According to AAA East Central, the average price for a gallon of gas in Pennsylvania dropped about three cents this week to $3.61 a gallon. That's 24 cents below last July 30th's price. In the Lehigh Valley, the price was $3.46 as of Tuesday, more than a nickel less the week before and 34 cents less expensive that in 2023.
A staple of New Tripoli’s dining scene is in transition amid a landlord-tenant dispute. Katie’s Family Restaurant, a popular family-run eatery known for its burgers, steaks, seafood platters and all-you-can-eat soup and salad bar, on Sunday held its last day of business at 6397 Route 309 in Heidelberg Township. The restaurant, established in 2012, is expected to reopen in September in a nearby Heidelberg Township location. An official announcement, detailing the new location’s address and other changes, will be made on the business’ Facebook page in the coming weeks.
Last month was record-breaking for Lehigh Valley International Airport. Officials said more than 98-thousand passengers went through the airport, the most ever for the month of June. This is the second-straight month the airport has reported a record number of travelers, with more than 85-thousand passing through in May. The Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority says L-V-I-A is "doing a fantastic job delivering first-class customer service."
The Montgomery County Coroner's Office has confirmed the identity of skeletal remains discovered in Towamencin Township earlier this year. The remains have been identified as those of Isaias Hernandez-Geronimo, 34. The identification of Isaias Hernandez-Geronimo was made possible through DNA testing. He is survived by his wife, children, and extended family. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office says based on conversations with the family and evidence gathered from the site, there is no indication of suspicious activity leading to the death. However, the cause and manner of death will be documented as Undetermined at this time.
Two former Penn State students are pleading guilty to charges stemming from a hazing incident that led to another student's death. Authorities said Brendan Young and Daniel Casey were in leadership roles at their fraternity when Timothy Piazza died in 2017. Piazza drank a large amount of alcohol during the event and died after falling multiple times. Young and Casey pleaded guilty to 14 counts of hazing and one count of reckless endangerment.
Pennsylvania's auditor general says there needs to be a change in how the state labels bridges. Auditor General Timothy DeFoor said in a new audit that the current process leaves too many people thinking that too many bridges in Pennsylvania are unsafe. Currently PennDOT rates bridges as in 'overall poor shape,' but the audit says that doesn't mean the bridge is unsafe. DeFoor says he wants a better process for rating bridges, that includes qualified inspection teams, timely reports, and consistency. Penn-DOT says it is trying to repair as many of the bridges that have been rated as poor as it can. But Penn-DOT says it needs more money to do so.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is explaining his concerns with Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel's proposal to purchase U.S. Steel. "If the U.S. steelworkers are not happy with this deal, which they are not, then I'm not happy with this deal," Shapiro says. Nippon Steel hopes to acquire U.S. Steel for nearly $15 billion, but has faced skepticism from union steelworkers in the U.S.. Former President Donald Trump has also pledged to block the deal if he wins reelection.
A Pennsylvania Senator wants Governor Josh Shapiro to be Kamala Harris's running mate. Senator Bob Casey says Shapiro would be a great vice presidential candidate and strengthen the Democratic party's ticket. Shapiro is reportedly one of several candidates being considered for the V-P spot. He has made appearances campaigning for Harris since she was named the presumptive Democratic candidate earlier this month.
Former President Trump's campaign is spending 10-million-dollars in an advertising push this week in six battleground states, including Pennsylvania. It's the largest ad buy since January as the campaign hopes to push back against voter enthusiasm for Democratic Vice-President and likely nominee Kamala Harris. Harris has been running her campaign in earnest since President Biden dropped his bid for re-election last week. It comes as Trump is scheduled to host a rally tonight in Harrisburg.
Officials in Butler County say they have not gotten any word so far on another Trump campaign event. The GOP presidential nominee announced on social media last week that he plans to come back to Butler for a "big and beautiful rally" to honor shooting victim Corey Comperatore, but he did not give any specifics. Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe says he has not been contacted about any other gatherings, but he is ready to assist the Secret Service if need be. Trump is scheduled to make an appearance in Harrisburg later this evening for his first Pennsylvania visit since the July 13th assassination attempt.
A professor at Rutgers University is under fire for her comment that she hoped there would be a second assassination attempt on former President Trump. The university is conducting a review of Assistant Professor Tracy Budd's social media posts following the attempt on Trump's life in Pennsylvania this month. University officials expressed their disapproval of Budd's comments and say they plan to reinforce the need for civility when students return to classes next month.
A federal judge says New Jersey's ban on AR-15s is unconstitutional. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridan cited a 2022 Supreme Court ruling on the use of the Colt AR-15 for self-defense in the home in striking down New Jersey's ban. Sheridan's decision applies only to the Colt AR-15 and no other weapons. State Attorney General Matthew Platkin blasted the decision, saying it had no support in either history or the U.S. Constitution. Platkin promises to appeal the decision.
Boar's Head has expanded its recall of deli meats linked to a listeria outbreak to include seven-million more pounds of poultry products and ready-to-eat meat. One person in New Jersey has died from meats connected to the outbreak. Signs of a listeria infection include fever, headache, nausea, and muscle aches.