Like the rest of the country, there's a big difference of opinion on ICE setting up shop in Lehigh County. New County Executive Joshua Siegel says he wants the agency gone. "I think their presence is a threat to public safety and public trust," Siegel says. District Attorney Gavin Holihan says ICE and the Department of Homeland Security help his office investigate human trafficking. "Our work with DHS is so important to this community, that I will pay the rent out of Lehigh County drug asset forfeiture money to keep our partnership with DHS going," Holihan says. Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley and Siegel both say ICE has been in county-owned office space in the Hamilton Financial Center in Allentown for about three years, but owes about $115,000 in unpaid rent. Siegel says his office has sent ICE an eviction notice and has begun legal proceedings to get the money he says is owed the county.
When the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Comprehensive Planning Committee meets, it's usually a quiet affair. Not so Tuesday night. Some South Whitehall Township residents are pushing back against a proposed 5 million-square-foot data center complex planned for 410 acres along North Cedar Crest Boulevard, across from Parkland High School. More than a dozen residents spoke out against the plans to build the Atlas Data Center proposed for agricultural land bordered by Mauch Chunk and Orefield roads. Five data center buildings are planned, but some residents argue the project's benefits wouldn't offset potential health issues and not enough permanent jobs would be created to warrant the project. South Whitehall’s planning commission is scheduled to hold a meeting Feb. 12 to discuss the project further.
The forecasted low from last night was zero. Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg says the mercury dipped well below that. "Officially it got to nine-below. That's impressive. I thought it would be below zero all across the area, but that's even colder than I thought it was going to be," Lundberg says. While cold is the word today, snow appears to be the word for the weekend. Lundberg figures we could get six inches of snow late Saturday throughout the day Sunday, but he can't rule out double the accumulation at this point.
Lehigh Valley Zoo said it will be closed Wednesday due to extremely cold temperatures. The zoo says all of its animals have access to their temperature-controlled bedrooms so they can stay nice and warm during the frigid weather.
State lawmakers are announcing millions-of-dollars in grants for infrastructure projects in the Lehigh Valley. The Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority is being awarded one-point-three-million to support construction of a new parking garage connected to Lehigh Valley International Airport. $800,000 will go toward Phase Two of the MLK Trail Expansion project in Allentown. Other projects receiving grant money include the Rockdale Road bridge replacement in North Whitehall Township and a water main replacement in Macungie Borough.
New Jersey Democrat Gov. Mikie Sherrill has been sworn in as the 57th governor of the Garden State. She spoke at her inauguration in Newark, mentioning the Declaration of Independence and taking a shot at President Trump. "This election proved that the people of New Jersey recognize the parallels. That we see a president illegally usurping power, unconstitutionally enacting tariffs to make billions for himself and their family, while everyone else sees their costs go higher," Sherrill said. The 54-year-old becomes the second woman governor in New Jersey's history.
We've heard from Phillies President Dave Dombrowski for the first time since prized free agent Bo Bichette signed with the Mets instead of the Phillies. Dombrowski says he thought Bichette was going to be a Phillie. "I can't say that we ever thought it was done, because there's a difference between being very close to having a deal done. We thought it was going to happen, but it wasn't done," Dombrowski says. Instead of taking the Phillies longer deal for more overall money, Bichette took fewer years but a higher annual salary and the ability to opt out of the deal to join the Mets.
Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Former Phillies second baseman Chase Utley received the third highest percentage of the vote with 59 percent of ballots including his name. Ex-Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu appeared on 30 percent of ballots. Former Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins picked up 25 percent support and in his first year on the ballot, ex-Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels earned a vote on 23 percent of the 425 ballots cast.