Investigators are working to identify the two people killed in an East Stroudsburg fire. Fire Chief Nate Black says there wasn't much firefighters could do when they initially arrived at the scene. "We couldn't make entry into the original fire building due to the wind conditions and weather conditions at that time," Black said. Three others were injured in the fire that broke out around 11 o'clock Wednesday morning at the Wander Inn Bar and Grill on South Cortland Street. The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
Another suspect is behind bars following a deadly shooting at a Wawa in Stroudsburg last year. Police in Monroe County say 18-year-old Christopher Quattrochi faces multiple charges including aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit riot. He remains in jail under $500,000 bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 13th. He's the brother of 25-year-old Andrew Quattrochi who's accused of fatally shooting 17-year-old Garrett Gearhart last November. Their father, Joseph, is also facing charges.
An 18-wheeler driver was killed in a crash on I-78 in Lehigh County yesterday. Officials said the tractor-trailer rolled over in the eastbound lanes near Route 309 in the afternoon. The driver has not been identified. The crash is being investigated.
A man has been found guilty of first-degree murder for a shooting at a park in Allentown when he was 16 years old. Elijah Patterson was convicted yesterday on charges stemming from the death of 15-year-old Treshawn Tracy in September 2022. Authorities said Patterson shot and killed Tracy at Stevens Park in broad daylight following a dispute that started when Patterson wouldn't give Tracy a bag of chips after Tracy won a bet for them. Patterson faces up to life in prison.
Bethlehem City Council members on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to raise their salaries, as well as those of the mayor and controller. The proposal would increase council members’ annual salaries from $7,100 to $10,650 and the council president’s salary from $7,600 to $11,400. Under two other proposals, the mayor’s salary would increase from $90,500 to $98,000, and the controller’s from $49,000 to $56,000. The vote to increase City Council salaries passed narrowly by a 4-3 vote. The increase of the controller’s salary earned six votes while five members voted to increase the mayor’s salary.
In a unanimous vote, South Whitehall Township Commissioners have appointed Frank Lombardo to be the township's new police chief. Lombardo was an officer with the South Brunswick Township Police Department from 1995 to 2024 and held various leadership positions, before retiring as a Captain. He is replacing former Chief of Police, Glen Dorney, who retired last March.
The Downtown Allentown Market is becoming a ghost town. Just three food vendors remain after three other vendors recently vacated the North 7th Street complex, which open in 2019. The market changed its operating hours last April to focus on the breakfast and lunch crowds during the work week.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wants federal workers fired by the Trump Administration to work for the state. While speaking at the Commonwealth Job Fair at the Farm Show Complex yesterday, Shapiro said he wants talented federal employees that were laid off working here. "Some of them might have been laid off recently. Some of them might just be looking for a change right now. If they're qualified, and they want to serve Pennsylvanians, we want you on our team," Shapiro said. The governor signed an executive order at the event mandating that the Office of Administration consider federal work experience at the same level as state work experience. Shapiro called the order "common sense," and said he wants to "recruit the most talented workers in the country."
Penn State Health is implementing new security measures following the shooting at UMPC Memorial Hospital last month. The healthcare system says it is strengthening its partnership with local law enforcement to provide an additional police presence at facilities. Penn State Health will also begin testing a wireless alert system that would expand the usage of "duress" buttons to notify security of emergencies. The announcement said the healthcare system will deploy security enhancements "rapidly" as decisions are made.
State health officials say fewer New Jersey youth are vaccinated than the state recorded a decade ago. This news comes as measles cases continue to rise across the Garden State and nationwide. Health officials confirm three people in Bergen County have the highly contagious virus. In the last two months, federal health officials say 164 people have contracted the measles -- 146 in Texas alone. In New Jersey, the counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, Ocean and Sussex Counties have the highest number of unvaccinated children due to religious exemptions.
The Eagles are bringing back a key member of their defense. ESPN reported on Wednesday that Zack Baun has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal to stay in Philly. The contract includes 34-million in guaranteed money which makes him one of the highest-paid linebackers in the league. Baun signed a one-year deal for just $3.5 million last offseason and racked up more than 150 tackles to go with three-and-a-half sacks. The 28-year-old posted big playoff numbers as well, notching 33 tackles and a pair of interceptions including one against the Chiefs to secure a Super Bowl 59 victory.