The Allentown Diocese is cutting jobs to pay victims of clergy sexual abuse. The diocese says it has reduced its administrative work force by 24-percent. 96 people worked in the administrative office before Monday's job cuts. Officials say the cuts came through attrition, including a voluntary retirement program. The diocese says, at the same time, it is also taking steps to cut operating costs. Officials say operations at parishes are not affected.
The man charged with the death of a Wilson Borough man outside his apartment building has surrendered to police. 26-year-old Calvin Brown Jr. turned himself in Monday evening. He is being charged with homicide and was arraigned last night. Dennis Hodge Jr. was pronounced dead last Wednesday night after he was found lying unconscious in the parking lot at P&J Apartments at 914 S. 25th St. Investigators report that Hodge was punched in the head by Brown during an argument. After being punched, he fell and hit his head on the pavement.
Officials in Allentown are not commenting after the front porches of nine connected homes collapsed Monday. The porches on the homes on North 9th Street caved in last night for what are as of now unknown reasons. While the homes have been declared unsafe, families were not forced to evacuate. They're using their back doors until the debris is cleaned up. A roofing company is working to stabilize three roofs that are still standing. No injuries have been reported.
A North Whitehall Township woman is under evaluation after a standoff with police over the weekend. State police responded to a domestic issue reported at a Rising Sun Road home Sunday night involving the unidentified woman, her husband and four adult children. The woman allegedly barricaded herself in the home with guns. Following negotiations and an unsuccessful use of tear gas, the woman was finally apprehended before being brought to an area hospital. Charges have not been filed against her at this time.
A ninth Lehigh County Grand Jury is out and a tenth one has been selected. The Lehigh County DA's office says the previous Grand Jury completed its work on June 14th and the new one was chosen on June 28th. DA Jim Martin says the new Grand Jury consists of 23 permanent jurors and 15 alternates. Their term is 18 months but could be extended an additional six months.
A federal judge will allow a "sidewalk counselor" to continue to offer advice to patrons of a Northampton County abortion clinic. The Allentown Women's Center claimed Bethlehem Township's Mark Bogunovich and a second man blocked access to the clinic's driveway in Hanover Township last November and it wanted a federal injunction to prevent Bogunovich from continuing his activities outside the clinic. The center asked a federal judge to force the men to stay at least 25 feet away from the driveway entrance, however the judge denied the request.
Two alleged members of the Money Rules Everything gang out of Bethlehem are now charged in a 2017 armed robbery at Moravian College. 21-year-old Zahmire Welcome allegedly participated in the February 2017 incident in which $1000 in drug money and a jar of marijuana were stolen and two people inside the Moravian dorm room were assaulted. Welcome was on parole for a July attack and robbery in Yosko Park. Alkiohn Dunkins was previously convicted for his role in the robbery and is serving five to ten years in state prison.
The PA GI Bill has been signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Adjutant General Maj. Tony Carrelli says the law is a big, big deal to National Guard families here in Pennsylvania but also nationwide. "Pennsylvania is going to completely change how guardsmen families are going to be treated in the entire nation," Carelli says. The law creates a program that allows spouses and children of Pennsylvania National Guard members to attend college for free or at a reduced cost. Under the law, Pennsylvania National Guard members who commit to an additional six years of service can receive five years of higher education benefits for their spouse and children. It's believed the law could benefit up to 8000 military family members.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are issuing a new warning ahead of the Independence Day holiday. They're urging law enforcement to remain vigilant for suspcicious activity. While there has been no credible threat to Philadelphia's July 4th activities, Mayor Jim Kenney offers his take on the subject. "You always have to be cautious. You always have to be prepared. But you can't be scared. You can't be afraid. You can't stay in. You've gotta come out and confront these evil people. I think we'll be fine," Kenney says. The alert was titled "Large Crowds at Independence Day Celebrations and Parades Present Attractive Targets For Violent Extremists." In that alert it's states, "The FBI, DHS and NCTC are not aware of any specific, credible threats surrounding the upcoming Independence Day holiday."
Some people like to take their dogs to many places they go...work, restaurants and even ball games. But experts say they should stay home if you're heading to see fireworks this week. "Your pet feels more comfortable at home, in a safe environment versus all the new noises and sounds and people," says animal care technician Katie Bergeman with the Humane Society of Berks County. She says some dogs could be so freaked out by the sound of fireworks they could run away and might end up in a dangerous area, like where the fireworks are being shot into the sky.
The state Game Commission reminds hunters that the application period for anterless licenses is opening next week. The new license year started Monday, so now only licenses for the 2019-2020 season are valid. Those seeking a doe license could not send applications in early. Any requests received before Monday will be returned to sender.
New Jersey's governor is responding to comments made by the President of the United States about the Garden State's new budget. President Donald Trump posted Monday a congratulations to New Jersey legislators after passing a budget Sunday that doesn't include taxes he believes would have driven large numbers of high-end taxpayers out of the state. Democrat Phil Murphy responded by stating the president is financially fighting for millionaires like the governor claims to be battling for the state's middle class. Murphy signed the budget into law despite state legislators leaving out his proposed tax on millionaires.
Jimmy Butler is heading to South Beach. The 76ers have agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat that will send Butler to Miami for Josh Richardson. Butler will sign a four-year, $142 million max contract. He averaged 18.2 points for the 76ers last season after being acquired from Minnesota. Richardson averaged a career-high 16.6 points with Miami last season.