The demolition of the former Cleveland Elementary School is being allowed to move forward. The Allentown City Council voted unanimously yesterday to deny an attempt from the Historical Architectural Review Board to prevent the school from being torn down to build a youth community center. Board president AJ Jordan said they supported the project, but felt it was premature to demolish the more than 140-year-old building before it could be rehabilitated. Community Action Lehigh Valley says the end target date for the project is next summer.
Allentown City Council voted 5-2 Wednesday night to reject a new trash contract that would have resulted in trash fees increasing 46% next year and a total of 78% the year after that. Councilmembers Daryl L. Hendricks and Santo Napoli cast the affirmative votes to accept the contract. They say, bottom line, this was the cheapest bid by $10 million. But the majority of City Council, as well as many residents, said they've had it with all the price increases. The rejected contract would have been with J.P. Mascaro & Sons for $16.3 million. Waste Management had also submitted a bid, but councilmembers said that proposal was $10 million higher than J.P. Mascaro. The city's current contract with Waste Management ends May 31, 2025.
Many WAEB listeners have questioned why Kamala Harris is running ads on a station whose audience will overwhelmingly vote for Donald Trump this November. Muhlenberg College political science professor Chris Borick says it reveals how close the race is here in the Keystone State. "I use the analogy of looking in the cushions for change when you're desperate for money to buy something. If you find enough, you're able to get what you want, it just gets you enough to get you across the line. In some ways the campaigns are doing just that in Pennsylvania. They're looking everywhere," Borick says. He says Harris is trying to persuade the perhaps one out of ten conservative talk radio listeners who aren't completely sold on Trump to come over to her side in November.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board says the combined total revenue generated from all forms of gaming, along with fantasy contests, during August was $510,169,390, an increase of 11.60% compared to revenue generated in August 2023. Total tax revenue generated collectively through all forms of gaming and fantasy contests was $215,048,192* during August 2024. The Wind Creek Casino Resort in Bethlehem brought in the sixth-highest revenue last month at $49.3 million, a nearly five percent increase over last August. Traditional slot machines continue to be the biggest revenue-earner, with more than $211.1 million last month.
If you love chocolate, particularly Josh Early Candies chocolate, there's bad news. The candy maker is warning customers of an upcoming price increase due to soaring costs, specifically the price of cocoa. Josh Early says the price of cocoa has risen by about 150% over where it stood one year ago. The company didn't indicate when the price hike will happen nor how much of an increase customers should expect.
PennDOT has opened its third electric vehicle charging station. The new charging station is found along I-95 in Delaware County. It will support eight charging ports and will be open 24/7.
Girls' flag football is now an officially sanctioned high school sport in Pennsylvania. The state Interscholastic Athletic Association says the sport has reached the required threshold of at least 100 participating schools across the state. The effort was backed by the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, who worked together to grow the sport over the past three years. The PIAA says girls' flag football is now an emerging sport due to both teams.
The Mayor of Atlantic City and his wife have been indicted on child abuse charges. Fifty-year-old Marty Small Sr. and 47-year-old La'Quetta Small, who is the superintendent of the city school district, were both indicted on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. The mayor was also indicted on charges of terroristic threats and aggravated assault. The abuse charges involve their now 16-year-old daughter who told police she had been punched and hit by her parents. In addition, the principal of Atlantic City High School was indicted for failing to report the abuse.
Mayor Parker has expressed her support for keeping the 76ers in Philadelphia. In a social media post yesterday, Parker announced an agreement has been reached to build an arena for the team in Center City. Parker provided limited details about the deal but mentioned the plan includes hundreds of new jobs. Leaders in New Jersey and Delaware are still trying to lure the basketball team to their states as well.
Phillies fans can now register for an opportunity to buy playoff tickets at Citizens Bank Park, for the 2024 MLB postseason. Registration for all possible rounds of the post-season will end Saturday, October 12th at 11:59 p.m. If you’re picked, the team will let you know by email. To sign up, you can go to phillies.com/postseason.