Easton News

Broadway's "Rock of Ages" Band features the musician case of the Broadway show playing what it calls playing "the greatest rock hits from the glam metal bands of the '80s."

The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, in coordination with Greater Easton Development Partnership, has established the fund to help victims of Friday's devastating fire at the Hotel Hampton building, 462 Northampton St. Also, a Red Cross emergency shelter operation has been relocated.

One firefighter suffered serious injuries when he fell off a ladder escaping the fire. Several others received minor injuries. Authorities said the coroner was on scene Saturday "out of an abundance of caution" because they did not have an accurate count of people living in the Hotel Hampton building.

In December alone, there were 676 eviction filings and defaults in Lehigh County — the highest monthly total since August 2023.

In counties such as Lehigh, eviction filings have reached their highest point in years, even as rental vacancy rates have fluctuated. That apparent contradiction — rising vacancy estimates alongside persistent eviction volume — is part of a broader housing dynamic playing out across the region.

Xiaomin Fei, 34, on Thursday entered the plea in the June 3 shooting deaths of Robert and Gretchen Ackerman, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta announced.

Officials signed off on plans that call for 73 condominiums — 15 one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units and 22 three-bedroom units — and about 2,500 square feet of commercial space.

Jack Bennett grew up in the family hardware business and went on to lead it for nearly 25 years. He was one of Easton's most prominent business leaders in the 1970s and '80s. He died Jan. 29 at age 98. Friends say he left an impression on the Downtown business community that still can be felt today.

Affected customers are being asked to enroll in interest-free payment plans so the city can recover more than $35,000 in unpaid bills, its finance director said Wednesday.

Lawmakers voted 46-1 on Senate Bill 1014, bipartisan legislation that would require public schools to adopt "bell-to-bell" policies restricting student use of smartphones and other internet-connected devices throughout the entire school day.

The African singer will perform a mix of old hits and new songs at her concert on Tuesday April 25.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. declared April 12 "Larry Holmes Day," honoring the legendary boxer at Wednesday evening's city council meeting.

Watermark Easton, which began construction in late 2021, is set to include two buildings featuring 150 apartments, along with a parking deck for at least 200 vehicles, at 45 Larry Holmes Drive.

The park will feature zip lines, climbing and a bar. Founders say they hope it will make the Lehigh Valley a bigger tourist destination.

Kite Day in the Park and the Andy Gelinas Memorial Fly will happen Saturday, May 6 at Louise W. Moore County Park.

Sal Panto, Jr., mayor of Easton, announced four Neighborhood Advisory Task Forces today, one for each neighborhood of the city, as well as three neighborhood festivals.

"Risky Beauty: Aesthetics and Climate Change" features paintings, photographs and installations by well-known environmental artists.

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

An immersive program that combines yoga practice with visual presentations from NNC's Science on a Sphere spherical projection system is on offer.

There are plenty of fun, as well as sacred, ways to celebrate Easter in 2023.

The warehouse reignited early Thursday morning, calling firefighters back to the scene. It could be weeks before investigators determine the cause of the fire.

The new exhibit features new work created by over 10 local artists ranging from contemporary to modern.