One person is dead and two others injured in what's being described as a wrong-way crash Thursday morning. Pennsylvania State Police say three vehicles were involved in the crash that happened just after 10:30 Thursday morning where Route 22 east meets with Route 33 in Bethlehem Township. Investigators say a pickup truck was heading south on Route 33 north and exited westbound onto Route 22 east. Anyone who may have observed the red Chevrolet Silverado that caused the crash traveling prior to the accident to contact police.
It's five-to-ten years in prison for 43-year-old Christopher Ferrante, who was convicted of several charges in the drug-related death of former Pen Argyl High School wrestling star Michael Racciato. Back in July, Ferrante was found guilty of six charges, but found not guilty of drug delivery resulting in death. Racciato was found dead in the parking lot of the Towne Place Hotel in Lower Nazareth Township on Christmas Day 2020. Racciato was a three-time state wrestling champion at Pen Argyl.
Terrible weather during the Celtic Classic weekend in Bethlehem has put the event's overseer in a difficult position. Jayne Ann Recker is the executive director of the Celtic Cultural Alliance and says the weather during the weekend of September 22nd-24th will affect the finances of the organization, but she says the event is not in jeopardy of ending. The nearly one-and-a-half inches of rain that fell during the Celtic Classic weekend was the first rain the event endured since 2011.
The R.M. Palmer chocolate factory in Berks County is being fined more than $44,000 for its inaction leading up to a fatal natural gas explosion that killed seven people back on March 24. "Ultimately, it's important for employers to listen to the voices of their workers to make sure that their employees have a voice in their own workplace safety and health," says Kevin Chambers, OSHA's Pennsylvania area director. Chambers says R.M. Palmer ignored employees who said they smelled natural gas earlier that day. OSHA has issued eight citations against the chocolate maker. R.M. Palmer said it did nothing wrong and instead points the finger at U.G.I., saying the gas company should have replaced damaged a natural gas line.
A bill proposed by Lehigh Valley St. Sen. Lisa Boscola has been unanimously approved in a 50-0 vote. The bill would allow the state to crack down on drivers who have unpaid tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Boscola's bill proposes garnishing Pennsylvania Lottery winnings and state income tax refunds to recover unpaid bills. Turnpike estimates indicate the amount of unpaid tolls has risen from $155 million to $170 million in the past couple years. The bill now shifts to the state House for review.
The days are numbered for single-use plastic bags in Pittsburgh. The citywide ban on the bags goes into effect on October 14th. Retailers will be able to sell recycled paper bags for a fee of no less than ten cents. Mayor Gainey's Office says businesses can still use their remaining stock of plastic bags without any penalties until January first.
A media report says New Jersey's Attorney General's office is reviewing the handling of an investigation into a fatal crash involving Senator Bob Menendez' wife five years ago. News 4 New York reports investigators from the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability were in the Bergen County Prosecutor's office yesterday. They were looking into how Bogota Police handled the crash that killed 49-year-old Richard Koop. Menendez' wife Nadine Arslanian was never charged because the victim was jaywalking.
Despite a challenge that questioned the constitutionality of New Jersey's Fish and Game Council, a Superior Court judge has ruled this year's annual bear hunt can proceed. The Lesniak Institute For American Leadership, which focuses on human and animal welfare, argued the council operates like a legislative body, even though its members are not elected. A Mercer County Assignment Judge dismissed the arguments. Two one-week hunts are scheduled this year -- one that runs next week and another that runs from December 4th through the 9th.
While Penn State's football team has a bye this week, there is news to report about upcoming seasons. The Big Ten has announced home and away conference opponents for the 2024-2028 football seasons. Next year's Big Ten Beaver Stadium visitors include Illinois, Maryland, Ohio State and conference newcomers UCLA and Washington. The 2025 home schedule will include Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern and newly added Oregon. The other PAC-12 team joining the Big Ten, USC makes its first Happy Valley visit in 2026.