Beginning tonight and running until August 2022, Route 22 between I-78 and 15th Street will be going under the knife. PennDOT's Ron Young says most, if not all, of the work will be done weeknights between 7pm and 6am. "It's for the safety and convenience of our motorists because the majority of the travel is during the daylight hours on this highway," Young says. Work will include milling, concrete patching, paving, bridge repairs and more and will include the on and off ramps at 309, Cedar Crest Boulevard and 15th Street. The price tag for the project comes in at almost $17 million.
Officials have identified the body pulled out of the Lehigh River Saturday evening. The body of 48-year-old Michael Andrews was recovered from the river near Freemansburg. Andrews had been missing since August 9th. The Northampton man appeared to have been deceased for some time before being found. Officials are still investigating the cause and manner of Andrews' death.
A Monroe County man who was charged with two counts of allegedly stalking and invasion of privacy earlier this month is facing more charges. Rocky Sokolowski allegedly followed a woman around Rite Aid in Chestnuthill Township in late July. Sokolowski was charged with following women and children in several stores and recording them with his cell phone camera. Police say he even smelled a woman in one incident. The 36-year-old man also failed to register as a sex offender back in 2017 and is currently in Monroe County Jail.
The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway returned over the weekend. The railway shut down to a dispute over taxes with the borough of Jim Thorpe. Council leadership claimed the railway owed $100,000 in back amusement taxes, but the railway said that’s not true, and they wouldn’t pay. A resolution was reached but details have never been made clear.
COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania increased Sunday by 660. The new cases pushed the state's total to 124,460 since the pandemic began. Three more deaths related to COVID-19 complications were also reported Sunday, bringing the state's coronavirus-related death toll to 7468.
The Centers for Disease Control reports New Jersey is among three states hardest hit by a rare coronavirus syndrome that affects children. In New Jersey, there are at least 31 cases of the illness, called multisystem inflammatory syndrome, in children. It can lead to problems in cardiovascular systems as well as inflammation of the heart muscles. Sunday, 329 more coronavirus cases and four more fatalities were confirmed in New Jersey.
New Jersey health officials say fewer New Jersey residents are dying from COVID-19 than they were a few weeks ago. Gov. Phil Murphy says only 40 patients remain on ventilators. Most of those patients are long-term care patients in intensive care facilities. Health officials say part of the reason for the decrease is because patients are receiving better care more quickly. They also say ventilators are no longer the first option considered for patients with serious respiratory conditions.
Lawmakers are trying to pass a bill that would give local school districts the power to decide on what to do with extracurricular activities amid the pandemic. This comes as Gov. Tom Wolf recommended that there be no high school sports until at least January. St. Rep. Jeff Wheeland says the passage of the bill could prevent a possible shutdown of sports and extracurriculars this fall by the Wolf administration. Wheeland believes the school officials know their districts better than anyone.
President Trump is scheduled to visit Old Forge later this week. The President is coming to Old Forge on Thursday, where he's expected to talk about presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden, who later that night is scheduled to accept his party's nomination.
Some are calling for more to be done to protect kids following a weekend demonstration outside the State Capitol. The group Voice-4-the-Voiceless held a Save Our Children rally Sunday afternoon, asking for parents to be more proactive in protecting their kids instead of reactive. Several speakers Sunday also spoke about human trafficking and kidnapping.
The Democrat National Convention begins tonight. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tells Fox News the theme of the convention is perfect. "The theme 'Uniting America' says it all. We are the big-tent party. This is a moment in American history where we're going to put us versus them in the rear view mirror and come together for a common purpose," Murphy says. Murphy is the convention's co-chairman.
33 years after his grandfather, Mario, won the pole at the Indianapolis 500, Marco Andretti did likewise Sunday. "Coming off how bad last year was for me in this race, it makes this so much better. That's what this place is all about. It's about highs and lows and it brings that out in you," Andretti says. Nazareth High School graduate Sage Karam will start on the inside of Row 11. The race will be run without fans this Sunday afternoon.