Lehigh Christian Academy on S. Cedar Crest Boulevard was evacuated for a short period of time Monday afternoon over concerns of a possible carbon monoxide leak or other contaminant in the building. Hundreds of students waited outside as emergency crews checked the building three times for trouble, but found nothing. Crews were called and the evacuation ordered after several students started getting headaches and not feeling well inside a classroom at the school. All students who were not feeling well are expected to be OK.
Today is the deadline to apply for a mail ballot for the upcoming midterm elections. State officials say if you're planning to cast your ballot in this way, you should return it immediately to ensure the vote is counted. It has to be applied for by 5:00 p.m. today. The acting Secretary of State says a voter can go to a county election office, apply for a mail ballot in person and while they're there, can cast their votes after their eligibility is verified. A mail-in ballot can also be requested at www.vote.pa.gov.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz is celebrating a somewhat surprising endorsement. "His hometown paper, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which would generally not endorse Republicans, came to our side. They have had enough as well," Oz says. In their endorsement, the paper writes, "We’re encouraged that Mr. Oz is portraying himself as a unifier who will work with Democrats to get things done for Pennsylvania. In a race on which much depends and little is certain, Mehmet Oz has shown he is better equipped to lead and deliver for Pennsylvania."
Pennie, the state's official online health insurance marketplace opens today. The 2023 Open Enrollment Period begins Tuesday, November 1st and ends January 15th of 2023. The website wwww.pennie.com lets residents apply, compare and enroll in coverage. Governor Wolf says the program offers high-quality health care options for residents that they might not get elsewhere.
A state appellate court has ruled that a private housing complex cannot entirely ban registered sex offenders from living there. The announcement stems from a 2016 Monroe County case in Tobyhanna Township. Its effect will be felt statewide as it's the first time a state appellate court has said whether private homeowner communities must abide by state regulations on sex offender residency.
The mother accused of abusing and starving her two daughters to death pleaded guilty in Lycoming County Court to four of the 23 charges against her. Marie Snyder broke down on the stand during her court appearance Monday afternoon, saying she loves and misses "her babies." In exchange for Snyder testifying against co-defendant and ex-girlfriend Echo Butler, the death penalty is off the table for the 33-year-old Snyder. The remains of six-year-old Nicole and four-year-old Jasmine Snyder were found buried on a property in Williamsport last November. The Lycoming County DA is calling for the death penalty for Butler for her role in the deaths of the little girls.
Halloween night's Powerball lottery drawing proved to be all trick and no treat for Pennsylvania players and others across the nation hoping to hit the jackpot. No tickets sold for the Monday night drawing matched all of the numbers drawn. The estimated jackpot for Wednesday night's drawing is now one-point-two-billion dollars.
Mother Nature won Game Three of the World Series. The Astros and Phillies were rained out about an hour before first pitch was to be thrown. Fans were disappointed. "It was very disappointing to me. But, it was so exciting here with the atmosphere," one woman said. Game Three is now tonight, with games four and five to follow Wednesday and Thursday nights, all in Philadelphia.