Authorities continue to investigate a deadly crash involving seven vehicles in Lehigh County Sunday morning. Upper Saucon Police say a car driven by 62-year-old Brian McKenna crossed the concrete median on the 3300 block of Center Valley Parkway and collided with multiple vehicles going the other direction. McKenna was killed, while three people in the other vehicles were taken to the hospital. Crews were at the scene for about five hours before the roadway completely reopened.
Saint Patrick's Day may have been last Tuesday, but Allentown held its 67th annual Saint Patrick's Day parade Sunday. There were nearly a dozen pipe bands and more than 2,000 marchers. Before the parade, hundreds of runner competed in the 16th West End Saint Patrick's Day 5K.
It has now been five weeks since the partial government shutdown began and still no deal to possibly put an end to it as it is starting to affect the Department of Homeland Security. Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Dave McCormick warns this shutdown is going to cause the American people more harm. "This is absolutely increasing risk for Americans at a time when we've seen on a synagogue in Michigan, an attack at Old Dominion from radical Jihadists and an attack at Gracie Mansion from two men from Pennsylvania who had IEDs. So, it's raising the threat and risk for Americans," McCormick says. Democrats say they won't support any funding for DHS unless there are reforms to ICE and Customs and Border Protection immigration enforcement.
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote in favor of forwarding to the Senate floor the nomination of Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Fetterman explains why he backed the Republican. "I voted for him because he's a friend and he and I have the same kind of priorities for our security. I know I'm going to take a lot of Democrat blowback which is strange to me," Fetterman says. Senator Mullin's confirmation vote could happen as soon as today.
Part one of a two part discussion with Pennsylvania senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman airs tonight at 7:30 on Business Matters on WFMZ. During the discussion, Fetterman describes what he and McCormick believe government should be. "I just remind people that the way it should work is the way that we're going to work together. We're going to disagree with respect and I think it's a better example for the country," Fetterman said. Part two of Tony Iannelli's interview with McCormick and Fetterman airs next Monday night at 7:30 on WFMZ.
A bright blue roller coaster is in the works for Six Flags Great Adventure this summer. The park has yet to announce its 14th roller coaster but it released photos of blue tracks that will be used for the coaster this weekend. The new coaster is in addition to what's billed as Project Purple, which stood where Kingda Ka used to stand and will be the park's 15th roller coaster when it opens next year.
The Phillies continue to lock-down their starting rotation. The team signed Cristopher Sanchez to a six-year extension. Team president Dave Dombrowski couldn't be happier to have the lefty locked in. "Today is a great day for the Phillies organization to be able to come to an agreement with Cristopher, who we consider one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball and to keep him part of the organization for many years to come," Dombrowski says. The new deal kicks in next season and is worth more than $100 million in new money. The 29-year-old went 13-and-5 last year with a two-point-five ERA and struck out a career-high 212 batters.