Both PPL and First Energy report a lot of power outages thanks to Wednesday night's strong winds. PPL says it has nearly 21,000 customers in the dark as of 10:30am, more than 5000 of whom are in our listening area. The hardest hit are Monroe and Lehigh counties, with more than 3300 PPL customers without service right now. First Energy reports just below 23,000 customers without electricity as of 10:30am. Berks and Northampton counties have nearly 2900 of those outages. In our listening area, more than 4500 First Energy customers have no service.
The death of an 8-week-old girl Tuesday afternoon in Lehigh County is under investigation. The Lehigh County Coroner's Office says the Coplay infant died at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg. An autopsy has been performed, but the cause and manner of her death are still pending. Coplay police, the Lehigh County Coroner's office and the Lehigh County DA's office are investigating the baby's death.
Election officials in both Lehigh and Northampton counties report stronger than usual voter turnout in Tuesday's elections. Northampton County has its turnout at just above 39 percent, while Lehigh County reports a nearly 38 percent voter turnout.
A Northampton County church has been badly damaged by a Wednesday morning fire. Crews were called to Gethsemane Ministries in Bangor just before 6:30 Wednesday morning. There are no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is unknown at this point.
There isn't a lot of movement in local and statewide gas prices over the past week. According to AAA East Central, the average price of a gallon of gas in Pennsylvania stands at $3.24, down a penny from the previous week and seven cents below the November 4, 2024 price. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price is $3.17 a gallon, identical to the previous week as well as the 2024 price.
Both Pennsylvania senators said it on day one of the federal government shutdown and they continue to say it as it heads into day 37: enough is enough. "We need five more to agree that this has gone on too long and it needs to end. Everyone needs and deserves to get paid and we want to make sure everyone gets fed. We are sending the wrong message at this point," says Democrat John Fetterman, who is one of a few Democrat senators who have voted to reopen the government. Republican Dave McCormick says his party has repeatedly tried to end the shutdown. "We need to vote to open the government. Republicans have done that 14 times. Democrats have resisted 14 times. We need to get on with the business of the government, including whatever discussions and negotiations are going to be about extending the COVID Obamacare subsidies," McCormick says. McCormick says it's the responsibility of lawmakers and they're failing in that responsibility in the longest shutdown in American history.
Pennsylvania Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan is urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to work with leadership from both parties to find a solution to the government shutdown. The Chester County Democrat made her request while interrupting a House Republican news conference on Wednesday where Johnson opened the floor for questions. Johnson responded by telling the Houlahan that she "should respect free speech," and added that he would "love to talk" to Houlahan in his office. A Capitol Police officer reportedly approached Houlahan but retreated after she noted she is a member of Congress.