A 22-year-old man is dead after a one-vehicle accident early this morning on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The crash happened around 4:30 this morning on the northbound side near mile marker 39, between the Lansdale and Quakertown exits.
Another former Allentown official has been sentenced for her role in the city's pay-to-play corruption scandal. Ex-Allentown controller Mary Ellen Koval has been sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. In January 2016 Koval admitted to participating in an alleged pay-to-play scheme in which campaign contributions were traded for city contracts. Koval was the fourth to plead guilty in connection with the FBI's investigation. Ex-Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski is serving 15 years in prison for his role in the scandal.
Pennsylvania deer hunters will now have 13 rather than 12 days to find that trophy buck this rifle season. The Pennsylvania Game Commission voted in favor of opening rifle season on the Saturday, rather than the Monday, after Thanksgiving. The vote was 5-3 and Game Commission spokesman Travis Lau says that narrow margin reflects a spirited debate on the issue. "That's reflective of the hunting community at large where there's a difference of opinion and there are people both strongly for and strongly against moving opening day and our commissioners echoed that," Lau says. Supporters of the idea say opening on a Saturday will allow more hunters to participate. Opponents say the shift cuts into the Thanksgiving weekend. Deer season for rifle hunters had opened on the Monday after Thanksgiving for the past 55 years.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is making changes to what hunters may wear when entering the woods. Their board have final approval to eliminate the required fluorescent orange when archery hunting for bear, deer or elk beginning the first of July and for fall turkey hunters. All other fluorescent orange rules are unchanged.
Bethlehem police say they've arrested four people in connection to the vandalizing of more than 25 cars in the city. Police say they received calls back on March 24th concerning dented bodies and broken widows in the area of the Pembroke-Marvine Housing Development. Responding officers arrived to find four men nearby in possession of pellet guns and related paraphernalia. Police say the four men, one of whom is from Bethlehem while the other three are from Baltimore, are now being charged with felony criminal mischief and other related offenses.
A Poconos man is behind bars for committing years of sexual abuse against a minor. Paul Kramer of Stroudsburg was arraigned Tuesday on almost 40 counts related to sexual assaults that allegedly took place in Hamilton Township between 2003 and 2010. Police report that Kramer has admitted to sexually assaulting the female victim, who was under the age of 16 at the time. The 84-year-old defendant is being held in the Monroe County jail and will have his preliminary hearing on Friday.
A bill that strips guns from domestic abusers takes effect today. Known as Act 79, the law is intended to protect victims of domestic violence. The law requires abusers who have been the subject of protection orders to turn in any guns while those orders are in effect and they are further prohibited from possessing guns. Gov. Tom Wolf says the law will both protect victims of domestic abuse and hold abusers accountable for their actions.
Pittsubrgh's mayor has signed a bill restricting military assault-style rifles and banning high capacity magazines in his city. Bill Peduto says he will be ready to take on any legal challenges to his bill. "We will be represented by Every Town, a national organization that will be putting a team of lawyers in place for us," Peduto says. Gun advocates have already filed a suit to block the new law.
Two Marines killed in Afghanistan this week have roots in York County. Sgt. Benjamin Hines and Staff Sgt. Christopher Slutman were killed when their convoy hit a roadside bomb near Bagram Airfield. The two were deployed from Echo Company in Harrisburg. A total of three people were killed and four others were injured.
Members of the PA House Judiciary Committee are asking the inspector general to examine the Department of Human Services in the wake of the Grace Packer case. A recent report indicated the system failed to protect the teen leading up to her brutal rape and murder. "Do we need to pass new legislation to enact something to assist those who are servicing our children and youth system? Or is it a problem with bureaucracy itself? We've got to have answers," said St. Rep. Rob Kauffman.
The Philadelphia Eagles' preseason schedule has been released. They will be at home against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, on the road against Nick Foles and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, back at home against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3 and wrap things up at the New York Jets in Week 4. Dates and times will be released later.