A married couple who had been together since their teens is dead after the husband shot the wife and then shot himself. Deron Mandell, with the Central Berks Regional Police Department, says the marriage of Stefan and Joy Strunk may not have been the happiest in recent years. "It sounds like there's a history of domestic issues. I'm not sure if it was physical at this point, but some sort of emotional, verbal abuse and control issues," Manndel says. He says 62-year-old Stefan Strunk shot and killed his wife and also set their home on fire. When firefighters arrived at the Oley Township home, Strunk pointed them in the direction of his wife's body and then shot himself. Despite suicide notes left behind, police say it's not entirely clear why the incident happened.
A Lehigh Valley man charged with having homemade bombs in his Northampton County house is pleading not guilty. Jason Muzzicato made the plea Tuesday. Muzzicato allegedly was found in possession of homemade explosives, as well as assault rifles and guns and is accused of setting of some of those bombs around Washington Township. If convicted, the Bangor man could end up in prison for as many as 20 years.
Gov. Tom Wolf says a start-up cellulose fiber manufacturer is choosing Northampton County for its first manufacturing operation in Pennsylvania. Expected to provide more than 40 jobs, IQ Fibers is leasing a 45,000-square-foot building in West Easton Borough and investing at least $5.4 million into the development. The governor says success for the company will turn into a stronger economy and new opportunities for job creation and retention in the Lehigh Valley and across the state. IQ Fibers received a funding proposal from the state that includes an $86,000 grant plus tax credits and a workforce grant of more than $32,000.
The state Department of Environmental Protection is declaring a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for the Lehigh Valley. Due to anticipated 90-degree temperatures and high air pressure, ozone concentrations are expected to reach unhealthy levels. People with respiratory problems plus young children and the elderly are advised to keep outdoor activities to a minimum today. Showers and thunderstorms are possible tomorrow, which could lower ozone levels to a healthier level.
The murder trial for a Monroe County man accused of fatally abusing his infant daughter is underway. Opening statements delivered by prosecutors Tuesday allege that East Stroudsburg's Anthony Gudino was high and drunk the day he brought his five-month-old daugther, Aurora, to an emergency room in 2016. Prosecutors say an autopsy showed the baby to have been violently injured, suffering from brain bleeding and a skull fracture, injuries consistent with child abuse. If convicted, the 27-year-old Gudino could end up spending the rest of his life in prison.
Pennsylvania State Police, first responders and PennDOT say progress has been made regarding crash response on I-78. Those groups gathered once again at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency building Tuesday night, the latest in a series of meetings to discuss issues related to crashes on the busy interstate. In January, area firefighters gave PennDOT an ultimatum, saying if they didn't receive more help, they would stop responding on I-78. First responders say things went smoothly when they dealt with a fiery crash in Greenwich Township earlier this week.
A vote is expected this week that could raise the tuition for 14 universities that are part of the State System of Higher Education. The Board of Governors is working to set the basic tuition rate for the 2019-2020 school year during meetings today and tomorrow. A spokesman for the board says they're looking at a possible tuition freeze for the first time in more than 20 years. Last year, the board raised tuition three percent, the second-lowest increase in more than a decade.
Derry Township police say the reported attempted abduction at Hersheypark was more likely a case of confusion. Police say they've got video of the July 3rd encounter showing the woman in her late teens interacting with a group of kids in what likely was an innocent manner. Additional footage police reviewed showed the adult chaperone, the woman in question and the kids enjoying a day at the water park not displaying any behavior that didn't seem inappropriate. It was initially reported that the woman was trying to separate a young boy from the larger group before a teen intervened.
Last year, Gov. Tom Wolf deposited $22 million into the the state's rainy day fund, the first deposit in nearly ten years. Tuesday, the governor announced another deposit that dwarfs last year's number. "I'm really thrilled to be making an almost $317 million deposit into our rainy day fund. That's more than 14 times bigger than the deposit we made last year," the governor says. Wolf says the deposit helps build the safety net needed for any future unexpected challenges.
State police say they arrested more than 600 drunk drivers across the state over the Independence Day holiday weekend. Troopers made 607 DUI arrests between July 3rd and 7th and issued more than 12,000 speeding tickets over the same period. There were also 975 crashes through that time, resulting in nine deaths. Troopers allege alcohol was a factor in at least one of those fatal accidents.
Mourners will say goodbye today to a titan of the auto industry. The funeral for former Chrysler CEO and Lehigh Valley native Lee Iacocca will be held this morning in Michigan. Iacocca helped create the Mustang and Pinto while at Ford before saving Chrysler from collapse in the early 1980s, where he introduced the minivan to the automotive world. Iacocca died July 2nd at the age of 94.
The American Red Cross is facing an emergency need for blood donations. The need follows a reported decrease in blood donations during the Independence Day holiday week. Red Cross New Jersey says it especially needs donations of Type-O blood.
A New Jersey legislator is introducing a bill that, if passed, would require judges to be better trained to deal with sexual assault survivors in their courtrooms. St. Sen. Kristin Corrado says the legislation will require the Administrative Office of the Courts in the judiciary to create training for both Superior Court and municipal court judges and for judicial personnel. The training would be focused on the proper handling and responses required when dealing with cases of alleged sexual assault. Corrado's legislation is inspired by recent cases in Middlesex and Monmouth counties during which judges made comments to rape case plaintiffs that some felt minimized the harm caused to the defendants.
Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto went 0-for-2 with a strikeout as the National League lost 4-3 to the American League in the All-Star Game in Cleveland. He was the lone Philly pick.