Former Whitehall Township commissioner Andy Roman is suing the township after being booted from his position. Roman, who suffered a stroke during a commissioners meeting last November, claims he was removed as commissioner illegally and should have his meeting absences excused and be reinstated as a commissioner. Roman says he requsted to participate in meetings remotely but was denied and he was unable to return in person because the commissioners' meeting room dais is up a step and his wheelchair cannot navigate that. Whitehall commissioners voted unanimously last month to remove Roman after missing a third stratight meeting without an excused absence. Commissioners say they could not function properly with a member constatnly absent. Monday, the board unanimously appointed Alberta Scarfaro to replace Roman through the end of 2025.
The Lehigh Valley is not among the 31 technology hubs designated by the Biden administration this week. The Lehigh Valley’s pitch focused on innovation in semiconductor design and production. “We’re disappointed that the Lehigh Valley was not selected," said Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation CEO Don Cunningham. The hubs are supposed to spur innovation and create jobs in the industries concentrated in those areas.
Gas prices continue to head lower in both the Lehigh Valley and across the state. According to AAA East Central, the average price for a gallon of gas is nearly three cents lower this week at $3.72 per gallon, down from $3.75 one week earlier and down 20 cents from last October 24. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price stands at $3.51 a gallon, down from $3.55 last week and 35 cents below its price one year ago.
A familiar face in local high school sports has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. 61-year-old Frank D’Angelo has died at the age of 61. D'Angelo officiated baseball, basketball and football on the local scene for 43 years. He is a Hall of Fame PIAA official and in the past year was inducted into both the National Football Foundation Lehigh Valley Chapter Hall of Fame and the District 11 Hall of Fame.
A Tuesday evening balloon release honored and remembered the lives of two teenagers killed in Schuylkill County earlier this month. Hunter Mock and Angelito Caraballo were both killed in a wooded area of New Philadelphia. Kate Mock is Hunter's mother and says the pain doesn't go away. "Right now, I'm just grieving and sobbing with bursts of anger," Mock says. Two friends of the teens were with them the night of the killings, but no charges have been filed in their deaths yet.
Pennsylvania dog owners are about to be charged more for licensing their dog. State officials say license fees have not gone up in many years, but Governor Shapiro signed a bill into law that is increasing the charge. Effective March 1st, an annual license will be $8.70 while a lifetime license will be $52.70. License fees go toward covering the cost of dog wardens' work including maintaining quality care at kennels as well as shutting down illegal kennels and going after owners of dangerous dogs.
The new two-point-six billion dollar budget for the Turnpike Authority includes a three percent fare hike for the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike. Yesterday, commissioners approved the fare increase, which takes effect January first. A drivers advocacy group called on Governor Phil Murphy to veto the part of the minutes from the meeting when the rate hike was passed. The group is critical of the process used to approve the rate hike.
Governor Murphy is reacting with disbelief to news that an Essex County school district has cancelled Halloween celebrations. Officials with South Orange-Maplewood Schools says ending Halloween events during school hours will help build equity and inclusion along with a sense of belonging throughout schools. On social media, Governor Murphy and commented "Seriously? We can't let kids celebrate Halloween? Give me a Break."
The Phillies season came to a bitter end Tuesday night with a 4-2 loss to Arizona in game seven of the National League Championship Series. The win sends Arizona to the World Series for the first time since 2001 and Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber says they deserve it. "They played great baseball. Plain and simple, they beat us in this series and there's no way around it," Schwarber says. The Phillies managed just three runs over the final two games. The World Series begins Friday night with the Rangers hosting the Diamondbacks.