East Penn News

Lehigh Valley firefighters warn staffing shortages are worsening as call volumes rise, leaving departments below national standards and increasing risks for crews and residents.

A school district email said that at 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, "during an administrative search of a student's belongings, school officials discovered a loaded firearm inside a student's school bag."

The project, known as The Shoppes at Hamilton, would include 318 apartments, a 160-room hotel and roughly 20,000 square feet of retail space.

Democrat Geoffrey Whitcomb intends to campaign for the Lehigh County-based district that Republican Gary Day currently represents. The seat heavily favors Republicans.

After searching for the right space for around nine months, Maria and Alison Corradini officially opened Alchemize Pilates Community in Emmaus on Jan. 3. As the two push to build a community through their Pilates studio, almost 100 members registered before the business wrapped up its first week.

Lower Macungie Township's planning commission voted Tuesday to recommend approving a 55,000-square-foot light manufacturing facility near Schoeneck and Alburtis roads.

Juxtahub has tapped Ryan Hill, who previously served as its chief programming officer since April, to serve as its executive director. Hill will participate in the arts center and gallery's JuxTuesday on Jan. 13.

The school district alerted the community about three hours after an incident involving pepper spray occurred in the upstairs cafeteria of Emmaus High School on Wednesday afternoon. Legislation that went into effect this month requires districts to alert parents, guardians and teachers of school weapon incidents.

The Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary still is closed to the public after an April bridge collapse. Officials said a new, permanent bridge is slated to be installed in spring.

After customers speculated its permanent closure online, Casa Catrina shared an announcement on social media thanking patrons for their continued support over the past six years. This month, the Mexican restaurant posted on its doors a notice of a temporary closure.

East Penn School District is seeking proposals for a potential solar farm near the Macungie and Shoemaker Elementary School buildings.

The gala includes drinks, music, seated dinner, behind the scenes presentations and a screening of the locally produced historical film.

A new set of retail buildings near Hamilton Crossings got zoning approval from Lower Macungie

Pennsylvania State Police say Jared Gerhard, 30, touched a 17-year-old girl inside a Lower Macungie Township Marshall's Friday while she was shopping with her family.

Executive Chef Anthony Distefano said the change was “really a ‘culinary momentum’ shift as opposed to a ‘rebranding of the Grille.’”

The nonprofit Emmaus Community Foundation looks to support borough arts, historical preservation and recreation projects by raising money from local donors.

The Borough of Macungie 2024 Memorial Day program featured local veterans, emergency workers and elected representatives. It was the first program in five years in the borough.

With renovations complete at Central Station, the borough is looking to sell and repurpose trailers used during renovations as it plans to redesign Lions Field park.

Taking a route that several Lehigh Valley municipalities already have, Lower Macungie Township is bracing its residents for a likely trash fee increase in the latter part of 2024.

The Emmaus Memorial Triangle could get a major facelift. A veterans group seeks to build a new memorial complex there and rename it.

Lower Macungie is introducing an opportunity for the community to highlight who they consider to be local heroes. The program, for $150, will highlight residents who fall into the following categories: active duty, retired, honorably discharged, or deceased U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy or Coast Guard member.

After changes and a promised expansion project dating back three years, the lot is now for sale