Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk has unveiled his $138 million proposed budget, one he tells WFMZ focuses heavily on public safety. "We are heavily invested in adding new police officers, new paramedics, improving our ability to staff a full compliment of firefighters to ensure our residents are living in the safest environment possible," Tuerk says. While the mayor says taxes will not go higher in this budget, that's likely to change in the 2024 spending plan to pay for much-needed infrastructure projects. Tuerk will officially present the new budget to City Council next week.
Firefighters were called to a house fire in Lehigh County around 10:30 Monday morning. The fire broke out in the Glencrest mobile home park in Washington Township, just south of Slatington. It appears the bulk of the fire was knocked down in about 30 minutes. Officials did not say if anyone was hurt or what may have sparked the fire.
A 41-year-old man was stabbed several times Sunday evening on Easton’s South Side. Police say a fight led to the stabbing just before 6:30 Sunday night on the 100 block of East Wilkes Barre Street. The man suffered serious wounds but is expected to survive. Investigators are seeking witnesses and a suspect description.
Northampton County's drive-through COVID-19 testing and vaccine site is now closed, but county residents can still receive those services at several other locations. The county closed the testing/vaccine site Friday at Coordinated Health 3100 Emrick Blvd. in Bethlehem Township. COVID vaccines and boosters will be available by appointments for people 6 months and older at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks, 3780 Hecktown Road in Lower Nazareth Township and walk-in COVID-19 testing is available at Palmer Township Express Care on 3701 Corriere Road in Palmer Township and at Coordinated Health Care on Demand, 2300 Highland Avenue, Bethlehem Township.
A 23-year-old man from Allentown is facing charges after police say he was in possession of nearly seven pounds of marijuana. Pennsylvania State Police didn't identify him in their news release. The man was stopped in traffic last Thursday when troopers say they suspected him of driving under the influence of drugs. With a search warrant, state police seized six pounds and 15 ounces of marijuana, and nearly 800-dollars in cash, as well as scales and vacuum-sealing equipment.
If you have plants you'd like to enjoy for a few more weeks, Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg says you better cover them up before heading to bed tonight. "Frost, I think, is going to be widespread across the Lehigh Valley tonight and again tomorrow night," Lundberg says. Tonight's low is expected to be right at 32 degrees and Wednesday's night's low is projected to be 33.
Democratic Senate candidate and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will debate GOP candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz next week. Oz explains why he's concerned about the debate. "He needs to have it on closed captioning, so he's going to have to read the questions and ultimately answer them. I think for the voters of Pennsylvania this is an issue of transparency. We're trying to figure out if he is he able to do the job of U.S. senator," Oz says. Fetterman suffered a stroke in May and uses live captioning to assist his auditory processing.
Democratic Senate candidate and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will use live captioning during his upcoming debate against GOP candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says the president believes Fetterman is capable of being a senator based off recent conversations. "The President has found him to be an impressive individual, who is just as capable as always and who is carrying out his office," Jean-Pierre says. Fetterman suffered a stroke in May and claims he's continuing to recover over time.
Time is running out for unregistered Pennsylvanians who wish to vote in the upcoming elections. The deadline to submit or update registration is a week from today. U.S. citizens who were at least 18 years old on October 8th are eligible to vote. Registration can be done by mail or in-person at county elections offices; or online at www.vote.PA.gov.
The state Senate has returned to Harrisburg for two weeks of trying to get laws passed. Lawmakers will then break to hit the campaign trail before the November 8th elections. It's not yet clear if the Senate will consider a potential replacement on the state Supreme Court for the late Chief Justice Max Baer. That will depend on whether Governor Wolf makes an appointment.
Pennsylvania State Police troopers are taking part this week in an effort aimed at protecting school children. This week is National School Bus Safety Week and state police tomorrow will be taking part in Operation Safe Stop. As part of the operation, troopers will be riding on school buses where they will be able to observe violations committed by motorists and radio ahead to other officers on patrol. Law enforcement reminds Pennsylvania drivers that the operator of a vehicle meeting or overtaking any school bus stopped on a highway or roadway is to stop at least ten feet before reaching the school bus when the red signal lights on the school bus are flashing and the side stop signal arms are activated.
Employees are back to work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The workers spent the past few weeks on strike until a new deal was reached late Sunday night. Workers never had a contract since the union was created more than two-years ago. Museum officials tweeted they're looking forward to serving the community for years to come.
New Jersey's casinos, gambling outlets and online partners won nearly 485-million-dollars from bettors in September. Officials are saying that figure is a year-over-year increase of almost seven percent from September 2021. Atlantic City's nine casinos have also collectively pushed past figures last seen during September 2019, just before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Atlantic City gaming halls won nearly 252-million-dollars last month which stands as a nearly one-and-a-half percent jump from 2019. Internet gambling rose to roughly 135-million-dollars last month, which is a ten percent increase from last year's September figures.
A bill designed to enact a bill of rights for New Jersey temporary workers is pulled from the state Senate floor without a vote, citing a lack of support. The legislation would have mandated that such employees receive the same salary and benefits as their traditional counterparts. Governor Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed the proposal last month, as he sought changes in the types of workers covered, and wanted more funds to foster state enforcement.
New Jersey's Supreme Court is adding a pair of new justices. Rachel Wainer Apter and Douglas Fasciale were confirmed by the Senate yesterday. Retired Justices Jaynee LaVecchia, Barry Albin, and Faustino J. Fernandez-Vina have all freed up spots.
Zack Wheeler gets the pitching assignment for the Phillies in game one of the NLCS tonight in San Diego. He says his approach will be to treat the game like a regular season start. "It's just another start. Obviously it's a bigger stage and there's a lot riding on it, but we want to get that first win of the series," Wheeler says. Wheeler will be opposed by Yu Darvish for San Diego. First pitch is scheduled for 8:07 tonight.