It appears a late Tuesday night fire has killed at least one person in the Poconos. A fire broke out in a home on the 100 block of Archer Lane in Tannersville just before 11 o'clock Tuesday night. The Monroe County coroner was called to the scene for reports of one person having been killed. One other person wsa taken to the hospital. That person's condition is unknown. The fire is now out, but there's no word yet on what may have caused it.
A Northampton County home was badly damaged in an overnight fire. Firefighters were called to a home in the 3800 block of Cherryville Road in Allen Township just before 3 o'clock this morning. There is no word on any injuries yet. Responders say the fire is now under control. There is no word yet on what caused the fire, or if the home was occupied when the fire broke out.
After a deadlocked 101-101 party line vote for Pennsylvania House Speaker, Republican nominee Jesse Topper withdrew his name from consideration, paving the way for Democrat Joanna McClinton winning a second term in that role. "Each of us, whether Democrat or Republican, we were chosen by our communities to lead, to serve and to make decisions that will shape the lives of Pennsylvanians not only now, but for generations to come," McClinton said. 202 of 203 House members took the oath of office Tuesday afternoon. Democrat Matt Gergley of Allegheny County was not able to attend due to health issues. 25 state senators were also sworn in during separate ceremonies.
After being closed in the second week of July, a bridge that serves Northampton and Lehigh counties has reopened. The Willowbrook Road Bridge in Allen Township has reopened to traffic. The bridge was demolished, with a new one built in its place. The bridge is near Lehigh Valley International Airport and Catasauqua High School.
A Northampton County prosecutor is running for a spot on the bench. Democrat Robert Eyer is first assistant D.A. in the county prosecutor's office and says he is a candidate for the Court of Common Pleas. He is running for the seat of retiring Judge Anthony Beltrami. The primary is in May.
The average price for a gallon of gas in Pennsylvania went up by nearly three cents over the past seven days. According to AAA East Central, the average price, as of Tuesday, was $3.26 a gallon, up from the $3.24 one week earlier, but 12 cents below the January 7, 2024 number. In the Lehigh Valley, the price was $3.15 a gallon, two cents higher than the previous week and 16 cents less than last January.
The Pennsylvania State Police is investigating a death of a 24-year-old woman. Monday afternoon, the body of the woman was found in the stairwell of a residence on Parkway Avenue in Schuylkill Haven. The Schuylkill County Coroner believes the woman had been dead for about 48 hours. The State Police say they believe this is an isolated incident and that there is no immediate threat to the public at this time.
The House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would require immigration authorities to detain illegal immigrants who are found guilty of theft, with 48 Democrats joining all Republicans in supporting the bill. Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman says you can support the bill and also be pro-immigration. "I don't know why it's controversial if we should deport any migrants here illegally that are engaging in any kind of criminal activity," Fetterman says. Critics of the bill are concerned that the bill does not require migrants to be convicted of a crime to be detained. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill this week.
Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick is planning to open regional offices across the commonwealth, including one in the Lehigh Valley. McCormick announced yesterday that he is opening offices in Allentown and six other Pennsylvania cities. The Senator said the regional offices are meant to demonstrate that he will be responsive to the needs of Pennsylvanians. The Allentown office is expected to open by the end of next week.
After two years, poultry is back at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, but there are new rules this year. "In years past, if they were basically show birds, they went back into their own flock. That's not the case here," Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding says. Instead, Redding says the birds on display at the Farm Show will end up on somebody's dinner table this year. Visitors are also not allowed to pet any of the birds shown this year.
New Jersey's cannabis industry grew into a $1 billion market last year, only four years after Governor Phil Murphy signed into law legislation legalizing adult use of cannabis as an industry. The $1 billion figure beat 2023's total by 25 percent, when the take totaled $800 million. The industry also generates tax revenues on the state and local levels.
Former Senator Bob Menendez's wife Nadine is seeking another delay in her trial on federal corruption charges because of publicity surrounding the case. Nadine Menendez's lawyer says his client is concerned the publicity surrounding her case will taint the jury pool. Bob Menendez was convicted in a wide-ranging corruption case involving gold bars, piles of cash, and Egypt and Qatar. Menendez sought a delay in his sentencing until after his wife's trial on similar charges. Different trials were scheduled after her diagnosis of breast cancer. Menendez's request for a delay was denied but his wife's trial had been postponed until next month.
Girl Scout cookie season is getting started in Pennsylvania. The organization says this year is the last one for a couple of the treat flavors. The S'mores sandwich cookies and the Toast-Yay! French toast flavored cookies are being retired in 2025. Cookie booth sales will start at the end of February.