The never ending saga of Pennsylvania mail-in voting has taken another turn with a federal appeals court Tuesday ruling that it is unconstitutional for Pennsylvania to throw out mail-in ballots simply because the voter didn't write an accurate date on the return envelope. The unanimous decision by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Pennsylvania to stop throwing out such ballots and upheld the decision earlier this year by a federal judge in Pittsburgh. Under state law, voters are required to write the date on the return envelope for their mail ballot. However, thousands of voters have either failed to date their ballot or list an incorrect date. In its 55-page opinion, the three-judge panel said it was “unable to justify” the practice of discarding such ballots.
Another Democrat wants to replace Republican Lehigh Valley Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. Former Bethlehem firefighter and president of a statewide firefighters union Bob Brooks is the latest Democrat to announce their candidacy. Brooks says he's running “because Washington doesn’t give a damn about working people, and it’s time for that to change.” Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, former PPL regional affairs director Carol Obando-Derstine, ex-Trump Department of Justice prosecutor Ryan Crosswell and Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley also are seeking the Democratic nomination.
Trans-Bridge Lines is adding a pair of new routes between Lehigh Valley International Airport and Newark Liberty International. The move comes after United Airlines announced effective September 1 it was ending its landline to and from the two airports. Trans-Bridge will begin its new Newark-LVIA routes on September 8. Those trips from LVIA to Newark will run every weekday at 4am and 9:45am.
Norfolk Southern is asking Bethlehem police to remove a homeless encampment under a bridge near the Lehigh River. The railway is requesting officers help clear out an encampment under the Hill to Hill Bridge by December 15. Norfolk Southern said the encampment's proximity to an active track poses serious safety risks. Bethlehem police chief Michelle Kott said the department will work with its community partners to come up with a solution.
Authorities are investigating a crash involving an ambulance in Bethlehem on Tuesday. Police said at least one other vehicle was involved in the wreck near Schoenersville Road and Westgate Drive at around 3:15 p.m. Three people were taken to the hospital, including a paramedic. Their conditions have not been released.
With only days remaining in August, there's still no state budget in place. Republican Lehigh County St. Sen. Jarrett Coleman says Gov. Shapiro's budget was a problem from the day he introduced it back in February. "If we use the governor's plan on the budget, our rainy day account will be drained within the next two or three years, which means we don't have any money for a rainy day. We then have pressure to raise taxes, which we don't want to do. The governor is just trying to spend his way into the White House," Coleman says. Coleman says the biggest stumbling block remains mass transit funding, particularly for SEPTA in Philadelphia. Coleman says it is not fair to spend even more taxpayer money to bail out the struggling agency.
U.S. Steel is planning to start removing the existing coke from the two ovens at the Clairton plant where the deadly explosion happened this month. Corporate officials say this is part of the process to determine whether batteries 13 and 14 can be repaired. Some ashy particles could be released into the air while the work is happening, but no additional non-particulate pollution should be produced, according to the company. The Allegheny County Health Department will be updated on potential emissions.
All five Penn State football players taken during this year's NFL Draft are officially in the league. In addition to first round locks Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren and third round pick Kevin Winston Jr, two Nittany Lion sixth rounders survived the last round of cuts to make their team's final rosters. Kobe King was taken by the Minnesota Vikings while Jaylen Reed was picked by the Houston Texans. Reed will start the year on injured reserve, but will be eligible to return after Week Four.
After giving up a run to the Mets in the bottom of the ninth last night, the Phillies have now lost nine straight games at Citi Field. Phils manager Rob Thomson said after the 6-5 loss, it's just one of those things. "I've been asked that numerous times since we've been here. It's not the building. They're playing good. We played well today too. We battled back. I was proud of our guys the way they battled. We'll come out here Wednesday and do it again," Thomson said. The Phillies try to avoid a tenth straight loss at the Mets home field tonight.