Our latest winter storm is expected later today. "It's not going to be a big storm, but an impactful one nonetheless with some snow coming down across the area," says Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg. He says one-to-three inches of snow is expected to fall beginning sometime between 3-and-5pm. Lundberg expects the snow to wrap up very late tonight.
A U.S. Senator is questioning why a former Allentown police officer now charged with rape was hired by a national organization meant to protect Olympic athletes from sexual abuse. Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has sent a letter to the CEO of SafeSport asking about the hiring process of Jason Krasley. Krasley, who was hired as an investigator for SafeSport after he retired from Allentown P-D in 2021, is accused of sex crimes dating back to 2011. He was fired in November, but Grassley noted he had already been under investigation for months at that point.
The Northampton Area School District is dropping its educational equity policy out of concern it could lose federal funding. Board President Kristin Soldridge defended the removal of Policy 832, emphasizing the potential loss of federal funding. "Our district receives funding from the federal government and in order for us not to lose it, I felt it was important to get it on the agenda and we remove Policy 832," Soldridge says. She says the district is already running a $6 million deficit, which would be made even bigger with the loss of federal dollars. The school board of directors voted Monday to remove the policy, which "prioritizes the principle of educational equity through the fair and just allocation of resources, opportunities, and treatment of students based upon each individual student's needs."
There's now a third candidate in the race for Lehigh County Executive. Former Allentown School Board Director Mike Welsh is the second Republican in the race for Lehigh County executive. In a release announcing his candidacy, Welsh says, “When I served as one of the few conservatives on the Allentown School Board, I fought against tax increases and wasteful spending while also working with both sides to get things done for students. And as a small business owner, I know the challenges that taxpayers and working families are facing in our county.” Former Republican state Rep. Justin Simmons also is running for Lehigh County executive, as is Democrat state Rep. Josh Siegel.
A second suspect is in custody for the rape of a teenager in Lehigh County last week. Officials said 18-year-old Jacquan Tanasse turned himself in on Monday. Tanasse and 22-year-old Tristan Zawick are accused of sexually assaulting a teenager at a home in Slatington last Friday. Both suspects are being held on $400,000 bail.
A pair of Carbon County environmental projects are being awarded grant funding from the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced yesterday grants totaling more than one-point-two-million dollars going to projects in Northeast PA and the Lehigh Valley Region. This includes $142,000 for the Hunter Creek Restoration Project and $150,000 for the Silk Mill Run Dam Removals and Stream Restoration project.
No injuries to report after a small airplane crashed on Monday. The jet came down in a vacant lot in Buckingham Township. Only the pilot was on-board and the plane had just left Doylestown Airport when the incident unfolded. Federal officials are investigating.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin is cracking down on Section Eight housing discrimination. Platkin says the Division on Civil Rights has taken enforcement action in 20 cases alleging violations of the state's Law Against Discrimination. Platkin says in all of the cases property owners, property managers or real estate agents violated the law by refusing to lease apartments to would-be renters who presented Section Eight housing vouchers. There were also 15 findings of probable cause involving housing in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth and Passaic Counties.
Several people are facing punishment for celebrating a little too hard after the Eagles Super Bowl win on Sunday. At least four people were arrested, 17 apprehended and 29 others were cited. This comes as people pulled down traffic poles, shot off fireworks and much more. At least four officers were assaulted and there were several reports of vandalism. Police continue to investigate.
