The Poconos man accused of killing four Idaho college students in late 2022 is asking a judge to throw out all evidence collected against him. Kohberger's attorney argued that authorities should have gotten warrants before running DNA searches, as well as before they took a trash can from outside the suspect's family home in Monroe County. Judge Steven Hippler didn't seem overly sympathetic to the argument, saying "I struggle with the idea that DNA left at a crime scene, that there's any expectation of privacy." Hippler didn't issue a ruling and the hearing is expected to resume today.
Days after current Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure announced he would not seek a third term, Republican County Councilman Thomas Giovanni has announced he is running for the office. Giovanni, who is the first candidate to announce a bid, will be making a formal announcement next month. Giovanni says McClure has given the county seven years of failed leadership.
The issue of whether to authorize a $35 million bond to pay for a new parking deck at the Northampton County Government Center in Easton has been put on hold for a bit longer. The issue was supposed to be discussed during Thursday night's council meeting, but council voted to table the ordinance, because Commissioner Ron Heckman was absent.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission says the bear that attacked a man in Jim Thorpe tested positive for rabies. The bear bit a man in the arm before being shot and killed by a neighbor who witnessed the attack. The Pa. Game Commission suspected the bear had rabies because it's unusual for a bear to attack a human, especially at this time of year when bears are usually hibernating.
One day ahead of his new album release, a country music star has been booked for this summer's Great Allentown Fair. Kane brown will perform Aug. 29, at the Service Electric Grandstand Stage. Brown is the first headliner announced. Tickets for the show are $119 and go on sale 10 a.m. Jan. 31. The Allentown Fair runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1.
Pennsylvania will receive hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars as part of a massive settlement with those accused of being responsible for the opioid crisis. AG Dave Sunday announced yesterday that Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family agreed to pay $7.4 billion to a bipartisan coalition of 15 states to resolve opioid lawsuits. The states argued Purdue Pharma's aggressive marketing of OxyContin led to a national opioid addiction crisis. If approved, the commonwealth is expected to receive more than $200 million in the settlement.
State and federal agencies are joining forces to improve driver safety during a dangerous winter weather event. Agencies including Penn-DOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and the National Weather Service are planning to study snow squalls. The blinding conditions caused by snow squalls has led to deadly crashes in Pennsylvania, including an 80-car pileup in 2022. The groups will study how snow squalls impact driving and how to educate drivers on navigating them.
The Eagles and Washington play in the NFC Championship Game Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. When they do, quarterback Jalen Hurts knows he'll have his hands full with the Washington defense. "They fly to the ball. They attack the passer. They have great defensive backs. They're a great team that plays consistent ball. They're a really good team," Hurts says. Hurts suffered an undisclosed leg injury in last week's win over the Rams but is expected to play Sunday. The winner goes to the Super Bowl and will play the winner of Sunday night's Kansas City-Buffalo game.
The Associated Press has announced its five finalists for NFL MVP and Whitehall High graduate Saquon Barkley is among them. The Eagles running back is joined by Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow, Detroit quarterback Jared Goff and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson. Barkley, Burrow and Jackson also are finalists for Offensive Player of the Year. Eagles linebacker Zack Baun is one of the five finalists for Defensive Player of the Year. Two Eagles cornerbacks, Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell are among the finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is a finalist for NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.