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Here's what's trending for September 17.

We're now being told more than 30 people were displaced after a fire late Sunday night damaged six homes in Allentown. The Allentown Fire Department says crews were called to the first block of South Jefferson Street just before midnight for a report of a building fire. One resident was taken to a nearby hospital for a medical issue, which was described as not life-threatening. A firefighter was treated at the scene for a minor injury. All occupants of the six affected homes escaped without injury. Six homes were damaged by fire, and adjoining buildings sustained smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Allentown City Council held a special meeting on Monday to review a new trash collection contract that is scheduled for final approval on Wednesday. The proposed contract with J.P. Mascaro & Sons would result in a fee increase for residents. The proposed fee increase is 46%, meaning a $190 increase for 2025. This cost to the residents breaks down to $50.41 per month, or $1.65 per day. The fee increase includes year-round yard waste collection to address the shift in warmer temperatures and the accumulation of yard waste. Previously, in the months of December, February and March, there was no yard collection services available.

The Bethlehem City Council will vote tonight on an ordinance meant to keep all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes off the road. The bill would impose a fine of $50-to-$200 to anyone caught riding an A-T-V or dirt bike on city highways, sidewalks, or pedalcycle lanes. Gas stations that sell fuel to those riders could be penalized as well. Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott said officers have responded to seven crashes involving off-road vehicles since 2022.

There are plans in the works for a new hotel on the South Side of Bethlehem. The plans call for a 141-guestroom Tempo by Hilton, including a ground floor lobby restaurant & bar, meeting space, second-floor fitness center, and rooftop bar. The proposed site is near the corner of Third and South New streets is currently an abandoned building and parking lot. Developers pitched the hotel in front of Bethlehem's Historic Conservation Commission at a Monday evening meeting.

Two juveniles are being charged with assault following a recent incident involving State Troopers. Officials say the troopers were trying to stop a group of juveniles that ran away from a KidsPeace facility in Lehigh County when one started resisting. Authorities said another juvenile started throwing landscaping rocks at the troopers' patrol car then the troopers themselves, hitting one of them in the hand. The 15 and 16-year-old suspects were eventually taken into custody.

More than 30 local non-profits will be buying EMS and first aid equipment thanks to the East Allen Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps. That organization was forced to close its doors in July 2023 and as part of that process, its board of directors decided to donate its final funds to non-profits.

Plastic bags could soon be illegal in Stroudsburg, The borough is considering a ban on single-use plastic bags at stores and for food delivery. Supporters say the idea is to be more environmentally friendly. If plastic bags are banned in Stroudsburg that would mean stores could offer paper bags, or people would have to use their own bags. The borough is asking people about the idea, nothing is final, and there's no word when a vote on the idea may come.

The Foliage Forecast in the Poconos is now getting regular updates. The folks at The Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau updated the forecast yesterday, and say they plan to continue updating the leaf-changing-news throughout the fall. The forecast says, as of right now, 10 percent of trees are starting to change colors. The Visitors Bureau says the peak for fall colors won't come for another month or so. Thousands of people come to the Poconos each year to see the foliage, the Visitors Bureau is happy to help them plan just when to come.

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris remain in a virtual tie across Pennsylvania. That's according to the latest FiveThirtyEight polling, which shows Harris with 47-point-four-percent of support from likely voters while Trump has 46-point-eight-percent of support from likely voters. Pennsylvania is considered to be a must-win battleground state for both candidates.

People on welfare in Pennsylvania will not have to look for work for at least another year. Lawmakers voted this summer to extend the state's work requirement waiver until next August. The decision means that the people enrolled in public benefit programs in the state do not have to work, or even look for work. Republicans at the Capitol in Harrisburg wanted to end the waiver for able-bodied, single, childless adults who could be working. But Democrats said no. Pennsylvania's welfare rolls have swollen recently, jumping by over 200 percent to now include more than two million people.

Folks in Pennsylvania can now buy cocktails in a can. The new state law that allows for canned alcohol drinks went into effect yesterday. Bars, restaurants, and stores started selling the drinks yesterday. Before Monday, you could only buy cocktails in a can at the state-owned liquor stores. The Liquor Control Board expected thousands of stores and restaurants to apply to sell the drinks, but didn't have an exact number yesterday.

The people who sell fireworks in Pennsylvania want a new state law. Lawmakers held a hearing on fireworks last week at the Capitol in Harrisburg. Both fireworks sellers and state regulators say Pennsylvania's fireworks laws are a little thin. Most of the regulation, and most of the enforcement, come at the local level. Dan Peart with Phantom Fireworks says they tell customers to know their local laws before they buy, but he says that often falls on deaf ears. Some lawmakers, however, are fine with the way things are. They don't want to see more fireworks in more parts of the state if they don't have to.

Forecasters say a potential tropical storm that's currently off the Carolina coast could hit New Jersey by tomorrow, bringing with it heavy rains and high winds. The National Hurricane Center has dubbed this latest storm Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight. Its precise path is not yet known but it could bring heavy rains to the mid-Atlantic Coast today and tomorrow. A high rip current risk is in effect for the Jersey Shore through tonight and possibly tomorrow. The recent dry weather will likely prevent widespread flooding.

The Falcons shocked the Eagles on Monday Night Football in a 22-21, comeback win from the Linc. Atlanta marched 70 yards in just over a minute to win the game. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts says the team need to learn from the late loss. "Obviously it's a tough loss, but we'll learn from it. We'll be better from it," Hurts said. The Eagles are now 1-1.


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