After a Bucks County jury sentenced Jacob Sullivan to death Thursday morning, Bucks County DA Matt Weintraub says they got it right. "Death was the appropriate sentence for this man," Weintraub says. It took the jury about 12 hours, spread out over three days, to put Sullivan on death row after he admitted to raping, killing and dismembering his girlfriend's adopted daughter inside a Richland Township home in 2016. Sara Packer has already agreed to plead guilty for her role in the teen's death in exchange for a life sentence and is expected to appear in court today.
The former headquarters of Bethlehem Steel will be coming down later this spring. The city of Bethlehem says Martin Tower will be demolished on Sunday, May 19th at a time to be determined. The 21-story building was built in 1972 and is currently the tallest building in the Lehigh Valley. It has been vacant since 2007.
A Lehigh County man and his wife are facing charges for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from the parish where he served as a deacon. Lower Macungie Township's Thomas and Anne Murphy surrendered to Berks County authorities Thursday after being accused of using church funds for their personal expenses. The investigation began last year when the Diocese of Allentown discovered the theft of more than $150,000 from the Most Blessed Sacrament Church and Saint Francis Academy, both in Bally.
A diabetic Northampton County man is alive despite crashing his car three times Thursday while suffering from low blood sugar. Dennis Martin, of Lehigh Township, hit a utility pole early Thursday morning before crashing into curbs and signs in Hanover Township, Lehigh County. The final collision was with a pickup truck in Allentown, after which Martin was hospitalized. He received treatment for crash-related injuries, but no one else was injured.
If you think you saw a big flash in the sky early Thursday morning, you're not alone. Several people living in the Lehigh Valley, as well as in places across the eastern seaboard claim to have spotted a fireball fly overhead around 6:15 Thursday morning. However, despite the reported sightings, the American Meteor Society has yet to confirm the fireball as legit.
Kutztown University says a student has been diagnosed with a suspected case of mumps. The university says the student has left campus and is awaiting more testing. Officials warn students, faculty and staff to seek treatment if they display any signs of illness. The symptoms of mumps are simliar to the flu. The university and the state Department of Health are monitoring the situation.
A recent poll suggests a majority of Pennsylvanians support legalizing recreational marijuana. The Franklin & Marshall College poll out Thursday says it found 59 percent of registered voters are okay with legalizing pot in Pennsylvania. That number is from a May 2006 poll that had only 22 percent in favor. Voters who identified as independent or Democrat were more likely to be in support compared to Republicans. The support declines with the age of the respondent.
A new Franklin & Marshall University poll shows most Pennsylvanians support raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $12 an hour. The survey found nearly 70 percent of those surveyed were in favor of the increase in general, with 47 percent saying they're strongly in favor. The poll found the majority support the increase in virtually every demographic and region across the state.
A Berks County sheriff's deputy who was hurt in an accidental shooting could be released from the hospital today. The sheriff's office says the deputy sustained non-life-threatening injuries and continues to improve. The deputy's gun went off Wednesday afternoon in the basement of the county courthouse.
There is now an expanded list of crimes that could trigger pension forfeiture for state lawmakers and public employees. Gov. Tom Wolf signed the updated pension forfeiture measure that expands the disqualifying crimes to any felony related to their employment. The measure also required the court to notify state pension boards to stop payments immediately following a conviction.
Gov. Tom Wolf is saying the expansion of a recyclable plastic tray company means more than a hundred new jobs are coming to Schuylkill County. The governor says Clearly Clean Products is growing and that means 125 new jobs will be created. The project includes the transformation of a large building in Frackville into a thermoforming plant and warehouse for finished products and a second facility in Orwigsburg. Wolf praises the company for choosing to expand in the Commonwealth.
The Philadelphia Eagles are adding a running back. The Eagles have acquired Jordan Howard from Chicago for a 2020 sixth round draft pick that could end up being a fifth-rounder. The 24-year-old Howard has rushed for more than 1000 yards in two of his first three seasons and has 24 rushing touchdowns and one more receiving.