10-year-old boy dies after jumping from school window

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Authorities say 10-year-old boy has died from injuries he suffered when he jumped from a second-story window at his northern New Jersey school.


The Record reports that it's not clear what caused the fifth-grade student to jump Friday afternoon. The newspaper reports that the drop from the window to the concrete sidewalk where the boy landed appeared to be about 25 feet. The boy was taken to a hospital, where he died around 5 p.m.


The incident occurred at the Grant School in Dumont. The boy's name has not been released, and district officials have declined to comment on the matter.


District officials say they will make counselors available to students, parents and staff. They said the Grant School will be open Monday morning.






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69 News Week in Review

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Here's a look back at the stories that made headlines this week in the 69 News "Week in Review."


Monday: A tractor trailer driver accused of causing a fiery, deadly crash at a toll booth in Northampton County was sentenced to up to nine years in state prison after pleading no contest.


Authorities said last January, Robert Gawne fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed into a car at the Interstate 78 toll booth in Williams Township.


The driver of the car was killed.


Tuesday: Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf caused quite a stir with his nearly $30 billion budget proposal.


He said his plan would overhaul the tax structure by increasing the sales tax and personal income tax, while reducing property taxes.


Wolf said his budget would eliminate a $2.3 billion deficit.


But Republican leaders objected to the nearly five billion dollars in new spending Wolf is proposing.



Wednesday: Prosecutors gathered in Harrisburg to take a stand against Governor Tom Wolf's moratorium on the death penalty.


Berks County District Attorney John Adams said what the governor did was illegal, and said he believes the victims' families deserve more.


Wolf put the moratorium in place three weeks ago.


He said the system is flawed, ineffective and expensive, and he plans to issue reprieves while a legislative panel studies the issue.



Thursday: A Philadelphia Police officer was shot and killed while buying a video game for his son at a GameStop store.


24-year-old Ramone Wilson and 29-year-old Carlton Hipps have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Officer Robert Wilson III.


Officials said Wilson was shot when the suspects entered the store and announced a robbery.



Friday: Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane said no charges will be filed against the Easton police officer who shot and killed Richard Scheuermann after a high-speed chase in October.


Kane said video and audio recordings show the officer's use of deadly force was justified because Scheuermann endangered the lives of police and others.


Officials said Scheuermann repeatedly rammed his truck into a police car before being shot.






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Shots fired outside Rumba Martini Lounge in Cumru Township

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The Cumru Township Police are investigating multiple gunshots fired outside a Berks County restaurant.


Police say the incident happened in the Rumba Martini Lounge parking area, located in the 500 block of E. Lancaster Avenue in Cumru Township, around 3:30 a.m. Sunday.


According to an official press release, a Cumru Township Police Officer on patrol in the vicinity of the Rumba Martini Lounge heard the gunshots and proceeded to the scene.


Police say employees and patrons were questioned, but no one on scene was able to provide any information.


Cumru Township Police were able to locate multiple cartridge casings and blood in the parking lot.


Officials say a 27-year-old male assault victim was questioned at Reading Hospital, but the victim told police he was not present when the gunshots occurred and did not know how his injury happened.


No gunshot victim has been located or identified at this time and no arrests have been made.


Police say the incident is still under investigation.


Anyone with information is asked to call Cumru Township Police at 610-777-9595. Those who wish to remain anonymous are asked to contact Crime Alert Berks County at 1-877-373-9913.






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Gunfire erupts in Easton club

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Easton police are investigating after gunfire erupted in a south side club.


Northampton County emergency communication officials say police were called to the Paradise Club in the 500 block of West Canal Street around 1:45 a.m. Sunday, in response to shots being fired.


No one was injured by the gunfire, according to emergency communication officials.


While no one was struck by the gunfire, LehighValleyLive.com reports that police say one person was injured in the incident. LehighValleyLive.com also reports that no one was in custody, as of early Sunday morning.


There's no word on how many shots were fired or if the incident involved more than than one gunman.


Stay with 69 News and WFMZ.com for updates as they become available.






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PIAA HOOPS: Pennridge boys edge Reading, Weiser girls advance

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The Pennridge boys basketball team edged Reading in a PIAA Class AAAA thriller on Saturday, while the Conrad Weiser girls advanced in the AAA bracket, setting up a showdown with Bethlehem Catholic.


The Rams bested the Red Knights, 61-59, in a PIAA Class AAAA opener. The Red Knights had a chance to tie it in the final seconds, but they could not get the shot to go.


Earlier in the night, Conrad Weiser pulled away from Athens, 48-36. Kennedy Lutz led the Scouts with 12 points.


Weiser advances to the second round to face Becahi.






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Pennridge boys and Weiser girls earn state opening wins

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on the web.Next up, ncaa championships in a few weeks.>>> First round play of the state basketball tournament wrapped up today. We showed you how three area teams advanced at 6:00...but what about the night caps? For that, we head to Berks County..and the Reading High boys, tipping off their tournament against Pennridge...part of a double-header at Wilson...AA bracket...- 2nd quarter....Pennridge transitioning...Zach Muredda passes ahead to Joe Molettiere, whose shot bounces off the rim and backboard before falling in...Molettiere game-high 18 pts...Rams up 7 at the half... - 3rd quarter...Back come the Red Knights...Damon Stern spins, drives and scores...game tied at 36... Stern had 8 pts. - Reading out an running now... Lonnie Walker passes to Khary Mauras, back to Walker for the one-handed jam...Walker finished with 15 pts...game tied at again...- Pennridge's Joe Unangst knocks down the three from the corner.Unangst had 7 pts....51-49 Pennridge. Reading can't get the final shot to go...as the Red Knights, fall...61-59...a tough way to go out.>>> Before that, the Conrad Weiser girls squared off with Athens in a triple-A opener...- 2nd quarter...Weiser's Hannah Racis no-look pass to Anouk Ooms for two...Weiser by 3 at the half...- 3rd quarter...Athens Mackenzie Warner dishes to Morgan Westbrook knocking down the jumper...Westbrook game-high 16 pts.25-24 Athens. - Later in the 3rd...The second of back-to-back threes for Kennedy Lutz gives Weiser the 31-30 lead.She finished with 12 pts to lead the






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Five local wrestlers win gold at PIAA championships

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The Big Ticket coverage area saw five wrestlers bring home state gold on Saturday night in Hershey in the PIAA championships.


The following wrestlers stood atop the podium at the Giant Center as state champions Saturday:


106 pounds - Tyson Klump - Nazareth Junior


126 pounds - Luke Karam - Becahi Junior


195 pounds - Jan Johnson - Governor Mifflin Senior


220 pounds - Jordan Wood - Boyertown Junior


285 pounds - Andrew Dunn - Becahi Senior


For full results, click here.






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Five local wrestlers win state gold

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coming up.>>>>>> Hershey is dubbed the sweetest place on Earth. For high school wrestlers from around the state that's especially true this weekend. State champions were crowned at the Giant Center tonight with plenty of local flavor. Sports Director Troy Hein has






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Lehigh sends four wrestlers into EIWA finals

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The Lehigh wrestling team advanced four of its own into the EIWA finals on Saturday as the Mountain Hawks try to chase down Cornell for the team championship.


Mason Beckman (133), Becahi-product Randy Cruz (141), Santiago Martinez (174) and Nathaniel Brown (184) were the Lehigh wrestlers to advance to the finals.


We'll have an update on the news at 10:00.






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4 Mountain Hawks advance to EIWA Finals

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straight to end the regular season.--<PLASMA>--The 111th eiwa wrestling championships kicked off at Lehigh last night. Seven Mountain Hawks advanced to today's semifinal round as the team tries to chase down Cornell for the team championship......Stabler Arena hosting the weekend's festivities......Start at 141 lbs...Lehigh's Randy Cruz rolls over Hofstra's Jaemel Hudson for the near fall...The Beca-product Cruz wins 10-4 to advance to the finals... - 174 lbs...Lehigh's Santiago Martinez works the takedown of Army's Brian Harvey and rolls him over before the officials stop the bout for an injury to Harvey...Martinez wins by medical default in 0:33... - 184 lbs....Lehigh's Nathaniel Brown gets the reversal of Bucknell's Thomas Sleigh.Brown wins by 6-3 decision. Lehigh's Mason Beckman also advanced to the finals to round out the 4 Mountain Hawks still alive for a






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PIAA HOOPS: Parkland boys, Becahi and BC girls win openers

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The Parkland boys, Bethlehem Catholic and Berks Catholic girl's basketball teams were among Saturday's early winners PIAA first round action.


Parkland defeated Conestoga, 53-42, at Allen behind a game-high 24 points from Sam Iorio. The Trojans advance to face Pennsbury in the second round.


The Bethlehem Catholic girls rolled past Lancaster Catholic, 56-36, with Kalista Walters' 27 points leading the way for the Golden Hawks. Becahi will face Conrad Weiser in the second round.


Berks Catholic's Brooke Wensel dropped 20 points to pace the Saints in a 63-57 win over Pope John Paul II in Royersford. BC advances to face Greencastle-Antrim.


Other early scores from Saturday -


Martin Luther King boys def. Allen, 69-37


Methacton boys def. Whitehall, 47-39


Honesdale girls def. CCHS, 33-31


Piscataway girls def. Phillipsburg, 58-41






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Parkland boys, Becahi and BC girls advance

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Semifinal highlights, are next. >>> The state basketball tournament tipped off last night, but why should the Big Ticket have all the fun? First round games continued today... beginning with the quad-A boys where a pair of local teams didn't have to go far to play their piaa openers... ...District 11 champion Parkland meeting Conestoga out of District i down at Allen High School...- 1st half, Parkland's Devante Cross takes it to the hole and gets the runner to go, part of a 9-0 Trojan run to start, Cross finished with 11 points -Later they work it around to Sam Iorio on the wing, he drains the three, he led all scorers with 24 points -Then they get it inside to Kenny Yeboah, he gets the little jumper to fall, part of his 6 pointsParkland advances, 53-42 >>> District 11 runner up Whitehall squaring off with Methacton, another team out of District i...- 1st half, Whitehall works it around to Brett Radocha, he hits the jumper, part of his game high 21 points -Later the Zephyrs get it to Jacob Meyers at the top of the key, he knocks down the triple, part of his 6 points...Whitehall down 23-11 at the break...- 2nd half, Methacton's Chris McCarthy fires over to Tom Dyer on the wing, he drains the three, part of his team high 18 points Methacton advances, 47-39>>> The Allen boys had to hit the road and it was a tough matchup in their first round game...Allen - 37Martin Luther King - 69 >>> aaa girls opening round action...Beca, tops in District 11...dancing with Lancaster Catholic from District 3...this game also at Allen... - 1st half, Becahi's Jordynn Jones takes it the distance and finishes with the layup, part of a 15-0 run to start, Jones finished with 9 points -Later Maggie Melhem to Nia Mims, back to Melhem on the wing, she hits the three, part of her 6 points -Golden Hawks up 30-8 at the break... 2nd half Maggie Melhem inbounds to Kalista Walters, she takes it in for the layup, part of her game high 27 points Golden Hawks advance, 56-36... >>> And the Central Catholic girls...playing Honesdale up at Marywood University in Scranton...CCHS - 31Honesdale - 33.2 left...free throws.>>> The Phillipsburg girls fell in the North 2, Group 4 semifinal, 58-41 to Piscataway today.Stateliners played without four suspended players, including three starters.>>> In Royersford, Berks Catholic looking to advance against Pope John Paul ii in a battle of District 3 and 1 teams...- First basket of the game is a 3-ball by PJP's Susan Bossler...ironically enough, a former player at Berks Catholic...gives the Golden Panthers an early lead over her former team...- But Berks Catholic would quicky take the lead...Xiomara Toledo knocks down a three of her own to give the Saints a two-point lead...- 2nd quarter, Saints' lead has swelled to 14...Brooke Wensel adds to it...straight through the lane and the deuce......Berks Catholic led by 13 at half...and they'd hold on for the 63-57...Saints, on






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The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs celebrate National Pig Day at Coca-Cola Park

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Saturday is National Pig Day. The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs team took full advantage of the holiday by building excitement for their first game of the season.


"It is family friendly, the kids love it," Silverdale resident, Tom Biehl said.


Festivities at Coca-Cola Park included face painting, balloons and plenty of food to go around.


While there is a few feet of snow in between the seats and on the field now, team leaders say by opening day it will be cleared.


Betty Duffy of Whitehall can't wait for that day.


"I just love baseball, it is so close and it is so convenient and it is so nice," Duffy said.


Rick Feliciano of Brooklyn was decked out in full Iron Pigs gear, everything from his hat all the way down to his socks.


Opening day is slated for April 9th when the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs take on the Pawtucket Red Sox.


Individual game tickets are now available online.






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Local breweries raising their glass to the new PLCB 12-pack decision

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Local breweries and customers we spoke to today are raising their glass to the latest decision by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.


Beer distributors are now allowed to sell 12-packs of brew. For decades, companies were only permitted to sell cases or kegs.


"I think it's beautiful," said Curt Keck, CEO of Hijinx Brewing. "It gives the consumer a chance to try the new beers, especially the upcoming craft beers."


There were plenty of excited customers at the "Stars of Craft Beer Fest" at the State Theatre in Easton on Saturday. Many tell us they can't wait to begin buying 12 packs.


"I mean a case is so expensive, especially buying it in bottles at a beer store," said local beer lover Kyle Farkas. :I much rather buy a 12 pack. I can try a few different beers."


However, not everyone is bubbling with excitement.


The Brewers of Pennsylvania, made up of small breweries, say this new decision will put them at a competitive disadvantage. This Liquor Control Board ruling also allows bigger breweries to sell 18 packs.


Pennsylvania Brewers say its members just don't have the capability to produce to that capacity.






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Iditarod show goes on despite lack of snow

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Conditions in Anchorage, Alaska, couldn't be worse for a sled dog race on Saturday.


But dog teams and fans are mushing ahead in near 40-degree temperatures and a light rain for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.


It's conditions like this that prompted officials to move the official start nearly 300 miles north, over the Alaska Range, to more winter-like conditions in Fairbanks. The race starts Monday.


Saturday's run is a fun-filled event for fans to meet mushers, have their photos taken with them and a chance to pet the dogs.


Even in the warm weather, the Anchorage 11-mile run is possible because the city works department trucked in snow overnight to put down over about 19-blocks before the mushers move onto Anchorage's extensive trail system.






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Flemington man arrested for sexual assault

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Officials in Hunterdon County announced a joint investigation that resulted in the arrest of 19-year-old Luis D. Navidad-Rodriguez of Flemington.


According to Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III, the investigation revealed that Navidad-Rodriguez "engaged in sexual acts with a child less than 16 years old but older than 13 years old on at least five occasions."


Officials say Navidad-Rodriguez has been charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of children.


If found guilty of sexual assault at trial, officials say he could face five to 10 years in a state prison.


Authorities say Navidad-Rodriguez is being held at Hunterdon County Jail on $100,000 bail.


The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit at 908-788-1129.






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Two-car crash in Amity Township sends one person to the hospital

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Officials say a two-car crash in Amity Township resulted in one person being taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.


According to crews on scene, two cars were involved in an accident around 11:45 a.m. Saturday at Route 422 and River Bridge Road.


Officials say one man was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.


One lane of Route 422 was shut down for about an hour, and River Bridge Road was closed in both directions.


Officials say the crash is still under investigation. Both roads have since been reopened.






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Allentown house fire leaves extensive damage and two displaced

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An Allentown home went up in flames Saturday morning, causing heavy damage and displacing two residents.


Officials say the fire broke out Saturday around 5:15 a.m. at a home in the 2000 block of South Alice Street.


Allentown Fire Department Captain John Christopher says the bulk of the damage was in the kitchen near the rear of the home.


Christopher says the fire was caused by "careless cooking"--a pan of oil was left unattended on the stove.


Officials say the bulk of the fire was under control within 30 minutes, but crews remained on scene for hours putting out hotspots.


According to Christopher, the kitchen is "gutted" and the rest of the home received heavy smoke damage.


Christopher says there were no injuries in the blaze, but the home's two residents have been displaced.


One of the residents was able to find a place to stay, while the other received assistance from the Red Cross.


Officials say the home remains uninhabitable until repairs are made.






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Local artist Kira Willey previews her benefit concert

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Local performer and award winning recording artist Kira Willey visited the Sunrise set to give us a preview of her upcoming benefit concert for Donegan Elementary School.


Willey was also joined by Sonia Vazquez, the principal at Donegan Elementary, to tell us why the partnership with the community is so important.


Kira Willey performed her best known song "Colors" which was featured on popular Dell Computer commercial.






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Don't forget to turn the clocks forward as "Daylight savings time" begins

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Spring is just around the corner, even though it doesn't look like it outside.


Daylight savings time arrives this weekend, so make sure to set your clocks an hour forward before you go to bed.


You may lose an hour of sleep but you get an extra hour of daylight in the evening hours.


It's also a good time to change batteries in warning devices such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as hazard warning radios.


Daylight savings time will start at 2 a.m. Sunday






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