11 months into the Trump administration, the economy isn't necessarily where the administration wants it to be. However, Vice President JD Vance told supporters in Lehigh County Tuesday, they are working on it every day. "We knew exactly what we were left with. We knew exactly the consequences it's caused for so many great families all across Pennsylvania. I promise you, there is no person more impatient to solve the affordability crisis than Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States," Vance said. Vance says Americans are in store for the “best tax season in 2026 that you’ve ever had" thanks to President Trump's tax policies. Vance spoke at a Uline shipping faciliity in Alburtis.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission says hundreds of snow geese found dead at a Northampton County quarry probably died of bird flu. The commission says it is removing, testing and disposing of the dead birds. There's no indication how long it will take for testing to be completed. Last winter, thousands of snow geese deaths reported in Lower Nazareth Township and hundreds of additional snow geese deaths in Upper Macungie Township were blamed on the bird flu. Because of how quickly the virus spreads among commercial flocks, entire affected flocks have been wiped out to prevent its spread, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 7.1 million birds in Pennsylvania alone.
UGI is issuing a safety alert following an increase in reported carbon monoxide emergencies in Pennsylvania. The utility company says carbon monoxide cases usually increase in the winter due to problems with heating equipment or running equipment in enclosed spaces. Residents are urged to make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of your home, and to keep your heating system regularly serviced. Anyone who believes they are experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning should immediately seek fresh air and call 9-1-1.
Plans for a massive data center in Lehigh County are being put on hold at the request of the party planning the center. A zoning hearing on the data center last night was delayed to February following a request from Air Products when the hearing started. The company is seeking approval to turn its former headquarters in Upper Macungie Township into a 2.6-million-square-foot data center complex. One resident wants nothing to do with the data center. "We're against it. We've done a lot of research on data centers and none of it is good," she said. Air Products said it is "conducting due diligence" and "may or may not" move forward with the data center.
A data center company has completed its purchase of Tek Park, a 137-acre industrial park on the western edge of Upper Macungie Township that used to be the world headquarters for AT&T Optoelectonics. According to the Morning Call, TierPoint completed the $175 million acquisition of the nine-building complex at 9999 Hamilton Blvd. in October. TierPoint was already leasing a building at Tek Park for a data center, which the company said is its largest.
A caretaker in Northampton County is facing charges for allegedly stealing from her elderly clients. Authorities said 45-year-old Nicole Daley financially exploited three women she was providing at-home care to by stealing their cash, forging checks, and using their credit cards. Daley also allegedly stole their jewelry. Investigators noted Daley's purchases were related to babies, stating it appears as though her daughter was pregnant.
AAA East Central says the average price for a gallon of gas is a penny lower in Pennsylvania this week, down to $3.15 a gallon. That number is eight cents below last year's price. In the Lehigh Valley, the price stood at $3.09 a gallon as of Tuesday, a penny less than a week earlier and a penny more than one year ago.
Penn State is eliminating some fees at campuses slated for closure in 2027. The university system announced students who sign up for more than 19 credits will no longer see a tuition surcharge, and it is also waiving the student-initiated fee starting next fall. Penn State announced plans earlier this year to close seven Commonwealth Campuses. The university is providing additional academic counseling to assist students' campus transition plans.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is joining a multi-state lawsuit against Uber. Plaintiffs are accusing the rideshare provider of engaging in deceptive business practices related to the Uber One subscription service. Those behind the litigation say Uber offered free trials for the service then automatically enrolled customers while making the cancellation process overly complicated. Officials in 19 other states are involved in the lawsuit as well.
The New Jersey General Assembly has approved bipartisan legislation that would identify and map abandoned mines that pose the greatest threat to highways, infrastructure and private property. It would require the state Department of Transportation to do the remediation work itself or hire contractors for a job. The Assembly Transportation Committee passed the bill, which now goes to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee. The legislation resulted from the sinkholes that developed and swallowed sections of I-80 this past summer. The sinkholes were blamed on a network of abandoned mines that lie underneath Wharton and Morris Counties and date back to the 19th century.
The second in command of the New Jersey State Police is stepping down in the wake of reports he made antisemitic remarks about New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, who's Jewish. The New York Post reports Lieutenant Colonel Sean Kilcomons was named in an internal complaint late last year that he referred to Platkin as "that Jew" and prevented Platkin's son from looking inside a state helicopter. Kilcomons is retiring the end of this year. Governor Phil Murphy has faced pressure to fire Kilcomons and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan over reports of discrimination and bullying within the state police force.
