A convicted prostitute is officially charged with the murder of a Schuylkill County businessman. Megan Hall was arraigned Monday on a count of second-degree murder in connection to the death of Pottsville native Patrick Murphy, the owner of Murphy Jewelers, which has three locations, including one at the Promenade Shops. Hall is being held on $750,000 bail. Murphy was found stabbed to death last Thursday in a New Orleans hotel room. Investigators say Murphy was seen entering the hotel with Hall on surveillance video, but only Hall was spotted leaving.
Eight people are unable to return to their homes following a two-alarm blaze that destroyed their Allentown homes. Firefighters responded to North 11th Street Monday as a fire tore through the three-apartment row home. No injuries were reported and fire officials think the displaced residents should be able to return to their homes eventually. The fire marshal is investigating the incident.
State police are saying the Northampton County school bus driver accused of abandoning a bus full of students did so because of their bad behavior. Troopers say Walnutport's Lori Mankos says the 26 Northampton Area School District students on her bus last Friday frustrated her to the point she pulled over at a gas station in Bath, then left the kids stranded as she walked away. Mankos was arrested shortly after and reportedly refused to allow a blood or breath test. She's being charged with 26 counts of endangering the welfare of children as well as single counts related to careless driving, reckless driving and DWI.
The Parkettes is suing the city of Allentown, claiming it was illegally billed for business privilege taxes. The organization claims the IRS recognizes it as a nonprofit corporation, making it exempt from those business privilege taxes. The city believes the Parkettes should be taxed on the portions of their operations that generate profits. The Parkettes' bill is for more than $62,000. This is the second such lawsuit against the city. Good Shepherd Rehabilitation is also suing in a trial that begins later this week.
Easton has given the green light to hire part-time firefighters. Mayor Sal Panto says why the move is necessary. "We're looking for flexibility. Our firefighter budget is around $8 million a year now, plus our pension legacy fund. We're just trying to control costs. Government has to be more efficient," the mayor says. Panto says adding part-time firefighters will make sure the city's fire department is at its full compliment.
Pennsylvania's secretary for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs says the commonwealth is mirroring a national trend in drug use and abuse. Jennifer Smith testified at a state Senate committee Monday that cocaine and meth use is up while heroin and prescription drug deaths are leveling off.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is revealing his new budget plans today. He'll deliver his budget address for Fiscal Year 2020 in Trenton at 2pm during a joint session of the Assembly and Senate. Murphy says he'll continue on his mission with a budget that invests in New Jersey's middle class and those working hard in hopes of joining its ranks. The governor will then host a budget-related online Town Hall via Facebook Live at 5:15pm.