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.

A stretch of Easton's Wood Avenue will close Tuesday to accommodate some much-needed repairs to the road.

Five public schools and two charter schools made the list of the Top 100 high schools in Pennsylvania, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Hamm, a standout for the Leopards at Lafayette, is a Baltimore native who signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent earlier this year. He's Lafayette's career sacks leader and a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.

The Bethlehem Township Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of land development plans for a five-story, 146-bed expansion between the Women & Babies Pavilion and the site's original tower, also set for expansion.

Lafayette College introduces Amazon's 'Just Walk Out' technology that revolutionizes the shopping experience for students at Simon’s Market. It's now open only to the students but has a potential for community use.

Sheetz made a price cut on Unleaded 88 gasoline. It's now $2.99 per gallon until Aug. 31, 2023.

Easton PA VegFest is coming back to Riverside Park for its fifth year on Saturday, featuring vegetarian and vegan vendors alongside eco-friendly, health-conscious brands.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with Tom Shortell and Brian Myszkowski.

In an effort to restore the bronze sword of Colonel Charles Wikoff, a Rough Rider buried in Easton Cemetery, Two Rivers is hosting fundraising events in the city on Thursday and Friday.

Easton has opted to add nine new properties to their LERTA list, offering substantial tax breaks to help stimulate redevelopment and rehabilitation for housing and commerce in the city.

Easton City Administrator Luis Campos returned to council on Wednesday, offering thanks to those first responders and civilians who helped save his life after he suffered cardiac arrest while jogging in July.

Easton's city government has formed a committee with the Buffalo Soldiers and others to help identify and honor the Black individuals who are interred at a cemetery found underneath Nesquehoning Park.