The Poconos man charged with killing four University of Idaho students is having his plea hearing Wednesday. Bryan Kohberger has accepted a plea deal that takes the death penalty off the table in exchange for him pleading guilty to committing the four murders in 2022 and serving life. During the hearing, Kohberger will have to admit to his crimes, but court experts say it likely won't explain his motive.
The so-called Big, Beautiful Bill passed the Senate with Vice President J.D. Vance casting a tie breaking vote. Pennsylvania's two senators were on opposite sides in the vote. Democrat John Fetterman voted against it saying, "My colleagues on the other side of the aisle wrote and passed this 940-page bill without giving us time to read it. I'll keep fighting to protect health care, defend nutrition assistance, block giveaways for billionaires and prevent trillions more added to our national debt." Republican Dave McCormick was a 'yes' vote. He said, "No bill is perfect, but these provisions will make a real difference in the lives of people working hard to make ends meet and raise their families across the Commonwealth."
The merger between St. Luke's University Health Network and Grand View Health is now a done deal. The Bucks County hospital will now be known as St. Luke’s Grand View Campus. The two networks announced they were looking to merge back in September, and signed an agreement to partner in January. Grand View becomes St. Luke's 16th hospital and its first new acquisition since the purchase of Easton Hospital five years ago.
A 64-year-old Whitehall Township man is dead after a Monday crash. Rajnesh Prasad was killed when he drove off of Route 93 in Nesquehoning Township, Carbon County. The accident happened just before 11 Monday morning. Investigators say Prasad's vehicle struck a tree stump after leaving the road.
The Allentown Zoning Hearing Board has voted to allow the partial demolition of the old Merchants National Bank building at 7th and Hamilton streets. Plans call for building two new floors above the existing four floors and then a four-story replacement of an addition behind the building. Developers want 83,000 square feet of space which would be used for offices with a first-floor retail and restaurant space and the historic façade of the building being preserved.
Pennsylvania drivers are getting a bit of a break at the gas pump ahead of the upcoming holiday weekend. AAA East Central says the average price for a gallon of gas across Pennsylvania was at $3.36 on Tuesday, three cents lower than last week and 27 cents below the July 2024 price. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price comes in at $3.24, down nearly a nickel from a week ago and 28 cents lower than one year ago.
Governor Shapiro and Pennsylvania lawmakers have missed the June 30th budget deadline as negotiations continue behind closed doors. The governor says he thinks they can get something done. "We understand what the issues are and we are working through the solutions on those issues. I think the temperature is way down. We respect one another," Shapiro says.
Governor Josh Shapiro has signed 20 bills into law. The bills include Pennsylvania judicial system funding as Shapiro and lawmakers continue to try to come up with the next fiscal year's budget. Another bill streamlines the factors used to determine child custody. A bill sponsored by Representative Doug Mastriano and Senator Lisa Baker will help reform oversight of the six State Veterans Homes in Pennsylvania.
A dangerous chemical is a step closer to being banned from firefighting foam in Pennsylvania. The state House passed a bill yesterday to prevent PFAS in the foam. Known as forever chemicals, they are often found in water near military bases and on properties throughout Pennsylvania. The inclusion of PFAS chemicals required by federal law would get an exception from the ban.
With folks gearing up for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, Pennsylvania State Police are also getting ready. The department is announcing details of its Independence Day Enforcement Period which will run from 12:01 a.m. Thursday through 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Troopers will be focusing on motorists who exhibit dangerous behaviors such as speeding, child seat infractions and driving while under the influence.
The University of Pennsylvania is banning transgender women from participating in its women's sports programs. The Education Department announced Tuesday it had reached a deal with the university months after accusing it of violating Title 9 rules when it allowed a transgender woman to join the women's swim team. The agreement also mandates that the woman in question, Lia Thomas, have her records removed and her national title taken away. It's not clear if the NCAA will rescind her Division I championship win in 2022.
President Trump is nominating Alina Habba to serve as New Jersey's top prosecutor. Trump had appointed Habba to a 120-day interim term as New Jersey's U.S. attorney, and now the White House will send her name to the Senate for nomination. Yesterday, she announced more than a dozen people have been arrested for their roles in what's described as a violent drug trafficking ring in Essex County.