Friday, May 24, 2013
Drivers can expect roving patrols, safety checkpoints and special attention to seat belt compliance over Memorial Day Weekend.
PennDOT will partner with more than 600 law enforcement agencies and the Pennsylvania State Police to participate in a national “Click It or Ticket” seat-belt enforcement effort through June 9. The effort will focus largely on nighttime enforcement, using traffic safety checkpoints and roving patrols. Police will also use Traffic Enforcement Zones, which combine roving patrol and checkpoint tactics on roadways with high numbers of unbuckled crashes. According to PennDOT data, 503 people died last year in unbelted crashes, a decrease from 509 such fatalities in 2011. The total number of crashes in which people were not wearing seat belts also decreased to 15,528, compared with 16,298 in 2011. The majority of enforcement will occur at night…
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Challenger Jim Brunell reflects on his Republican primary victory Tuesday over incumbent Upper Macungie Supervisor chairman Edward Earley.
Jim Brunell was reflective Wednesday morning about his Republican primary victory for Upper Macungie Supervisor over incumbent chairman Edward Earley on Tuesday night. "I was shocked and I wasn't shocked," Brunell said. "It's hard trying to knock off an incumbent with a good record and a lot of community service experience." Brunell did just that Tuesday night, according to unofficial tallies from Lehigh County. Brunell garnered 427 votes, approximately 61 percent, to Earley's 269 votes, approximately 39 percent. Brunell will face Democrat Chris Casey, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and garnered 200 votes. Brunell admitted he didn't know if the low turnout, which totaled 696 votes in a municipality with more than 20,000 …
Wednesday's Senate hearing on the IRS 'Tea Party' scandal included Pennsylvania's Sen. Pat Toomey and Sen. Bob Casey, who both released statements after the event.
Pennsylvania's Sen. Bob Casey (D) and Sen. Pat Toomey (R) both participated in Wednesday's hearing about IRS scrutinty of conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. Both men released statements regarding the event. Witnesses before the Senate Finance Committee were: Casey, chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, said: “Pennsylvanians and Americans across the country deserve to know that the IRS and all government agencies do their jobs without prejudice or political agenda. I intend to hold accountable those responsible for any breach of the taxpayer’s trust. Today, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I directly questioned top IRS officials about what took place, who was …
Challenger Jim Brunell defeats incumbent Ed Earley for Republican nomination for Upper Macungie Township supervisor.
Republican challenger Jim Brunell defeated incumbent Ed Earley for the Republican nomination for Upper Macungie supervisor, according to unofficial tallies from Lehigh County. Brunell had 427 votes to Earley's 269 votes. Brunell will face the Democrat nominee, Chris Casey, in the November general election for the six-year seat. Casey was unopposed in his party's bid.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Republican Dean Browning concedes defeat to Scott Ott for their party's nomination for Lehigh County executive in Tuesday's primary, according to unofficial vote tallies.
Republican Scott Ott apparently beat challenger Dean Browning for the GOP nomination for Lehigh County Executive, according to unofficial tallies. Ott, a Lehigh County commissioner, will now face the apparent Democratic nominee, Tom Muller, who was named acting county executive last week, in the November general election. Browning, of South Whitehall, conceded the race about 10 p.m. at a gathering at the Buckeye Tavern in Macungie. He had been trying to make a political comeback after having been ousted as a county commissioner two years ago. He campaigned hard, airing TV commercials and emailing campaign messages. According to tallies reported on wfmz.com, Ott, of Lower Macungie, had 5,688 votes with 83 percent of the precincts reporting…
Incumbent Percy Dougherty faced a challenge from Scott Aquila for the Republican nomination to a Lehigh County commissioner seat in a district that includes South Whitehall, Upper Macungie, Lower Macungie and Alburtis.
Incumbent Percy Dougherty beat challenger Scott Aquila for the Republican nomination for the board's District 2 seat, according to unofficial tallies. Dougherty, of Lower Macungie, will square off in the November general election against the Democratic nominee, Susan Ellis Wild, of South Whitehall, who was unopposed for her party's nod in Tuesday's primary. District 2 includes South Whitehall, Lower Macungie, Upper Macungie and Alburtis.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Here's what you need to know about Tuesday's primary election in Upper Macungie Township.
Tuesday, May 21 is primary election day in Pennsylvania. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Poll Problems? Contact the Lehigh County voter registration office at 610-782-3194. How to Use Touch Screen Voting Machines Upper Macungie Races (click on the link for information on candidates) Lehigh County Races Voter ID According to Lehigh County Voter Registration: Polling places
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Privatization debates in the Pennsylvania General Assembly could mean changes to where Pennsylvanians can buy six-packs.
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, May 18
By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent HARRISBURG — A simple six-pack of beer is becoming a focal point of the most substantive legislative debate on Pennsylvania alcohol laws since Prohibition. A Tuesday afternoon Senate Law and Justice Committee on liquor privatization, headed by Chairman Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks, featured numerous testifiers discussing the already-private industry of beer sales. Chief among the concerns from the beer distributor industry and taverns is package reform, or allowing establishments who sell beer to sell different amounts. Under current law, beer distributors cannot sell less than a case, and bars or grocery stores with the ability to sell bottles cannot sell more than a 12-pack. The Senate, under McIlhinney’s…
Medicaid expansion continues to hang over Gov. Tom Corbett and budget-making lawmakers.
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, May 18
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG – Democratic leaders in the General Assembly say Gov. Tom Corbett has delayed long enough on a decision about expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania. And if the governor won’t make a decision, they are ready to force his hand. “If Gov. Corbett is unwilling to do the right thing, my colleagues in the Senate must send a clear message that this is unacceptable. It’s time for a vote on Medicaid expansion,” said state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, on Tuesday. Hughes has filed a resolution to force the state Senate to vote on Medicaid expansion. If a majority of senators support the resolution, a proposal to force the state to accept the expansion would be busted out of committee and brought …
Friday, May 17, 2013
Lehigh County Executive Bill Hansell was recently hospitalized with pneumonia and subsequently diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, according to a release from Lehigh County. Tom Muller is now acting executive.
Lehigh County Executive William H. Hansell, who was appointed last summer to fill the unexpired term of former Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, has resigned his post for health reasons, according to a release from the county. Hansell was recently hospitalized with pneumonia and subsequently diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He has started undergoing treatment and felt he needed to devote his energy to restoring his health, the release said. “I have been proud to serve as Lehigh County Executive for the past year," Hansell said in the prepared release. "I felt that it was the culmination of my 52-year career in local government. The decision to resign has been one of the hardest I’ve had to make in my professional life.” Thomas …
Liberty 1
7:22 pm on Friday, May 24, 2013
But they can make money off it. more ›