In a unanimous vote, Allentown City Council has passed a resolution proclaiming the city a "safe and welcoming haven" to the LGBTQ+ community. Council says the resolution is needed because of what it calls a record number of discriminatory anti-trans legislative bills and executive orders being proposed and enacted throughout the country. Supporters say the resolution stresses the importance of treating all individuals with fairness, respect, dignity, and full human rights, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
Charges are being filed against a Pocono Mountain West Junior High School student accused of bringing a firearm to school. Authorities say the weapon was found in the backpack of a twelve-year-old boy Wednesday morning during a random metal detector screening. No one was hurt. Charges against the boy include possession of a firearm by a minor. Police and district officials placed school buildings on a “hold status” while investigators determined there were no other threats.
Bethlehem’s historic Main Street was named the “Best Main Street” in USA Today’s 10Best Main Street competition. Management at the Hotel Bethlehem, which has been voted USA Today's Best Historic Hotel four straight years, spearheaded the winning effort. A panel of USA Today travel experts selected the top 20 finalists and then the public voted for the top 10 on the USA Today website.
We could find out soon if a six-week-long strike at the Nestle Purina PetCare plant in South Whitehall Township is coming to an end. Union leaders say they have received a new offer and union members voted on it Wednesday. Workers began walking the picket line March 2 after a month of bargaining failed to strike a deal. The issues are wages, pension and work-life balance.
Kutztown University's NASA program has taken a hit after the Trump administration cut a $375,000 grant because of the program's focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. University officials say they're appealing the decision. There are currently 14 students enrolled in the program, which gave undergraduate students the chance to watch and interact with NASA’s Planetary Science Division teams.
Investigators say the man charged with setting fire to the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg called 911 right after doing so. Police say at about 2:50 Sunday morning, less than an hour after the fire at the Governor's Residence, 38-year-old Cody Balmer called 911, identified himself and said Gov. Josh Shapiro needs to know that he, "will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people. He needs to stop having my friends killed. Our people have been through too much by that monster." Balmer then allegedly said, "All he has is a banquet hall to clean up." When police found Balmer, he admitted to them he placed the call.
Gov. Josh Shapiro says no motive is a good one for what took place at the Governor's Residence early Sunday morning. "This kind of violence has no place in our society, regardless of what motivates it. This is not how we resolve our differences and this is not okay," the governor says. Shapiro declined to address reports that accused arsonist Cody Balmer called 911 immediately after the fire and explained why he torched the residence.
Pennsylvania State Police are bringing in a third-party expert to conduct an independent security review of the Governor’s Residence after a man broke in and set fire to the estate last Sunday. Gov. Josh Shapiro says the review is appropriate. "I think it's warranted," Shapiro said. The review will consist of a risk and vulnerability assessment of the Governor’s Residence and grounds. Police say additional details about the independent review will be released in the coming days.
In the wake of the arson at the Governor's Residence over the weekend, former Governor Ed Rendell has been asked about how the mansion was secured when he lived there from 2003 to 2011. "The building itself, all the doors were locked at 5 o'clock. There was one door that was open, but that led to an area where troopers sat. There was police coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," Rendell says.
The U.S. Justice Department is assisting with the investigation into the arson attack at the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence. Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters yesterday the fire at the home of Governor Josh Shapiro and his family was "horrific," and wants the person responsible "behind bars as long as possible." "I firmly believe that they wanted to kill him. The defendant allegedly said he was going to use a hammer if could've gotten to the governor. I've known the governor for many, many years. It is horrible," Bondi says. She said she and FBI director Kash Patel have been in contact with Shapiro and are working on the case with state authorities.
A Pennsylvania Congressman that represents part of Berks County believes Governor Josh Shapiro needs to "tone it down" after the arson attack at the Governor's Residence last weekend. In an interview earlier this week, Republican Representative Dan Meuser said his heart goes out to the Shapiro family, but claimed the governor's actions against President Trump have either been a "lawsuit or falsehood." He noted Shapiro's criticism and legal action against millions of dollars in federal funding cuts for a program that allows food banks to buy fresh produce locally. In response, the governor said Meuser failed his responsibility to "speak and act with moral clarity."
The new Reese's Chocolate Processing factory is open for business. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Hershey campus yesterday to officially open the 250-thousand-square-foot facility. The factory currently has close to 100 full-time employees, but more job openings are expected in the future. It's the first new manufacturing facility in Hershey in over 30 years.
The rough start to the 2025 season continued Wednesday night for Philles pitcher Aaron Nola, who says he's not throwing enough strikes to be successful. "It's unacceptable. I've just gotta get ahead better. There are too many free passes and usually those runners have been scoring. I've been making in harder on myself in those situations," Nola says. He's now 0-4 with a 6.65 ERA after another poor outing last night against San Francisco.