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.

Additional grants Easton received for 2023 will see Easton with the adjusted 2023 budget in January.

The appearance of a massive, rotating ice circle caught the attention of a city resident who captured drone video near Groundhog Lock along the Delaware Canal in Raubsville, south of Easton.

The budget approved last week calls for more than $10 million in earned income tax revenues. That's 40% more than what was projected at this time last year.

About 60 soldiers called up to Egypt to help support an international peacekeeping force returned to the Pennsylvania National Guard facility in Forks Township.

The third annual Downtown Easton market wrapped up a five-week run over the weekend, but you can still find gifts from some of the vendors.

Green Vida Co. has outgrown its base of operations at its flagship store.

The site was once a fine men's clothing store and today holds a concert venue and dance club. But 1-6 Centre Square will take on an entirely new profile with a 49-room hotel that has space for two restaurants.

Frances Hesselbein led Girl Scouts USA as chief executive officer from 1976 to 1990. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, she died Sunday at age 107 at her home in Palmer Township.

Antisemitism resolution announces plans to meet with community leaders to address knowledge gaps and national rise in hate speech.

Bethlehem Police promised more than $1M of the money, for body-cams and retention bonuses. Some of the money will go to justice initiatives and safety programs.

Community focused board game store and venue comes to Easton

Ja'Siah Young of Easton was up for an Emmy Award for his hit Netflix series, but came away empty-handed