Judge Steven Hippler has lifted the gag order in the quadruple murder case against Poconos native Bryan Kohberger. Kohberger has pleaded guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students in 2022 and Steven Hippler has ruled that after he's sentenced next week, he'll begin the process of determining exactly what will become public knowledge. "The intent is to, after sentencing, begin the process of reviewing all the sealed materials in this case to determine what should be unsealed and what should not be unsealed," the judge said. Hippler says lifting the order became possible after Kohberger pleaded guilty to the four murders earlier this month.
A man is hospitalized with serious injuries after being shot in Allentown. The victim was shot around 5:30 Wednesday afternoon in the area of Seventh and Chew streets. Michael Richardson, with the anti-violence group Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, was on the scene shortly after the shooting and says it's important for his organization to be visible. "We show up and let community members that they are not alone. We also let them know what services we have available," Richardson says. Allentown police are asking anybody who may have information on what happened to contact them.
Authorities are investigating a crash involving a dump truck in Northampton County. State Police say the dump truck collided with a vehicle on I-78 West in Williams Township early yesterday morning. One person was taken to the hospital, where their condition remains unknown.
The Lehigh County Coroner has now identified the 52-year-old Allentown man who was struck while riding his scooter on July 4th and eventually died on Tuesday. Rufus Martin died from injuries suffered in the collision that happened in the 300 block of North 8th Street in Allentown. Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have a description of the vehicle involved to contact the Allentown Police Department.
One of the most successful high school wrestlers in Lehigh Valley history faces drug and gun charges after a traffic stop Wednesday night. 25-year-old Sammy Sasso was pulled over for allegedly having an expired vehicle registration. During the stop, five unlicensed guns and drug paraphernalia were found inside his car. This member of the Nazareth community says it's a shame. "I just wish him well and his family well and nothing but peace. Hopefully, they see light through this," the man says. Sasso is due in court on July 30th after being released on bail. In 2023, he was shot in the stomach during a carjacking attempt in Columbus, Ohio while Sasso was wrestling for Ohio State University.
Shoppers Village, on Catasauqua Road in Bethlehem, has been bought by Shoppers Village Plaza LLC of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey for $7.9 million. The shopping center features 11 units, which are occupied by well-known tenants such as CVS, Bank of America, Beef Baron and Primo Hoagies.
Pennsylvania's Gaming Control board says gaming revenue in the month of June totalled more than $544 million, an increase of more than 15 percent from one year earlier. The Wind Creek Resort in Bethlehem was the fifth-highest earner, taking in more than $46 million last month. That's a six percent dip from last June.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is planning to increase tuition for the first time in seven years. The Board of Governors recently announced a tuition hike of $139 per semester at its 14 campuses. However, the board said the increase could be rolled back partially or entirely if the system receives sufficient funding in the state budget. Over 82-thousand students attend PASSHE universities, with almost 90-percent of them from Pennsylvania.
Two state lawmakers have introduced a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania. Democratic Representative Emily Kinkead and Republican Representative Abby Major introduced the bill they say will establish a stable, well-regulated cannabis market that prioritizes public safety and health. Kinkead says the measure is designed to prevent children from being exposed to marijuana.
Pennsylvania State Police are warning Pennsylvania residents and others around the commonwealth about an active telephone scam. Reports say residents are receiving calls from someone claiming to be a department captain alleging that the call recipient is in violation of Megan's Law or has missed a court appearance. Folks are reminded to be guarded with their personal and financial information and not to give out that sort of info or gift card data.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is joining a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's new health coverage rule. Shapiro and attorneys general from 21 states say it would create significant barriers to getting coverage under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. The lawsuit says the rule could lead to up to one-point-eight-million people losing their health insurance and that's by the Trump Administration's own admission. The AGs are seeking a court stay preventing the rule from taking effect before August 25th, the effective date.
New Jersey state lawmakers are considering a bill that would fine or place in jail parents of a child involved in a public brawl. The proposed law would fine parents up to one-thousand dollars and possible jail time for neglectful supervision. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed a bill that hands down a penalty for inciting a public brawl. Violators face hefty penalties and up to 18 months in prison. The bills follow a violent Memorial Day weekend in Seaside Heights, where more than 70 people were arrested and the boardwalk was temporarily shut down.
New Jersey Governor Murphy is signing legislation to boost pedestrian and cycling safety. Murphy was joined yesterday by crash victims, advocates and local and state leaders in Maplewood, where he signed a bill into law that upgrades New Jersey's drivers education program. It requires drivers to be tested on how to safely share the road with pedestrians and cyclists including the rules for passing them and the penalties for ignoring those laws. The law builds upon Murphy's Target Zero Commission, which was created earlier this year with the goal of eliminating all preventable traffic related deaths by 2040. Murphy says they are making progress, with overall traffic fatalities down 17-percent and pedestrian fatalities down 31-percent compared to the same time period last year.
New Jersey's Attorney General is joining a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's new health coverage rule. AG Matthew Platkin says it would create significant barriers to getting coverage under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. Platkin and attorneys general from 21 states say in their suit that it could lead to up to one-point-eight-million people losing their health insurance and that's by the Trump Administration's own admission. Platkin says millions of Americans would also have to pay more for health coverage and out-of-pocket costs, like copays and deductibles. The AGs are seeking a court stay to block the rule from taking effect before August 25th, the effective date.
Former Eagles Super Bowl champion Bryan Braman died Thursday morning at the age of 38 from a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Braman was considered a special teams ace. He spent seven seasons in the NFL, including four with the Eagles. His last game was the Eagles Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots in February 2018.