Accu-Weather's Elliot Abrams says if you have errands to run, you probably want to do it today rather than wait until tomorrow because snow is coming. "The snow will probably start late morning, 10 to noon or maybe as late as 1 or 2 and come down pretty hard in the afternoon, maybe an inch an hour, accumulating three-to-six inches. It will then change over to sleet and freezing rain, which could go well into the night. It will finally end as rain as the temperature slowly inches above freezing late tomorrow night," Abrams says. While tomorrow looks like a lousy weather day, the silver lining is a lot of that snow will either be washed away or melt Thursday with rain and temperatures in the 50s expected.
A weekend killing has been ruled justified. Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin says 36-year-old Antonio Santiago did nothing wrong when he shot and killed one of three people who were trying to rob him early Saturday morning. Andrew Eberts and Shane Gesnaker allegedly attacked Santiago just after Santiago parked his car on Turner Street around 2 o'clock Saturday morning. The men allegedly pepper sprayed Santiago, hit him with a gun and demanded money. Santiago told the robbers to wait while he looked for money to give them. Instead, he pulled out his licensed handgun and fired a shot that struck and killed Gesnaker. Martin has determined Santiago's actions were justified. Eberts and Gesnaker's girlfriend, Kaitlin Acierno are both charged with robbery and several other offenses.
An unidentified man is recovering after being shot by Allentown police following what's being called an interrupted burglary. The incident began with reports of a break-in in the 300 block of Johnston Street and ended about a mile away at South Second and Brookdale streets after a police chase of the suspect. This man describes what he heard and saw some of the incident's conclusion. "I heard this loud screech and looked out the window and saw a black car screaming down the street and then seconds after that, the police presence was just overwhelming," that witness says. A suspect was hit but is expected to recover. Surrounding roads were closed for several hours. The investigation continues.
An Allentown man is charged with possessing child pornography. Police say they found child pornography on John Zarzuela's phone and laptop. Investigators say the images they found showed girls ranging in age from infant to 13.
A Monroe County woman is in custody for allegedly attacking police after a sour experience with a pinball machine. Slate Belt Regional Police say they responded to the Blue Valley Lanes in Plainfield Township Sunday night after a reportedly intoxicated woman was acting violently after losing money in a pinball machine. Police report finding the suspect, Kilee Cunningham, walking down East Moorestown Road, where she purportedly became uncooperative, then started kicking, head-butting and trying to bite them. Cunningham is being held on $30,000 bail.
Backers of Sunday hunting are hopeful 2019 will be the year when it becomes a reality in Pennsylvania. Harold Daub is with the group behind the effort. "By allowing Sunday hunting, people can then choose which day works best for them. We believe that will optimize how many hunting licenses can be sold to optimize that funding for conservation," Daub says. However, there's opposition to the idea from many farmers.
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman continues to get the public's opinion on legalizing marijuana. Fetterman heard from dozens of pro-recreational marijuana supporters last night in Washington. Supporters say legal pot would be safer than what's on the streets, with taxes boosting the state's bottom line. Another meeting is scheduled today at Waynesburg University.
It appears as though New Jersey is one step closer to legalizing recreational marijuana. State lawmakers and Gov. Phil Murphy have come to agreements on portions of a proposal to make pot legal. Sticking points had been a by-the-ounce tax on the product, as opposed to an overall sale price. After a rewrite, the bill could come to a vote as early as next month.
The state Department of Environmental Protection is working to fill in a massive sinkhole that opened in a Columbia County town long abandoned due to a mine fire. Officials say the hole recently discovered in Centralia is unrelated to the area's coal seam fire that's been burning since the 1960s. While there's no evidence the hole is expanding, crews are dumping in boulders and large rocks to fill the gap.
New Jersey is joining in a multi-state lawsuit challenging President Trump's recent national emergency declaration. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal says the Garden State is now one of more than a dozen states suing over the President's decision to use the declaration to fund a border wall. The declaration would draw billions of federal dollars already earmarked for other projects and programs. Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy has already stated opposition to the declaration, calling the move fiscally reckless and constitutionally dubious.
As Mike Trout reported to Angels spring training in Tempe, AZ, the superstar was immediately asked about his future free agency. Trout, who grew up in New Jersey, says he won't speculate about his future and that he's often asked if he will join the Phillies. For now, Trout says he's having fun playing for the Angels.