says his views on the matter have changed. A coalition of right wing groups have called on the Trump campaign to support a range of federal restrictions on abortion and birth control.
Registration is now open for a rare whiskey lottery through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Residents 21 and up and state liquor license holders can enter for a chance to purchase one of more than 12-hundred limited release bottles. The priciest whiskey up for grabs is Weller Millennium Straight Bourbon, listed at almost 75-hundred dollars per bottle. There are some more reasonable options, like the Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof that is going for about 55 dollars. Those who are interested can sign up at fine-wine-and-good-spirits-dot-com. The registration deadline is this Friday at 5:00 p.m.
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez is set to resign from office Tuesday but the New York Post reports the senator is negotiating a pardon from President Biden. Menendez was convicted of 16 felony counts in a federal corruption trial last month and will be sentenced in October. Sources say dropping out as an independent in November's election was likely his last bargaining chip.
Officials in Wildwood Crest say it may be weeks before the bridge leading into the city reopens. The Middle Thorofare Bridge -- also known as the Two Mile Bridge -- was closed over the weekend following a mechanical failure. Specifically, the Cape May County bridge suffered a total failure of the drive shaft motor that raises and lowers the span. Mayor Don Cabrera says the highly specialized motor will take months to replace but engineers are working to install a smaller backup motor that may not take so long to install. Right now, the bridge is closed to all car, bike and pedestrian traffic. Local businesses that used the bridge to transport their goods to the city are using boats.