It was an end of an era in South Bethlehem where St. John's Windish Lutheran Church held its final worship service Sunday. Ken Remaly is the church council president and says it's tough to see the church's doors closing. "I was married into this congregation in the year 1969. We met friends, we met family, and we met members who had moved away… all the way from the state of Washington. They came back home to visit and take part in the last service that we had here at St. John's Windish,” said Remaly. St. John's Windish will be joined by St. Peter's and Light of Christ Church in becoming Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church. They merged together after their properties were sold to Lehigh University. Light of Christ Church will hold services until plans for a new site are final.
At least one person is dead following a crash in Monroe County. The accident happened this past Saturday morning when two vehicles collided along I-380 in Coolbaugh Township. Authorities haven't announced how many victims were involved, but the coroner was called to the scene.
The coroner has identified the 65-year-old man who died after he was hit by a vehicle Thursday afternoon in Plainfield Township. John Bishop, of Nazareth, was hit about 4:20 p.m. in a parking lot in the 6000 block of Sullivan Trail. The cause and manner of Bishop’s death are still being investigated according to the coroner’s office.
The state House Transportation Committee will take up a vote today on a proposal that sponsors say will help veterans. House Bill 105 will exempt injured and decorated vets from paying vehicle registration fees. Right now, vets are charged a processing fee, but this bill would remove that and other fees completely. Other proposals to be considered by the panel Monday include a measure to provide native vegetation along highways.
State Police are investigating a crash involving Pennsylvania State Representative Torren Ecker that allegedly involved alcohol. Ecker, a Republican who represents Adams and Cumberland Counties, was involved in the crash last Tuesday on Route 94. State Police say Ecker was alone in a 2020 Honda Accord that was southbound on Route 94 when it drifted off the side of the road and struck a guard rail. State Police say alcohol was a factor in the crash and the investigation is ongoing. It's not yet known whether any charges have been filed.
Jury selection is set to begin today in the trial for the man accused of killing eleven people at a Pittsburgh synagogue nearly five years ago. Prosecutors say Robert Bowers was armed with an assault rifle when he carried out the attack at the Tree of Life in October of 2018. He faces dozens of charges, including hate crimes resulting in death. There have been multiple delays in the case, mostly due to the COVID pandemic. Meanwhile, the Tree of Life congregation is marking the start of a new chapter for their synagogue. Members met for a ceremony outside the vacant space yesterday as plans to turn the synagogue into a memorial, museum, and worship center get underway. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers says the gathering was important for his congregation and the Jewish community as they move on from the 2018 attack at the property. The renovated space will pay tribute to the eleven people who were gunned there in the largest anti-Semitic attack in the history of the nation.
County clerks have begun sending out some 900-thousand mail-in ballots to voters across New Jersey -- which, unofficially, begins the primary season in the Garden State. Ballots could start landing in mailboxes by today or tomorrow. Those on the vote-by-mail list or absentee voters can return their ballots by mail or by dropping ballots in a vote-by-mail dropbox. Early in-person voting is scheduled for June 2nd to the 4th. Election Day is June 6th.
New Jersey-based Bed Bath & Beyond is filing for bankruptcy protection as it tries to stay afloat. The home goods retailer filed for Chapter Eleven protection yesterday in District of New Jersey court. The company said its 360 Bed Bath & Beyond and 120 Buy Buy Baby stores and websites will stay open to serve customers while it begins the process of closing its retail locations. The company also says it will honor all store coupons through this Wednesday, April 26th, while gift cards will be accepted through May 8th. Wedding registries will be transferred to competing retailers.