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Monday, dec 23
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Bethlehem, PA
Business
These 64 PA Big Lots Stores Are Among Nearly 1,000 Closing Nationwide: Here's When
Big Lots, the popular discount retailer, is officially going out of business. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September, has announced plans to close all 963 of its remaining stores nationwide, including the remaining 64 locations in Pennsylvania. Big Lots had 73 stores located in the Keystone State when they declared bankruptcy over the summer. More than 6% of all Big Lots were located in the commonwealth, with the most stores located in Texas. The last day of business is expected to be in mid-February, according to sources familiar with the closures. While offi…
Traffic
Crashes On I-78 Near PA, NJ Line Cause Traffic Disruptions (
Developing
)
Multiple crashes along I-78 have caused significant traffic disruptions, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials announced on Wednesday, Nov. 27. An initial crash on I-78 westbound near the New Jersey line was reported at 12:51 p.m., resulting in traffic delays. This disruption is expected to clear by 2:15 p.m., though updates are ongoing as of 1:29 p.m., according to authorities. A second multi-vehicle crash occurred on I-78 eastbound, approximately 1.1 miles east of Exit 67 for PA 412 near Hellertown/Bethlehem, at 1:16 p.m. This incident has caused lane restrictions and is ant…
Politics
First Lady Jill Biden Making Several Stops In PA For Harris Campaign
First Lady Jill Biden will be making several campaign stops in Pennsylvania to support Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, Nov. 3. The First Lady will be stopping in Bethlehem, King of Prussia, and Harrisburg to "encourage Pennsylvanians to make a plan to vote at iwillvote.com/PA," a news release states. Her first campaign stop will be in Bethlehem at 11 a.m. followed by the King of Prussia event at 1 p.m., according to the news release. The Harrisburg stop is scheduled for 3 p.m. The exact locations where each event will be held was not released at press time. At around th…
Police & Fire
Drunken Neighbor Stabs Bethlehem Man 4 Times Before Fleeing: Police
A Bethlehem man was stabbed four times by his neighbor, who appeared to be intoxicated at the time, according to a police release. A caller told police that her husband had been stabbed in the backyard of a residence in the 600 block of Atlantic Street at 8:26 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Bethlehem Police Department said. Officers found the man with four stab wounds to his upper back and neck, according to police. He was taken to an area hospital. The injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. The man identified his neighbor, Jean Carlos Rodriguez-Ortiz, 33, as the person who stabbe…
News
Motorcyclist Dad Caused His Fatal PA Crash, DA Says
New details have been released in four Lehigh Valley crashes, revealing that the three fatal crashes were caused by the drivers and were possibly preventable. This includes the death of a New Jersey native, District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan said on Monday, Oct. 14. Jorge Pickett, 34, originally of Camden, NJ, and most recently of Bethlehem, rode his motorcycle "through a steady red light for westbound traffic on Center Valley Parkway" fatally striking an SUV around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4 at West Saucon Valley Circle and Center Valley Parkway in Upper Saucon Township, the DA deta…
News
Driver Wanted After Passenger Killed In Crash: Lehigh DA
New details released in several Lehigh Valley crashes include those of a manhunt for a driver who left his passenger to die alone, according to a release by the Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan on Monday, Oct. 14. The most recent fatal crash happened in the 700 block of Central Boulevard in Bethlehem just before 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13. Ezequiel Hernandez-Cartagena, 20, of Allentown, has been identified as the passenger killed in the single-vehicle crash, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office, as Daily Voice previously reported. This was a single-vehicle cra…
News
PA CEO Caused The Crash That Killed Him: DA
New information released for numerous serious Lehigh County crashes included surprising details about the death of a CEO who worked in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Stephen "Steve" La Pierre, 66, of Upper Macungie Township, sideswiped Judith Crossley of Upper Macungie Township's vehicle as she was going east on West Tilghman Street in Allentown, about to turn onto Werley Road, as Daily Voice previously reported. He continued to strike a curb, cross all lanes on Tilghman Street before hitting a lamp pole, and became airborne around 10:37 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5. "An investigation into this cras…
News
Convicted PA Thief Pleads Guilty to Allentown Murder, Among 3 Other Cases: DA
A 22-year-old Bethlehem man has admitted to murder, and numerous other crimes the Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced on Monday, Oct. 14. Legious Robert Minder Jr., pleaded guilty to Murder in the Third Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Firearm Prohibited for the Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, slaying of Najeer Lane, 22, of Allentown, according to the DA. Minder Jr. had been charged along with two other men for Lane's death as well as the attempted murder of Bless Jones during Allentown so…
Police & Fire
Passenger From Allentown Dies In Hospital After Bethlehem Crash: Police
The passenger for a vehicle involved in a crash died in the hospital, the Bethlehem Police Department announced on Monday, Oct. 14. Ezequiel Hernandez-Cartagena, 20, of Allentown, has been identified as the passenger killed in the single-vehicle crash, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. Officers responded to the report of a single-vehicle crash with injuries in the 700 block of Central Boulevard at 6:53 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, police said. When they arrived, officers found a vehicle severely damaged from striking a utility pole, but no one could be found in or around it,…
Obituaries
Family Suffers 'Unimaginable Burden' After Motorcyclist Dad Killed In Lehigh County Crash
The family of a Bethlehem motorcyclist and Camden, New Jersey native killed in an Upper Saucon Township crash is grieving the loss of a dad, son, brother, and friend. Jorge Pickett, 34, died after striking another vehicle at West Saucon Valley Circle and Center Valley Parkway on Friday, Oct. 4, according to authorities. He died at St. Luke's University Hospital soon after the crash. Pickett was born in Camden, New Jersey, the obituary states. He was also working as a supervisor at Old Dominion Trucking Company. He is survived by his wife, Lauren; two children, Caleb and Emma Rae; mother, M…
Police & Fire
Motorcyclist, 34, Killed In Lehigh County Crash Remembered
Condolences are pouring in for the 34-year-old motorcyclist killed in a Lehigh County crash Friday, Oct. 4. Jorge Pickett, of Bethlehem, is survived by two children, whose photos he shared often on social media. Many of the comments are from people who struck up unlikely friendships with Pickett, including one who said they'd only ever met online. Still, Pickett sent his online friend a birthday gift. Another was a co-worker who said their friendly conversations eventually blossomed into a friendship. Jorge, The older brother I always wanted I still can’t believe this is real why you …
Police & Fire
Teen Charged With Homicide In Bethlehem: Authorities (
Update
)
A 30-year-old man was shot dead in Bethlehem, authorities told Daily Voice on Saturday, Sept. 28. Altaron Amir Robinson, of Allentown, was shot in the 1900 block of Butztown Road, Bethlehem at 9:29 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, the Lehigh County Coroner detailed. The shooting was near Governor Wolf Elementary School which closed Friday while police investigated the shooting. Robinson was pronounced dead at St. Luke's University Hospital in Bethlehem at 3:22 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, Coroner Daniel Buglio explained. The cause of death was a gunshot(s) wo…
News
Bethlehem Man Gets 5 Years For Sexually Assaulting Girl He Met On Snapchat: Prosecutor
A 33-year-old Bethlehem, PA man was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison on Friday, Sept. 27, after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in 2022, authorities said. Garry Bunting was initially charged with human trafficking of a minor, sexual assault, and other offenses in January 2022 after he met up with a 16-year-old girl he talked to on Snapchat, took her from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, and “engaged her in multiple sexual acts,” the Warren County Prosecutor's Office said. Bunting also pled guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and attempted enda…
News
Dad Of 5 Shot By Police In PA ID By Coroner
The identity of a 55-year-old father of five shot by police in East Greenville has been released by the Montgomery County coroner. Gabriel Diaz died of multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and shoulder in the shooting on Saturday night, Sept, 14, Coroner Dr. Janine Darby told Daily Voice on Tuesday, Sept. 17. A staff member arrived at the scene at a home in the 100 block of Cherry Street at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15 — but Diaz had already been pronounced dead at 12:05 a.m. The manner of death was "determined to be homicide," Darby said. Diaz had barricaded himself in a basement wit…
News
Women Drugged With Meth-Infused Tequila, Sexually Assaulted By PA 'Sugar Daddy,' Complaint Says
A newly obtained criminal complaint details how a 40-year-old Pennsylvania man drugged and sexually assaulted six women during their dates from hell at his home. All of the women, including two from New Jersey, met Andrew Gallo, of Levittown, PA on sugardaddymeet.com. Gallo appeared to have followed the exact same playbook, police papers show: He'd brag about his bartending skills then pour them a drink from open bottles and hop in the shower shower. When he got out, he'd give the women a tour of his home, telling them how he rebuilt it after a fire. It was somewhere around this point …
News
Murder-Suicide Married Couple ID'd By Northampton County Coroner
An elderly couple was killed in what authorities are calling a murder-suicide, the Northampton County Coroner’s Office announced on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The couple was 78-year-old Celeste L. Kistler and 80-year-old Larry A. Kistler, according to the coroner's release. Celeste was shot and her manner of death is homicide; Larry was also shot and his manner of death was suicide, the coroner detailed. They were found in their home in the 700 Block of Redfern Lane in the City of Bethlehem on Saturday, August 3. Additional information was unavailable at the time of publishing. Che…
News
Bethlehem Man Paid $24K+ To Filipino Child Sex Traffickers:
Usdoj
A 49-year-old Pennsylvania man has been sentenced for paying and directing "livestreamed sexual abuse of Filipino children," the US Department of Justice announced on Friday night, Aug. 2. Harold "Harry" C. Daleus (also known as Dalaeus), Jr., 49, of Bethlehem, was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for the production of child pornography and related offenses, United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero detailed in the release. Daleus sent over $24,000 to the Philippines over several years, "in order to view the live transmiss…
News
Woman Left Infant In Car On 90-Degree Day, Quakertown Police Say
A Bethlehem woman is accused of leaving a baby in a hot car, Quakertown police said in an updated release on Wednesday, July 31. Janelle Loveless, 33, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, according to borough police. The infant was spotted in an unattended car at 245 W. Broad St. on July 5, authorities said. The windows were slightly cracked and the car was not running, officials wrote. Bystanders removed the baby from the vehicle and contacted police, who found Loveless nearby, authorities said. The infant was taken to St. Luke's Hospital-Bethleh…
Police & Fire
PA Mom Charged With Attempted Homicide Of Baby, Prosecutors Say
A Lansford woman is accused of "causing significant harm" to her infant, said the Northampton County District Attorney's Office. Abigail Horn, 18, is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors wrote in a release. Witnesses told Bethlehem police in May that they saw Horn "smothering" the then-6-week-old child, according to authorities. Others said Horn caused the baby to "scream and gasp for air," and on a separate occasion, "squeezed the infant and caused the infant to scream in apparent pain." Photo evidence showed …
Sports
Cheer For These 35 Pennsylvania Athletes Representing Team USA At Paris Olympics
We're days away from the Paris Olympics, and several of Pennsylvania fittest and most athletic residents will be there. A whopping 35 athletes from Pennsylvania have qualified for the Olympics and are ready to make their run at the gold when events kick off Friday, July 26. They are: David Abrahams, of Havertown: Para Swimming Justin Best, of Kennett Square: Rowing Kahleah Copper, of Philadelphia: Basketball Emma Deberdine, of Millersville: Field Hockey Brooke Debredine, of Millersville: Field Hockey Casey Eichfeld, of Drums: Canoe/Kayak Phia Gladieux, of Oley: Field Hockey Michael G…
News
Lehigh Coroner Seeks Next Of Kin For New Jersey Woman
Officials are looking for the loved ones of a New Jersey woman who died on Friday, July 12. Shirley J. Smith, 77, of Belvidere, broke her right femur in a fall and died from complications at St. Luke's University Hospital in Bethlehem, said the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. Her death was ruled an accident. Anyone who can contact her family is asked to call the Coroner's Office at 610-782-3426 or email danielbuglio@lehighcounty.org.
News
Cold
CASE: Troopers Seek Lehigh Valley Woman Who Disappeared Without A Trace
More than 30 years after she vanished from her Fountain Hill home, state police continue the search for Frances Mary Kiefer. Kiefer was 44 years old when she was last seen on March 22, 1994, troopers said. She was in bed when her husband woke up and went to take a shower, but was nowhere to be found when he returned, according to the Charley Project. The family car was missing, as was the medicine she took daily for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Bethlehem's Saucon Park, some four miles from her South Hoffert Street ho…
News
Crews Respond To Back-To-Back Fires In Bethlehem
City fire crews were at the scene of two blazes in Bethlehem on Tuesday, July 9, officials said. The first fire broke out on East Broad Street and reached two alarms before being brought under control, firefighters wrote in a statement Wednesday. The second blaze was on the 1800 block of Norwood Street. No residents were inside when first responders arrived but firefighters encountered "heavy fire conditions," and a tanker task force was called to the scene along with backup from Allentown, authorities said. Facebook/Bethlehem Firefighters IAFF Local 735 Facebook/Bethl…
News
Norfolk Southern Train Derails In Bethlehem
Bethlehem city officials responded to a train derailment under the Hill to Hill Bridge on Friday afternoon, July 5, authorities said in a release. Four to five cars from the 125-car train derailed around 2:40 p.m., said the Fire Department in a release. "Two to three" of the cars derailed on the bridge over the Lehigh River and two others derailed on the tracks at the end of the bridge. All of the affected cars were empty and the river was not "involved or affected," officials said. Two of the cars on the train were carrying hazardous materials, but they were "remote" fro…
Police & Fire
Officer Injured During Drug Arrest In Allentown: Police
An Allentown police officer was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries after a suspect resisted arrest on Wednesday, July 3, according to city officials. Police said they were patrolling near North Boyer and Russell streets around 6 p.m. when they spotted two men "involved in suspected drug activity." They initiated an arrest and 23-year-old Jeniel Rivera Gotay resisted and tried to flee, according to APD. He was placed in custody and police said they found fentanyl and crack cocaine in his possession. Another suspect, 50-year-old Pablo A. Garcia, was found to have crack…
News
Coroner Seeks Family Of Late Carbon County Woman
Officials are looking for the loved ones of a Nesquehoning resident who died at St. Luke's University Hospital in Bethlehem. Leslie D. Cottrill, 69, died from natural causes on Saturday, June 15, said the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. Anyone who can contact her next of kin is asked to call the Coroner's Office at 610-782-3426 or email danielbuglio@lehighcounty.org.
News
Suspect Sought For Breaking Into Bethlehem Home, Stabbing Ex-Girlfriend: Police
A suspect is at large after police said he stabbed his ex in her Bethlehem home. Authorities believed Jose Antonio Ramirez-Duran forced his way inside the victim's residence in broad daylight on June 9. He physically assaulted her then stabbed her multiple times in the chest and neck, according to city police. Authorities said the victim's two children were home during the attack. The 45-year-old fled before police arrived and has not been located, officials said. Anyone with information is asked to call 610-865-7000 or email BethlehemPolice@bethlehem-pa.gov. …
Police & Fire
Bethlehem Shooting Sends Victim To Hospital In Critical Condition: Police
City police are investigating a shooting in Bethlehem early Sunday morning, June 23. Authorities said they were called to the 1300 block of Fritz Drive just after 4 a.m. Officers arrived to find an adult man with a gunshot wound to the body and he was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, BPD said. His condition has since stabilized. No arrests had been made as of Monday, June 24. Anyone with information is asked to call Bethlehem police at 610-865-7000 or email BethlehemPolice@bethlehem-pa.gov.
News
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued In These NJ, PA Counties
The National Weather Service has issued severe thunderstorm warnings and warned of 60 mph winds across parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Friday, June 14. At 4:15 p.m., the NWS issued the warnings for Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey, and Carbon, Monroe, Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton, in PA. Newton, Washington, Jim Thorpe, Stroudsburg, Reading, Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, are also being warned of severe storms. The warnings are in effect through 5 p.m. Temps hit the 90-degree mark late in the afternoon, the NWS said. Storms were expected in the evening hours, a…
Police & Fire
Coroner Names Woman Killed In Bethlehem Fire
Officials have identified the Bethlehem woman who died in a house fire on Wednesday morning, May 22. Ladell Christie, 56, was pronounced dead at the scene on the 900 block of Broadway, according to Northampton County Coroner's Office. Her cause and manner of death are pending the results of the fire investigation, the Coroner's Office added.
Police & Fire
Bethlehem Police Officer Sexually Assaulted Student At School, Authorities Say
A now-former Bethlehem school resource officer is accused of sexually assaulting a student at East Hills Middle School, authorities said in a release. BPD said they were informed of a "possible inappropriate relationship" between Officer Costas Alestas and a 14-year-old EHMS student on May 1. Alestas was placed on administrative leave and his phone was seized as evidence, police said. Investigation revealed that Alestas had been texting the victim, "includ(ing) conversations about engaging in sexual acts," according to police. Authorities said Alestas went on to assault t…
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