Two children who died in a flood in New Mexico were connected to the Lehigh Valley. Seven-year-old Sebastian and four-year-old Charlotte Trotter were killed in a flash flood during a family vacation in Ruidoso on Tuesday. Their mother Stephanie is originally from Whitehall Township and her family still lives in the region. Stephanie and the children's father were seriously injured.
The stepfather of a Northampton County teenager who went missing earlier this year is accused of recording conversations without consent. Authorities say 44-year-old John Gehrmann recorded phone conversations with multiple people during the search for Aubrey Wu without notifying them the call was being recorded. One of those discussions was reportedly with an off-duty police officer. Gehrmann is charged with a felony.
The Pearly Baker's Alehouse in Easton has been sold to Philip, Michael and Joseph Simonetta. The three brothers say the establishment will keep its name and for the most part, its menu. However they say Lebanese and Italian dishes will likely get added to the choices. Look for a grand-opening event around the middle of September. Michael and Joseph Simonetta currently own Mother's Bar & Grille also in Easton.
United Airlines is changing its services at Lehigh Valley International Airport this summer, with one addition and one subtraction. United is adding a flight to Chicago O’Hare International Airport beginning Aug. 19. Meanwhile, United is discontinuing its Landline Bus service from LVIA to Newark Liberty International Airport, effective Sept. 1. Trans-Bridge Lines will continue its service from LVIA to Newark Airport.
Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg says there's a chance, not a great one, but a chance we could see thunderstorms today, tomorrow and Sunday. "I'd say one-in-ten today, three-in-ten tomorrow and four-in-ten Sunday. I think the chance is a little bit higher on Sunday," Lundberg says. If you get one of those thunderstorms, especially today or Sunday, they could contain heavy downpours and damaging winds.
After about an hour of closing arguments on Thursday, both sides in the murder trial of Justin Mohn rested their cases. Mohn's attorney Steve Jones says his client believed he did what he had to do when he shot and killed his father, Michael, and then beheaded him in January 2024. "Justin believe that there some certain indignities that he suffered and he did what he believed was a thing that he could do. A judge is now going to decide whether that is something that you can do," Prosecutor Ed Louka says he doesn't recall a case quite like this one. "I don't know that I ever, in 18 years, had a case where the murderer wrote out the to-do list, what they were going to do, the steps they would take and eventually did take to commit a homicide," Louka says. Wednesday, Mohn himself testified and admitted that he killed and later beheaded his father, claiming it happened after he attempted to conduct a citizen's arrest of his father. His attorneys claim Mohn believed his father was guilty of treason because he worked as an engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mohn says he killed his father after he tried to get the gun from Mohn. The trial is a bench trial, so Bucks County Stephen Corr will render the verdict, likely today.
Authorities are warning the public about a toxic algae bloom at Blue Marsh Lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has detected extremely high levels of blue-green algae in the designated swim area, and recommend visitors avoid all contact with lake water. Officials say the swim beach at the Dry Brooks Day Use Area is closed until further notice due to the algae. Visitors are advised to look out for warning signs of the algae bloom, which include extremely discolored water and scum.
Pennsylvania is announcing another multi-million-dollar settlement from the opioid crisis. Attorney General Dave Sunday says the Commonwealth will receive part of a $720 million settlement with eight drug manufacturers who contributed to what he called a "nationwide addiction epidemic." He said Pennsylvania's share could be as much as $28 million. Sunday added that seven of the companies are prohibited from promoting or marketing opioids and opioid products.
Restaurants across Western Pennsylvania and around the country are offering deals today in celebration of National French Fry Day. Shake Shack customers can enter code "free fry" to get a free side of fries when ordering online or in the Shack app. Burger King Royal Perks members can get any size fries free with a purchase of at least $1 through their app as well, plus DoorDash DashPass members can get chicken fries buy one, get one free. McDonald's is already offering free medium fries with a $1 purchase through their app each Friday until the end of this year but customers will be able to use the deal a second time through this Sunday.