State Police aren't saying much about a double murder from earlier this month in Schuylkill County. Spokesman David Boehm says they'd rather be thorough than fast. "We want to make sure that we have everything that's necessary for a successful prosection of whoever was responsible for this incident," Boehm says. Last week, 18-year-old Hunter Mock and 16-year-old Angelito Caraballo were found dead along a trail in a heavily wooded area of New Philadelphia. Police reportedly have one person in custody on unrelated charges and have spoken to a witness to the killings. That witness reportedly says he was partying with the two victims and another man when the man pulled out a gun and opened fire.
Allentown's public library is hosting a used book sale. There's a wide variety of books available at low prices. There are also thousands of CD's and DVD's for sale. The sale runs today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Allentown Public Library, located at 1210 Hamilton St.
Some state medical researchers have been awarded a 50-million-dollar grant to study how environmental factors affect mothers and their fetuses, babies, and toddlers. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia say they will need to enroll 25-hundred pregnant women and their partners over a seven-year period. They will track neighborhood factors in poor areas such as pollution, violence and temperatures, as well as walkability and green space. The work is part the National Institutes of Health's larger study of some 64-thousand children.
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials are warning residents of the risks of wildfires during the fall months. Thousands of acres of Pennsylvania woodlands are burned by wildfires each year. The DCNR says the state has seen an increased number of wildfires in 2023, with the greatest danger of wildfires in Pennsylvania occurring during the autumn months, as well as during the months of March, April, and May. The department also asks those who start a fire at a home or a campsite to make sure that there are no combustible items within 10- feet of the fire. It is also recommended to have a rake or shovel, as well as a water source to properly suppress the embers of a fire. The department said 99% of wildfires are caused by humans.
Hershey Co. may be in violation of state and federal laws with its new sweepstakes offer currently advertised on packs of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. The promotion on two-cup packages reads “You could win $25,000” and, in smaller print, “See details inside.” But only after consumers have bought and opened a package can they see the small print: no purchase is necessary to enter the sweepstakes. Sweepstakes are primarily governed by state laws, which require that no purchase is necessary to participate. A contest that requires a purchase is a lottery, which is subject to different rules.
Fast food chain Chick-Fil-A is agreeing to a settlement in a class action lawsuit. The litigation claimed the company took advantage of some customers by offering free, or low-cost, delivery fees but then increased the prices of the food items for those orders. The company is making nearly one-and-a-half-million dollars in cash and close to three-million in gift cards available as compensation for impacted customers. A settlement administrator will eventually send emails to customers who are eligible for compensation. Those individuals will be able to get refunds or gift cards worth up to roughly 30 dollars each. That number could be lower depending on the number of people who register, according to the settlement administrator.
New Senator Bob Menendez is not attending today's classified briefing on Israel's war against Hamas in Washington D.C. The meeting is offered to all senators by the Secretary of State, the Director of National Intelligence and top U.S. military officials. Senator Schumer was the first to say Menendez will not be attending, adding he's had private talks with the Senator, but has not publicly called for him to resign. Menendez said he decided to skip the meeting because after 30-years of doing foreign policy, he says there's nothing that will alter his view of what needs to be done. Menendez faces federal charges of taking bribes to help the Egyptian government.
The Phillies routed Arizona 10-0 in game two of the National League Championship Series to take a 2-0 series lead. Winning pitcher Aaron Nola says opening up the series in Philadelphia was a big advantage. "They're the best home field advantage in the major leagues. To play in front of our crowd, we're grateful and to get two games against these guys before heading out to Arizona is huge," Nola says. Games three, four and, if necessary, five are all in Arizona beginning Thursday afternoon.