There's a fire today at the old Dixie Cup Factory along South 25th Street in Wilson. Firefighters were called to the building a little after 6:30. There are pictures circulating online that appear to show flames coming out of the top of the abandoned building.
The stepfather of a missing Palmer Township teenager has been charged with harassing a family online in relation to his stepdaughter's disappearance. 44-year-old John Gehrmann is charged with three misdemeanor counts of harrassing a family, he claims had something to do with his stepdaughter's disappearance. Investigators say Gehrmann has used social media to allege the accuser took 14-year-old Aubrey Wu into their home the night before she disappeared. He also allegedly posted the name of the accuser's family-run business and encouraged people to protest at the accuer's business or home. Police say in a video posted by Gehrmann, he said the victim has treated his daughter like a stray dog. Police say Gehrmann then went on to say he was going to hunt down the family. Police say Gehrmann stated, "You are going to be hunted by us, and we are going to come after you." Police say Gehrmann then added, "Everyone will know you are a kidnapping monster."
Almost seven years after he killed 18-year-old Tyrell Holmes, Alkiohn Dunkins has been convicted of doing it. Dunkins was convicted of first-degree murder yesterday for his role in the death of Holmes in April 2018. Police said four men were involved in choking out Holmes at his Raspberry Street, Bethlehem apartment and then taken to Parkhurst Apartments, where he was stabbed twice before being burned alive. Prosecutors said Holmes had been talking to the wrong people, and Dunkins no longer trusted him. Two of the three other suspects face trial this summer. The third suspect has already pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in July. All four are allegedly members of the Money Rules Everything gang. Dunkins faces a mandatory life sentence without parole.
Exactly one month from today, Lehigh Valley Health Network is switching to paperless billing. LVHN says the change means a more secure, convenient and eco-friendly way of viewing billing statements. The change impacts all patients with a MyLVHN account. However, LVHN says patients who want to continue to receive paper statements can contact customer service or send a message through the MyLVHN portal requesting paper statements continue. The health network says there are no plans to end paper billing for patients who prefer getting their statements that way.
Beginning last night and continuing through this weekend, the I-78 toll bridge's two-lane Express E-ZPass facility will see lane closures. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission says one E-ZPass lane will be available today until 9pm. From 9pm tonight through 5 o'clock Monday morning, both I-78 westbound E-ZPass lanes will be closed completely. Closing the lanes, which accommodate drivers crossing from New Jersey into Pennsylvania, will allow workers to replace a portion of concrete pavement there.
Bail has been set at a million dollars for a man arrested on child porn charges this week in Northampton County. Police say they found more than 30 child porn images on electronic devices belonging to 37-year-old Efrain Baez-Feliciano. He faces 33 counts of child porn possession.
Bethlehem is in the running for the best Main Street in the country. USA Today has included Bethlehem in its list of the top 20 Main Streets across the nation. Voting is underway until April 7th to determine who will move on to the Top Ten. To vote for Bethlehem, go to ten-best-dot-u-s-a-today-dot-com.
Kutztown University is offering scholarships to federal workers that have been laid off by the Trump Administration's budget cuts. The university has announced a one-time scholarship of one-thousand-dollars for displaced federal workers that enroll full-time. All application fees are waived as well. K-U says it has opportunities for federal workers that want to retrain or go back to school.
National Crayon Day is March 31st. To celebrate, Crayola is bringing back its "Million Crayon Giveaway", in which families can sign up for the opportunity to fill a free 32-count crayon box with their favorite colors at Easton's Crayola Experience. However, this year, eight retired crayons are being added for the giveaway. The in-store experience starts on National Crayon Day, which is March 31st, and runs through May 23rd.
Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg says one day of the weekend will be decidedly better than the other. "Sunday is the clunker of the weekend. I don't think there's any question about that," Lundberg says. Sunday could feature heavy rain, strong thunderstorms and perhaps some damaging wind gusts.
The next phase of cleanup is underway at the site of the plane crash in Lancaster County last weekend. Brethren Village retirement community says the National Transportation Safety Board has concluded its investigation, and it is now partnering with an environmental group for "remediation efforts." The facility added that all individuals should continue to avoid the area, as debris and hazardous materials are still on the ground. Pilot Matt White and his son remain in critical condition, while two other passengers have been released from the hospital.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is explaining why the commonwealth isn't joining multi-state lawsuits against the Trump Administration. Sunday said he won't "micromanage the federal government," and that all decisions made by the White House will be "enacted, or not, through a legislative and legal process." The Republican added that he wasn't invited to join the most recent Democrat-led lawsuit against the administration's attempt to lay off half of the U.S. Department of Education workforce. When asked about the layoffs, Governor Josh Shapiro said his office will do everything they can do "try and make sure" that Pennsylvania school districts aren't hurt.
Interpol is issuing a global alert for missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki. The 20-year-old disappeared more than a week ago after traveling to a resort in the Dominican Republic for spring break. The fellow Pitt students Konanki was with left her alone on a beach in Punta Cana with an American man early last Thursday morning and she has not been seen since. Authorities have interviewed that man and say he is not considered a suspect. Local officials are using real-time video from drones and AI-enabled scanning to look for Konanki but they have not turned up anything so far.
Today is March 14th, or 314, the unofficial Pi Day holiday. In celebration of the ratio used to calculate the measurements of a circle, and really all things circular, a number of restaurants are offering special deals. Papa Johns is giving rewards members a large or extra large pizza for $3.14 with the purchase of another one at regular price. Customers can get a whole pizza for $3.14 at participating 7-Eleven locations as well.
The 76ers are considering options for one of their injured stars. ESPN reported on Thursday that Paul George is consulting with doctors about his knee and groin injuries. A procedure is possible, and a decision could come early next week. George has been dealing with the issues along with a finger injury and needed painkilling injections for five straight games before last month's All-Star break.