Back on March 14, the old Dixie Cup factory in Wilson caught on fire. Nearly two months later, Wilson Fire Captain Barry Rogers says investigators now know why. "Our investigators and our task force have determined it was an arson fire," Rogers says. Rogers says investigators made the arson determination based on the fact that there were three separate points of origin, all in the same room on the top floor.
Three people, an Allentown woman, a Fountain Hill man and a New York City man were killed in a weekend crash on Route 309 near Gun Club Road in Lynn Township. The Lehigh County Coroner's office says 19-year-old Israel Medina, of New York City, and 21-year-old Vannity Colon, of Allentown, were both declared dead at the scene of the crash. State police say an unidentified 54-year-old Allentown woman was driving a sedan northbound on Route 309 about 2:30 Sunday afternoon when the vehicle went into the southbound lane and hit an SUV driven by an unidentified 30-year-old Fountain Hill woman. Colon and Medina were passengers in the sedan that crossed into the oncoming traffic. The driver of that car was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, for treatment of her injuries. The driver of the southbound SUV was taken to the hospital for treatment of her injuries as well. Her passenger, 61-year-old Jeffrey Pichel, of Fountain Hill, died from his injuries Monday morning at the hospital.
A man is dead following a Jackson Township vehicle collision. Two cars were involved in the crash that happened at around 4:15 p.m. yesterday on Route 715. Authorities say a man who was pronounced dead at the scene was a 52-year-old Chestnuthill Township resident.
A man is in custody after police say he fired gunshots near an Allentown middle school. Officers were called to the 200 block of Spruce Street Monday morning for reports of a man firing multiple rounds into the air close to Harrison-Morton Middle School. Authorities said the man later pointed a gun at an Allentown School District security officer, but fled when APD arrived at the scene. The man, identified as 23-year-old Victor Nieves, was arrested after a short chase and faces multiple charges.
After a brief, but hard shower this morning, Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg says we probably aren't finished yet today. "I think you're going to see this again later today. Probably mid-to-later this afternoon, like 2 or 3 o'clock until 8 or 9 o'clock tonight. There will be a couple more of these coming through with some thunder and lightning, gusty winds and the potential for some small hail," Lundberg says. He says there's a chance it rains at least once every day of the work week.
A bill that would legalize recreational marijuana use in Pennsylvania is advancing in the state legislature. The House Health Committee approved the Cannabis Health and Safety Act yesterday by a 14-12 vote along party lines. If passed, the bill would not only make adult marijuana use legal in the commonwealth, but would also clear criminal records for those convicted of weed-related offenses. The Cannabis Health and Safety Act will now be considered by the entire State House of Representatives.
The newest State Senator from Lancaster County was sworn-in on Monday. Democrat James Malone took the oath of office after winning the special election to represent the 36th State Senate District in March. The former East Petersburg mayor narrowly defeated Republican Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons in a district President Trump won by 15 points last November. The Republican majority in the State Senate is down to four seats now that Malone has officially taken office.