The Lower Macungie Township couple charged with trying to starve 15-year-old twin boys to death say they cannot afford attorneys. Tracy and Joshua Dechant have told a judge that since they used their home as collateral to post their $200,000 bail, they can no longer used it to get a loan to hire lawyers. Their efforts to obtain a public defender failed because their income is above the poverty level and because they're not in jail. The judge ordered them back to court in 60 days. The Dechants are accused of conspiracy to commit third-degree murder, endangering the welfare of minors and other counts for allegedly withholding food from the twins as punishment, sending them outside naked in the freezing cold and other forms of abuse.
Police responded to reported gunfire in Lehigh County on Monday night. Emergency crews were called to a shooting in the 700 block of Cherokee Street in Fountain Hill around 9 p.m., according to emergency dispatchers. Authorities have not yet said what happened or the extent of possible injuries.
A Berks County crash has killed an Allentown man. 28-year-old Luis Colon died Sunday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer on Route 222 in southwestern Berks County. Police say Colon ignored traffic controls from an unrelated crash and almost his a fire police officer in the process. He continued on, ignored stopped traffic and that's when the collision with the tractor-trailer happened. Police say there was no pursuit of Colon leading up to the crash.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has directed PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll to approve SEPTA's request to use up to $394 million in capital assistance funds for daily operations. Late last week, SEPTA's GM sent a letter to PennDOT asking for the money as the lack of a state budget's lead to service cuts. Officials say the money will keep the existing service running for the next two years.
Governor Josh Shapiro says his office will be "prepared" if President Donald Trump deploys National Guard troops to the Commonwealth. Shapiro made the comment during an event in Philadelphia yesterday, but added that he wouldn't give specifics. The president sent troops into Washington, D.C. last month and is threatening to expand the operation to other major cities. Shapiro said the deployments are "wrong" and injecting "chaos in communities."
An opening date is now on the books for the planned Tree of Life memorial and museum in Pittsburgh. Final designs for the build were released yesterday. There will be exhibition space, classrooms, a social hall, and a sanctuary at the property. The project will pay tribute to the eleven people who lost their lives in one of the nation's largest-ever anti-Semitic attacks back in 2018. A grand opening is scheduled for 2028.
The Eagles are bolstering their backfield. ESPN reports the team acquired Tank Bigsby from the Jaguars on Monday in exchange for fifth-and-sixth-round picks in next year's draft. The running back racked up more than 750 yards to go with seven touchdowns last season. Bigsby is also a reliable kick returner, averaging almost 30 yards per run back in his career.
The Phillies expect their star shortstop will return for the playoffs. The team placed Trea Turner on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a Grade One hamstring strain. The 32-year-old got hurt after running out a ground ball in Sunday's loss to the Marlins. Turner is leading the National League in batting average at .305. Also headed to the injured list is Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm. He'll be sideline with a cyst on his shoulder.