Some parts of the Lehigh Valley saw rain this morning but Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg says more is on the way. "I think mid-afternoon is when it cranks up. I think there will be a good blowup of thunderstorms and as we head into the late afternoon and evening hours we're definitely going to see a shower and a heavier thunderstorm move through," Lundberg says. He says any storm could bring damaging winds and enough rain to bring about flash flooding.
Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health added 580 new cases of coronavirus to the state's total, but for the first time since September 10th, none of those new cases came from Lehigh County. Lehigh was one of nine counties to report no new cases Wednesday. Northampton County reported eight new cases Wednesday.
New Jersey will start focusing on bringing coronavirus vaccination sites closer to home. It comes as Gov. Phil Murphy announced the state would be closing down all six of its mega vaccination sites, adding it's now time to transition away from this kind of model. The closings will be staggered with Burlington to close last on July 23rd. The goal is to now open roughly 1800 clinics across the Garden State.
The U.S. Labor Secretary is touting workforce development for the Lehigh Valley after a visit to the area Wednesday. Former Boston mayor Marty Walsh was in Allentown Wednesday explaining the details of the nearly $1.7 trillion American Jobs Plan. Part of that plan, he says, includes repairing the more than 3000 bridges across the state of Pennsylvania. Walsh says the commitment to repairing roads and bridges here is a commitment to jobs.
Last month the Lehigh Valley Zoo got two new lemurs and now Abby and Mico will be getting a new home. The zoo will be shelling out $500,000 to build a new 1600-square-foot indoor-outdoor habitat for the lemurs and the zoo's African leopard tortoises. Construction will start this summer with the hope the lemurs will be in the enclosure by fall. This is the first major project at the zoo since the giraffe exhibit in 2017.
St. Luke's University Health Network will build a new, 8,187-square-foot facility in Hanover Township, Northampton County. St. Luke's is using a $1.5 million loan through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority to help build the new facility, which will include doctors, physical therapy, lab services, x-ray and more. The expansion will retain 12 jobs and create 55 new jobs in three years. It's expected to cost just over $3 million total.
Police are asking the public to help find a man who is being charged with attempted homicide in Monroe County. Pocono Mountain Regional Police were called to a shots-fired incident on Long Pond Road Tuesday. No one was injured in the shooting, but 23-year-old Yasim McDonald fled the scene in a black Volkswagen that was later recovered in a nearby housing development. Anyone with any information on McDonald's whereabouts should contact the Pocono Mountain Regional PD.
A man from the Poconos is behind bars after he was allegedly hallucinating on drugs and fired more than 40 gunshots inside his home on Country Place Road in Coolbaugh Township. Police say the man called 911 to report people with sniper rifles had surrounded his home before he fired more than 40 rounds from two guns through his front windows. No one was hurt, but a parked vehicle was struck by several bullets. The man now faces numerous charges.
A bill that would end some unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania is designed to get more people working.. House Bill 508 would stop the extra $300 per week from the federal government. But Democrats don't like the measure and are instead calling on a hike to the minimum wage as well as requiring sick leave and mandating advanced scheduling. "Bring the hard-working people of Pennsylvania back to work in a way that is respectful," says Democratic Sen. Art Haywood.
A bill protecting New Jersey's immigrant community is making its way through the legislature. In a Wednesday vote, the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee decided to move forward with legislation that would prohibit public and private contractors from entering into or renewing agreements with ICE detention centers. The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice says the move mirrors a version of the bill making its way through the Senate. The alliance says the state's partnership with ICE is "deadly."
It's on to round two of the NBA playoffs for the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers beat Washington 129-112 Wednesday night to eliminate the Wizards in five games. Sixers coach Doc Rivers says they did it with defense. "In the second half they had zero transition points. I think they had eight points in the paint. That just tells you how locked in everybody was," Rivers said. The 76ers will play Atlanta in round two of the playoffs.