Pennsylvania
Wet weather breaks dry streak as several wildfires continue to burn in Pennsylvania, New Jersey
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Sunday night’s wet weather should help crews make progress on wildfires burning across the region.
A fire on Neversink Mountain in Reading, Pennsylvania, is 30% contained.
The brush fire broke out late Friday.
Meanwhile, the Wildland Fire that has burned more than 133 acres in Glassboro, New Jersey, is now 75% contained.
Since Oct. 1, New Jersey firefighters have responded to 537 wildfires that have consumed 4,500 acres, including about 40 fires that ignited between Friday and Saturday, according Chief Bill Donnelly of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
Over the weekend, New Jersey health officials issued an air quality alert for Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, and Ocean counties.
Ocean County prosecutors on Saturday announced arson and firearms charges in connection with a 350-acre (142-hectare) Jackson Township fire that started Wednesday in New Jersey. The blaze was largely contained by the end of the week, officials said.
They said that fire was sparked by magnesium shards from a shotgun round on the berm of a shooting range.
Man charged with arson in connection with Ocean County wildfire
A volunteer forest ranger died while responding to a wildfire near the New Jersey, New York border.
A tree fell on 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez in Orange County, New York, on Saturday.
The wildfire, dubbed the Jennings Creek Fire, started in West Milford, Passaic County before spreading across state lines.
That blaze is zero percent contained. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
At one point over the weekend, New Jersey firefighters were battling at least six brush fires that ignited across the state, including a second wildfire in Passaic County that was threatening structures Sunday.
While Saturday marked 42 days without any measurable rainfall in the city of Philadelphia, and the driest streak in New York City history, many cities throughout the Northeast were expecting to see measurable rainfall on Sunday.
While the rain is expected to put a dent in the extremely dry conditions, some areas in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will remain under red flag fire danger warnings, officials said.
“Make no mistake, though precipitation is forecasted, that’s not going to solve the problem that we have here with this wildfire,” Donnelly said. “It’s inevitable that this fire is going to continue to burn up until it reaches our control line.”
In New Jersey, the state Department of Environmental Protection is planning a hearing on Tuesday to review its water supply conditions.
ABC News and The Associuated Press contributed to this article.
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Pennsylvania
$1M winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Pennsylvania
Check your tickets! Someone in Pennsylvania won big in Friday’s Mega Millions drawing.
While the jackpot is still rolling, someone in Pennsylvania matched all five winning numbers drawn Friday night— 2-20-51-56-67, but not the Mega Ball, 19, to win $1 million. The Megaplier was 2X.
Three other Pennsylvania Mega Millions players matched four of five numbers drawn, winning $10,000.
Click here for more information from the Pennsylvania Lottery and to check if your ticket won anything.
The Mega Millions jackpot is estimated to be worth $944 million for the next drawing on Christmas Eve.
The Mega Millions odds are 1 in 302.6 million. Winners can choose an annuity with annual payments over 29 years, but most almost always take the cash option.
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Pennsylvania
Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper flock to Pennsylvania town turned celebrity haven: expert
New Hope, Pennsylvania, a quaint town of 2,500 people, is becoming a new celebrity haven as it offers a “peaceful and private lifestyle” away from the hustle and bustle of New York City, according to experts.
Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid and their mother, Yolanda Hadid, bought a property in the tiny town in 2017, according to Realtor.
The property, which is called Carousel Farm, was purchased for $3.7 million and consists of a 5,0000 square-foot stone house, a barn that can accommodate 16 horses, and an in-ground pool, according to the outlet.
‘YELLOWSTONE’ FANS FLOCK TO MONTANA TO ‘EXPERIENCE UNTAMED AMERICA’: EXPERT
The listing of the property describes the home as a “gentleman’s estate” where guests can “relax around the pool, go riding on the 32+ acres, or just play your own version of Gatsby.”
In April 2020, Bella and Gigi posed for Vogue’s March issue on their ranch: “Postcard from Home for Vogue,” Gigi captioned her post.
BRADLEY COOPER SAYS HE’S ‘LUCKY’ TO HAVE REMAINED SOBER FOR 19 YEARS
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Gigi’s ex-boyfriend and father of her child, Zayn Malik, also owns a home in New Hope.
Earlier this year, Malik spoke to British Vogue about the benefits of owning a property in the Pennsylvania town and said it’s a “great place to reflect on your thoughts and think about things without the noise of the world.”
He also noted that his home in New Hope gave him the inspiration for his latest album, “Room Under the Stairs.”
The current man in Gigi’s life, Bradley Cooper, also owns a home in New Hope, just down the street from Carousel Farm, according to the New York Post. The outlet reported that Cooper, who grew up just an hour away in Jenkintown, purchased the home for $6.5 million in December 2023.
Cooper’s newly purchased home was built in 1704 and has undergone extensive renovations, per The Post. The home has seven bedrooms, six bathrooms and is 6,300 square feet.
Tabitha Heit, a licensed relator, told Fox Business, “As a real estate agent licensed in both Pennsylvania and New York, I’ve noticed a significant trend of New Yorkers relocating to Pennsylvania.
“There are several reasons for this shift: the slightly milder climate, more affordable living compared to states like New York and New Jersey, and the overall appeal of the area.”
Heit told Fox Business that since inventory has been “tight” for years, the recent increase in demand has been driving up home prices.
“I would imagine celebrities are drawn to this area as well as it likely offers them a more peaceful and private lifestyle. New Hope, with its artsy vibe, is a standout town, and its location – just across the river from New Jersey – makes it incredibly accessible,” Heit noted.
“I would imagine celebrities are drawn to this area as well as it likely offers them a more peaceful and private lifestyle.”
She added, “Doylestown is another hot spot in Bucks County, offering charm, culture and a vibrant community that continues to attract buyers.”
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Carle Robbins, a broker in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, told Fox Business that New Hope and Doylestown are where celebrities like to dine.
“But the celebs live in the surrounding townships: Solebury, Upper Makefield, Plumstead, Tinicum,” Robbins added.
According to Realtor, the median home price in New Hope is $1.3 million. The outlet also noted that New Hope is in the middle of New York and Philadelphia, which makes it an attractive location for commuters.
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The outlet reported that stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Bieber and Tina Fey have all been seen in New Hope in recent years.
Pennsylvania
Christmas is a few days away. Here’s what’s open, closed in Pennsylvania
Christmas decorations bring holiday vibes to the Beaver Valley Mall
Christmas trees and holiday displays bring a splash of color to the halls of the Beaver Valley Mall.
The Christmas holiday weekend is now just days away, and you’ll need to know what will be open and closed in Pennsylvania so you can properly navigate the holidays.
Here’s your Christmas roundup.
Christmas Day 2024 is on Wednesday and considered a federal holiday, so most regular business will be impacted.
Major banks will be closed on Christmas
The major banks — Bank of America, Capital One, Citibank, PNC, Wells Fargo and Truist — consider Christmas to be a bank holiday, and will be closed.
Will federal courts be open on Christmas?
All federal and Pennsylvania state courts and non-essential services will be closed on December 25.
Mail, packages won’t be delivered on Christmas Day
FedEx will be closed on Christmas Day, and will not deliver any packages.
All United States Postal Service locations will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Regular post office hours and mail delivery will resume on the Thursday following each holiday.
UPS will be closed on Christmas as well, and will not deliver any packages.
Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.
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