Pennsylvania lawmakers returned to the State Capitol on Monday, but they are no closer to a budget deal. The Democratic-majority House and Republican-majority Senate remain at a standstill more than three months after the June 30 deadline as schools and counties continue to feel the impact. Democratic State Senator Patty Kim said one superintendent warned schools may have to close if a budget isn't passed by December 1st. It is unknown if any negotiations will take place while both chambers are at the Capitol.
One of the greatest high school wrestlers in Lehigh Valley history has been admitted into a first-time offender program that, if completed, will allow him to have gun charges cleared from his record. Former Nazareth Area High School wrestler Sammy Sasso was admitted into the accelerated rehabilitative dispostion program Monday. It comes nearly four months after the 25-year-old was arrested for driving with an expired registration, illegally carrying four handguns and possessing THC vape cartridges in his car. Sasso was charged because while the guns were legally bought in Ohio, he did not have a concealed carry permit in Pennsylvania. Sasso's attorney says Sasso will get the proper license to carry the guns, which Sasso says were bought for self-defense after he was shot and nearly killed by a teenager who stole Sasso's car near the Ohio State campus in August 2023.
A Schuylkill County man is accused of killing his wife. Police said 57-year-old Andrew Peleschak called 911 overnight Saturday and admitted to fatally shooting his wife then turned the gun on himself. Peleschak reportedly shot himself in the head but was still conscious when officers arrived at the scene and is recovering at a hospital. He is expected to be charged with first-degree murder.
Authorities continue to search for a man after a shooting incident in Northampton County last weekend. Wilson police say 20-year-old Frandy Almanzar fired gunshots at a moving vehicle with four people he knew inside and several bystanders around, but nobody was injured. Investigators said officers were called to a home hours before the shooting after Almanzar hit his brother with a hammer during an argument. Anyone with information on Almanzar's whereabouts is urged to contact Wilson P-D.
25 Pennsylvania counties have been placed under a drought watch by the state's Department of Environmental Protection. While Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties are still designated as 'normal' conditions, Schuylkill County was one of the 25 counties placed into the 'drought watch' category. Residents are encouraged, but not required, to voluntarily reduce their water use by five to ten percent.
PennDOT Secretary Michael Carroll has made an announcement that will be welcome among truck drivers. "For the first time in decades, PennDOT and the Turnpike are taking action to address the truck parking shortage here in Pennsylvania," Carroll said. Carroll announced plans to add over 1200 truck parking spaces across the Commonwealth by the end of 2026. The department says the expansion will provide safe options for truckers to meet federal rest requirements, improving driver safety.
The woman accused of driving into a crowd at the Kipona Festival last month will no longer face DUI charges. Dauphin County officials say DUI-related charges against 37-year-old Elizabeth Bohrer are being dropped after her toxicology reports came back negative. District Attorney Fran Chardo said authorities had probable cause to charge Bohrer with DUI because she reportedly appeared "out of it" following the incident and was falling asleep while being interviewed by officers. Bohrer still faces numerous charges including aggravated assault for the Labor Day crash that left three people injured.
A Columbia County lawmaker intends to introduce legislation establishing a "Purple Alert" system in Pennsylvania to hopefully help the state's most vulnerable people who go missing get home safely. State Rep. Robert Leadbeter says he'll introduce "Aiden's Law", which is named after 7-year-old Aiden Ha, who drowned after going missing in Bloomsburg last weekend. The child's body was found in the Susquehanna River. Leadbetter says the Purple Alert system would be similar to an Amber Alert, and would quickly notify the public and police when somebody with cognitive, intellectual or development disabilities goes missing.
The Phillies comeback fell one run short in game two of their series with the Dodgers. Los Angeles held on to win 4-3 and take a 2-0 series lead. The Phillies didn't score until the 8th inning and first baseman Bryce Harper says they needed to get earlier offense. "We've gotta do a better job of getting on base, myself included. We've just gotta be better. We've just gotta flush this one and get the next one," Harper said. The Phillies must win game three tomorrow night in Los Angeles to keep their season alive.