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The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission heard dozens of pitches today from municipalities hoping to be included in a regional transportation plan.
Getting in on the plan makes projects eligible for state and federal funding so they can be designed and built in the next 20 years.
Monday, officials from several local municipalities got to make their pitches for road, bridge and trail projects that are need of funding.
Representatives from Allentown are proposing two roundabouts in the city. They also want to upgrade American Parkway, Basin Street and South 4th Street between Airport Road and Emmaus Avenue.
The planning commission will announce the projects that will be included in the updated plan in June. We'll be back.
Mother Nature caused some problems for organizers of the 2015 Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Show.
A news conference was held Monday afternoon to announce changes for this year's event and introduce some of the new vehicles.
But, less than a handful of cars actually made it to the PPL Center in Allentown.
"Living in the northeast, you get to expect weather conditions. We were expecting to have 15 cars on the ice, but there was only two that showed up," said Tom Kwiatek, Executive Director of the Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association.
But hundreds more will be showcased at the 18th annual event, themed "Go Car Gazing," in March.
This year, more than 300 vehicles from more than 25 manufactures will be featured. New auto-technologies will also be in the spotlight, including internet-related capabilities, Kwiatek said.
Visitors to the four-day event will also notice a new tent filled with commercial vendors, including auto insurance, auto financing, and driveway repair services.
"It will add more value to the ticket holder," Kwiatek said.
Kwiatek also said that more manufactures will be offering test drive opportunities.
"There will be a much more enhanced ride-and-drive program. Normally, we have one manufacturer, or maybe two. This year, we have six," Kwiatek said.
There will also be a designated educational area inside the tent.
"We are going to have programs geared to the consumer, like do I buy or do I lease? How do I winterize my car? What about an electric car?" Kwiatek said.
The proceeds from this year's preview gala will benefit the prevention and treatment of motor vehicle trauma in kids and teenagers at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation's Pediatric Unit and St. Luke's University Health Network's Level 1 Trauma Center. The tailgate-themed event is scheduled for March 18th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The auto show begins on March 19th and runs through March 22nd at Stabler Arena on Lehigh University's Goodman Campus in Bethlehem. MORE HERE: http://glvautoshow.org/
The show runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
A man stole $40,000 worth of copper from a business in Berks County, police said.
Dyllan Hatfield took copper wire and copper rings from Regal Beloit, an electric motor manufacturer on Route 61 in Ontelaunee Township, police said.
Hatfield, 23, of Reading, took the copper over several months and sold it for cash at local scrapyards, police said.
Hatfield was charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and conspiracy. He was committed to the Berks County Jail on $50,000 bail.
The state wrestling tournament isn't starting tonight, they've been postponed to tomorrow night, so for a handful of teams in our area that means an extra day to prepare and even workout. For Northern Lehigh, it changes nothing because the Bulldogs wrestle Thursday as the District 11 champs. Northern Lehigh is a surprise winner considering they came from the fourth seed to win the title. But the Bulldogs have gotten better and better as the year has gone along, and now they have a championship to show for their work. They also get to go wrestle in Hershey on the state's biggest stage, a first for many of these wrestlers, but not their head coach who was in Hershey when he wrestled for the Bulldogs.
 | There are remaining questions about how long winter will linger after three separate groundhogs behaved differently on groundhog day, February 2, 2015. | From: ABC News Views: 0 0 ratings |
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The Albright women are in the mix for a mac Commonwealth Championship this year, with a couple of weeks left in the regular season they are heading towards the playoffs. Kelecia Harris is a big part of their success, she's having a monster year for the Lions. Sam Marcinek has more on Harris and the Lions.
 | There are remaining questions about how long winter will linger after three separate groundhogs behaved differently on groundhog day, February 2, 2015. | From: ABC News Views: 0 0 ratings |
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Police are investigating the reported attempt to abduct a child in Berks County.
The 11-year-old child was grabbed on the arm around 8:20 a.m. Monday while walking to a bus stop in the 800 block of North Park Road in Wyomissing, police said.
The attempted abductor, described as a tall Hispanic man in his 20s or 30s, told the child to come with him, police said.
The child managed to escape the man's grasp and run away, police said.
Police said they had no reports of a vehicle being involved.
Anyone with information about the attempted abduction is asked to call Crime Alert Berks County at 877-373-9913. A cash reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
The attempted child abduction comes on the heels of two reports of child luring in Berks County last week.
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Just-resigned Pennsylvania treasurer Rob McCord plans to plead guilty to federal extortion charges.
In the papers submitted Monday in federal court in Harrisburg, prosecutors filed two charges of extortion in connection with McCord's dealings with a law firm and a property management firm.
The papers included a plea agreement signed by McCord.
The firms were not named.
McCord, 55, resigned last Friday and said he planned to plead guilty to federal charges accusing him of using his office to threaten potential campaign donors during his failed gubernatorial primary race last year.
He apologized in a video released by his lawyers Friday and said he accepts responsibility for his actions.
The killings of a woman and her son in Reading do not appear to be the result of a random act of violence, police said Monday.
The victims, Mary Branford, 74, and her son, Johnny Branford, 52, were found dead by police in the living room of their home at 646 N. 11th St. Saturday night.
Officers were responding to calls from family members, who reported not being able to contact the Branfords for several days.
An autopsy revealed that Johnny Branford died of multiple stab wounds. Authorities are awaiting further tests to determine how his mother died.
Both victims' deaths were ruled homicides.
So far, police have not been able to identify a suspect, but they did say Monday that "based on the information developed so far, this does not appear to be random event."
Anyone with information that can help the case is asked to call Crime Alert Berks County at 877-373-9913. A cash reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
Officials say a massive fire that caused heavy damage at a Berks County business is still under investigation.
According to officials, a fire at Reitnouer Inc., a business located at 5 East Pointe Drive in Cumru Township, was reported by a caller outside the facility around noon Saturday.
A second alarm was triggered soon after.
According to a WFMZ photographer at the scene, the fire appeared mostly contained to one truck trailer.
Some metal siding on the building was scolded, but the building itself was not on fire.
Tires on the property were on fire, causing heavy black smoke that could be seen for miles.
There is no word yet on how the fire started. Officials say a determination could be made by mid-week.
Officials are continuing to interview workers there.
No injuries were reported.
Reitnouer Inc. is a company specializing in the manufacturing of aluminum trailers.
Emergency crews are on the scene of an accident involving multiple vehicles on Route 222 in southern Berks County.
The crash was reported shortly before 2 p.m. Monday near the Grings Hill Road interchange in Cumru Township.
Initial reports from the scene are that at least three people are confined in various vehicles, including a tractor trailer, and need to be rescued.
Authorities are also reporting a large fuel spill at the scene.
A 69 News crew is heading to the scene. Refresh this page for updates as information becomes available.
The New England Patriots' fourth Super Bowl win is the first for the team's fullback.
James Develin is a 2006 graduate of Boyertown Area High School in Berks County. He helped the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 Sunday night.
Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns, and Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson's pass in the end zone with 20 seconds left in the game.
Develin received one pass and ran it for six yards. He caught his first ever receiving touchdown from Brady during the AFC Championship game two weeks ago.
The Patriots had lost three straight Super Bowls since winning three in four years a decade ago.
A championship parade is set for Tuesday in Boston.
A jury is now working to decide the fate of a Berks County man who was once one of America's most-wanted fugitives.
Deliberations in the Miguel Torres murder trial began shortly before 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Berks County Courthouse. The jury, which is being bused from York to Reading each day, got a late start because of the inclement weather.
Torres, formerly of Exeter Township, stands accused of shooting his estranged wife, Barbie Torres, to death as she left work in downtown Reading on Sept. 12, 2005.
Torres, officials said, then fled the country, first to the Dominican Republic and then to Italy, where he was captured in March 2013.
Torres took the stand Friday and testified in his own defense, telling the jury that a loan shark to whom he owed $38,000 is the one who killed his wife.
Torres is facing life in prison if he's convicted of first degree murder. Prosecutors could not seek the death penalty because of an extradition agreement with Italy.
Jurors from York County were selected for the trial because of the extensive publicity the case received in Berks.
The judge told each juror on Friday to pack an overnight bag in case wintry weather forced the jurors to stay in a hotel Monday night.
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When it comes to our weather over the next six weeks, Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog and Berks County's prognosticating rodent aren't seeing eye-to-eye.
While Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow early Monday morning, Patty Pagoda did not.
A German legend has it that if a groundhog sees his shadow on Feb. 2, winter will last another six weeks. If not, spring comes early.
Patty last year predicted six more weeks of winter, which was a forecast that essentially held true.
A jack-knifed tractor trailer caused quite the backup for drivers traveling northbound on 222 in Spring Township, Berks County, Monday morning.
Officials said no one was injured in the accident, which occurred atop slick and slushy roadways just after 7 a.m.
According to Spring Township Police, fuel leaked from the tanker but was quickly contained.
The road though, which remains blocked off, created havoc for morning commuters.
"It's terrible," said Gloria Glass, of Muhlenberg Township.
"Pretty frustrating trying to get to work," said Aaron Smith, of Sinking Spring.
Smith told 69 News that it took him nearly 45 minutes to travel two miles toward his job in Reading.
"Yeah, it's crazy," he said.
The accident was one of several reported during the morning commute all across the region, as snow and rain moved in overnight.
Officials expect 222 North in Spring Township to remain closed for a couple of hours.
