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.

Myers, who in January became the first Black person to serve as council president, accused County Executive Lamont McClure of political maneuvering to force him from office.

The fireworks display for Easton's Heritage Day festival has been moved from the waterfront to Hackett Park in order to allow more time for the fest and better views for spectators, according to Mayor Sal Panto Jr.

Eight rescue dogs will perform a variety of circus-like tricks in a family-friendly performance Sunday, April 30 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts.

Despite the close proximity to legal recreational marijuana in Phillipsburg, Easton has not experienced any tangible negative effects with law enforcement.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. held an introductory meeting for the new Neighborhood Advisory Task Force, which will involve residents in weighing in on what needs to be addressed in their communities.

The proposed amendment to Northampton County's administrative code would expand an existing ban on county officials accepting gifts.

Joshua Rifkin will be in residence at Lafayette College for the 2023-24 academic year to help mark the 40th anniversary of Williams Center for the Arts.

The Northampton County DA's office announced Tuesday its most recent gun buyback brought in more than 200 guns, including a submachine gun.

The Easton Zoning Hearing Board approved a variance request that will allow for the construction of a 27-unit apartment and retail building on Northampton Street in the Downtown area.

Bethlehem Township commissioners questioned the property's proposed uses. The nearly 10-acre site at William Penn Highway and Bethman Road used to be the offices of John Frinzi Realtors.

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

An organ transplant recipient and the donor’s Lehigh Valley family are sharing their experience in order to encourage others to become organ donors. April is National Donate Life Month.