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.

As the region diversifies, relations across racial groups are seen as a key element of quality of life. A new survey finds overall ratings as mostly positive, but different age groups rate the state of race relations differently.

The library's family-friendly Black History Month celebration will feature live music, arts and crafts and spoken poetry.

The Lehigh Valley is a desirable place to live. But as more move to the region, the volume of affordable housing is shrinking. A quality-of-life survey shows it's a major concern of those who live here.

Incumbent Mayor Sal Panto Jr. on Thursday plans to make an official announcement of his candidacy for reelection in the upcoming municipal elections this year.

The virtual reality experience at Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University examines race relations and features community leaders from Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton.

Animal shelters are becoming more of a community affair, according to Sarah Wees, the new executive director of the Center for Animal Health and Welfare in Easton.

A quality-of-life survey commissioned by LehighValleyNews.com found a significant majority of Lehigh Valley residents rate life here positively. But our outlooks differ. It's the most comprehensive survey of life in the region in years.

In a pinch for that special someone? Easton Public Market is open Tuesday with vendors offering traditional items like flowers and chocolate — even fresh food to cook your sweetie a romantic dinner.

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.

Warming centers and emergency shelters are open across the Lehigh Valley, but not all homeless people use shelters, often due to stigma or misunderstanding the rules.

Mayors Sal Panto Jr., William Reynolds and Matt Tuerk said they'll collaborate to push for solutions for big issues such as housing, homelessness and sustainability.

South Side Easton has seen a loss of business over the years. Residents and city officials gathered with the South Side Civic Association to discuss ways to attract businesses to the area.