Allentown City Councilman Ed Zucal is suggesting a vote of no confidence against Mayor Matt Tuerk. That comes after Zucal says Tuerk fired a human resources worker who recently filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Zucal is calling the firing of Karen Ocasio "an act of revenge." His claims continue allegations Tuerk and his administration discriminate and harass minority city workers. Earlier this fall, City Council voted unanimously to authorize a third-party investigation into the allegations and Tuerk said he agreed and encouraged council members to vote for the third-party investigation to "dispel" low morale created by the allegations, and because his office has nothing to hide.
The eyes of the political world will be focused on Easton next fall because Lafayette College has been chosen to host the 2024 vice presidential debate. It’s the first time Lafayette has been selected to host the event, which is scheduled for Sept. 25 and will be the only vice presidential debate of the campaign. In a statement, school President Nicole Hurd says, "It is a tremendous honor to host a vice presidential debate. We are delighted to open our campus for this important part of our nation’s democratic process and help bring this debate to the American electorate.” The debate will be held in Kirby Sports Center.
Dieruff High School is closed today because of a mechanical issue in the building. Newcomer Academy, Full Day, AM/PM LCTI and LCCC students still reported and took the bus at their regularly scheduled time. No breakfast was served this morning. The school district isn't giving a specific issue that caused Dieruff to close today.
Despite the calls of some to keep the current acting principal in place, the Allentown School Board approved Geoffrey Schmidt to become principal at Dieruff High School starting in January. Schmidt is a Lehigh University graduate and is the school design lead at the Holyoke High School Opportunity Academy in Massachusetts. Dieruff community members had asked school directors to pause the decision and consider acting Principal Melissa Petronio for the permanent role. Instead, the school board unaimously approved Schmidt's hiring at an annual salary of $144,300.
A judge in Idaho has laid out the rules for cameras in the courtroom during the upcoming quadruple murder trial of Monroe County native and DeSales University graduate Bryan Kohberger. Judge John Judge says he will grant Kohberger’s motion to “remove cameras” operated by the media, including both video and still photography. Instead, a court-operated camera will livestream the trial, which the public will be able to watch online on Judge’s YouTube channel. The defense had asked to ban all cameras, while media outlets asked to be allowed to take their own footage. The 28-year-old Kohberger is charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death last November. A trial date has not yet been set.
It sounds like the evening drive home from work will be a very wet one. "I don't think it really picks up until between 2 and 3 this afternoon and once it starts it's just going to be a steady, soaking rain all the way past midnight and probably until three or four in the morning," says Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg. He says almost the entire Lehigh Valley will get more than an inch of rain and some areas could pick up more than two.
In celebration of Thanksgiving week, Sheetz is lowering its Unleaded 88 gas price to $1.99 a gallon. The gas price change will occur at all Sheetz locations that carry Unleaded 88 grade fuel. The promotion will last until Monday, Nov. 27 at 11:59 p.m.
A bill that unanimously passed the Pennsylvania Senate and House will require pasteurized breast milk to be covered by the state's Medical Assistance program, or Medicaid. Pasteurized breast milk is often prescribed to help premature babies but supporters of the measure say it can cost up to $100 a day to feed their baby. Experts say having a premature baby drink formula instead of breast milk is no good. They say it puts the tiny patients at risk of developing severe gastrointestinal issues that can be fatal.
“Joy Through the Grove” is returning this Christmas season at Knoebels Amusement Park. The Christmas light experience will begin on November 24 and run through December 31, but will not operate on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Visitors will drive through a two-mile path that features over 500 illuminated pieces and custom Knoebels-themed displays. The cost for “Joy Through the Grove” is $20 for standard passenger vehicles from Monday through Thursday and $25 from Friday through Sunday.
After trailing 17-7 at halftime, the Philadelphia Eagles scored the only 14 points in the second half to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 21-17 on Monday Night Football. Head coach Nick Sirianni says the win is big, but not revenge after the Chiefs beat the Eagles in last season's Super Bowl. "It was good to get a win. We weren't thinking we were coming out here to avenge a loss. It's different nature. That was for everything," Sirianni says. The Eagles are 9-1 and two games ahead of the Cowboys in the NFC East and one game ahead of Detroit for the NFC's best record.
Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola spoke Monday after agreeing to a new contract to remain with the Phillies and said Philadelphia is where he wants to be. "I've always wanted to be a Phillie. I've always been a Phillie. It's kind of the only place we had our eyes set on. It's the most comfortable place for me," Nola says. Nola agreed to a seven-year, $173 million contract to remain in Philadelphia and reportedly took less money to stay.