There weren't many high-profile contested races in Tuesday's primary election and that was reflected in voter turnout numbers. In Lehigh County, voter turnout was 22.2% Tuesday, essentially the same as last spring's primary election. About 37% of Lehigh County's votes came via mail-in ballots, about four points more than last year's primary. In Northampton County, voter turnout was similarly poor, with 22% of voters taking part, however that was up from the 2023 number of 19%. Last year and Tuesday, about 41% of Northampton County's votes were cast via mail-in balloting. Tuesday's turnout was the lowest in a presidential election year since 2012.
A shelter-in-place order that lasted nearly five hours was lifted Wednesday morning in Lehigh Township. Policce say a woman reported she was assaulted by her husband about 11:30 Tuesday night. When officers went to arrest him, police say he texted the victim a picture of him with a handgun and threatened to shoot police if they came to the house on Steven Lane. Eventually a state police negotiator was able to get the 41-year-old man to surrender without incident. The shelter-in-place order was lifted a little before 11am.
It took four months, but Easton police say they've got their man. 23-year-old Tamir Freeman of Northampton Street has been found, arrested and charged with opening fire last December at Easton's Winter Village skating rink. One man was shot multiple times in the incident. U.S. Marshals with the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force took Freeman into custody Tuesday. Freeman is currently in at the Essex County, New Jersey, jail, before being extradited back to Easton.
A Palmer Township police officer is in trouble for allegedly sending an explicit photo of himself to a teenager. Investigators say John Smoke was assigned to Easton High School as a resource officer when he allegedly sent the female student the inappropriate photo and cash and contacted the student. Smoke is charged with corruption of minors, was fired and ordered to have no contact with the victim and no entry to Easton Area High School.
A 30-yea-rold Allentown man will serve 7 to 14 years in state prison for firing a gun into a bar in January 2023. Paul Kerr was asked to leave Pagan's Place in Allentown by the bar's owner Luis Pagan. Kerr argued with Pagan, but left. He crossed the street and fired several shots at the building. Nobody was hit.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Wednesday, the Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley held its annual vigil and Emily Gregonis says the focus of the event is three words. "You aren't alone," Gregonis says. The event is held every year at the Tree of Life Memorial Grove on Chestnut Drive in Allentown.
The plan at the Pennsylvania Capitol to clarify the rules for people who own guns and use medical marijuana in the state is getting a lot of attention. State Senator Dan Laughlin from Erie is pushing a plan that would spell out that people who use medical marijuana are not illegal users. That would allow them to own and even carry their guns. Laughlin says Pennsylvania's law against gun owners and medical marijuana users is rarely enforced, but he said it is a concern. Other lawmakers say the problem is at the federal level, where marijuana remains illegal.
The Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up for tonight's NFL draft. Philadelphia enters the draft with the 22nd overall pick. Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith were selected by the team in the 1st round a year ago. As of now, the Eagles hold eight picks in the draft, including three selections in the fifth round.