Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg says conditions are right for some potentially rough weather coming through later today. "The air mass is very tropical, very humid and with the morning sunshine, we'll quickly heat up into the mid and upper 80s and that sets the environment for some thunderstorms that could produce some tropical downpours and heavy winds this afternoon and evening," says Lundberg. The best chance for those thunderstorms is late this afternoon into early this evening.
Gas prices dropped over the past seven days according to AAA East Central. Pennsylvania's average gas price was $3.23 as of Tuesday, down two cents from the previous week and 36 cents below the August 12, 2024 price. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price was $3.10, down nearly seven cents from last week and 35 cents below last year's price.
Perfect weather for ten of its 11-day run led to record-setting crowds at Musikfest in Bethlehem. Organizers says 1.4 million people, from 49 states and seven countries attended Musikfest, which says four of its Wind Creek Steel Stage shows sold out. Riley Green, Darius Rucker, Megan Maroney and Jordan Davis. The entire Steel Stage lineup sold more than 60,000 tickets, easily eclipsing the festival's previous record by roughly 6000 tickets. The only state not represented at Musikfest was Alaska.
A local school district has put the brakes on plans to both realign and renovate its schools. In a unanimous vote, the East Penn School Board halted plans to redistrict K-8 schools and expand Emmaus High School. Those plans came at a price tag of about $350 million and would have dramatically increased residents' property tax bills. The vote will delay any project’s completion past the 2028-29 school year.
An Allentown church and nonprofit have broken ground on a $7.2 million preschool and learning facility. Resurrected Life Community Church and Resurrected Community Development Corp. are beginning the project at its Children's Academy on West Turner Street. The work will allow the academy to add more than 700 students and 30 instructors. The renovation and expansion will take around 10 months.
Allentown police are asking for the public's help to find a man who went missing earlier this month. Authorities say Eduardo Reyes was last seen on August 2nd at around 10 a.m. Reyes is described as five-foot-ten with green eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call Allentown P-D.
A week after being shot, Pennsylvania State Trooper Joseph Perechinsky was discharged from from a Scranton hospital Tuesday. He was greeted with cheers from residents and fellow law enforcement officers, including Michael Walsh with the State Police. "It's inspiring. It's amazing. It could've very well gone the other way. We're very happy that they're with us," Walsh says. Perechinsky and Trooper William Jenkins were both shot last week in an ambush in Susquehanna County. Jenkins was previously released from the hospital and was among those on hand to greet Perechinsky after his discharge.
The Pennsylvania House is passing a funding measure that includes more money for Pittsburgh Regional Transit. The one-billion-dollar bill has nearly 300 million earmarked for public transportation, including 40 million for PRT. Operators of Pittsburgh's bus and light rail system have said they may have to slash service and raise fares without additional financial support. The spending measure will now be considered by the Pennsylvania Senate.
Officials with U.S. Steel are releasing some more information on the deadly explosion that happened Monday inside the Clairton Coke Works. Leaders with the company say it was a routine work day and regular maintenance had been scheduled for coke oven batteries 13 and 14 when the blast happened in that area shortly before 11 a.m. U.S. Steel administrators say they do not believe the explosion was related to the maintenance work. The exact cause remains under investigation. Thirty-nine-year-old Timothy Quinn was killed along with another man whose family has asked that his identity remain private. Allegheny County officials have confirmed that five other men who were working at the plant remain hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
Authorities say the air around a Pennsylvania steel plant that exploded Monday is safe. An investigation is underway after two people were killed in the explosion at the steel factory in Clairton. At least ten people were injured when the explosion happened just before 11 a.m. local time. Five are in critical but stable condition, while the other five were treated at a hospital and released. The Allegheny County Executive says air quality monitors have confirmed the levels of contaminants in the air are below dangerous levels.
A former security guard is facing charges for allegedly threatening Little League International and ESPN. South Williamsport police say 20-year-old Isaiah Randall texted his supervisor "you better have heavy security" and "I will be back" after he was fired by a private security firm at Little League Headquarters. Randall then reportedly posted a countdown timer titled "Mass Casualty Event" on social media and tagged ESPN, Little League, and his former employer. Authorities said Randall's actions caused the Little League World Series to divert from normal operations.
A New Jersey medical supplier is issuing a nationwide recall of its soaps due to the potential of life-threatening bacterial infections, including sepsis. DermaRite says its voluntary recall involves over a dozen soap and sanitizer products sold across the country and Puerto Rico, including DermaKleen lotion soaps, PeriGiene antiseptic and KleenFoam soap. Several lots were found to be contaminated with a microbe called Burkholderia cepacia. The CDC says it can easily spread from person-to-person and is difficult to treat, especially in people who are immunocompromised or who have cystic fibrosis or chronic lung disease. DermaRite says, at this point, it's received no reports of adverse reactions.
Buffalo shutout the IronPigs 6-0 Tuesday night. Rehabbing pitcher Aaron Nola pitched 5.2 innings and gave up two runs on four hits and struck out 11 batters. Another rehabbing Phillies player, third baseman Alec Bohm went 0-4.