The police officer killed in a shooting at a hospital in York County last weekend was transported to Allentown yesterday. A procession for Officer Andrew Duarte brought him to Lehigh Valley Hospital for an autopsy. Duarte was fatally shot while responding to the incident at UMPC Memorial Hospital on Saturday. His funeral is scheduled for Friday.
The Wilson Borough Council voted unanimously Monday to declare Councilmember Scott Palinkas' seat vacant. Palinkas has reportedly been absent for 15 meetings and faced multiple "no confidence" votes. Palinkas was not at Monday's meeting and has yet to comment on his absences.
Bethlehem City Council's finance committee is discussing raising the salaries of elected officials. Councilwoman Kiera Wilhelm says council salaries have been $7100 for the past 16 years and $7600 for council president. The proposed salary hike would boost the pay for a council member to $10,650 and $11,400 for council president. The proposal would also increase the mayor's salary from $90,500 to $98,000. That job has not seen a pay increase in a dozen years. Wilhelm says any pay increases would not take effect during the current term of any office holders.
Governor Josh Shapiro says over $2 billion in federal money is available to the state again after it was held up by the Trump Administration. "As a result of our lawsuit and our continued pressure and engagement with the Trump administration, every dollar that we identified at the filing of our lawsuit is currently unfrozen and once again accessible to all Pennsylvania state agencies," the governor says. Shapiro says that money will be spent to plug abandoned wells, prevent sinkholes and ensure Pennsylvania's drinking water is clean. Lawyers for the Trump administration characterized the freeze to Pennsylvania and other states as a "pause" while they consider how best to use federal funds.
A well-known ride at Hersheypark is being shut down almost six decades. Park officials recently confirmed that Skyview is no longer operational. Skyview had given visitors an aerial view of the park from The Hollow since 1966. Hersheypark says its new Twizzlers Twisted Gravity ride will open in The Hollow this summer.
Penn State's annual THON fundraising event raised over $17 million for pediatric cancer research over the weekend. The annual 46-hour dancing event included over 700 dancers to raise money toward fighting childhood cancer. This year's total amount exceeded 2024's mark by nearly $800,000. 2025's total set a record for the event, which has raised over $250 million since 1977.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will deliver his administration's final budget proposal today. Murphy is reportedly looking at a three-billion dollar budget deficit. The second-term Democrat will deliver his 2026 budget in the face of rising costs from everything from eggs to energy. The governor's staff has already frozen pay raises for some state workers, reduced hiring and has told state agencies to prepare for five percent spending cuts in the next budget. The Governor and state lawmakers are required by law to enact a balanced state budget by July 1st.
A projected Top Three pick in the NFL draft won't participate in the scouting combine. Penn State's Abdul Carter is choosing not to work out with the defensive ends and linebackers due to a shoulder injury he suffered during the College Football Playoff. The edge rusher got hurt in the Nittany Lions' semifinal round loss to Notre Dame back in January. However, ESPN reports that Carter will undergo medical exams and attend interviews at the combine.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are encouraging fans to set sail with them next year. The team is partnering with Seaside Events to announce a first-of-its-kind fan cruise scheduled for May of 2026. Guests will travel from Miami to the Bahamas and then to Mexico while mingling with fellow fans and meeting some Steelers greats. Reservations can be booked now at www.steelersfancruise.com.