Last Saturday, Allentown City Council passed a 2024 budget that cut about $3 million from Mayor Matt Tuerk's budget in order to avoid a property tax increase. Wednesday, Tuerk vetoed council's vote. In a memo sent to council, the mayor said eliminating a property tax hike would provide a short term benefit, but eventually would diminish the quality of life and public services city residents rely on and deserve. A city spokesperson also says if council overrides the veto, the city would be forced to cancel events like its Independence Day fireworks show and Lights in the Parkway display. Tuerk originally proposed a budget with a 6.9% tax increase, but has since trimmed that down to a proposed 2% property tax increase, while cutting an additional $1.5 million from his original budget. Council passed its version of the budget in a 5-2 vote. Five votes are needed to override the mayor's veto.
There were some nervous hours in Upper Nazareth Township Wednesday when the FBI, bomb squad and several other agencies were called to a home on Neville Way. William Cope is the Upper Nazareth police chief and explains what transpired. "At that point, we were pointed and directed by occupants of the house that there were some explosives in the house," Cope says. The FBI and Bethlehem Bomb Squad ended up removing some items but Cope said he isn't saying what they were. Cope says a man at that address was removed from the home last month for mental health issues, but declined to elaborate.
A 41-year-old Salisbury Township woman could spend up to 40 years in prison in for killing her roommate in July 2022. Terri Hodel has pleaded guilty to shooting and killing 37-year-old Tracy Hoffman inside the East Federal Street residence they shared. After pleading guilty, Hodel was immediately sentenced to 20-to-40 years behind bars.
After pleading guilty in September, 42-year-old Brian McGoldrick has been sentenced to five-to-19 years in prison, followed by a year of probation for a 2022 crash that killed an Allentown woman. The Glenside man's blood alcohol level was more than triple the legal limit when he was driving the wrong way on Airport Road and slammed into the car driven by 55-year-old Catherine Neelon, who died at the hospital after the crash.
Union officials with the United Auto Workers say its members at Mack Truck's Lehigh Valley Operations plant could vote on a new contract next week. Local 677, which represents 2300 workers in Lower Macungie Township, says they expect to vote on the new proposal November 15th. The October 1st offer, which the company called its last and best offer, included up to 20 percent raises over the next five years as well as a guarantee for no rate hikes to health insurance premiums through the end of the contract. The union says negotiations have resulted in Mack tweaking that offer.
If you want to blame somebody for grocery prices going higher and higher, Sen. Bob Casey says you should point the finger at big business. "If you look at it from the perspective of the average Pennsylvania family, their expenses went up by almost $3200 in 2021 and a little more than $3500 in 2022, solely due to corporate profiteering," Casey claims. He calls that 'greedflation.' The Democrat says two ideas would help reel in soaring prices. One would be slapping an excess profits tax on oil companies and the other would be to restore the child tax credit provision from 2021.
An Amazon executive has been hired as Pennsylvania's chief information security officer. Officials with the state Office of Administration say James Sipe will begin his new job November 27th. He currently oversees cyber security for Amazon's 25 largest cloud-services customers. Governor Shapiro has expressed a need for state government to increase its technology use and make Pennsylvania more digitally focused.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board says wine and spirits sales for this past year topped more than three-billion-dollars. The newly-released report says sales for the fiscal year that just ended were four-and-a-half-percent higher than the year before. However, increases to the agency's pension and worker compensation programs decreased its contributions to the state's general fund, which benefits from the board's taxes and cash transfers. Overall, nearly 814-million dollars was contributed to benefit Pennsylvania's schools, health and human services programs, and police and public safety initiatives.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is now accepting nominations for the Commonwealth's 2025 Teacher of the Year. State Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid Mumin says the department wants to hear from people from all walks of life on who should be nominated. Until December 15th, teachers, administrators, students, parents or community members may nominate a local educator who has made a difference. The winner will be announced at a state awards ceremony in early December of next year.
Penn State University has changed the name of the airport it owns and operates. Officials say the University Park Airport will now be known as the State College Regional Airport, a move that they hope will clarify the region the airport serves. They also hope the change will provide more economic support to Centre County. Currently, many travelers fly in to Pittsburgh or Harrisburg rather than using the airport in State College. Penn State owns the airport and is in charge of its operation, administration, and security. The Centre County Airport Authority is responsible for parking and overseeing commercial airline operations.
The Phillies have decided Bryce Harper will be the team's first baseman in 2024. Team president Dave Dombrowski has high expectations for how Harper will handle the job full-time. "We think he'll be a gold glove first baseman," Dombrowski says. Harper moving to first base means Rhys Hoskins' time in Philadelphia is coming to an end.
A long-time Eagles player has something new to add to his resume. Jason Kelce has been named one of the "Sexiest Man Alive" finalists for 2023. People Magazine creates the list on an annual basis and Kelce joins Usher and Lenny Kravitz on the list of finalists. The offensive lineman has been with the Eagles since he was drafted in 2011.