Criminal Justice

Matthew Torres pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while DUI and other charges in the Aug. 4, 2024, death of Leanna Ferraj, 24, of Brooklyn, New York, who was a front-seat passenger in his car.

Two unnamed male students were arrested after previous hoax reports this month. No one was immediately arrested in connection with Wednesday's bomb threat at Allen High School.

The shooting occurred in the area of North Codorus Township in York County — about 115 miles west of Philadelphia, not far from the Maryland line. The shooter was killed by police, authorities said.

Emil Giordano served as a presiding judge on Northampton County Court, Third Judicial District, from 204 through 2018. He joins Tom Shortell on the latest episode of Lehigh Valley Political Pulse to shed some insight on the role and his time on the bench.

Christopher Fitzgerald also served as a correctional officer at Lehigh County Jail at the start of his law enforcement career.

Monday’s bomb threat came less than a week after another hoax, according to Allentown police.

The driver — only identified Friday as a 51-year-old man from Bethlehem — was taken to a local hospital after the crash, authorities said.

Lehigh County Commissioner Zach Cole-Borghi is the only defendant in an alleged interstate marijuana ring whom authorities have publicly identified. He made his first public comments since being arrested Aug. 28 at his job at Bethlehem City Hall.

The controller's report — published in mid-July — says the Guardian ad Litem program in Lehigh County lacks centralization, oversight and consistency in billing and compensation. That undermines "public trust in child welfare proceedings," he said.

The case against Matthew Wolfe relied heavily on the expert testimony of Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen, the former Lehigh Valley Health Network physician being sued for alleged medical child abuse misdiagnoses. With her credibility under scrutiny, prosecutors agreed to cut years off Wolf's sentence.

Police tape and several officers were in the area of Plaza Tropical, near Main and Lehigh streets.

The group is honoring the memory of Detective Jim Stanko.

There's been close to 300 cases reported so far this year.

Under the new rules, fines will stiffen and police will have more authority to confiscate vehicles.

The toys being used during the "Orbeez Challenge" have been altered to resemble real weapons.

Both DUI arrests and speeding citations were up over last year.

Law enforcement is Lehigh County's greatest expense.

Vandals struck on the ground and main floors, and cash from a donation box was stolen, officials said.

Bethlehem officials are still investigating.

The legislation cracks down on the illegal operation of dirt bikes and ATVs in the Lehigh Valley.

Charges were filed against Bethlehem's former Budget and Finance director on Thursday.

The more important topic was keeping people safe and getting rid of gun violence.