Easton News

Easton's Zoning Hearing Board approved a subdivision of the Hooper House property Monday, which will let the Rock Church keep an adjoining parcel that contains the Timothy House.

Forks Township Police Chief Michael Friel announced his retirement from the force in a Facebook post Sunday — several days after township supervisors considered a separation agreement with the 23-year department veteran.

Easton's State Theatre will offer The Magical Music of Harry Potter: Live in Concert at 1 p.m.; The Music of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and Rings of Power in concert at 4:30 p.m.; and The Music of Hans Zimmer & Others: A Celebration of Film Music, presented by a pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean at 8 p.m., all on April 19.

A proposed property tax rebate for senior citizens, drawn from hybrid police patrol vehicle fuel savings, will have to wait to be voted on until Jan. 2026.

After finishing off just a few changes, Easton City Council eventually approved a 2026 budget for almost $71 million, with no tax increase for another year.

Easton City Council passed its immigration protection resolution Wednesday, though a push for a proper ordinance sparked an argument during public comment.

Easton officials announced the launch of nonprofit HOME Easton and the start of a new Landlord-Tenant Engagement Program on Wednesday, with the goal to address affordable housing and improve the rental scene in the city.

A new map-based art project in Easton will highlight donations and reinforce the holiday spirit this season, with NuHouse tracking the charitable contributions through Dec. 23.

A new Light, Projection Mapping, and Immersive Art Festival is headed to Easton in 2026, but fans can get a sneak preview of what's to come at city's Centre Square this Friday and Saturday.

Country singer, songwriter and fiddler Alison Krauss will perform at Easton's State Theatre at 7:30 p.m. July 20.

Lafayette College was selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates to host the nation's only vice presidential debate this year. The commission has called off that debate and three presidential ones that it had expected to organize.

James Bartolacci, an Easton-area artist and grant-winner, is working on new pieces intended for an art exhibition in Germany.

A feature film, "The Next Play," is set to be shot in the Lehigh Valley in July 2025. The field hockey-themed drama also touches on pressure and suicide concerns that student-athletes face.

The Lehigh Valley ranks as the eighth-highest industrial market in the U.S., it was disclosed at a Lehigh Valley Planning Commission roundtable meeting on Friday.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights found Lafayette College did not consistently address instances of alleged harassment online and off campus last fall in the weeks following the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Wilson Area School District passed a $46.48 million budget for 2024-25, marking a 1% increase over last year's tax rate, according to the district's business manager.

The Delaware River Sojourn, an eight-day guided paddling and camping trip, is underway. About 100 paddlers are participating.

Northampton County Council must hold new hearings on a financing program for a project turning the former Wilson Borough Dixie Cup factory into apartments.

Looking for relief from the heat in Easton? The city is opening up City Hall and turning on the fire hydrants over the next few days to alleviate the sky-high temperatures.

Batch Creamery in Upper Saucon Township, Klein Dairy Farms in Forks Township and Crystal Spring Dairy Farm in North Whitehall Township are among the 41 stops on the Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trail. We checked out those and a bunch of others.

Juneteenth events are taking place throughout the Lehigh Valley. A large crowd took to Easton to celebrate the city's second annual Juneteenth parade on Sunday.

Just about everything appears to be in order in regard to an agreement between Easton officials and the school district to revamp Vanderveer Park.