Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli's office is donating $2,000 to Bethlehem's Fraternal Order of Police to establish an award in the name of former Bethlehem Mayor Gordon Mowrer. Morganelli says that award will go to the Bethlehem police officer who "makes an extraordinary contribution to community policing." The award is named after Mowrer because the DA says he pioneered the idea in Bethlehem. "We're talking from the 70s forward, Bethlehem being one of the first cities in the state to adopt this policing concept and here we are so many years later with the major departments having engaged in in some fashion," Morganelli says. The Bethlehem FOP will choose the award recipient.
An Easton man is facing federal and civil charges in connection to million-dollar fraud related to Bitcoin transactions. Jon Barry Thompson has been indicted for allegedly taking $7 million from two victim companies by making phony promises over Bitcoin deals. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has also filed civil charges against Thompson. If convicted, he could end up spending as many as 60 years behind bars.
A wanted Bethlehem man is on the ground and facing charges after getting caught up a tree in Allentown. Police responding to calls about a man climbing trees and jumping across roofs along West Tilghman Street purportedly found defendant Danny Rivas-Vasquez hiding in a tree. Police tried to talk him down, and then after about 90 minutes they spotted Rivas-Vasquez on a rooftop and placed him in custody. Rivas-Vasquez already has active arrest warrants in Lehigh and Bucks counties.
A local mall has another vacancy. Today is the final day of weightlifting and treadmilling at the Gold's Gym in the Phillipsburg Mall. Gold's Gym departure follows Victoria's Secret, H&M and Matthew's Hallmark leaving the mall earlier this year. Last year, the Phillipsburg Mall lost Sears, Bon-Ton, Schuylkill Valley Sports, Friendly's and Old Navy.
A Reading man is being charged with attempted homicide after a shooting in Schuylkill County. Police say 25-year-old Jordan Sanchez shot a 45-year-old man who is also from Reading. The shooting happened Saturday night inside a home in the 400 block of East Arch Street in Pottsville. The victim is expected to survive.
Part of the capitol is turning pink today. The state Capitol east wing fountain turns pink today to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Representatives with the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and state lawmakers will dye the fountain pink to remind women of the importance of mammograms and remember those who lost their battle with the disease. PBCC officials say 37 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is opening up several additional roads for the fall to accommodate hunters, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says extra roads will be opened in 18 of Pennsylvania's forest districts. More than 500 miles of state forest roads, normally only open for official use, will be made available to the general public. More than 3000 miles of state forest roads will be available by Saturday for the start of archery deer season and will stay that way into January to accommodate other hunting seasons.