Saturday morning fire sweeps through Allentown home

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A fast-moving fire caused heavy damage to an Allentown home Saturday morning.


The fire broke out around 6:30 at a twin home on South 5th Street directly across from Good Shepherd Rehabilitation.


"When we got here, there was heavy fire on the first floor and second floor pushing out the rear of the building, and it was extending into the other half of the twin," said Battalion Chief James Wher.


Crews knocked the blaze down in about 20 minutes.


Officials say three people who were inside at the time fire made it out safely, along with their pets.


No injuries were reported.


There's no word yet on what caused the fire.






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Pets of the Month: Jack and Colonel Potter

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Our pets of the month include Jack, a Jack Russell mix and cat named Colonel Potter.


Jack is three years old and has been in a couple homes before arriving at Animals in Distress.


He is affectionate and energetic but settles down fairly well.


Colonel Potter is a cat that was rescued from a hoarding situation.


He is also sweet and affectionate and is about two and a half years old.


Animals in Distress is a No Kill Shelter and every animal is kept until the right family is found.


They are located on a 42-acre farm property in Upper Saucon Township.


If you would like to donate, volunteer your time or adopt a new companion, please visit:


http://ift.tt/1vHgdGC






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Two people escape from the Wernersville Correctional Facility

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Two people have escaped from a Berks County correctional center.


Police say just before 8:30 p.m. Friday, Timothy Hostetter and Raymond Martinez pulled the fire alarm at Wernersville Correctional Facility and ran out of the building, hopping into a silver minivan.


The facility is located in the 100 block of Main Street in South Heidelberg Township.


Anyone with information is asked to call police.



610-378-4011






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A wintry mix for Saturday

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Today: A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain mid-morning through mid-afternoon turning all rain late day. (mix longer in Poconos, 1-2" snow/sleet likely) High: 36


Tonight: Areas of fog with rain; temperatures rising into the 40s overnight (still ice early in Poconos) Low: 35


Sunday: Areas of fog with periods of rain ending in the early afternoon; warmer. Turning colder again at night. High: 58 Low: 31


Clouds thickening this morning with an approaching storm system which will push snow, sleet and rain into the area (from southwest to northeast) by at least midday. The changeover to rain will occur rather quickly for most of the area during the afternoon with a coating to an inch at the onset possible from central Bucks and Montgomery counties on northward.


The Poconos could pick up and inch or two of snow and ice before the changeover to rain occurs. Tonight will be all rain, could be heavy at times, with areas of fog as temperatures warm overnight.


Sunday starts off warm in the 50s to near 60 degrees with areas of fog and rain ending early afternoon. Then temperatures will drop down heading into Monday and beyond.






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Terror on the Turnpike

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A woman and her two children are thankful to be alive after her ex-boyfriend led police on a 125 mile-per-hour chase down the Pennsylvania Turnpike.



"He was saying, 'We're all dying together. We're all going to go to Heaven. Kiss the kids goodbye,'" said Ernestine Pearson, the suspect's former girlfriend.



Peason's ex-boyfriend, Kabril Keyes, was behind the wheel.



State Police said it all started when Keyes forced his way into Pearson's apartment near Wilkes-Barre Thursday afternoon, then kidnapped her and her two young kids at knife point .



A police chase spilled onto the Turnpike's Northeast Extension and spanned two counties.



Troopers said Keyes collided with several other cars, including a State Police cruiser, before violently crashing at Mile Marker 80 in Carbon County.



"Hitting cars, other cars," said Pearson. "My car is totalled."



Police believe Keyes intentionally tried to drive off the highway at 100 miles an hour -- with his ex and her kids still inside.



"The words he was saying was, 'We're all going to die together. Tell the kids goodbye,'" she said. "And he just tried to go off the road while we were all in the car."



Authorities called this a classic case of domestic violence. Keyes was actually out on bail after allegedly trying to set Pearson on fire last summer.



In this case, Keyes' own mother called 911. Barbarta Ann Keyes told state police that her son had "snapped," was holding a knife, and telling the victim to "tell me the truth."



"The things he was saying while he was in the house, telling his mom she should leave. She don't want to witness anything," said Pearson. "He's going to do life [in prison] or he's going to be dead too."



Pearson also obtained a protective order against Keyes on June 9, a few days after he pounded on the door and windows of her apartment with a hammer.



She said he knocked her down when she let him in, stomped on her leg and kicked her "in private areas." When she got up to call police, he roughed her up in front of the children, who were screaming and crying.



In that protection from abuse order, she said on previous occasions the defendant burned her arm with a heater and forced her out of the place where they were living.



On another occasion, she reported that he put a gun to her head when she asked for child support.



Keyes now faces 20 different criminal charges, including kidnapping and aggravated assault.



He is now in jail under $500,000 bond.






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How can you get fit in 2015

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Are you one of the millions of people who made a New Years resolution to get fit in 2015?



The beginning of January is when people begin hitting the gym hard to work off all of those extra desserts eaten over the past few months.



" I would say everyone gets about about 20-30% more people in the gyms now," said Rodney Guignet, owner, of Hammer Training and Fitness in Allentown.



Garry Giordano, who works out at Hammer, has made it his mission to get fit in 2015.



"I want to lose a little bit of the belly," said Giordano.



Giordano vows to reach his goal by making a commitment to himself.



" Just keep on coming, just keep on coming," said Giordano.



If you are new to working out, Guignet suggests taking it slow. Try a few group classes, or try a few minutes of cardio at a time.



"People get frustrated and give up," said Guignet



He adds that it takes time to see results, many times, up to 3 months.



Cutting out the junk food is also essential.



"90% of what you achieve is your eating," said Guignet.



So make a commitment to yourself and bring in 2016 feeling healthier and better than ever before.






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Family wants answers in pedestrian accident that killed West Reading man

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Friday night, loved ones prayed for answers after one of their own was run over by a tractor trailer and later died at the hospital.


"I just want to get down to what happened, I want to know the truth," said Malik Farley-Gray, the victim's cousin.


Authorities say Friday, shortly before 3 p.m., the victim, William E. Lucas, III, 53, approached the truck, and wedged himself between the cab and the rear wheels while the truck was waiting at the corner of W. Oley and Schuylkill Avenue in Reading.


Police say the truck driver was unaware that Lucas, from West Reading, was so close to the vehicle.


The driver also said he was about to turn onto Schuylkill Avenue when he felt something beneath his truck, according to police on the scene.


"I'm devastated. I'm hurt. Shocked," said Vivian Farley-Gray, the victim's aunt.


Just feet from the incident is April III's, a bar where Lucas was last seen before he was run over.


"Tomorrow's never promised to no one. A matter of minutes, a matter of seconds," said Lilian Rivera, who saw the victim just minutes before the incident.


It hasn't been an easy couple of years for victim's family. Just a few years ago they buried Lucus' mother.


The loss is especially tough for the victim's aunt.


"My sister's only child. I buried his mother five years ago. And now I got to do him. But God will heal us. He will heal us."


The cause and manner of death are still under investigation.


No criminals charges are expected to be filed against the driver.






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Police looking for two teens who shot at several Reading homes

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Police are looking for two teenage boys who they say went on a shooting spree tonight in Reading.


Police said the teens fired shots at three homes in the area of North 11th and Windsor streets.


It happened around 7:00 tonight.


No injuries were reported.


Witnesses told 69 News that the teens fled just seconds before police got there.


Police said the teens were wearing dark clothing with hoodies, and could be 15 or 16 years-old.


If you have any information, contact police.






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Tolls about to climb on the Pennsylvania Turnpike

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Drivers are about to face a hike at the turnpike.



Come this Sunday, tolls in Pennsylvania will increase five percent, regardless of payment method.



The rate for E-ZPass drivers will jump from $1.04 to $1.09, while the rate for cash-paying customers will jump from $1.60 to $1.70.



"I'm not happy, nobody's happy about any increase," said driver Brendan Costello.



The increase marks the seventh in seven years, the result of a transportation-funding law that requires the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to make annual payments to PennDOT.



Since the law was enacted in 2007, the PTC has provided $4.3 billion for roads, bridges and transit assistance. Annual payments will continue in the millions until 2057.



"If we have to pay a little extra for a good road, so be it, it doesn't bother me," said Carol Hickman. "I don't want a great increase, and more money in my pocket is better, but I like to see a nice road to travel on."



Others, like John Walsh, disagree.



"I don't see that many road repairs…I mean, where's all the money going?" he said. "Everybody's unhappy."



According to Carl DeFabo, spokesman for the PTC, drivers should expect annual toll hikes for the "foreseeable future."



Drivers looking to save money are encouraged to use E-ZPass. While those rates are increasing equally this year, drivers who use the electronic toll collection system are expected to save roughly 35 percent in 2015.






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Most Memorable 2014: James Tully

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Hilary Lane chose to revisit the story of James Tully, the man who says he has been misidentified as suspected cop killer Eric Frein more than a dozen times.


The Barrett Township man said he was constantly stopped by authorities during his 5 mile/2 hour walk to and from work through the heart of the Frein manhunt in Barrett Township.


In the middle of November, he was given the keys to a brand new car, after the community came together to make sure he traveled to and from work safely.


Through a campaign on a website called "Go Fund Me, 1,000 people collectively donated over $24,000 to help pay for Tully's car.


" I was just trying to do what I can do," said Tully. "I was working to pay my child support and I didn't expect any of this."


"He is a hard worker," said Dawn diBiase, who started the fundraising website. "He didn't ask for any money."


Tully purchased a 2007 Subaru Outback for a little under $10,000 at Halterman's Toyota.


The rest of the money will be put into an account to pay for gas and maintenance.


"He got the all-wheel drive, he was really looking for with the winters we have," said Matt Raymond of Halterman's Toyota.


"I am just so thankful to the community, said Tully. "This wouldn't be possible without them."






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Ross Twp. couple pleads guilty in 70-year-old's death

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John and Tina Tedesco pleaded guilty to third degree murder Friday in Monroe County Court for the 2011 death of his 70-year-old aunt.


No sentencing date has been set yet.


Police report the couple was supposed to be taking care of Barbara Rabins, the sick woman, but robbed her of thousands of dollars and allowed her to die of dehydration.


The victim had lived with the Ross Township couple of 12 years.






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Highlights From First-Ever College Football Playoff: Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl Results

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Fans were not disappointed when they tuned in for two games that decided who will play for the national championship.


From: ABC News

Views: 54


5 ratings

Time: 02:25 More in News & Politics






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Farm animals gunned down in Lehigh County; police investigate

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After three of his pigs were shot and killed, Todd Hedrick of Hedrick Family Farms and Produce in Lehigh County is trying to figure out how to cope with the damages.


"I was furious, I was hurt, and we were both up all night with tears in our eyes," Hedrick said.


Hedrick's three pigs were shot on Saturday night. Two were killed 150 feet off of his property. The third was so severely injured by a bullet wound, he had to be put down.


"Seeing the one crawl through the woods wounded, I'm a hunter I'm a trapper, I'm a fisherman, I'm a farmer but no, I was furious," Hedrick said.


The pigs wandered off of Hedrick's property after pushing their food tote on top of an electric fence.


"Once that is grounded out there is no current," Hedrick said. "They can walk right through it."


Police are still investigating who is responsible.


In the meantime, Todd is trying to cope with the loss. Each pig was set to bring in about $200 just days before Christmas. With only two survivors, Todd says the damages are more than $600 dollars.


"That was going to be our Christmas money," Hedrick said.


For many of Todd's customers, deposits for each pig have already been collected.


"I myself had a deposit down for a full pig," Hedrick Family Farm and Produce customer, Amy Dailey said. "What am I going to do for Christmas now?"


Hedrick says he will try to get enough money together to purchase a new heard before the holiday season.


As for the two remaining pigs, because they have been through so much already, Hedrick says he will let them live out their days on the farm.






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