Federal investigators eyeing state treasurer as he steps down

Federal authorities are looking into the campaign-related activity of Pennsylvania state Treasurer Rob McCord, who says he is stepping down from the job after six years.


A person familiar with inquiries by authorities confirmed the probe to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a matter that hasn't been discussed publicly by McCord or authorities.


The Democrat pumped $2.2 million of his own money into his unsuccessful run for governor last year. He gave no indication Thursday about his future plans.


The former venture capitalist didn't grant interviews or mention an investigation in a statement released by his office and said only that it is time for him to return to the private sector.


McCord announced his resignation Thursday. His last day on the job is Feb. 12.






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Male bison born at Trexler Nature Preserve may move to NY

Lehigh County soon may donate a young member of its bison herd to a zoo in upstate New York.


If county commissioners approve the donation, the male bison will find a new home in the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, N.Y.


The county owns a small herd of 10 bison at its Trexler Nature Preserve near Schnecksville.


Their care is managed by Lehigh Valley Zoo, which is located within the preserve.


County officials explain the male to be donated, which was born at the preserve in 2013, “is coming into age and will become a challenge to the existing dominant male. This will cause care problems for the herd.”


“We knew that if we had birthed a male, we probably would have to move that bison two or three years later,” said Rick Molchany, the county’s director of general services, who also is former president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Zoo.


“We did not want to manage multiple males fighting for dominance.”


No commissioners had any objections on first reading of a bill approving the donation Wednesday night.


They will take final action on the bison at their next meeting on Feb.11.


“The zoo that’s asking us for the donation is accredited,” Molchany assured commissioners.


He also said Rosamond Gifford Zoo will be responsible for the transportation, noting: “It’s very difficult to move a male bison.”


“Do we have free visitation rights to this bison?” asked Brad Osborne, chairman of the nine commissioners.


The county hopes to expand the size of its bison herd to 15, but Molchany said all but one of them will be female.


A managed breeding program to increase the size of the herd was initiated in 2011.


Commissioner Michael Schware supports donating the young bull but expressed concern that increasing the size of the bison herd may create a potential additional expense for the county.


But Molchany told commissioners 15 bison would be the ideal size for what the county has budgeted “for all the medical, food and accommodations the bison need in the preserve.”


Suggesting commissioners should have a discussion about management of the bison herd, Schware also said bison in the preserve “are not exactly roaming the great open prairies of the Midwest.”


The commissioner said they are kept “in a relatively confined spot.


“I have no way of measuring their happiness, but it seems very crowded where we have them. And I have to wonder how five more buffalo would impact that.”


Schware also said he’s no expert on what bison eat, “but I can see what’s next to what they eat.”


Molchany later said the bison have two enclosures at the nature preserve, one covering 10 acres, the other 15 acres.


He said they are rotated between those enclosures “so we don’t create a mud pit.”


Molchany said the first bison were brought to what originally was known as Trexler Game Preserve in 1911 by Lehigh County philanthropist General Harry Trexler.


He said during a tuberculosis outbreak in the 1950s, the county completely wiped out the herd because of a fear that disease would spread.


But he said bison were returned to the preserve a few years later and have been there ever since.






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Boyertown girls top Spring-Ford in thriller

Fleetwood... >>> The Boyertown girls are getting closer to a league title. The Bears have been outstanding this year so far, but they were in a tough place tonight. Winning at Spring-Ford hasn't been easy in recent years, but the Bears were trying to do just that






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Winter weather hurting and helping restaurants

The cold snowy weather can certainly play a role on how local businesses do in Berks County.



Food is flying out of the kitchen and on to people's tables at Sofrito Gastro Pub in Reading.



"When it snows we actually end up doing well," said Hector Ruiz, the owner of Sofrito Gastro Pub in Reading.



It is a Latin American restaurant tucked away in a residential neighborhood in the 200 block of Douglass Street. Owners believe their location is an advantage when snow starts falling.



"Most of our neighbors are stuck. They do not get to go pretty much anywhere. So they walk down and we end up doing actually pretty well," said Ruiz.



And staffing is not much of an issue either.



"We are very lucky that most of our staff lives in the city. I have bartenders that live a half a block from here. So no matter how much it snows, somebody is always going to be able to get down here and open the doors so we can keep it going," said Ruiz.



But over at Dan's at Green Hills in Cumru Township it is a much different story.



"Everytime it goes snow, it is a ghost town in here. People do not drive, they do not leave town. People cancel their reservations," said M.D. Monir, the co-owner of Dan's at Green Hills in Cumru Township.



The fine dining restaurant, in 2400 block of Morgantown Road, serves up French-American cuisine.



Managers think one of the reasons they do not do so well on snowy cold nights is because many people do not want to travel on the back roads.



"I think people do not like driving in the snow because of the slippery roads. This road is kind of tough," said Monir.



Their main message to customers is that they will stay open during cold and snowy weather. Be careful if you chose to venture out.






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Wyo and Fleetwood girls tally big league wins

The Wyomissing and Fleetwood girls basketball teams won key league games on Thursday night, bolstering their chances at a higher seed in both the county and district playoffs.


In Topton, Wyomissing (7-2, 13-7) pulled away for a 55-40 victory over the host Bullets (7-2, 11-8) to create a tie for first atop Berks III.


Elke Cacchione led the way for Wyo with 16 points. Leah McAvoy added another 13 for the Spartans.


Nora Harrison paced Brandywine Heights with 13 points.


In Fleetwood, the Tigers (7-2, 13-6) pulled out a 55-53 victory over Conrad Weiser (6-3, 15-5) to essentially lock up the second seed out of Berks II for the coming BCIAA tournament.


Lauren Lister led the way for Fleetwood with 24 points, none bigger than the deuce she had in the final seconds to win it for the Tigers.


Gabrielle Downs added 13 points while Cyre Virgo had a double-double for the Tigers.


Conrad Weiser's Hannah Racis led all scorers with a monster 27 points.






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Wyomissing and Fleetwood girls tally big league wins

highlights are on the way. >>> rob vaughn:>>> wendy davis: >>> The Wyomissing girls have been building in the last few weeks. Building to tonight and a showdown for first place in their division. They had a chance to make up ground on Brandywine Heights tonight, but the Bullets had their own motivation. a win, and they'd clinch a division title heading into the Berks playoffs.. >>> The Conrad Weiser and Fleetwood girls met tonight in






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Cloudy with a period of snow and flurries; a coating to an inch or two. Low: 26

A clipper system will continue to bring intermittent light snow and flurries overnight and into Friday morning. Most locations will pick up a coating to an inch or two of snow (with two or three inches possible in the Poconos and some higher elevations). Slick conditions exist (especially on secondary untreated roadways, sidewalks, driveways etc.). Friday will feature falling temperatures (highs in the low 30s, but afternoon temps fall into the 20s) and increasing winds. Wind chill values will feel like 10-20 below zero Friday night and early Saturday. We're still keeping our eyes on a storm late Sunday into Monday that could bring snow to our area. We will keep you posted on what we expect over the next couple days.






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Seahawks Gnome: The Real Mystery of the Super Bowl

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Dana and Branden Smith have been reunited with their gnome who went mysteriously missing from their yard and taken on a six month road trip from San Francisco to the Grand Canyon. Now the...


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Photo Finish: Did Jockey Electrically Shock His Horse?

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The horse named "Quiet Acceleration" may have had another reason to accelerated for a winning finish. Prosecutors alleged that a snapshot of the 'photo finish' shows the jockey has more than...


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Aaron Hernandez Suits Up For Court, Not Super Bowl

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Former NFL football player Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots faces charges for allegedly murdering his friend Odin Lloyd in June 2013. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée...


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Starbucks' arrival signals good news for Center City

An addition to Downtown Allentown's revitalization will give a jolt of energy to the city.


Starbucks is coming to Center City Allentown.


Center City Lehigh Valley announced the coffee shop will be located at the corner of Seventh and Hamilton Streets, across from the PPL Center. It’s scheduled to open in June. The store will be on the first floor of Two City Center at 645 Hamilton Street.


Starbucks brings with it a well-known name and a global brand.


"This is something we have tried for years but would have never been able to achieve unless it was for the mass amount of new investment and economic energy that's flowing into the city," said Mayor Ed Pawlowski.


"For a long period of time Allentown was struggling and our demographic data really didn't fit their model for investment," Pawlowski said.


"We're arriving. I think that's the best way I can describe it," said Joe Kornfeind, Associate Dean of The Wescoe School of Muhlenberg College. "I think it's a great opportunity for Allentown."


"We're starting to see the benefits of this development and a place like Starbucks recognizes that they go with winners and I think Allentown certainly is a winning opportunity for them," Kornfeind added.


Pawlowski said, "Wherever Starbucks goes usually you'll see property values rise and other national retailers start to follow suit."


Officials with the real estate site Zillow found properties near Starbucks appreciate at a faster rate and it seems the coffee chain drives the increase in home values.


"They're actually seeing the future that we're going to have a lot more people living downtown that will support their products and services," said Koenfeind. "When we look at strategic planning, they can forecast three to five years out of seeing what areas are going to be built up."


Pawlowski said, "This really vote of confidence, if you will, by Starbucks I think will set the stage for other retailers to come in and invest in the city of Allentown in the future.







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Lehigh Valley Zoo animals not all for or against cold temps

The Lehigh Valley Zoo was closed Thursday because of ice concerns related to the frigid temperatures. However, the animals did not get a break from the cold weather.



"A lot of our animals are able to be outside, that's why they were chosen to be here," said Melissa Borland, President and CEO at the Lehigh Valley Zoo.



At the zoo, a rare snowy owl spends his days and nights just where the name would suggest, outside in the snowy conditions.



Animals like ostriches and zebras also live outdoors permanently, even when the temperatures fall below zero.



"It gets below freezing and they have enough fur to keep them warm," said Michelle Reagen, Zookeeper at the Lehigh Valley Zoo.



When the temperatures drop below 40 degrees, penguins are relocated inside.



"We actually have African penguins and they are warm weather penguins," said Reagen.



Other animals are outside during the day, and then head into their heated indoor homes when temperatures dip at night.



While the animals stay toasty warm, some of the humans at the zoo brave the elements to make sure the other outdoor animals are well taken care of.



"It gets chilly," said Reagen. " The key is lots of layers, and stay dry, and if it does get too cold we take breaks and go inside and warm up."






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Police keep crowded city streets safe for people and vehicles

Center City Allentown is once again bustling with activity.



Just visit the downtown on a game night, and you'll hear all the familiar sounds of urban life--beeping horns, screaming fans, music pouring from popular eateries.



About 8,000 people pack into the heart of Queen City when the Phantoms are in town.



"Many of the people that come to downtown Allentown are here for the first time," said Captain Glen Dorney, Allentown Police.



The new attractions, including the PPL Center and upscale restaurants, have many checking out the city once again.



"Sometimes, it's distracting. People don't pay as much attention to the signals," Dorney said. "We want you to come downtown, explore what's new, but please be cautions."



But police are reminding both townies and visitors to pay extra attention when traveling downtown.



"So far, it's been running very smoothly," Dorney said. "Occasionally, drivers get distracted, looking where they are going to park, and don't monitor the lights."



The city installed an interactive traffic signal program in the area around the arena. It automatically changes lights if there's a back up, and so far, police said it's been successful.



There are also officers stationed at the busy intersections around the sports complex, to monitor traffic control and help pedestrians cross.



Some of those police have witnessed drivers running through those lights and blocking intersections.



"When there is an officer there, listen to the officer," Dorney said.



Though, it's not just drivers who are sometimes not obeying the signals. They've also seen some walkers stepping into the crosswalks too early.



"If it says don't walk, please don't walk, it's there for a safety reason and traffic control," Dorney said






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Allentown police keep streets safe

walkers take to get to and from the arena... While we were out here taping earlier tonight..a driver actually made a right hand turn..while my photographer was still in the walkway. That's the kind of behavior police are trying stop. >>nat?>>reporter: The streets are busy.. The sidewalks are packed.>>CAPTAIN glen dorney "Many of the people that come to downtown Allentown are here for the first time,">>REPORTER: And...if you haven't been in town lately..There's a lot to see:A flashy new sports arena. >>Nat? street. >>reporter: And new traffic patterns.>>CAPTAIN glen dorney "There's a lot more traffic, a lot more pedestrians.">>REPORTER: Which is why police are signaling drivers to pay attention... >>captain glen dorney "Occasionally drivers get distracted, looking where they are going to park, and don't monitor the lights." >>reporter: They've seen people run through lights and block intersections... >>nat "Woah Woah...Red light! Hold up guys." >>reporter: putting others at risk...and stalling






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Drunk man drives off road onto bank lawn

An Allentown man will be charged with DUI after he drove his car off the road and over the curb onto the lawn of the Wells Fargo Bank on Schoenersville Road.


Police were called to the scene at the bank where they found a disabled Honda Civic stuck on a grass embankment on the lawn of the property.


Police said they followed the tire tracks and determined that the vehicle first drove onto the property by driving over the curb on Schoenersville Road in front of the bank and then continuing to drive around the grass area in an attempt to get back into the parking lot near the ATM machine.


The vehicle was unoccupied when police first arrived. However, a man walked up to the officers and identified himself as the vehicle owner and driver. He admitted to driving the vehicle and getting stuck in the parking lot.


Police said the man, identified as Agim Berisha, showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and failed a field sobriety tests.


His BAC was .19%. Charges of DUI will be filed against him through DJ Narlesky's office.






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Miguel Torres trial jurors hear from victim's family, visit homicide scene

Jurors stepped out of the courtroom and onto a bus to view the scenes crucial to the high-profile case for a man who was once one of America's most wanted fugitives.


Day three of the case ended with jurors riding through downtown Reading. They were taken to the parking lot where Barbara Torres was shot and killed on Sept. 12, 2005.


Then, it was off to the parking lot on Poplar Street, where Barbie's white Cadillac Escalade was found.


Prosecutors are trying to convict Miguel Torres of first degree murder more than nine years after his estranged wife was shot and killed outside her work.


Jonathan Kurland, chief deputy district attorney, alleged Torres dumped the SUV in the lot moments after the cold-blooded killing, then fled the city in a van.


Eric Huber, owner of Huber Auto Rental, which was located in Lititz, Lancaster County, testified Torres rented a 1999 Chevrolet Express the morning of the murder. Huber said Torres provided a driver's license, proof of insurance and a major credit card to pay for the van, which was equipped with a bed.


"He said he was going on vacation," said Huber, who told the court the vacation was set to last 21 days.


Torres left his Lexus in the rental store's lot and said a family member would pick it up, Huber testified.


The van was found several months later, in 2006, at LaGuardia Airport in New York. A port authority officer told the court the van was abandoned and put in the impound lot. The Reading Police Department was contacted, and they investigated the scene at the airport in April 2006.


Four days after the murder, investigators with the Berks County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force responded to a Walmart near Huber Auto Rental. An investigator testified several items were purchased at the store with Torres' credit card a few hours before Barbie was killed. The investigator said Torres was seen on surveillance video buying duct tape, rope, cable ties, a knife and Vaseline.


During cross examination, Torres' attorney, Robert Kirwan, asked the investigator why they did not obtain a copy of the video. The investigator responded, "We were attempting to find him."


The jury also listened to hours of testimony from the victim's loved ones, who painted Torres as an abusive and possessive husband.


Raul Rivera, Barbie's stepfather, testified he was with Torres, driving together and looking for Barbie after she moved out of the couple's home.


"He pulled out a pistol and said, 'When we get there, if I see her with someone else, I'll kill him and I'll kill her,"' Rivera testified through a translator.


Kirwan grilled Rivera on his testimony and fired back this claim was never reported to police until almost nine years later.


Diana Rivera-O'Bryant, Barbie's aunt, told the court Barbie was upset and discussed their marital problems with her. She said her niece told her Mikey gets jealous, and one time he was so mad he put a gun in her mouth.


"If you ever try to leave me or leave this house again without my permission, I'm going to blow your brains out," Rivera-O'Bryant testified.


Rivera-O'Bryant said she tried to persuade her niece to file a protection from abuse order, but Barbie said she didn't want to because of Torres' stance in the community. He was a real-estate agent.


Kirwan fired questions at Rivera-O'Braynt about Barbie's affair with a married man and asked her why she waited nine years to tell police about it.


Next on the stand was Barbie's sister, Alicia Lebron. Tears rolled down her cheeks when she saw a picture of her sister. Lebron told the jury she went to the courthouse with Barbie a few days before she was murdered to file a PFA. She said Barbie was unable to fill it out because she was shaking, so she filled it out for her.


Lebron also read a letter aloud to the court, which was written in Miguel Torres' handwriting. The letter was written a few weeks before the murder, and after Barbie filed for divorce. The letter was found in their Exeter Township home.


"I hope you can all forgive me. Pray for me. I hope God forgives me," she read. "I'm sorry for what I've done. I couldn't take it anymore."


Torres went on to profess his love for Barbie. He said he felt alone in their home by himself and slept with her blouse to be close to her.


"Barbie, before I go any further, I want you to know I love you with all my heart. I need you. I miss you so much," Lebron read.


During cross examination, Kirwan told the court Barbie did not tell her sister everything, including the affair.


Lebron gave Torres a death stare after she walked off the stand.


Torres spent years on the run. He became the target of an international manhunt until his arrest in Italy in 2013.


Testimony will resume Thursday morning.






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Gov. Wolf puts moratorium on fracking in state parks and forrests

Governor Tom Wolf says he is taking steps to protect the environment.


He signed an executive order today, re-instating the ban on new drilling leases on public lands.


This means companies will not will allowed to expand the extraction of natural gas from state parks and forests.


Wolf's action today supersedes a past order signed by former Governor Tom Corbett. Environmentalists are praising the action.


But others are calling it a 'political move' and 'unnecessary.'.






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Pocono Medical Center nurses vote on deal to avoid strike

As nurses at the Poconos' largest hospital vote on a last-minute deal to avoid a strike, two state reports are revealing staffing issues that left some employees "overwhelmed" and "in tears."


A spokesman for Pocono Medical Center insisted that patient safety was never at risk though.



Roughly 500 PMC nurses have threatened to strike over staffing levels and patient safety concerns.


Thursday, nurses were voting on a tentative deal to avoid a walk-out beginning Sunday. Neither side offered details of the deal until the votes were counted Thursday night.



Meantime, a pair of reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Health is revealing just how serious those staffing concerns were.



After several employees complained, DOH inspectors showed up at the hospital unannounced on August 20 and 21. Regulators found Pocono Medical Center did not have adequate staffing in its emergency department and its cardiovascular telemetry (CVT) unit. Regulators said one employee felt "overwhelmed and was not able to safely care for the patients." Another "confirmed feeling nervous about completing their assignment due to the increased acuity needs of the patients."



Medical staffers told state inspectors there were sometimes 10 patients for every one medical worker. Employees said they sometimes had to give up dinner and even bathroom breaks to keep up with the patient load. One worker told inspectors "there were many days the staff was crying."



Hospital spokesman Geoffrey Roche acknowledged staffing issues, but insisted that patient safety was never at risk. He said PMC has since restructured and filled several open positions, but in a second unannounced visit in November, DOH found staffing levels still weren't adequate. They recommended placing PMC under what's called "immediate jeopardy," a federal classification that could put Medicare Medicaid funds at risk. Roche noted that the Federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services never actually designated the hospital as "immediate jeopardy."



The state health department now says that Pocono Medical Center is in compliance.



Neither the hospital nor JNESO, the nurses' union, would speak on camera about the state reports. Both sides agreed not to make any public statements Thursday while nurses voted on the new contract deal.






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