Pennsylvania State Police say a 20-year-old man was seriously injured after his vehicle hit a tree following a police pursuit in Carbon County. It began with an attempted traffic stop just before 6:30 Thursday evening in Franklin Township. The driver did not stop and eventually led police on a chase into Towamensing Township, where the driver lost control of his car, left the road and hit a tree. The driver was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest with serious injuries. State police say the investigation continues.
Meeko and Cosmo have arrived at the Lehigh Valley Zoo. The brothers are red pandas and they've arrived at the zoo from Alabama's Birmingham Zoo. Donors contributed $350,000 to build their habitat.
The latest questions for Pennsylvania Game Commission leaders focus on paper checks, and once again transparency. State representatives pressed Game Commission leaders during a hearing at the State Capitol Monday. State Rep. Joe Hohenstein said the Game Commission needs to do a much better job of communicating with lawmakers. That's the same criticism that Game Commission leaders have been hearing for years. Newly appointed Game Commission boss Steve Smith told lawmakers that he is dedicated to that idea. But lawmakers also had more pointed questions about why the Game Commission is collecting less in royalty payments from gas companies than expected, and why the Game Commission is still using paper checks for those payments.
Pennsylvania's governor is applauding the plan that would make tampons and menstrual pads free to kids in schools across the state. The Pennsylvania House this week approved the legislation that would spend three-million dollars on feminine hygiene products. Advocates say the idea is to help low income women and girls. The plan now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate for a vote.
Members of a New Jersey Senate panel have approved an amended bill to reduce penalties for anyone possessing up to an ounce of psilocybin. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic in certain types of mushrooms. The revised bill charges the state health department with regulating the manufacture, testing, delivery and sale of psilocybin. The earlier version of the bill would have broadly legalized possession and use by adults of psilocybin.