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.

Fountain Hill, East Penn, Northampton and other restaurant weeks look to bring together various local restaurants and attract people to locally owned and operated businesses

Emmaus native Ashley Coleman was named executive director of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in January 2023.

A developing community center in Emmaus, JuxtaHub is beginning to offer workshops and digital experiences using what organizers believe to be the mass media of the near future.

Replacing a structurally deficient bridge over Leibert Creek on Indian Creek Road in Upper Milford Township will cause a detour of more than six miles for four months in 2025, officials said.

While Trader Joe’s has previously said it does not have any specific formula or demographic requirement for where it open new locations, the Lehigh Valley seemingly has not fit within its plans. Could that be changing?

$7.3 million in improvements were approved by a vote of members at Brookside Country Club Wednesday, heralding facility improvements including a redesign of all 18 holes on the golf course

The North Krocks Road development and Lower Macungie Town Center projects, still in the early stages of planning, were both discussed at Thursday's Lower Macungie Township commissioners meeting.

The massive "Lehigh Valley Town Center" mixed-use development proposal has been amended to include other potential entertainment anchors alongside Topgolf, including a performance venue and aquarium or nature center and is on its way to future hearings

East Penn School District revealed drafts for budget revenues and the district calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.

A new interactive tool from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows roadway fatalities by county and municipality, illustrating the significant impact of motor vehicle deaths in our local communities.

Students gathered to cheer for the Emmaus High School graduate who joined the Eagles at the start of the season. The team is in Arizona getting ready to play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

A special augmented-reality experience will be featured at many local businesses alongside dozens of artists and vendors. It's been postponed due to the weather.