Allentown City Council voted 6-1 Wednesday night to transfer $4.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds that were set aside for a potential new Central Fire Station to instead put towards a new police headquarters. City Finance Director Bina Patel explained that the funds needed to be transferred to an active capital project because the project for a Central Fire Station is still in a preliminary phase.
The price of gas continues to head lower both in the Lehigh Valley and across the commonwealth. According to AAA East Central, the average price for a gallon of gas in Pennsylvania was $3.47 as of Tuesday, down four cents from the previous week and 39 cents cheaper than one year earlier. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price for a gallon of gas is $3.35, down four cents from last week and 39 cents lower than last September 3.
Former President Trump, in Harrisburg for a Fox town hall on "Hannity," criticized the Biden administration's immigration policy, and called for major action to be taken. "21 million people, that's bigger than New York, and we have to stop it. We have to do the largest deportation in history," Trump told a cheering audience.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey will debate Republican nominee Dave McCormick in Harrisburg next month. Casey and McCormick have agreed to a debate on October 3rd. A new CNN poll released yesterday shows the two tied with 46-percent of the vote. Casey is seeking a fourth term.
There could be a benefit to all that rain that fell in the Poconos last month. Forecasters say the extra moisture should make for beautiful fall foliage. Meteorologist Ben Gelber says the rain should keep the leaves from turning brown too early. He says as long as there is sun this month and into October, the fall leaves should be on their best display. Foliage colors in the Poconos should peak by later next month.
The Congressional task force that is investigating the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump is asking for more information from local police officials. They want transcribed interviews and records related to the July shooting to be sent to them by the end of the month. The task force is also asking for information on planning and post-event actions by area law enforcement. The Butler and Allegheny county medical examiners have been asked for a full autopsy report for gunman Thomas Crooks as well.
Pennsylvania State Police are reporting results of roadway law enforcement over the recent Labor Day Weekend period. Between August 30th and September 2nd, state police investigated 580 crashes that resulted in 170 injuries and six fatalities.
A proposal at the Pennsylvania Capitol would see help going to the owner of Three Mile Island to get the nuclear power station back up and running. State Rep. Tom Mehaffie, who's on the Nuclear Energy Caucus, says he backs the idea. "We get this online. We do the things that we need to do and we can reassure that we have a grid that works for the people of Pennsylvania. That is really the thing that is going on right now. We do not have a lot of base load power in PA," Mehaffie says. Mehaffie says he supports grants or tax credits to get TMI producing electricity again.
New Jersey is trying to lure the Philadelphia 76ers to the Garden State by offering massive tax breaks. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority, backed by Governor Phil Murphy, sent a Labor Day letter to a Sixers honcho. It offers 400-million-dollars in tax incentives if the basketball team picks up and moves across the Ben Franklin Bridge to Camden where they already practice. The proposed site in Camden is owned by the state and is shovel-ready. A team spokesman calls the offer "thoughtful and compelling."
Following a judge's ruling permitting smoking inside Atlantic City casinos, an anti-smoking group is out with a video featuring kids talking about the health risks of secondhand smoke. The video is from the group Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, or CEASE, and it feature employees' kids revealing their fears about working in a smoke filled environment. CEASE argues the state's failure to protect casino workers' health reflects a dangerous prioritization of profits over people, particularly since almost all other New Jersey businesses are smoke-free. The group is hoping that New Jersey legislators will be able to close the loophole that permits casino smoking.