An Allentown man has been charged in a double shooting at a park in Whitehall Township. 41-year-old Rami Abouloh called 911 after the Tuesday evening gunfire and admitted to murdering a 35-year-old woman and injuring a man. Patricia White was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after the shooting at the West Catasauqua Playground. The man was treated for injuries to his chest and arm. Police say Abouloh called 911 around 7:15 p.m., shortly after the shooting, and told dispatchers that his wife was in the park with a man and that he shot them. He then said he wanted police to come get him at his home on E. Hamilton Street in Allentown, and that the gun was loaded inside a cabinet. An Allentown officer went to the home and Abouloh, who was still on the phone with 911 dispatchers, came outside and was taken into custody. Arresting officers aay Abouloh muttered, "that's what happens when you cheat," as he was being arrested. Investigators found a semi-automatic gun with a magazine next to it inside of a closet, and they also found Abouloh's grey Toyota Camry out front, which witnesses reported seeing flee the scene.
Easton City Council received an update on the city's response to a fire that ravaged homes in the 900 block of Ferry Street during its Wednesday night meeting. Mayor Sal Panto said the Memorial Day fire impacted 15 homes and 45 people and that the city "does not have the housing" for those impacted by the fire. The city's next step was to have its engineer, Pennoni, issue a report on what has to be done with the properties. That report will determine whether any of the 15 homes that were burned need to be immediately demolished. "It's a shame, but they're probably all going to have to be razed," Panto said.
Easton City Council approved a developer's agreement with Lafayette College for the construction of a new building during its Wednesday night meeting. The pact involves the McCartney Street Housing and Wellness Center which calls for the construction of a four- to five-story building and improvements at 522 March St.
Closing arguments are set for today in the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue shooting trial. It comes after witness testimony wrapped up this week. The trial is to determine if Robert Bowers should receive the death penalty for the 2018 mass shooting that left eleven people dead. The defense is expected to call only a few witnesses.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission says hunters will soon be able to buy licenses online for antlerless deer. Officials say the first day of sales for residents will be Monday, June 26th. Nonresidents can get their licenses online started Monday, July 10th. A news release from the state says with the new process, mail in applications will no longer be accepted. Hunters can now only purchase antlerless licenses online or through any in-store hunting license issuing agent. You'll need to create an account in advance to make your purchase through the internet. That can be done at www.huntfish.pa.gov. Deer season starts September 16th and will end January 27th of 2024.
A longtime Penn State professor has been charged after trail camera footage allegedly shows him performing sex acts with his dog in Rothrock State Forest. Officials with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources say Themis Matsoukas, who is 64, was arrested at his home Tuesday and can be seen in the footage with his collie from April 13th. Matsoukas was identified in that video by his backpack, which officials say can be seen in similar images from trail cameras that date back over ten years. He is a professor of chemical engineering and has been with Penn State over 30 years. University officials say he's been relieved of his duties and is on leave. His preliminary hearing is set for July 19th in Huntingdon County.
A new poll shows former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is tied for third place among an increasingly crowded field of GOP Presidential hopefuls. It's Christie's best showing to date in the race for the White House. The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows former President Trump maintains a solid lead among Republicans contenders -- with 53 percent support among those surveyed. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis comes in second with 23 percent. Christie -- along with former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Senator Tim Scott -- are tied for third with four percent.
Former President Trump's campaign has raised more than six-and-a-half-million dollars since news of his indictment last week -- a third of which came from a New Jersey fundraiser. His team made the announcement yesterday after Trump pleaded not guilty to federal charges in Florida related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. The amount includes more than four-and-a-half million dollars from small donors online. A fundraising event at his New Jersey golf club Tuesday night accounted for more than two million.