LEHIGH VALLEY NEWS

Real-time news from Easton, Bethlehem, Phillipsburg & more

Warren County is eyeing a deal that could save taxpayers $1.2 million in a year's time.

The Bucks County firm Healthcare Services Group Inc. says its plan to take over laundry, housekeeping and food services at Warren Haven nursing home in Mansfield Township would result in big cost cuts.

Under the proposal, the firm would seek to keep as many of the home's existing employees as possible. Those who remain would receive the same salaries.

Continue reading "Bucks County firm could save Warren County nursing home $1.2M" »

Rosario Amparo-Cordero testified Friday that as ex-husband Raymond Caraballo-Vazquez choked her she lay still, feigning death, and heard his paramour speak.

"Cut out her tongue so that if she survives she will not be able to speak," Adia Nilda Torres commanded, according to the preliminary hearing testimony.

Amparo-Cordero, 50, of the 1400 block of East Fifth Street in Bethlehem, alleged Torres, 37, of the 1300 block of East Fourth Street in Bethlehem, gave the orders as Caraballo-Vazquez sat atop her, pulled out a knife and tried to kill her.

District Judge Patricia Romig-Passaro sent all the charges against Torres to Northampton County Court.

Caraballo-Vazquez, facing identical charges, was unable to appear Friday for his preliminary hearing. Court officials said he had a medical emergency, possibly a heart attack, and was hospitalized.

Allentown police are investigating the afternoon shooting death of a Whitehall Township man.

Roberto Rosario, 31, was found shot to death inside a vehicle on the 600 block of Cedar Street, according to police. Officers were called to the scene at 4:44 where the victim was pronounced dead, police said.

Lehigh County First Deputy Coroner Paul Hoffman said an autopsy is scheduled for Sunday morning. No arrests have been made in the case, police said.

Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded today. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.

Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report by a bipartisan panel that investigated the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.

The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.

Continue reading "Sarah Palin abused power when she fired Alaska's public safety commissioner" »

Hope Township is one of 89 small New Jersey towns that must decide by Dec. 15 whether to pay for state police service or find another way to keep residents safe.

For years, New Jersey provided free patrols for small towns that couldn't afford a local force, but now the cash-strapped state is charging for the service.

"We always bought into the idea that we wouldn't develop our towns, that we would keep them rural, and that we would always have state police. And now they want to charge us for it. It's not fair," Hope Mayor Timothy McDonough said.

Trial dates were set this morning for two men charged with the 2006 murder of a Phillipsburg woman.

The trial of Donald O'Grady of Phillipsburg will begin Jan. 26, a Superior Court judge decided during a pre-trial conference. The trial for Thor Frey of Bangor will begin May 4, according to the judge.

Both face first-degree murder charges after allegedly killing 75-year-old Mary Bostian during a burglary of her home.

Continue reading "Trial dates set for Phillipsburg murder suspects Donald O'Grady, Thor Frey" »

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority approved increases on the state's two major toll roads to fund transportation projects and help pay for a proposed rail tunnel into New York City.

The unanimous vote by authority commissioners on Friday came about two hours after Gov. Jon S. Corzine gave his approval on the toll proposal, which had been scaled back from a previous plan.

Corzine recently indicated that he would not have approved the initial plan, which called for three toll increases over the next 15 years.

Continue reading "Authority votes to raise tolls on two major New Jersey roads" »

An Allentown woman who broke into a Lehigh Township house last month, placed a blade to the neck of a resident and warned, "If you disrespect me, you'll be hurtin'," was arrested today, police said.

Nydia Tirado, 43, is charged with breaking into a house on the 3600 block of Bayberry Drive and stealing six rifles, one pistol, ammunition and knives valued at more than $3,100, according to court documents.

Continue reading "Knife-wielding Allentown woman arrested, charged in Lehigh Township robbery" »

A Northampton County Judge sentenced a former teacher to 15 to 30 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

Keri Ann Brekne, 28, of Bethlehem, pleaded guilty July 9 in Northampton County Court to five counts of felony aggravated indecent sexual assault. She was sentenced to three to six years on each count, to be served consecutively.

Brekne pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault in New Jersey, where she faces between five and 10 years. That sentence is to run concurrent to the Northampton County one.

Continue reading "Former Lopatcong teacher Keri Ann Brekne faces 15 to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting female student" »

On Nov. 4, Americans will head to the polls to perform one of the most crucial civic duties. The ballots cast in the general election will determine the course of the country's government and leadership for the next four years.

As Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain battle for the White House, voters are dissecting the issues and deciding which candidate's views are most in line with their own.

Continue reading "Will The Express-Times endorse Barack Obama or John McCain? Find out in Sunday's edition of the paper" »

Hundreds gathered this morning at Dryland United Church of Christ in Lower Nazareth Township to mourn the deaths of former Easton police officer Timothy Lambert and his 16-year-old daughter, Taylor.

The Rev. David Quinn told the crowd of mourners that well exceeded the church's capacity that Lambert and Taylor died together doing something they loved, which made their deaths a "little less terrible."

"He died trying to take the impact and protect his little girl," Quinn said. "She hung on to her daddy."

The two died Sunday in a motorcycle crash in Monroe County as they returned from a BMW motorcycle rally in the Catskill Mountain region in New York.

Continue reading "Hundreds gather to mourn the loss of Timothy and Taylor Lambert" »

A 45-year-old woman was killed after her motorcycle was hit by a car Thursday night in the 6000 block of Limeport Pike in Upper Saucon Township.

Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim said Lori Smeltzer, 45, of the 4200 block of Kozy Korner Road in the township, was struck at 8:02 p.m. She was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where she was pronounced dead at 5:54 this morning.

An autopsy will be performed Saturday to determine the exact cause and manner of death.

In what has become a common theme, 10 vehicles were broken into Thursday -- several of them were unlocked, leaving thieves easy pickings -- and owners reported smashed windows and missing wallets, satellite radios, a subwoofer, GPS devices, phones and other items.

The break-ins as logged by police:

At 10:21 a.m. a wallet was taken from an unlocked vehicle in the 1700 block of West North Street.

At 10:55 a.m., a satellite radio and wallet were taken from an unlocked vehicle in the 600 block of Terrace Avenue.

Continue reading "Bethlehem police report 10 vehicles broken into -- wallets, GPS devices, purses, other items targeted" »

A 51-year-old Tobyhanna, Pa., man has been identified as the alleged bank robber who was arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase Thursday night.

Joseph McAdams, of the 1400 block of Lakeside Drive, faces charges of armed robbery, eluding police, resisting arrest and weapons offenses, police said. He is in Hunterdon County Jail in lieu of $150,000, police said.

McAdams also is considered a suspect in multiple bank robberies, including the armed robbery of a Bank of America in Lebanon in February, police said.

Continue reading "UPDATE: Police identify suspected bank robber in Hunterdon County" »

Leonard Zito walked into Northampton County's courthouse this morning just like any other day, except this time everyone called him judge.

The Bangor attorney officially took his seat on the county's bench this morning, less than three days after the Pennsylvania Senate confirmed his nomination.

After taking the oath in Courtroom 1, Zito doffed off his jacket and slipped into the black robe he wore when he replaced former county Judge Jack A. Panella when Panella joined the state Superior Court in 2004.

"I'm really thrilled to be back," Zito said. "I'm ready for the high accountability the office holds."

Zito thanked the Lehigh Valley's legislators for their support in moving his nomination forward.

Then he got down to business.

Continue reading "Leonard Zito officially takes his seat on Northampton County Court bench" »

Patients, family members and friends will join the fight against Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) at the Lehigh Valley Walk to Defeat ALS Saturday in Upper Saucon Township.

The walk begins at 10 a.m. at Lehigh Valley College at 2809 East Saucon Valley Road, includes a special route through The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley and ends at the college.

Registration is at 9 a.m., and the purpose of the walk is to raise money for patient support services and research for people diagnosed with ALS.

Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham plans to announce this afternoon the launch of a discount prescription card.

Cunningham will talk about the new card to save residents money on prescription drugs at 1 o'clock in the public hearing room of the Lehigh County Government Center at 17 S. 7th St. in Allentown.

Check back later to learn how the discount card will work.

The Rev. Phillip Davis, pastor of Greater Shiloh Church in Easton will host a day of inspirational talks and music Saturday at Hackman's Bible Book Store in Whitehall Township.

Visitors will have a chance to speak to Elder Kirk Hillman, author of "Kingdom Language," hear a sermon from Davis and meet other authors and members of the progressive church congregation.

The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the store at 1341 Mickley Road.