There's plenty of reaction to President Trump's decision to seize Venezuela's president and his wife. Via social media, Republican Dave McCormick said, "For years Nicolas Maduro’s regime killed our children by flooding America’s streets with poison, threatened our borders, and undermined U.S. national security." Democrat John Fetterman issued a statement saying, “Grateful for our U.S. military personnel that handled these orders in Venezuela with precision. I maintain that we have the STRONGEST and MOST LETHAL military in the world-today proves that even more.” Lehigh Valley Congressman Ryan Mackenzie says, “The capture of Nicolás Maduro is a decisive victory for U.S. security and regional stability. Maduro was an illegitimate dictator and narcoterrorist who funneled drugs into the United States - killing countless young Americans."
Dozens gathered outside the Bethlehem home where a murder-suicide happened Friday. Jeani Garcis is with Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley and says it was important for her to be there. "Right now, the community is needed. The village is needed. There are children who have lost both parents and this is a crisis that affects the entire community," Garcia says. 39-year-old Sarah Rice and 42-year-old Greg Johnson died. Police say a child returning home from a play date found the bodies. Two other children were inside the home and were removed from the scene. An older adult was also home at the time, but appeared to have been unaware what happened.
Another toll increase is now in effect on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Drivers began seeing a four-percent hike for 2026 yesterday. This means traveling the entire length of the road will now cost a little less than 55 dollars for E-Z Pass users and just over 109 dollars for toll-by-plate. An additional three-and-a-half-percent toll increase is expected in 2027 following by three-percent hikes annually from 2028 to 2050.
The Trainer's Corner shopping center in Bucks County is losing a tenant. Video game store GameStop will close on Wednesday. GameStop continues to shrink its number of physical stores. Back in February 2024 it had more than 2900 U.S. stores. Last February, that number was down to 2300.
A Carbon County laundromat has been damaged by a weekend fire. The two-alarm fire happened Sunday night at the Lehighton Coin & Laundry on Blakeslee Boulevard. No injuries have been reported at this time.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni decided to rest almost all of his starters Sunday despite having the chance to move from the third to second seed in the NFC playoffs. The Eagles backups ended up losing 24-17 to Washington, costing them the second seed. After the game, Sirianni said he didn't regret his decision. "I knew this was an outcome that could happen. One thing I could guarantee was giving these guys a rest. I couldn't guarantee anything else. Us being healthy and going into the playoffs healthy is a big deal for us and that's servced us well in the past," Sirianni says. With the loss, the Eagles will host San Francisco this Sunday at 4:30 in round one of the playoffs.
New Penn State football coach Matt Campbell will soon be joined by a familiar face in Happy Valley. ESPN reports former Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht is planning to transfer to reunite with Campbell on the Nittany Lions. Becht has played for Campbell his entire college career. The duo won 26 games together the past four seasons.