Brian Carr is out as executive vice president and GM at Wind Creek Casino Resort in Bethlehem. Carr had been in charge there since mid-2017 when it was still owned by Sands. He'll be replaced by Kathy McCracken, who had been Wind Creek's executive VP of marketing and operations.
Three businesses are damaged after a fire broke out at a Plainfield Township strip mall last night. Crews responded to the fire Tuesday night around 6 o'clock at the strip mall near Route 33 and Route 512. The fire damaged Three Brothers Pizza and Restaurant and two neighboring businesses. Nobody was injured. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
A big part of the history of The Great Allentown Fair is gone. Dapper Dan, who entertained kids for 37 years at The Great Allentown Fair, has died. Dan Bonner began working at the fair in 1966 and retired in 2011. He is one of three people in the inaugural Wall of Fame class at Agricultural Hall in Allentown. Dan Bonner was 96 years old.
A man and his girlfriend were arrested in New York City for a violent armed robbery at the Square One Exxon gas station in Easton on February 5th. 47-year-old Barry McRae and his girlfriend, Christina Conrad, are accused of stealing $10,000 worth of cigarettes. The pair allegedly wore masks, gloves and other disguises and carrying handguns. They fled across the river to Phillipsburg, tossing their disguises over the bridge, however those disguises didn't make it into the river and investigators were able to recover them. The couple eventually went to New York City where they planned to cell the cigarettes. Easton police worked with the U.S. Marshals Service and NYPD to track them down. Both were arrested in the Bronx early Tuesday morning.
The wildfire on Mount Tammany near the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is nearly 100 percent contained. Tuesday's rain helped firefighters contain the fire, which has burned about 80 acres along the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border. Firefighters say more rain expected today should completely extinguish the fire, which remains under investigation.
Allentown Mayor Ray O'Connell says his city is safer than ever and violent crime is on the decline. "People are apprehensive about coming downtown. Come on downtown. We'll prove you wrong," O'Connell says. The mayor says he speaks with police officers every day and they also believe the city is getting safer. O'Connell's comments came after a forum hosted by the Allentown Young Professionals group.
Accu-Weather's Bill Deger says the ski resorts in the Poconos could get a little something tonight they haven't gotten nearly enough of this winter and that's real snow. "There could be an inch or so in the higher elevations in the Poconos," Deger says. In the immediate Lehigh Valley, Deger expects rain, heavy at times, and maybe a thunderstorm in the mix tonight.
Kutztown officials are unveiling their plan to revitalize the borough. The plan involves providing incentives for landlords to lease their currently empty apartments that are designated for students to families instead. If approved by borough council, the plan will be put into action by an appointed task force. It could be awhile before community members begin to see real change. Borough officials hope to put this to a vote during a council meeting on March 17th.
Philadelphia is getting closer to having the first supervised injection site in the country. A federal judge ruled against the Department of Justice Tuesday and ruled the nonprofit Safehouse Philadelphia does not violate federal law. Already providing a number of overdose prevention services, Safehouse is looking to create a site where people can use illegal drugs under medical supervision. Mayor Jim Kenney applaudes the court's decision and says the city will support private operators like Safehouse.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has delivered his annual budget address in Trenton and says that proposal builds on his administration's goal to support the middle class. "That means creating opportunities, shrinking inequality, restoring fiscal responsibility, delivering property tax relief, growing our economy and investing in our future," Murphy says. The Democrat, for the third time, renewed his call for a millionaire's tax, saying it would reduce property taxes, while strengthening schools and other public services.
Residents are being warned to watch out for smoky conditions and working state personnel as fires are being purposely set across New Jersey. The state Department of Environmental Protection says the Forest Fire Service is setting prescribed burns to help reduce organic materials that could potentially fuel wildfires. Known as controlled burns, the fires are being set now as current weather conditions are better suited to keeping these blazes safer. The peak of New Jersey's wildfire season starts late next month and then continues through early May.
The Philadelphia 76ers plan to reevaluate guard Ben Simmons in two weeks after diagnosing him with a nerve impingement in his back. Simmons could potentially be out for an extended period of time. He's averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game this season.