Both Pennsylvania senators have issued statements about a gun control agreement on Capitol Hill. Pat Toomey is among 10 Republicans backing the measure. He said on Twitter, "We can protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans while making our communities safer. This bipartisan agreement offers a path forward to achieving that." Democrat Bob Casey also said on Twitter, "While we need to do more to close loopholes and keep weapons of war off our streets, this deal is an important first step,"
When began as an apparent DUI accident ended with a Poconos-area body shop going up in flames. Troy McFarland is one of the owners of McFarland and Sons Garage in East Penn Township says it's tough watching the business he grew go up in flames. "A lot of memories lost. It was my livelihood for 30-plus years," McFarland says. Police believe the fire could have begun when an unnamed 27-year-old Whitehall man, who is suspected of driving under the influence, hit a utility pole, knocking it into the business. McFarland plans to rebuild and until then hopes to continue working across the street at his car dealership location.
A fast-moving fire destroyed a Lehigh County home over the weekend. It happened in the 4300 block of Mountain Road in Washington Township just after 10:30 Sunday morning. Crews said the home was fully involved in flames when they arrived.
A lot of local music fans were disappointed Saturday night. Lynyrd Skynyrd's Saturday night concert at PPL Center had to be postponed because two members of the band tested positive for COVID. That show has been rescheduled for September 30th. Another Saturday night concert was also scratched. The State Theatre's Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band show was also postponed because two members of the former Beatles' band also tested positive for COVID. It's expected that show will also be rescheduled for sometime this fall.
Police are asking people for help with finding a missing Stroudsburg woman. 45-year-old Dana Smithers was last seen a little over two weeks ago in the borough. She was last seen wearing a burgundy t-shirt and black jeans and she has brown hair and dark brown eyes. Anyone with any information on her whereabouts is being asked to contact the Stroud Area Regional Police Department.
A former Pennsylvania lawyer who had threatened to kill government officials in the Washington D.C. area has been sentenced. The judge in the case says the sentence for Kenelm Shirk III, who is 72 and from Lebanon, was reduced to time served and a $10,000 fine. Shirk pleaded guilty in March to threatening to murder a U.S. official. State police arrested him in January of 2021 before he got to the D.C. area. He had several weapons and ammunition in his car trunk at the time of his arrest. He was arrested after his then-wife tipped them off that during an argument over the 2020 presidential election and January 6th U.S. Capitol riot, he threatened her life and said he was planning to attack government officials.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission says licenses for the 2022-23 hunting and trapping season go on sale today. General hunting licenses and fur taker licenses each cost just under $21 for Pennsylvania residents and just under $102 for nonresidents. Hunting licenses also can be purchased online at www.huntfish.pa.gov.
Producers for the TV show Pawn Stars say they're bringing a tour of the show to Valley Forge. The History Channel says the date of the taping won't be released but that Valley Forge will be part of an eight-city tour that will receive pitches from the public. Anyone interested in having their items or collections considered for the show can apply by emailing pawn on the road at i-t-v dot com. You need to include your name, location, item description and photos.
Former Penn State football star Brandon Short is establishing a college scholarship in honor of his late daughter. The Karli Short Better Tomorrow Foundation is designed to help support the education of undergraduate students impacted by violence. Karli Short and her unborn child were shot to death in McKeesport last year. The scholarship will provide aid to Penn State Greater Allegheny students but the Short family hopes to expand the opportunity to other schools.