AdvertisementBy The Morning CallOct 13, 2020 at 11:13 amTOBYHANNA — Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday once again prodded the Republican-led Legislature to legalize recreational use of marijuana, in part to generate revenue to repair damage done to the state’s finances by the coronavirus pandemic.Republicans pushed back.AdvertisementA spokeswoman referred to an earlier statement from Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman of Centre County, which said Wolf’s push for marijuana legalization during COVID-19 brought to mind the Winston Churchill quote, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”And a...…AdvertisementBy The Morning CallOct 13, 2020 at 11:13 amTOBYHANNA — Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday once again prodded the Republican-led Legislature to legalize recreational use of marijuana, in part to generate revenue to repair damage done to the state’s finances by the coronavirus pandemic.Republicans pushed back.AdvertisementA spokeswoman referred to an earlier statement from Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman of Centre County, which said Wolf’s push for marijuana legalization during COVID-19 brought to mind the Winston Churchill quote, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”And a...WW…

AdvertisementBy The Scranton Times-TribuneNov 15, 2020 at 2:36 pmCristian Garcia Torres Jr. and his family never intended to have the name of their Mexican restaurant in South Scranton offend anyone. Instead, they chose a Spanish-language word understood in Mexico and among people of Mexican descent living in the Scranton area as a harmless “running joke,” Torres testified last week to the city Zoning Board.But the city received a complaint several months ago that the word has another interpretation as a vulgarity, city Planner Don King testified. He looked up the definition of the word and...…AdvertisementBy The Scranton Times-TribuneNov 15, 2020 at 2:36 pmCristian Garcia Torres Jr. and his family never intended to have the name of their Mexican restaurant in South Scranton offend anyone. Instead, they chose a Spanish-language word understood in Mexico and among people of Mexican descent living in the Scranton area as a harmless “running joke,” Torres testified last week to the city Zoning Board.But the city received a complaint several months ago that the word has another interpretation as a vulgarity, city Planner Don King testified. He looked up the definition of the word and...WW…

The news release from a U.S. attorney in Pennsylvania was provocative: Nine mailed-in military ballots had been “discarded” by the local election office in a swing county of one of the most important presidential battleground states. All of them were marked for President Donald Trump, it said. Then came another  with key details changed — the presidential choice was unknown on two of the ballots because they had been resealed — but still little explanation of what had happened and whether investigators believed a criminal act had occurred. Advertisement Despite the information...…The news release from a U.S. attorney in Pennsylvania was provocative: Nine mailed-in military ballots had been “discarded” by the local election office in a swing county of one of the most important presidential battleground states. All of them were marked for President Donald Trump, it said. Then came another  with key details changed — the presidential choice was unknown on two of the ballots because they had been resealed — but still little explanation of what had happened and whether investigators believed a criminal act had occurred. Advertisement Despite the information...WW…

AdvertisementTribune News ServiceFeb 27, 2021 at 5:34 pmEncroaching development and accelerated climate change are stressing Eastern forests, but a new program aims to help preserve and protect at least 50,000 acres of critical, carbon capturing, woodland habitat along the spine of the Appalachians.The Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund, an $18 million initiative launched Thursday by the Open Space Institute, will provide grants and loans to purchase or arrest development on forested Appalachian properties with strong climate change mitigation capabilities in three targeted...…AdvertisementTribune News ServiceFeb 27, 2021 at 5:34 pmEncroaching development and accelerated climate change are stressing Eastern forests, but a new program aims to help preserve and protect at least 50,000 acres of critical, carbon capturing, woodland habitat along the spine of the Appalachians.The Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund, an $18 million initiative launched Thursday by the Open Space Institute, will provide grants and loans to purchase or arrest development on forested Appalachian properties with strong climate change mitigation capabilities in three targeted...WW…

To wild cheers from thousands of supporters who lined up in a cold rain hours before his speech, President Donald Trump took the stage at a Northampton County rally Monday morning, launching into a familiar litany of campaign claims and warning of “massive fraud” as the only way he will lose reelection. The rally at HoverTech International, a medical equipment maker in Hanover Township, was meant to cement support in a swing county in a swing state that Trump won by the slimmest of margins in 2016, one he will almost certainly need to win again to prevail against Democratic opponent Joe...…To wild cheers from thousands of supporters who lined up in a cold rain hours before his speech, President Donald Trump took the stage at a Northampton County rally Monday morning, launching into a familiar litany of campaign claims and warning of “massive fraud” as the only way he will lose reelection. The rally at HoverTech International, a medical equipment maker in Hanover Township, was meant to cement support in a swing county in a swing state that Trump won by the slimmest of margins in 2016, one he will almost certainly need to win again to prevail against Democratic opponent Joe...WW…

AdvertisementBy Philadelphia InquirerJan 21, 2021 at 11:17 amHARRISBURG — A lawyer for the Harrisburg woman accused of stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop during the Capitol riot told a judge Thursday her client was not fleeing from authorities when she left her home, changed her phone number and shut down her social media accounts after being identified by the FBI.Instead, Riley June Williams was seeking to escape what her attorney Lori J. Ulrich described as an abusive relationship with the ex-boyfriend who had focused investigators attention in her direction.Advertisement“His...…AdvertisementBy Philadelphia InquirerJan 21, 2021 at 11:17 amHARRISBURG — A lawyer for the Harrisburg woman accused of stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop during the Capitol riot told a judge Thursday her client was not fleeing from authorities when she left her home, changed her phone number and shut down her social media accounts after being identified by the FBI.Instead, Riley June Williams was seeking to escape what her attorney Lori J. Ulrich described as an abusive relationship with the ex-boyfriend who had focused investigators attention in her direction.Advertisement“His...WW…

AdvertisementBy The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)Feb 25, 2021 at 4:22 pmHARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Republicans met for more than five hours Wednesday evening to decide on censuring U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey — but came away with nothing resolved.Around 11:30 p.m., long after the virtual meeting began around 6:30, the meeting broke up without ever getting to a vote on censuring Toomey for being one of just seven GOP senators who voted to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial.AdvertisementSeveral people who attended said the meeting, with more than 200 people involved online, was...…AdvertisementBy The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)Feb 25, 2021 at 4:22 pmHARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Republicans met for more than five hours Wednesday evening to decide on censuring U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey — but came away with nothing resolved.Around 11:30 p.m., long after the virtual meeting began around 6:30, the meeting broke up without ever getting to a vote on censuring Toomey for being one of just seven GOP senators who voted to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial.AdvertisementSeveral people who attended said the meeting, with more than 200 people involved online, was...WW…

AdvertisementBy The Morning CallJan 28, 2021 at 6:32 pmHARRISBURG — The electronic backbone of Pennsylvania’s election system — the software that holds every voter’s registration data and election participation — is being replaced, to the “rejoicing” of elections officials statewide. Lehigh County Election Board Chief Clerk Timothy Benyo used that word Thursday during a hearing as he and others spoke on the pending replacement of the State Uniform Registry of Electors system.AdvertisementThe replacement plan started long before the partisan chaos of the presidential election. Snyder County...…AdvertisementBy The Morning CallJan 28, 2021 at 6:32 pmHARRISBURG — The electronic backbone of Pennsylvania’s election system — the software that holds every voter’s registration data and election participation — is being replaced, to the “rejoicing” of elections officials statewide. Lehigh County Election Board Chief Clerk Timothy Benyo used that word Thursday during a hearing as he and others spoke on the pending replacement of the State Uniform Registry of Electors system.AdvertisementThe replacement plan started long before the partisan chaos of the presidential election. Snyder County...WW…

AdvertisementBy The Morning CallApr 21, 2021 at 6:38 pmIt began on Route 22 in Upper Macungie Township, when two motorists, a man and a woman, had some sort of encounter in the predawn darkness Wednesday.Whatever transpired between them — authorities have not offered details — didn’t seem to unduly bother the woman, who heard a loud noise but exited the highway to get something to eat at the Wawa at Route 100 and Schantz Road. Not until she returned to her car with her sandwich did she notice a bullet hole in the vehicle.AdvertisementAuthorities said the driver of the other car, a white...…AdvertisementBy The Morning CallApr 21, 2021 at 6:38 pmIt began on Route 22 in Upper Macungie Township, when two motorists, a man and a woman, had some sort of encounter in the predawn darkness Wednesday.Whatever transpired between them — authorities have not offered details — didn’t seem to unduly bother the woman, who heard a loud noise but exited the highway to get something to eat at the Wawa at Route 100 and Schantz Road. Not until she returned to her car with her sandwich did she notice a bullet hole in the vehicle.AdvertisementAuthorities said the driver of the other car, a white...WW…

AdvertisementBy The Morning CallSep 20, 2020 at 11:38 pmShortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, shoppers and workers at Lehigh Valley Mall scrambled for cover or darted for the doors after hearing several shots fired in short succession.“Everyone on all levels started running,” said Anjelica Williams, who works at the Cinnabon on the second level. “It was a massive horde.”AdvertisementReports of four shots fired in the lower level of Lehigh Valley Mall brought a massive police response to the Whitehall Township shopping center around 4:57 p.m.Three hours later, Whitehall Township Police Chief...…AdvertisementBy The Morning CallSep 20, 2020 at 11:38 pmShortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, shoppers and workers at Lehigh Valley Mall scrambled for cover or darted for the doors after hearing several shots fired in short succession.“Everyone on all levels started running,” said Anjelica Williams, who works at the Cinnabon on the second level. “It was a massive horde.”AdvertisementReports of four shots fired in the lower level of Lehigh Valley Mall brought a massive police response to the Whitehall Township shopping center around 4:57 p.m.Three hours later, Whitehall Township Police Chief...WW…