Jason Addy
Allentown Area reporterI cover Allentown and have worked for news outlets in Pennsylvania, Chicago and Minneapolis since graduating from Penn State. It’s great to be much closer to home — I was born and raised in Lehighton — and I’m excited to help share Allentown’s stories. If you've got an idea, I want to hear it. You can reach me any time at jasona@lehighvalleynews.com.
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Allentown City Council unanimously voted last week to add Juneteenth — celebrated on June 19 — to the city's list of paid holidays for full-time non-bargaining employees. -
Council set aside $20,000 last summer to hire an attorney to sue the mayor. Her work could cost the city more than $70,000, though the lawsuit never had its day in court.
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It appears the proposed legislation would function similar to sanctuary-city policies that were targeted by federal officials during President-elect Donald Trump’s first administration.
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Council on Wednesday introduced a bill to hire a Philadelphia law firm to analyze Allentown's nondiscrimination and personnel policies and end a long-running probe.
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Council announced federal investigators’ involvement Wednesday, two days after dozens protested outside City Hall, demanding the FBI to take over the probe into what many have called a hate crime.
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Court documents recently unsealed by Lehigh County officials shine new light on rape and prostitution-related charges filed last week against a current and former Allentown cop.
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Joshua Gonzalez, 40, of South Whitehall Township, faces 70 to 140 years in prison, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.
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About 50 people rallied Monday outside Allentown City Hall, calling for federal intervention after a Black employee found a noose on her desk last week.
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City Council scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Wednesday for Allentown Parking Authority officials to speak about an internal payment program and a parking-meter study.
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A Black woman who works in Allentown City Hall reported finding a noose on her desk Friday, according to a city councilwoman.
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Solicitors directed officials to disband the commission after council repealed Allentown's discrimination ordinance enacted in 1963.
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The Lehigh River was about 10 feet deep where the 28-year-old man's body was found, according to the Lehigh County coroner.
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Recently retired linebacker Brandon Graham was the star turn at Dorney Park's tailgate party, where more than 100 fans celebrated the NFL season’s imminent start.
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The 28-year-old, who was not immediately identified, jumped from the Tilghman Street Bridge around 12:40 p.m. Thursday, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.
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Isiah Yeager, 25, is due to stand trial Oct. 20 — 28 months after he was charged with homicide in connection with a fatal stabbing at Synergy Hookah Lounge.
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Officials are earmarking about a quarter of the money to pay for other capital projects the city has “not been able to work on for many, many years,” Allentown Finance Director Bina Patel said Wednesday.
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Allowing some residents to stay at the encampment for an extra month is “the safest and most humane course of action,” Mayor Matt Tuerk said. But no one else will be allowed to set up camp there before its closure.
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The first phase of the project is to cost about $2.3 million and is “shovel ready,” according to Mandy Tolino, who leads Allentown’s parks and recreation department.
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Edward Tomcics was fatally struck on the night of Dec. 25 outside his home on Water Street. More than seven months later, authorities charged the man who hit him.
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Officials on Thursday said Allentown YMCA will open its shelter at least six weeks early this year to serve some residents of a homeless encampment who are being evicted.
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$50,000 will cover about a month of operations at the Allentown YMCA's warming shelter, which typically opens in mid-November. But it could struggle to open its doors before a homeless encampment's Aug. 25 eviction deadline.
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Officials approved a $57 million project to convert miles of former railroad tracks into roads and trails between Hamilton Street in Allentown and Race Street in Whitehall Township.
