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.

LEPOCO Peace Center organizes Lehigh Valley vigils in support of de-escalation.

Sen. Lisa Boscola condemns the changes, calls process 'back-room assault on the Lehigh Valley."

Northampton County recently shut down its work-release program; Lehigh County ended its over a year ago.

Downtown Easton will continue to welcome its fans with outdoor markets and yummy treats.

The threat does not appear to be credible, Easton school officials said.

Individual school districts must now decide if their students will mask or not.

The pieces of synthetic ice fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Reform and conservative congregations merged earlier this year in a bid to strengthen as one.

Most utilities will be raising electricity prices in December, according to the Pa. Public Utility Commission.

Admission is free through the end of the year thanks to the Petrucci Family Foundation.

According to NASA, there won’t be one like it for about 80 more years. It should be able to be seen from the Lehigh Valley.

Economist says staffing shortages and supply chain issues are driving up prices.