A Lehigh County district judge has been placed on probation for one year. In addition to the probation, Amy Zanelli has been ordered to attend continuing education programs, read materials about the issues presented, and discuss them with her mentor, who is another district judge from Monroe County. The order comes after Zanelli was accused of violating rules of conduct by having a so-called "book of grudges," keeping a sexually explicit calendar, and frequently being unavailable or late to work. Zanelli's attorney says he'll likely ask for that one year probation to be ended early because of progress Zanelli has already made.
Two men are under arrest after what was supposed to be an online sale turned into an armed robbery in Bethlehem. Police say 23-year-old Sekani Hartley, of Bethlehem, and 23-year-old Israel Cortes, of Allentown, robbed a pair of teens Saturday afternoon in the 1700 block of Shimer Avenue. Police say Cortes and Hartley robbed the men at gunpoint of $1000 worth of shoes and a cellphone before taking off. The suspects and stolen items were found in an apartment in the Oak Hollow Apartments.
A Bethlehem housing development is returning to normal after an evacuation caused by a gas leak. The leak in the 14-hundred block of Fritz Drive was reported around 3:45 yesterday afternoon. About 75 people in 13 units were evacuated until gas service was shut off. They were allowed to return to their units just before 7:30 p.m. The leak was blamed on a fiber optics company that hit a gas line while working in the area.
15 cemetery plots at the Bethlehem Memorial Cemetery are being set aside for veterans. John Bracali, with Bethlehem Legion Post 379, says his organization was gifted those plots and now he's looking to find veterans to eventually use them. "We'd like to make these available to veterans of any age. But there are a couple qualifications. First, the veterans have to be honorably discharged and second, we also ask for an ID," Bracali says. The plots are valued at between $3500-$5000 depending on the plot's location. For more information, call Bracali at 484-264-5871.
Allentown is accepting applications for an interim city controller. The position came open after Jeff Glazier died last week following an illness. The 69-year-old was elected city controller three times, and his current term won't expire until 2028. Applicants will be required to submit a resume and other documents, and must be registered members of the Democratic Party. Applications will be accepted through June 15th.
Berks County residents lined a procession route for police officer Kristin Yeager, who died last Friday night in a car accident while she was responding to a call. "It's just always sad when one of these officers loses their life in the line of duty," one man said. Following Yeager's death, Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags across the state to fly at half-staff.
Pennsylvania drivers are getting some welcome news at the gas pump. According to the AAA East Central Gas Price Report, the average price for a gallon of gas in Pennsylvania is $4.48. That's 12 cents lower this week than the previous week, but $1.23 more expensive than the same date one year ago. In the Lehigh Valley the average price is $4.27 a gallon, down 22 cents from the prior week. It still remains $1.16 more expensive than one year earlier.
Drivers are getting a break for now with gas prices. Triple A's daily check finds the average for a gallon of regular unleaded in New Jersey is at $4.38 on Monday. It was averaging four-50 last Monday. Gas prices in the Garden State mirror Triple A's national average, which also fell 12 cents since last week to $4.32 for a gallon of regular. Analysts say crude oil prices have been going down because of U.S. peace talks with Iran, so they say prices could spike again if no deal comes from the talks.
Polls open from six to eight p.m. today for New Jersey's Primary Day. All 12 of the state's congressional seats are at stake, among which is a closely-watched second district race in South Jersey where four Democrats are vying for a chance to unseat GOP Congressman Jeff Van Drew in November. In North Jersey's Eighth Congressional district, incumbent Robert Menendez, Junior is facing a Democratic primary challenge by Mussab Ali, who lost a run for Jersey City Mayor last year. Four Democrats in North Jersey's seventh district are running to face GOP incumbent Tom Kean, Junior, who's been out of sight since March with an unspecified illness.
NFL star wide receiver AJ Brown is headed to New England. The Philadelphia Eagles are getting a 2028 first round pick and a 2027 fifth round pick from the Patriots. Brown spent four seasons with the Eagles, winning Super Bowl 59 with the team. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2019 with the 51st overall pick. Brown has been named to three Pro Bowls in his career.