The Lehigh County Coroner's Office says 39-year-old Darnelle Thompson, of Allentown, was the man shot to death Thursday evening in the 500 block of North 4th Street. Police are still investigating and no arrests have been made. Meanwhile, at 1:30 Friday morning, police were called to the 100 block of East South Street. When they arrived, they found two men, one 42 years old and one 21 years old dead from gunshot wounds. Police are indicating a resident saw two men trying to open car doors and confronted the men. At that point, gunfire was exchanged and one of the men trying to open the car doors was killed as was the man who confronted them.
Eric Gratz, of Alburtis, is charged with Solicitation to Commit Prostitution. Last month, an investigation began after a complaint was received by the mayor of Fountain Hill. The complaint claimed Gratz, who was the Fountain Hill Borough Manager, used a borough cell phone to offer a 17-year-old Fountain Hill junior firefighter money in exchange for sex. The investigation did not reveal that any sexual contact ever occurred between Gratz and the girl.
Pennsylvania's unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a point last month, finishing February at 4.4 percent. That's the same rate that Pennsylvania saw in February of 2022.
The chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education says the 10-university system was prepared to freeze in-state undergraduate tuition for an unprecedented fifth straight year if it gets a 3.8% increase in its basic funding, plus an additional $112 million, most of it for direct financial aid to students enrolled in careers with employee shortages. Daniel Greenstein said those areas include teaching, nursing, physician assistant, social services, business and STEM fields, including computer science and engineering.
Officials with the state fish and boat commission will observe statewide Youth Trout Day Saturday, March 25th. That's when kids sixteen and younger can get a jump start on fishing in Pennsylvania's stocked trout waters. Young anglers need a Mentored Youth Permit or a Voluntary Youth Fishing License from the commission and need to be accompanied by an licensed adult angler to fish. Officials say the voluntary youth licenses support youth programs throughout the year. Youth Trout Day lasts from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday.