Bryan Kohberger has pleaded guilty to the fatal 2022 stabbing of four University of Idaho students, waiving his right to a jury trial and avoiding the possibility of a death sentence. Victims rights attorney Leander James, who represents the parents and loved ones of Madison Mogen, one of the victims, read a statement from the family. "We support the plea agreement 100 percent. While we know there are some who don't support it, we ask that they respect our belief that this is the best outcome possible for the victims, their families and the state of Idaho," James said. The sister of Kaylee Goncalves, another victim in the killings, reacted to the agreement. "The system has failed these four innocent victims and their families," Gonclaves said. The Poconos native also pleaded guilty to one count of felony burglary. The 30-year-old is expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars, likely receiving four consecutive life sentences. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for later this month.
Lehigh Valley Health Network will pay almost $2.9 million to resolve federal claims tied to violations of the Controlled Substances Act. Authorities say a pharmacy technician at the Cedar Crest pharmacy near Allentown used a coworker's password to steal controlled substances and covered it up with fake reports. The network was also accused of poor record-keeping and failing to prevent theft. LVHN has since boosted security and improved compliance efforts in cooperation with federal officials.
A New Jersey woman, who used to be a nurse at Gracedale Nursing Home in Northampton County, is charged with assaulting an elderly resident there. Last Monday, Octavia Robinson allegedly was seen by a police officer, who had been called to Gracedale, standing over a patient with her fingers shoved down the patient's throat because Robinson said the patient had demons that needed to come out. The officer says the victim, who was nonverbal and appeared to be in distress, had blood on their chest and bedding. Northampton County says Robinson had been hired at Gracedale less than two weeks earlier.
A Lehigh Valley Mall staple is changing hands or perhaps closing entirely. The owners of Dunderbak's say they are retiring from operating the business due to age-related issues. In a social media post, Bill Baker says he and his wife are looking for a buyer to take over the business, which opened up back in November 1977. The post says whether there's a buyer or not, the Bakers' last day of operations is expected to be February 28, 2026.
Voters in both Lehigh and Northampton counties are electing new county executives in four months. At this point, one of those races is virtually a dead heat in terms of fundraising, while the other isn't remotely close. Republican Northampton County candidate Tom Giovanni reports his war chest has just below $5000 in it, while Democrat Tara Zrinski lags just $600 behind. In Lehigh County, Democrat Josh Siegel has a whopping $200,000 in cash on hand, while Republican opponent Roger MacLean has only $2600 to spend.
Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg says if you have picnic plans tomorrow, you may never have a better weather day. "Tomorrow is easily a ten out of ten," Lundberg says. Sunny skies, warm with low humidity is the forecast for the holiday. Fireworks will be going off without a hitch. Partly cloudy skies are expected tomorrow night.
The National Weather Service is confirming a tornado touched down in Berks County Tuesday. The storm registered as a EF-0 with peak winds of 70 miles per hour, touching down in Amity Township around 4:45 p.m. Straight-line winds were also reported, with winds up to 70 miles per hour in Boyertown and Gilbertsville in Montgomery County. Officials with the NWS were along Weavertown Lane in Amity Township assessing damage yesterday.
Pennsylvania Republicans in Congress are calling on federal officials to lift tariffs on cocoa imports, warning they could hurt the state's major chocolate producers. In a letter sent Monday, nine lawmakers argued that tariffs on cocoa beans and other unfinished chocolate products threaten local jobs and could spike production costs. Hershey, based in Dauphin County, estimates tariffs may add up to 20 million dollars in expenses this quarter alone. Lawmakers emphasized that U.S. chocolate makers rely entirely on foreign cocoa, urging swift action to shield the industry and preserve Pennsylvania's chocolate legacy.
With tick season in full swing, Pennsylvania officials are reminding residents to protect themselves and their pets from Lyme disease. The state ranks among the highest in the nation for Lyme cases, and about 12 percent of dogs in Pennsylvania test positive each year. Vets say symptoms in pets can range from no signs at all to joint pain and loss of appetite. To highlight the risk, officials used a poppy seed bagel to show how easily ticks can go unnoticed. Residents are urged to stay vigilant when outdoors this summer.
Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid is selling its Thrifty Ice Cream brand to a company tied to Monster Energy for 19-point-two million dollars as it shuts down over 1,000 stores nationwide. A judge approved the sale this week, allowing the iconic ice cream to continue production in Southern California. While CVS and Walgreens have taken over some locations, Rite Aid stores in Pennsylvania have largely been left out of recent deals. The chain's signature ice cream, known for its cylinder-shaped scoops, will live on despite the company's financial struggles.
The FAA is investigating the crash of a skydiving plane that sent 15 people to a hospital yesterday. The plane went off the runway and crashed at Cross Keys Airport in Gloucester County yesterday. The FAA confirmed that 15 people were on board when the Cessna plane went down in a wooded area west of the airport. They say three people were critically injured and were taken to Cooper University Trauma Center. There were a dozen others who sustained less severe injuries and were being treated in the emergency room. The pilot had reported engine trouble before the crash.