If you are parking near the PPL Center during events there, be prepared to pay more. Allentown City Council voted 5-2 in favor of an idea to charge the same rate at parking meters as is charged in city garages on event nights if a car is parked at a meter for more than two hours. The Allentown Parking Authority wants to get more people to park in city garages and pushed for the change in which a driver will pay $2 an hour for the first two hours at a meter on PPL Center event nights but up to $10 an hour after that. Parking tickets will also increase on PPL Center nights from $10 to $25. The new rules affect parking meters on Hamilton, Linden and Walnut streets between Fourth and 12th streets. The new rates will be implemented over the next four weeks.
Investigators in Northampton County are reporting more remains may have been recovered at the site of an explosion that killed a Lehigh Township father and young son. Police say human remains are believed to have been found among the debris from the home of Bruce Miller and his ten-year-old son, Bruce Alan Miller. The coroner's office is working to identify what was discovered. Only one body has been found among the rubble from the Miller's Blue Mountain Road house, which exploded and burned down on January 21st.
A Monroe County man is facing murder charges in connection to the death of a Lancaster County resident. Matthew VanZandt was arrested in Lehigh County after he arrived at a local hospital and allegedly confessed to killing Ian Shannon of Lancaster Township. Shannon was found dead early Wednesday, reportedly slashed and stabbed several times. Officials say the two were romantically involved and the attack followed an altercation concerning their break-up.
Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health is pushing back against vaccination detractors. "I want to make it very clear that childhood immunizations, adult immunizations such as the measles vaccine are safe and they are effective in preventing very serious illnesses and they have been a public health victory," says Dr. Rachel Levine. She says there continues to be misinformation regarding the safety of vaccines. A study released Monday confirmed no link between autism and vaccinations.
It's reported Penn State University is among 20 colleges nationwide recently targeted by Chinese hackers. The Wall Street Journal reports the group was looking for maritime research that could be used to develop technology for military use. University officials say they were aware of the cyber-attacks but didn't confirm a breach.
A proposed bill would combine mental and physical health services for medical assistance patients under the same umbrella. Some treatment's currently done at the county level. The measure from Republican St. Rep. Seth Grove would join the services at the state level. "By combining the systems, we will provide better health outcomes and we will lower costs for taxpayers. We know that will happen," Grove says. Opponents say the bill would force a one-size-fits-all approach onto patients who might need something a bit more tailored to their needs.
A state lawmaker is trying to increase hemp production in Pennsylvania. Democrat St. Sen. Judy Schwank says her measure would recognize industrial hemp as an allowable ingredient in foods and as a cosmetic ingredient. The products would be regulated like all other food ingredients or commodities if approved. Last year, hemp was removed from the federal list of controlled substances on the Federal Farm Bill.
A homeless veteran involved in a GoFundMe scam is pleading guilty. Johnny Bobbitt, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring with Kate McClure and her then-boyfriend Mark D'Amico to scam donors out of more than $400,000 in donations on the crowdfunding website. Prosecutors say they found evidence all three knew each other before they set up the scheme. Reports say McClure is also pleading guilty.
There will be no fare increase for New Jersey Transit riders this year if Gov. Phil Murphy gets his way with the budget. Murphy is calling for an additional $100 million annually in the 2020 budget proposal for the problem plagued rail system. He said Wednesday if lawmakers approve it, transit riders won't see an increase in fares for a second year in a row. Murphy has made revamping NJ Transit one of his main goals since taking office.
The Los Angeles Angels have contacted the commissioner's office about Bryce Harper tampering. Harper is trying to recruit Angels superstar outfielder Mike Trout to join him in Philadelphia. Harper said in a radio interview he will call Trout about coming to Philly. Major League Baseball is investigating the tampering charges. Commissioner Rob Manfred says he does not want players recruiting players from other clubs.
The Philadelphia Phillies reportedly have interest in starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel. The ex-Houston Astros left-hander is one of the top remaining unsigned free agents. The Phillies are believed to be looking to add more money to the payroll, but only if it's a short-term deal.