A fixture of Allentown politics is gone. Longtime Allentown city controller, Allentown city councilman and fiscal watchdog Lou Hershman has died. Hershman passed away Sunday according to his family. Hershman was city controller from 1976 to 1999 and before serving as a city councilman from 1999 to 2007. Lou Hershman was 84.
Last week, Lehigh County announced it will be installing five ballot drop boxes soon. Now, Northampton County has announced a similar plan. County Executive Lamont McClure says beginning Thursday the county will have mail-in ballot boxes available at four locations. They are at the Northampton County 911 Center in Upper Nazareth Township, Bethlehem City Hall, the Northampton County Courthouse in Easton and the Northampton County Human Services Building in Bethlehem Township. In addition to the drop boxes, mail-in ballots can be submitted via the mail or hand-delivered to the election office at the Northampton County Courthouse.
The Trump administration says nine discarded mail-in ballots in Luzerne County shows the vote-by-mail system is corrupt. Gov. Tom Wolf scoffs at the notion. "I certainly understand the idea of the side that appears to be losing would call foul on the process. But, the commonwealth is doing everything we can to make sure the election is fair and every ballot is counted, just as we did back in the primary with this new system," Wolf says. As for why those ballots were tossed in Luzerne County, Gov. Wolf says the state is still trying to find out why it happened.
New Jersey is making sure the 2020 election runs smoothly, starting with the post office. A federal judge is siding with New Jersey in a lawsuit, blocking the United States Postal Service from making any changes before the election. The state is preparing for a mostly mail-in election and was worried the changes would impact results. The postmaster general says changes haven't been made and were not meant to influence the election.
The Pennsylvania NAACP wants to help educate blacks about voting. The organization is hosting virtual voter education events this week. They will inform people on how to register to vote, mail-in voting directions and more. Additional details are available at www.wakeupblackvote.com.
Fire crews are investigating the cause of a fire that ripped through a Lowhill Township property last night. Firefighters were called to Kernsville Road after 8 o'clock last night. The property is home to the Lehigh Valley Scream Park and Stone Haven Supply. The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this point.
Pennsylvania's Department of Health added 1029 new coronavirus cases to the state's total on Monday, bringing the overall total to 155,232 since the pandemic began. 7 new COVID-19-related deaths were also reported Monday, bringing the total 8107.
There will be plenty of activity outside the state Capitol today. A months-delayed Second Amendment rally is set to happen today on the steps of the state Capitol. The Rally to Protect Your Right to Keep and Bear Arms event was postponed in June amid the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Gov. Tom Wolf is launching another attack on the drug addiction problem in Pennsylvania. His administration is launching a drug reduction campaign with the goal to continue to fight against the opioid epidemic.
New Jersey is planning to dramatically increase its coronavirus testing ability. Gov. Phil Murphy says more than 2.5-million rapid tests produced by Abbott Labs are being sent to the Garden State. Murphy calls the tests that give results in 15 minutes a game changer. He says the state's vulnerable, underserved communities, essential workers and schols will all benefit.
Vice President Mike Pence is set to hold a debate watch party in Lancaster County. The watch party is scheduled for tonight at Meadow Spring Farm in Lititz. Doors open at 5pm and tickets are available online.
It looks like former Vice President Joe Biden is bringing his presidential campaign back to the Keystone State. The Democratic nominee will be taking a tour of Western Pennsylvania and Ohio by train. His appearance will come one day after his first debate with President Trump.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled a 2018 lawsuit against a gun manufacturer in the shooting death of a 13-year-old Mount Pleasant boy can move forward. Mark and Leah Gustafson had filed the suit against Springfield Arms and Saloon Department store in the accidental shooting death of their son, James. The boy was killed when a friend pointed what he thought was an unloaded gun at him. The Gustafsons claim the gun was made without a safety feature that would have disabled the gun from firing.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is putting pen to paper today and signing off on New Jersey's 2021 budget. The budget includes the so-called millionaire's tax, which means the state's wealthiest will be hit with tax hikes. The state Legislature approved the budget, topping out at $32.7 billion. That figure includes borrowing $4.5-billion since the governor is preparing to lose out on tax revenue because of the pandemic.
New Jersey is no longer taxing military members on their combat pay. Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation approving the move, saying it would provide some relief for the country's bravest. New Jersey was the only state taxing combat pay, which is also untaxed by the federal government.
A New York man is dead after falling a few stories at an Atlantic City casino. the 30-year-old was trying to climb over a divider around 4 o'clock Monday morning. That's when he fell from the second floor to the lobby at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. He was pronounced dead at the scene.