The Lehigh Valley man who spent time in jail after going to Mexico with a teenage girl back in 2018 faces new legal problems. 52-year-old Kevin Esterly is charged with raping a girl beginning when she was about 12 years old. The alleged victim, who is now an adult, claims she spent time with Esterly and his family at their home, sometimes spending the night there. She says it was then Esterly would molest her while she slept and eventually gave her drugs and alcohol and would rape her from 2013 to 2017 in exchange for him supplying her drugs she had become addicted to. Esterly was released from prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to corruption of minors charges for taking a girl to Mexico, prompting a two-week hunt for them. The girl denied having any sexual relationship with Esterly, who said he did nothing more than act as a protective father would.
The Allentown Planning Commission has approved a development plan for a new 16-story, mixed-use building near the Lehigh River. The developer plans to tear down an old furniture factory and construct a building with 267 apartment units; more than 21,000 square feet of office space; and more than 23,000 square feet of retail space at 249 N. Front St. near the Lehigh River. The apartments are slated for floors eight through 16, with the first floor containing retail and vehicle parking. Parking will occupy the immediate floors above and the building's seventh floor will contain various amenities such as a gym and a swimming pool. The building will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
A 38-year-old woman is facing charges for allegedly shooting a man during a road rage incident. State Police say the man was shot in the face on I-380 in Monroe County Tuesday morning. Troopers said the woman fled the scene, but was later found and taken into custody. She has not been identified.
As rioting continues in parts of Los Angeles in protest of immigration enforcement sweeps there, Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman defends the agency conducting the mission. "We need ICE. We need a secure border. That's a mistake for our party to pretend that we need to abolish ICE," Fetterman says. He says he supports the right to protest, but he says what's happening in Los Angeles isn't protesting, but rather chaos.
Nearly 30 states including Pennsylvania are suing 23andMe. The DNA genealogy company filed for bankruptcy. The lawsuit seeks to stop the company from auctioning off the private genetic data of around 15 million customers. The lawsuit argues DNA data, health related traits and medical records are too sensitive to be sold without each person's consent. Customers of 23andMe can also take steps to have their genetic information that's stored by the company deleted.
While he wasn't on New Jersey's primary election ballot Tuesday, President Trump was on the minds of the two candidates who won their races for governor. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill won the six person Democrat primary. "The president comes here non-stop to his golf course and he calls our state a horror show. But come November, we're sending a shot across the bow," Sherrill said. Jack Ciattarelli defeated four others in the Republican race Tuesday. "As for our most well known New Jersey part time resident who honored me with his endorsement and strong support, thank you President Donald J. Trump," Ciattarelli said to supporters. Ciattarelli and Sherrill will face off this November to replace Phil Murphy, who is term limited and unable to seek a third term as governor.
A miserable season for Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola has now gotten worse. "He had a MRI and he's got a stress reaction in his right ribs. So, he's a no-throw for two weeks," says Phillies manager Rob Thomson says he has no estimated return date for Nola, who has already missed nearly a month with an ankle injury.