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.

At a press conference Thursday, DA candidate Stephen Baratta criticized incumbent district attorney Terry Houck over three cases from his tenure. Houck hit back in response.

Kerry Myers, who represents the Easton area on Northampton County Council, will not appear on the primary ballot after losing a petition challenge.

The film festival will feature seven short films that draw attention to women's issues such as gender equality and body dysmorphia. Ticket sales benefit the American Association of University Women's college scholarship fund.

Clement Swaby was sentenced to up to 150 years in prison in the 2020 rape of a Lehigh University student, plus subsequent break-ins and attempted sexual assaults in Easton.

As a spike in antisemitic incidents continues nationally, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley hosted a summit in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League to try to fight back and push for solutions. Both incidents and instances of propaganda are increasing, officials say

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said the city has managed its finances while aggressively pursuing a grant for a public housing complex in the West Ward.

Nearly 140 candidates are running for dozens of positions on school boards across the Lehigh Valley.

Organized by the Greater Easton Development Partnership (GEDP), the event offers a variety of merchandise and local foods and drinks for attendees to sample.

Easton Area School District Superintendent David Piperato is retiring in August, he announced in an email to district staff Monday morning. He's served the district since December 2019 and has decades of experience in education.

The nonprofit plans to build a new community center in Bethlehem where the Banana Factory is currently located, plus an event space in the former Bethlehem Steel grind and turn shop.

The fatal crash near the Saylorsburg exit of Route 33 in Monroe County was caused by a southbound rig that went through a guardrail and entered the northbound lanes Wednesday morning, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

The charter school's new fitness center is expected to open early next year and will house the Raptor's athletic programs and fitness classes for the public.