A man who ran unsuccessfully for Bethlehem mayor three years ago has passed away. Bethlehem native John Kachmar has died from cancer at the age of 76. Kachmar was awarded the Purple Heart twice for injuries suffered in Vietnam, later worked for Lehigh Valley Congressman Don Ritter's office and also was Lehigh County administrator. The man who beat Kachmar in the 2021 race, Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds says, “He understood that running for office was about the future of your community and not about entertainment or performance, or carrying out personal grievances.”
Easton police are investigating reports of gunfire in the city. Part of Butler Street was shut down Sunday night around 8pm while police investigated gunfire reports of gunshots. At this time, it appears no one was hit.
An overnight fire damaged a Northampton County home. Investigators say a fire started around 1 o'clock this morning in the upstairs of part of a home on Lake Minsi Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township. There is no word yet on if anyone was inside the house or if anyone was injured.
A hiker had to be rescued from the Appalachian Trail Sunday night after suffering a leg injury. A 911 call was received after 6pm for a hiker in distress near the Carbon-Northampton county line. The hiker was rescued about two hours later but did not need to go to the hospital.
Pennsylvania State Police are looking for a 15-year-old boy who they say ran away from his home in Northampton County last week. Christopher Messinger was last seen at his home in Upper Mount Bethel Township around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10. Messinger was last seen wearing a white hoodie, black Hollister sweatpants, Nike high tops with purple in lay, a black bookbag and riding a black bicycle. Anyone with information on the teen's location is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police-Belfast.
The state House has passed legislation that would ban hand-held phone use while driving. The ACLU's Liz Randol is not a fan of the idea. "Distracted driving is certainly a problem, but we just believe that this is not the way to address it," Randol says. She says such a law would encourage police officers to make traffic stops that could end up being confrontational or illegal. Supporters, like House Transporation Committee Chairman Ed Neilson say it's desperately needed. "There are more people getting into car accidents because of distracted driving than drunk driving," Neilson says. The bill has to go to the State Senate before it potentially heads to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk.
It's the latest sign that Election Day is approaching, and that Pennsylvania will be a key state this fall. President Biden is due to visit Scranton tomorrow. He's also scheduled to visit both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh later in the week. President Biden's visit comes after former President Trump campaigned in the Lehigh Valley on Saturday. Polls show the presidential race in Pennsylvania is essentially tied.
Iran launched airstrikes against Israel Saturday. While speaking at a rally in Schnecksville, former President and likely 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said it wouldn't have happened if he were still in office. "America prays for Israel. We send our absolute support to everyone in harm's way. This was an attack that would not have happened," Trump said. The former president said if he gets elected once again, America's support for Israel will not waver.
Pennsylvania's student-teacher stipend program is too popular. State officials say the program, which pays student teachers up to $15,000, had enough money for as many as 700 teachers. Last week, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency says it received 3000 applications in just a matter of hours. That means many student teachers won't have a spot in the program next year. The PHEAA says the student teacher stipend program is designed to fight against Pennsylvania's teacher shortage.
The necropsy of the humpback whale that washed up on the shore in New Jersey last week has shown the whale's death is linked to blunt force trauma. The 25-foot whale was found along 51st Street in Long Beach Township last week. It's the first whale death reported in New Jersey this year. The necropsy showed fractures to the whale's skull and neck. Wildlife groups on Long Beach Island and some state lawmakers continue to call for an investigation into the deaths and are pointing fingers at offshore wind development. The state EPA maintains there is no connection.