Flood Watch Issue for Valley Up to 3 Inches Possible

Effective from 1 p.m. Tuesday until 6 p.m. Wednesday, the flood watch advisory has been issued. Forecasters suggest that certain areas might receive up to 4 inches of rainfall. Specifically, overnight on Tuesday, there's a possibility of intensified hourly rainfall rates, increasing the likelihood of flooding, as indicated by the weather service. The situation could be exacerbated by runoff resulting from the melting snow, further elevating the risk of flooding in the area.

A flood watch is in place for the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday due to an approaching storm. This incoming weather system is anticipated to bring about 2 to 3 inches of rain, potentially leading to flooding in the region. The National Weather Service has warned that the accumulated precipitation, coupled with the recent snowfall and heavy rains from the previous month, might contribute to hazardous flood conditions.

St. Luke’s Emphasizes It Is Not for Sale

"We are not for sale"

This is the resolute statement from the chief executive officer of St. Luke’s University Health Network to the organization’s staff. Rick Anderson, the CEO of St. Luke's, recently dispatched an email to over 20,000 employees, apparently in response to rumors of a potential merger between Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson Health, headquartered in Philadelphia. Within the internal communication, numerous achievements of St. Luke's over the past year were highlighted, notably ending 2023 with positive financial results. "I am pleased to report that during July through December 2023, St. Luke's achieved a favorable operating margin of over 2%," Anderson remarked, attributing the company's robust financial standing to its dedicated workforce. This message, conveying a sense of confidence and support, arrives in the wake of Lehigh Valley’s other major healthcare provider, LVHN, announcing its intent to merge with Jefferson Health.

Nevertheless, Anderson reiterated in his closing statement that St. Luke’s has no intentions of pursuing similar actions. "Our board and I have never entertained any proposals from health systems expressing interest in acquiring St. Luke's," he asserted firmly. "We are not for sale".

Airline Grounds Part of Fleet After In-flight Incident

Federal authorities issued an immediate directive on Saturday to ground Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines plane that suffered a blowout, resulting in a significant rupture in the fuselage. Each mandated inspection is estimated to require between four to eight hours per plane, impacting approximately 171 airplanes globally.

During a flight over Oregon late Friday, an Alaska Airlines jetliner experienced a window blowout and a section of the fuselage tore off at an altitude of three miles shortly after takeoff. This incident compelled the pilots to execute an emergency landing while the 174 passengers and six crew members donned oxygen masks. Fortunately, no severe injuries were reported as the aircraft, which had lost pressure, safely returned to Portland International Airport merely 20 minutes after departure.

As a precautionary measure, the airline grounded its fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft until comprehensive inspections can be conducted. The National Transportation Safety Board announced its intention to investigate the incident. CEO Ben Minicucci of Alaska Airlines mentioned that the inspection of the company's 737-9 fleet could require several days to complete, constituting one-fifth of the company's 314 planes. As of Saturday, the potential impact on the company's flight schedule remained uncertain.

Eagles Limp into Playoffs

After a spectacular start this season, the Eagles seemed to run out of gas and stumbled through the last several games. They lost the last game of the season to the New York Giants. They now have to get it together and sharpen their game if they hope to advance through the playoffs. We wish them well.

High School Varsity Schedules

Emmaus Boys Varsity Basketball Schedule

Emmaus Girls Varsity Basketball Schedule

Emmaus Boys Varsity Wrestling Schedule

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Events

Upcoming Happenings

FUN at the SUN Sat Jan 20 2024 at 08:00 pm to 09:30 pm
Triple Sun Spirits Co. - Emmaus, Bank Street, Emmaus, PA
Presented by In Your Face Entertainment! "Comedy for a Cause!"

Auto Mania:
For over three decades, Auto Mania has stood as Pennsylvania's premier indoor heated automotive Flea Market. This year's event is scheduled to grace the Allentown Fairgrounds from Friday, January 19th through Sunday, January 21st. Improv Comedy Festival:

Dive into laughter at the Improv Comedy Festival hosted at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on Friday, January 26th, and Saturday, January 27th. The festival promises entertainment featuring teams from the Lehigh Valley, NYC, Baltimore, Boston, Toronto, and beyond.

Really?

A 60-year-old Hershey’s bar was retrieved from Adm. Byrd’s 1939 South Pole trip.
The beam from the Texas Petawatt laser is brighter than the surface of the sun.
According to a study, reaching for a snack with your non-dominant hand helps you eat less.
Ways to remember stuff:
8 Planets in Earth’s Solar System (from the closest to the farthest from the Sun): Many very evil Martians just showed up naked. (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
Four heads on Mt. Rushmore, in order: We Just Like Rushmore. (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt)

Humor

HOP TO IT! Billing itself as the “world’s leading security company,” the firm G4S is hired by police departments to install electronic tags on criminals who are under house arrest. In 2012 two G4S techs showed up at the home of Christopher Lowcock, 29, of Rochdale, England, who was on a court-imposed curfew for drug and weapons charges.
They installed a tag on Lowcock’s leg and then left. Shortly afterward, Lowcock left, too. How? He simply removed his prosthetic leg—with the security tag still secured to it—and hobbled out of the house.
He was later pulled over for a driving offense (with only one leg). G4S fired the two techs.

WARNING LABELS
On a salt packet: “Warning: Contains salt.”
On a can of aerosol cheese: “For best results, remove cap.”
On an information booklet: “Do not use if you cannot see clearly to read the information in the information booklet.”
On air freshener: “For use by trained personnel only.”
On dog medicine: “Alcohol may intensify the effects.”
On rubbing alcohol: “Avoid contact with eyes, ears, brain, and surrounding membranes.”