UNION COUNTY CHILD ABUSE CASE MOVES FORWARD
A Union County case involving allegations of child sexual abuse and mistreatment is moving forward in court. State police say Allen and Melissa Keister, formerly of New Columbia, are charged after a young victim reported years of abuse between 2014 and 2022, mostly in White Deer Township. Allen Keister faces multiple felony charges, including rape of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. Melissa Keister is charged with child endangerment and corruption of minors. Both cases were held for court.
FALLEN STATE TROOPER KILLED ON I-81
Interstate 81 South near Frackville was closed for several hours yesterday as state police investigated the death of a Pennsylvania State Trooper. Police say Trooper Michael Pahira, assigned to Troop L in Frackville, was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection around 7am Wednesday near mile marker 119 in Cass Township when he was struck by a passing commercial vehicle. That vehicle also hit the truck being inspected and caught fire. Pahira died from his injuries. A Massachusetts man is in custody.
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT ROAD PROJECT UNDERWAY
A three-million-dollar road improvement project is underway in South Williamsport and Duboistown. PennDOT says crews are milling and resurfacing Route 654, including Southern Avenue, Riverside Drive and Euclid Avenue, between Route 15 and Edgewood Avenue. Work is happening overnight from 7pm to 6am., with lane restrictions and flaggers. Starting Monday, July sixth, Valley Street will be detoured on weekdays for drainage work. The full project is expected to be finished this fall.
WILLIAMSPORT COOLING CENTERS OPEN DURING HEAT WARNING
Cooling centers are opening in Williamsport as extreme heat moves into the area. The city is under an extreme heat warning through 8pm Friday, with temperatures expected to approach record highs. The Williamsport Branch YMCA on Walnut Street will be open as a cooling center from noon to 5pm. The Salvation Army on Market Street will be open from 10am to 3pm today, but closed Friday and Saturday for the holiday.
LYCOMING COUNTY MAN CHARGED AFTER HOSPITAL ROOM DAMAGE
An 18-year-old Lycoming County man is facing charges after allegedly causing about 10-thousand dollars in damage to a UPMC Muncy treatment room. State police say Wyatt Michael Irvin was taken there June 17 after a domestic call at his Upper Fairfield Township home. Police say he became aggressive during a mental health evaluation, spit on security staff, and damaged the room where he was being held. Irvin is charged with felony criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and harassment, and was jailed on 40-thousand dollars bail.
PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET MISSES DEADLINE AGAIN
Pennsylvania’s state budget is late for the fifth straight year. WHTM reports lawmakers missed the June 30 deadline, even though the state constitution requires a budget by midnight. Senate Republican leaders say they believe a full spending plan will be ready in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, House and Senate Democrats are again pushing to raise Pennsylvania’s 7-dollar-25-cent minimum wage, saying House-passed wage bills have stalled in the Senate but would pass if brought up for a vote.
SELINSGROVE RESIDENTS OPPOSE ICE PARTNERSHIP
More than 150 people packed the Selinsgrove borough building Wednesday to oppose a proposed partnership between borough police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The 287-g program would allow local police to assist with limited immigration enforcement, with potential funding for vehicles, equipment and officer costs. Most speakers raised concerns about public trust, taxpayer risk and the impact on immigrant communities. The issue is expected to be on council’s agenda Monday night, but a vote is not certain.
COOLING CENTERS OPEN IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND UNION COUNTIES
Cooling centers will be available in Northumberland and Union counties as extreme heat moves in. The Daily Item reports Northumberland County’s five adult community centers will extend hours daily from 8:30am to 6pm through Monday, July sixth. Centers are located in Shamokin, Herndon, Milton, Mount Carmel and Sunbury. In Union County, a cooling shelter at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Lewisburg will be open from 8am to 8pm Wednesday through Friday.
SPORTS
MLB Draft League
Williamsport Crosscutters 5 WV Black Bears 5
* The Williamsport Crosscutters blew an early 4-nothing lead, but bounced back to beat the West Virginia Black Bears in Sudden Death and sweep the two-game series.
* Cutters are back home tonight against the State College Spikes 6:35pm 1st pitch This will be the final four game series of the MLB Draft League first half
MLB
Guardians 9 Rangers 4
Orioles 6 White Sox 1
Tigers 6 Yankees 2
Nationals 10 Red Sox 2
Blue Jays 9 Mets 3
Phillies 10 Pirates 6
A’s 7 Dodgers 1
MLB Today
Pirates vs Phillies 12:35pm MLB.tv
Reds vs Brewers 2:10pm MLB.tv
White Sox vs Guardians 6:40pm
Cardinals vs Braves 7:15pm MLB.tv
Tigers vs Rangers 8:05pm ESPN Unlmtd/ MLB.tv
Padres vs Dodgers 10:10pm MLB.tv
World Cup Men’s Soccer
England held off Congo DR 2-to-1 after extra time to move on. Belgium also stayed alive with a dramatic 3-to-2 win over Senegal. And the United States is through to the round of 16 after a 2-nothing win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
World Cup Today
Three matchups are on the schedule. Spain faces Austria at 3pm from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Portugal takes on Croatia at 7pm in Toronto. Then Switzerland meets Algeria at 11pm on FS1 in Vancouver.
Spain and Portugal enter as favorites, while Switzerland and Algeria are expected to be a tight matchup.
Upcoming World Cup
US plays Belgium Monday July 6th at 8pm on FOX
NBA Draft News
Jaylen Brown has a new home, as the Boston Celtics agreed to send the former NBA Finals MVP to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster trade Wednesday.
The 76ers are sending Paul George, two first-round picks (2028, 2031) and two second-round selections (2028, 2030) to Boston to complete the deal, sources said.
Comments