Two Allentown City Council members will bring forward a vote of no confidence in Mayor Matt Tuerk during tomorrow night's council meeting. Ed Zucal and Ce-Ce Gerlach have written up a resolution that would declare council has “no confidence” in Tuerk’s leadership as mayor. The vote would not require any specific action, but would be a symbolic show of City Council’s dissatisfaction with Tuerk’s leadership. The scheduled vote comes two weeks after the city fired Karen Ocasio, a human resources employee who had claimed she was bullied and discriminated against at work. She is one of several city employees allege they dealt with racism and discrimination at their jobs in City Hall. Tuerk said that Ocasio’s firing was not retaliatory, and said, “We do not tolerate discrimination of any form in Allentown.”
The condition of a pedestrian hit by a car Monday night in Lehigh County is unknown. The pedestrian was hit in the 5000 block of Tilghman Street in Upper Macungie Township around 7:15 last night. We're told a SUV was seen with front-end damage. Police are still investigating.
A popular Allentown pub is closing. Jabber Jaws Bar & Grille, in the 1300 block of West Chew Street will close permanently on December 30th. The business will hold a “Final Farewell” event Dec. 29. Jabber Jaws has become a popular spot for performances by local bands, singers-songwriters and other music acts. The pub also hosts other events such as karaoke, bingo, craft nights, bike nights and various nonprofit fundraisers. Owners didn't give a reason for closing.
A Monroe County man is accused of exposing himself at an indoor waterpark in the Poconos. 40-year-old Josiah Grauso is accused of exposing himself in the lazy river area of Kalahari Resorts waterpark in Tobyhanna Township. It happened around 4:30 Sunday afternoon. Grauso was charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
Two Pennsylvania towns are among the 'Most Christmassy' in America. Mixbook, a photo book brand, ranks Bethlehem and Hershey in their top 75 'Most Christmassy Towns' list. It was compiled with by a survey of 3000 people. Bethlehem landed in the eighth spot and Hershey is listed as 19th on the list. Bethlehem's "Live Advent Calendar," the only one of its kind in the country, was a big draw for respondents. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee was ranked number one as being the most Christmassy town.
Musikfest has booked its second Wind Creek Steel Stage act for its 2024 festival. Old Dominion returns to Musikfest the night of August 6th. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday for the general public. Old Dominion previously performed in Bethlehem back in 2017.
Sunday night, protests erupted in philadelphia over Israel's war with Hamas and one large crowd gathered outside a Jewish-owned business. Monday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro discussed the incident. "What we saw Sunday night was not peaceful protests. What we saw Sunday night, in my opinion, was blatant anti-Semitism," Shapiro said. Protesters waved flags and blocked traffic, while calling for the end of Israel and the liberation of Gaza. Pro-Palestine stickers were also placed on the front of the business.
Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman paid $343 for former New York Congressman George Santos to make a sarcastic video towards Democratic New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez who is facing a FBI probe. "Hey Bobby. Look, I don't think I need to tell you, but these people who want to make you get in trouble and want to kick you out and make you run away, you make them put up or shut up. You stand your ground sir and don't get bogged down by all the haters out there. Stay strong! Merry Christmas!" Santos said in the video. In a social media post, Fetterman said, "I thought my ethically-challenged colleague Bob Menendez could use some encouragement given his substantial legal problems. So, I approached a seasoned expert on the matter to give ‘Bobby from Jersey’ some advice.” Menendez is facing accusations from federal prosecutors for taking bribes in exchange for aiding the Egyptian government.
It appears there's a direct link to gold bars found in New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez's home to a businessman accused of bribing the senator. NBC 4 New York reports at least four gold bars found in Menendez's home had the same serial numbers of bars stolen from businessman Fred Daibes back in 2013. Police later caught four suspects with the stolen bars and in order for Daibes to get the bars returned, he had to present the bars' serial numbers. Ten years later, the FBI said the bars found in Menendez's home have those unique serial numbers.
New Jersey's second segment of the black bear hunt is officially underway and runs through Saturday. Segment A, which ran in October, was for archers and hunters using muzzleloaders. The current Segment B, is for hunters using muzzleloaders or shotguns. Three-hundred-thirty-one black bears were culled in October. The goal set by New Jersey's Fish & Wildlife Department is 20-percent of the black bear population. If that combined tally from the two harvests isn't reached, the bruin hunt will extend through 16th.
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed manager Rob Thomson to a one-year contract extension through the 2025 season after he led the team to two straight trips to the NL Championship Series. The 60-year-old Thomson has a 155-118 record since the veteran bench coach replaced Joe Girardi as Phillies manager on June 3, 2022.