People who dropped off more than one mail-in ballot in person to Lehigh County ballot drop boxes in 2021 will not be prosecuted. Despite what he calls a well-founded complaint by the Lehigh County Republican Committee, District Attorney Jim Martin says it would be unfair to prosecute the few who could be identified. Republicans had suggested that the drop boxes were used to deposit fraudulent ballots. The Lehigh County GOP says it accepts Martin's decision and proves both county and state officials must implement a more-secure policy for mail-in ballot voting or do away with it entirely.
No one was injured in a Monday morning fire at a West Bethlehem apartment building. It happened in the 400 block of Keystone Avenue just before 11 o'clock Monday morning. Two apartments were damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
When the Lehigh Valley IronPigs open their 2022 season Tuesday night against Columbus, fans won't yet have a new way to enter Coca-Cola Park, but one is coming soon. A new centerfield gate will be available sometime early next month to both enter and exit the ballpark. The IronPigs are also adding parking spaces closer to the new entrance while eliminating spaces that are farther away.
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has unveiled an overhaul of how people in Pennsylvania apply for clemency. He says the issue is one he considers extremely important. "Today's a special day because it is a discussion on something that has been one of the great causes of my personal life that has turned into a professional crusade, and that is second chances," the lieutenant governor says. Fetterman says the overhaul will make it easier to ask for pardons or request a lighter prison sentence. People will now be able to complete the application process electronically, including via a new app.
Gov. Tom Wolf is frustrated by a lack of progress in the Senate on House Bill 951, which would give victims of child sexual abuse a two-year window to file a civil suit against abusers. "If the Senate fails to act to support survivors, I will call a special session to bring the general assembly back to Harrisburg and get this done because survivors deserve to have this issue resolved," Wolf says. While saying that, the governor acknowledged his administration's failure to advertise, as required, an amendment to the state constitution that would open a two-year window for litigation by survivors of child sexual abuse who have aged out of the statute of limitations. That error prompted the resignation of Pennsylvania's top elections official, Kathy Boockvar, last year.
The state House Government Committee is sending a bill to the full House for a vote which would sell off state interests in Russia and Belarus. The committee recently advanced House Bill 2447, which would provide for divestiture by the state treasurer, the state Employees' Retirement System, and the Public School Employees' Retirement System of any companies doing business there. Under the bill, the public funds will have 14 days from the effective date to identify all holdings and sell, redeem, divest or withdraw from them.
The Pennsylvania House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has passed several measures to ramp up domestic energy production across the state. Included in the legislation is a measure asking the governors of New York and New Jersey to end anti-pipeline policies that are currently blocking Pennsylvania natural gas from reaching markets in New England. Other legislation would increase the production and exportation of energy products. One of those would open the Delaware River Basin for natural gas development and exploration.
Funeral services have been set for Friday at the Giant Center in Hershey for Lebanon police lieutenant William Lebo. Just a month out for retiring, he was shot last week while responding to a burglary in Lebanon. According to his obituary, the service is set for 11 a.m. April 8th.