The landscape in Lower Macungie Township could be changing drastically. The Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission has approved tearing down the old Weis Markets store and replacing it with a 23,000-square foot, one-story hospital, and a two-story medical office building. The hospital will include in-patient and emergency rooms. Also given approval is the second phase of the Woodmont Valley project, which would result in the redevelopment and subdividing of the Allen Organ showroom building property. One lot would be used for eight apartment buildings containing 99 total units. The second lot will feature two mixed-use buildings that will include 10,000 square feet of retail, commercial and office space, with 21 apartment units above.
Heavy police presence overnight raised some eyebrows in Allentown. Police and the SWAT team converged on a home in the 800 block of Walnut Street late Tuesday night into early this morning. WFMZ is reporting at least one man was taken out of the home and taken to the hospital. The Allentown PD isn't giving any further details.
One person is dead and three are injured after a crash on Interstate 78 eastbound in Berks County Tuesday night. It happened near the Route 61 exit in Tilden Township just before 8:30. The crash involved a school bus, two cars, and a tractor-trailer, according to state police. One of the cars ended up under the bus. State police say there were no students on the bus.
If you have a Coca-Cola, Minute Maid or Sprite product in your fridge, you should take a look at two recent recalls by Coca-Cola. The Food Safety Network says the products were recalled because they might contain metal objects. The expiration date for all the products is in 2022, which means buyers might still have the beverages stored somewhere. Customers who purchased these items should seek a refund or simply throw them away. Visit www.foodsafetynews.com to get specific codes for recalled beverages.
The Bethlehem Police Department has a new four-legged officer. Mason, the 5-year-old horse, joined the department's mounted patrol unit. He comes to Bethlehem from Ohio, where he worked as a plow horse and pulled a children's carousel.
The Transportation Security Administration is looking to hire part-time officers at Lehigh Valley, Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton international airports in the next few months. The agency is also offering a bonus for those who get hired. Officials say the $1000 bonus would include $500 upon starting and another $500 bonus after a year on the job. Salaries for part-time officers at LVIA are listed between $19 to just over $27-per-hour. Job details can be found at www.jobs.tsa.gov.
Lafayette College has a new head football coach, and he's one of their own. John Troxell, class of 1994, will take over the program. He played for the Leopards from 1990-1994, then returned to Lafayette as an assistant coach from 2001-2005.
The Pennsylvania House has given final approval to a bill to ban private funding of elections. The 113-90 vote was along party lines, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed. A spokesperson for Gov. Tom Wolf has said he opposes the bill in its current form. The measure was rooted in Republicans' frustration over how $35 million of private money that flowed into the state to support elections last year reached only 24 of 67 counties. The bill now goes to the Senate.
A measure that would move up the primary date in presidential election years has won unanimous support in the state Senate. The voting date would become the third Tuesday in March and would start in 2024, if fully approved. Supporters say it would give state residents more say in the presidential candidate nominating process. If passed in the state House of Representatives and signed by Gov. Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania's presidential primary date would then coincide with ones in Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Arizona.
The state Senate has advanced a bill that requires online posting of school textbook names and course information. The bill passed the Senate in a 28-21 vote along party lines. It had already passed the house, but since it was amended in the Senate it will require another, final vote in the House. That's likely to happen today. The legislation comes amid anger expressed at school board meetings across the state from parents concerned about the curriculum being taught, particularly concerning lessons on critical race theory. A spokesman for Gov. Tom Wolf says the governor disapproves of the bill.
Pennsylvania State Police are warning people about using payment apps on their phones as scammers have now figured out a way to use them to trick you out of your money. Officials say you might get a text that appears to be coming from your bank or a call from someone pretending to be your banker. Each method details a list of supposedly fraudulent charges from people who've used phone apps. State Police say it's best to hang up and initiate a call yourself if you have any doubts about transactions. They also say payment apps usually protect you against unauthorized transactions, but not necessarily against other fraud.