Union Auto Workers members at Mack Truck facilities are on strike after voting against the ratification of a collective bargaining agreement. The UAW says 73 percent of its members voted against accepting Mack's offer, which included a 19 percent pay increase over the five-year contract, a $3500 ratification bonus and extra vacation time. The vote means about 3900 employees at Mack facilities in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida are on strike as of 7 o'clock this morning. That includes 2300 UAW workers at the Mack plant in Lower Macungie Township. Mack President Stephen Roy says in a statement, "We are surprised and disappointed that the UAW has chosen to strike, which we feel is unnecessary."
Both Pennsylvania senators are condemning Hamas' weekend terrorist attack against Israel. Bob Casey said in a statement, "This is a tragic day. Hundreds are already dead and countless Israeli and Palestinian civilians are at risk because of this needless slaughter.” A statement from John Fetterman says, "I forcefully condemn these cowardly, horrifying, unprovoked attacks on Israel by Hamas. Attacking innocent civilians is particularly despicable and reflects the craven behavior of this terrorist group."
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker says he's safe but shaken after being in Israel when Hamas's attacks on the country began on Saturday. "About this time Saturday, I was jogging in the Old City when I got an urgent call from my chief of staff telling me to get back to the hotel as quickly as I could because Israel was under attack," Booker said Sunday. In the video, Booker said he saw frightened faces of children, families and fellow Americans. Booker was scheduled to speak at an economic summit tomorrow but has now left the country.
A home in Bethlehem Township has been badly damaged in an overnight fire. It happened just before 4am at a home on Tiffany Drive. No injuries are being reported.
More action is expected to be taken at tonight's City Planning Meeting in Allentown on development for the former site of the Allentown State Hospital. The agenda says Northridge Development is asking for a zoning amendment to establish a new "Mixed Use Overlay." The proposal would include a mix of residential and commercial uses. It would also apply the new district to the land formerly occupied by the Allentown State Hospital.
The Pennsylvania House and Senate are divided over the date on which to potentially move the presidential primary in 2024. Some lawmakers say it appears likely that the election will remain on April 23rd. The state House sent the Senate legislation last week but a measure that would have used the date preferred by members of the Senate was voted down. That was after House members rolled a variety of election law changes into the bill. Republicans also blasted House Democrats drastically changing the measure during a committee vote late at night when few people were watching.
A new study shows that states that send a mail ballot to every voter really do increase their turnout. Scholars at the National Vote at Home Institute say when registered voters get sent a ballot in the mail, voting rates tend to rise. Pennsylvania is among the states that have loosened their rules to allow anyone to cast an absentee ballot by mail. The idea of a no-excuse absentee voting system was implemented last year but ended up before the state's Supreme Court. It was upheld to be constitutional. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt says voters have until October 31st at 5 p.m. to apply for a mail ballot.
Pennsylvania has launched a new office to give outdoor recreation businesses a direct line to the state government. Governor Shapiro says the Office of Outdoor Recreation will use its $422,000 budget to hire two staff members. The money will also go toward travel to meet with outdoor recreation advocates, business owners and government officials statewide. Stakeholders said they hope the creation of the office will result in improvements for parks and forests, increased visitation numbers and continued growth within an industry that contributes an estimated $14 billion to the state economy each year.
Almost half of the rooms that had been reserved for a large fundraiser for Senator Bob Menendez in Puerto Rico have been canceled. The New Jersey Globe reports Menendez is traveling to the Ritz-Carlton in Dorado Beach next weekend for a high-priced fundraiser for his political action committee. But the Globe reports a staffer at the resort says attendance is now almost half of what had been expected. Menendez, his wife Nadine and three New Jersey businessmen face corruption charges involving alleged influence-peddling in exchange for gold bars, cash, a Mercedes and foreign aid for Egypt.
Mail is not running today as the U.S. Postal Service observes Columbus Day. The occasion is one of eleven federal holidays that the post office is closed for each year. UPS, Amazon, and FedEx are still making deliveries.
The Philadelphia Eagles are now 5-0 after a 23-14 win in Los Angeles over the Rams. Wide receiver A.J. Brown says despite playing thousands of miles from Philadelphia, Eagles fans took over the stadium. "Coming into the stadium I said today was going to be a home game and that's what it was," Brown said. The Eagles and 49ers remain the NFL's only unbeaten teams. Next up for the Eagles is a visit to the New York Jets this Sunday afternoon.