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.

Police declined to provide any additional information, but the rumor mill has the president stopping in at least one local business on his visit to the Lehigh Valley on Friday. East Penn and several other school districts plan to dismiss students early.

Author Brad Meltzer came to Allentown to promote the newest iteration of the now 10-year-old Ordinary People Change the World series of children's books.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

As 2023 draws to a close, lehighvalleynews.com offers a retrospective of a variety of stories about people, places and things that make the Lehigh Valley special.

The borough has not raised taxes since 2014, but borough officials say running pre-coronavirus pandemic revenues against post-pandemic expenses and trends is no longer sustainable.

The ski slopes just southeast of Lehigh County announced it would shut down at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, awaiting colder weather to make snow

It's a Festivus for felines! Emmaus cat boutique Purr Haus hosted a Festivus celebration on Saturday, Dec. 23 to collect contributions for local rescue Ruff Life, with a them of everyone's favorite fake holiday.

After months of dispute between the Macungie Volunteer Fire Department and the Borough of Macungie, the Lower Macungie Fire Department will be the new fire service for the borough starting in January.

A regular stream of customers came to send off the Trexlertown Yocco's location, as ownership of the Lehigh Valley chain says business is strong and they are evaluating options for a new location in the future.

Emmaus set its taxes and service rates for 2024 in its final meeting of the year, while also voicing concern about a last-minute change to a deal with East Penn over crossing guard payments

Historical preservation society members gathered to see the commission's establishment, and to send off a council member with a celebration of her desire to preserve local history

The Pub on Main in Macungie, which closed in 2022 citing staffing issues, has been sold to a new owner that hopes to return a new bar and restaurant to the space.