Gas prices continue a pretty dramatic tumble. According to AAA East Central, the average price for a gallon of gas in Pennsylvania was $3.40 as of Tuesday, down almost seven cents from the previous Tuesday and 45 cents less than one year ago. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price also dropped by six cents to $3.28 a gallon. That's 44 cents under last September 10th's price.
The Northampton Area School District Board of Directors voted Monday to name its new building on Route 329 and New Seemsville Road. The new school is dubbed "East Allen Elementary School." The long-anticipated $73.6 project calls for the construction of a new elementary school and "education center" on 90 acres of district-owned land along Route 329 in East Allen Township, Northampton County. The project is scheduled for completion next summer for use in the 2026-27 school year.
U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick promised to support Social Security, law enforcement, residents with financial struggles and more during a visit Tuesday to Allentown. The Republican businessman visited the Syrian Arab American Charity Association in Allentown to field questions and explain his views. McCormick emphasized the need to protect Social Security for seniors, especially as inflation makes a fixed income more difficult to live on. “My father is 86 and he called me recently and said, ‘I love you, son. I think you’re going to be a great senator. If you touch Social Security, I’m not voting for you,’ “ McCormick said.
An Allentown billionaire launched into space yesterday. Jared Isaacman is among four astronauts on the historic Polaris Dawn mission that will be testing new technologies, including spacesuits engineered by SpaceX. Isaacman is paying for the ride that includes new internet capabilities from space and dozens of different research studies and experiments. The crew is looking to conduct the first spacewalk by a private company.
New details were released yesterday at Justin Mohn's preliminary hearing. The Bucks County man's accused of beheading his father. Mohn put out a gruesome video on YouTube where he complained about the federal government. Walking into court yesterday, Mohn continued to rant about the government. "I and a lot of other people around America believe that the federal government has betrayed America. They're destroying the country and we have to do something to take our country back," Mohn said.
Today marks 23 years since the attacks of 9-11-2001. Hijackers took control of four airplanes that morning that were eventually crashed into the World Trade Center towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington and a field in Shanksville. Thousands were killed including the 40 passengers and crew aboard United Flight 93 that went down in Somerset County. A Service of Remembrance will take place this morning at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville. Among the dignitaries expected to pay their respects at the memorial today are President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. There has been no word on when each of the three will be visiting Shanksville though we do know that Biden and Harris are expected to be traveling together.
A flag honoring Flight 93 that is flying over Shanksville was unfurled in a special ceremony at the State Capitol yesterday. The flag made in the days after 9/11 has flown over the crash site every year since on September Tenth and Eleventh. It includes the quote "Our nation will eternally honor the heroes of Flight 93." Pennsylvania activist Gene Stilp, who designed the flag, said not only should the tragedy never be forgotten, but also how the country came together afterward.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says the attempt on his life at the Butler Farm Show grounds this summer may have been inspired by political rhetoric used by Democrats. Trump referenced the July shooting during last night's ABC News debate, saying he "probably took a bullet to the head because of the things that they say about me". The former president did not mention any specific evidence to show that gunman Thomas Crooks was motivated by sentiments shared by Democrat officials. FBI investigators have said Crooks searched online for details on various political events involving both Republican and Democrat leaders.
For the second straight year, a coach for the Cuba team at the Little League World Series did not return to the country. Little League International says Coach Carlos Cesar Martinez left the international complex in Williamsport on August 24th and did not return. The rest of the team went back to Cuba without him two days later. The incident comes after Cuba Coach Jose Perez left the team during the Little League World Series in 2023.