A yearlong investigation into allegations of discrimination within Allentown City Hall has concluded. "We conducted 43 interviews, including current and former employees, current council members and numerous members of the community. We also reviewed tens-of-thousands of pages of documents including, emails and other communications, personnel records and city policies and procedures," says Mary Hansen, from the law firm Duane Morris. She says all those conversations turned up no systemic issues pertaining to discrimination or hostile work environments at City Hall. Having said that, several changes have been suggested, including the implementation of a data management system, a full review of the HR department’s organizational structure, and the centralization of the city’s hiring processes. Investigators also recommended a revision of the city’s Employee Policy and Procedures Manual, which has not been updated in 15 years, and proposed amending the City Charter to remove the residency requirement for the Human Resources Director.
The North Whitehall Township man who murdered his ex-girlfriend and her mother nearly two years ago will spend 73 years behind bars for the crime. 19-year-old John Bradley admitted he stabbed Rosalyn Glass 31 times and then stabbed and choked to death her 16-year-old daughter Rianna inside their Railrood Street North Catasauqua home. Bradley was arrested after stealing the mother's car and crashing it in Upper Saucon Township. A 14-year-old girl in that car suffered severe injuries in the crash. The killings happened about a month after Bradley and Rianna broke up. Bradley was sentenced to 36-and-a-half years for each murder.
A woman is in the hospital after authorities say she crashed into a Lehigh County home, causing a fire. Officials said the vehicle slammed into a house on the 6100 block of Sauterne Drive yesterday evening, which started a fire that spread to the roof of the home. A person sleeping inside the residence at the time of the crash was able to make it out safely. Authorities are investigating.
Authorities continue to investigate a deadly crash in Lehigh County earlier this week. Police say a motorcyclist collided with a vehicle at South Cedar Crest Boulevard and Fish Hatchery Road in Salisbury Township late Tuesday night. The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital where he later died. He was identified yesterday as 24-year-old Brandon Gehris.
Pennsylvania's Board of Pharmacy has voted to restore access to COVID-19 vaccines following Gov. Josh Shapiro's urging of swift action in response to new federal restrictions that critics claimed threatened vaccine access across the country. The move clears the way for CVS and other pharmacies to resume administering the shots. CVS was among a list of pharmacies which had suspended offering them in some states last week after federal policy changes led major chains to require prescriptions.
A pair of Pennsylvania Congressmen are supporting bipartisan legislation that would ban members of Congress from trading stock. Pennsylvania Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick and Scott Perry joined other House lawmakers on both sides of the aisle this week to introduce a bill prohibiting stock trading by members of Congress and their families. Perry said the bipartisan teamwork is an indicator that Congress "can get a win" on this issue. House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled support for the idea but says the details still need to be ironed out.
State health officials say they have alerted Bergen County residents to a new measles case in a local resident. They say it's not related to any previous measles case in New Jersey. It's the tenth case confirmed in the state this year. Officials say they're working with local authorities to identify and notify people who may have been exposed. The CDC reports more than 14-hundred-30 measles cases have been confirmed in the United States this year -- the highest number since the country achieved measles elimination status 25 years ago.
The Eagles outlasted the Cowboys 24-20 in a wild kick off to open the new NFL season. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley combined for three rushing touchdowns. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni says Jalen Hurts was key in the win. "I know that it'll say that we threw for 152 yards. But Jalen played really efficient and really good. From what I saw, he made plays with his legs, with his mind and with his arm," Sirianni said. Star defensive lineman Jalen Carter got ejected for spitting on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott seconds into the game.