Mack Trucks is laying off hundreds of workers in the Lehigh Valley. The company confirmed yesterday it is letting go of 250-and-350 employees at its facility in Lower Macungie Township. Mack Trucks said the layoffs are because of market uncertainty, reduced demand, and the impact of tariffs. A Mack spokesperson says, “We regret having to take this action, but we need to align production with reduced demand for our vehicles.” Mack Trucks employs about 2300 people at its Lower Macungie Township facility.
The two Democrats running for Allentown mayor held their lone scheduled debate Thursday night at Miller Symphony Hall. Among the topics was the lawsuit filed claiming racial discrimination in Mayor Matt Tuerk's adminisration. The mayor said there's nothing there. "We've diligently investigated claims of discrimination as they occurred. Sometimes, a claim is found to be without merit," Tuerk said. Challenger and current Allentown City Councilman Ed Zucal isn't so sure. "If that was the case, and everyone was a welcomed employee, we wouldn't have several lawsuits filed," Zucal said. There are no Republicans on the ballot, so May 20th primary voters will essentially elect the next mayor.
A Lehigh County murder trial is over just after it began. Three days into his trial, 31-year-old Obadiah Whack pleaded guilty to third-degree murder for the September 2023 death of Giselle Trabal. Whack admitted to shooting through the door of a home on North Law Street, killing Trabal. Prosecutors say Whack killed Trabal after she kicked him out of the apartment earlier that day, angering him. In exchange for the guilty plea, Whack avoided a possible life sentence and instead was immediately sentenced to 30-60 years behind bars.
A Northampton County man is in custody after homemade bombs were reportedly found in his home. Police said officers searched the home of 37-year-old Cory Garger yesterday and found three illegal homemade explosives along with a disassembled ghost gun. Garger is not allowed to own a firearm due to a previous conviction for possession with intent to deliver. He faces several charges.
The website livability.com has released its 2025 Top 100 Best Place to Live list and a Lehigh Valley community is on it. Bethlehem ended up tied for 51st on the list based on its housing, cost of living, education and amenities. The website calls Bethlehem a vibrant city in the picturesque Lehigh Valley that blends history and modernity. It says, from an incredible arts scene, ample outdoor activities and spaces, Bethlehem is a welcoming community and with a low cost of living, it's easy to see the magic of Christmas City.
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-9. To celebrate that, the Crayola Experience is inviting all Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers within 75 miles of Easton to enter for a chance to win a shopping spress and prize package. Now through April 24th, teachers can enter the contest at Crayola's website. Three teachers will be chosen at random to participate in a 64 second shopping spree from the Crayola Store. Everything those teachers can grab in 64 seconds will go home to their schools with them and each teacher's school will receive a $5000 prize pack on top of that and each student in that teacher's classroom will receive a ticket to use at the Crayola Experience this summer.
If you'd like to have a family Easter egg hunt Sunday, Accu-Weather's Heather Zehr says Mother Nature should cooperate. "It'll be 65 degrees with some sunshine. It'll be just a nice day," Zehr says. The sunrise temperature Sunday morning should be right around 52 degrees or so.
Governor Josh Shapiro and his family served lunch to Harrisburg firefighters on Thursday as a way to thank the first responders who responded to an arson at the governor's residence on April 13. "On behalf of Lori and our kids and our whole family, thank you to Harrisburg Fire and thank you to local fire companies for answering that call and getting their so quickly and getting that fire out and quite literally saving our lives," the governor said. State officials say the Shapiro family should be able to return to the Governor's Residence in the next few days.
Penn State University is delaying its announcement of which Commonwealth Campuses will be closed. University President Neeli Bendapudi said the announcement is being moved back to mid-May to not potentially overshadow final exams and graduations. A dozen Penn State campuses are being considered for closure, including Schuylkill. However, Penn State Lehigh Valley is exempt from the list due to its higher enrollment.
A Pennsylvania State Senator is apologizing after he asked a child a question about pornography during an academic event. During a National Civics Bee competition on Wednesday, Republican State Senator David Argall reportedly asked a sixth grade girl that wrote an essay about book banning if they thought it was "appropriate to give pornographic magazines to kindergarteners." The child's mother said her daughter asked Argall to clarify because she didn't know what pornography was, and he responded that it was "naked pictures of people." Argall later apologized, stating that he cited an example that was "not appropriate for this age group."
The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a plane crash in Lancaster County last month. The NTSB says the cabin door of a small aircraft with a family onboard opened during takeoff, then the plane started shaking before it went down in the parking lot of a retirement community. The pilot and his son spent weeks in the hospital. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.