One adult and four children are dead after a late Tuesday night fire in Carbon County. The fire began just before midnight in a home on Willow Street in Franklin Township. We're being told one other person was taken to the hospital, however there's no update on their condition.
During last night's Easton Area School Board meeting, the board approved pay raises for a number of staff members, including high school nurse Kelly Keegan. That did not sit well with some residents after Keegan's social media posts following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. "You guys are allowing this. You just approved a raise, basically handing it to her and saying we're okay with what you said and what you did," one woman said. Keegan had her defenders though. "In an emotional, turbulent moment, Kelly said something some residents found distasteful. Her comments, since deleted, were amplified by bad actors outside the community," a second woman said. Keegan's social media post said Kirk's widow and two young children are better off with him dead and she went on to call Kirk a monster.
More information is expected today about a police chase in Northampton County that ended in a crash. Authorities say multiple vehicles were involved in the wreck on Route 22 East Tuesday evening, but it remains unknown if anyone was injured. Police have not said if anyone is in custody.
AAA East Central's weekly gas report shows Pennsylvania's average gas price was $3.27, down about 3.5 cents from one week earlier and a nickel less than the September 30, 2024 price. In the Lehigh Valley, that price stood at $3.17 a gallon as of Tuesday, down a nickel from the previous week and four cents below last year's number.
The Carbon County Coroner's Office has released the name of the man killed in a fiery crash on Friday night. 31-yaer-old Nick Berkheimer, of Hazleton, died of burns and blunt force injuries from the crash on Route 940 in Kidder Township. His car went off the road, hit a tree and burst into flames upon impact.
PPL Electric customers could see their bill go up next year. The utility company is proposing a rate increase that would raise the bill of a typical residential customer by about 13 dollars a month. PPL says the additional money would be used to help pay for "a number of capital projects." If approved by regulators, the increase would take effect next July.
Both Pennsylvania senators react to the midnight shutdown of the federal government. "This is terrible for America," says Republican Sen. Dave McCormick. He says America's basic services will be impacted by the shutdown. Democrat Sen. John Fetterman was one of the few Democrats who voted to keep the government running. "I think it's a sad event," Fetterman said. Lehigh Valley Congressman Ryan Mackenzie has posted a statement saying, "Some Senate Democrats have chosen to start a government shutdown, with serious consequences for families, seniors, veterans, and small businesses across our region."
The death toll from a duplex fire in Lebanon last Sunday is up to five. Officials say 23-year-old Tailing Nunez has died from the injuries she suffered when a house went up in flames during a child's birthday party. Investigators say the fire started from an electrical outlet on the first floor. The community gathered for a prayer vigil Monday night for the victims and their families.
The Cartoon Network Hotel will soon become part of another Lancaster County staple. Dutch Wonderland has announced plans to take over the hotel and redesign it into the Dutch Wonderland Inn. Officials say the Inn will bring pieces of the park and Pennsylvania Dutch Country together to create a "unique experience" and bring the magic of the park to life. The building will continue to operate as the Cartoon Network Hotel through the end of the year.
A federal watchdog has launched an investigation into how the National Archives released Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill's military records to an ally of her GOP rival -- Jack Ciattarelli. House Democrats say the Archives' inspector general is leading the probe. The investigation comes five days after the National Archives admitted it improperly released mostly unredacted documents to a surrogate of Ciattarelli. The incident has shaken the tight governor's race, in which Sherrill and Ciattarelli are virtually tied in the polls.
The two nominees for New Jersey lieutenant governor debated a range of issues in their only debate before the election last night. Democrat Dale Caldwell and Republican James Gannon squared off on topics ranging from immigration to taxes. Gannon was asked if a Jack Ciattarelli governorship would consider increasing taxes on millionaires. Gannon said he would be careful about such taxes because millionaires employ many New Jerseyans. The final debate between Mikie Sherill and Jack Ciattarelli is next Wednesday night.
The Phillies first playoff game is Saturday against either Los Angeles or Cincinnati. Phils president Dave Dombrowski says his team is the best equipped one he's had to go all the way. "When I say that, you have to play well at the right time and you have to be in a position where you don't want it to be three and done and that can happen to anybody. You have to play well at the right time, but I think we're more equipped to do that," Dombrowski says. The Phillies will play an intrasquad game this evening to stay sharp.