Week in review: January 22-28, 2023

LehighValleyNews.com | By Mariella Miller

Published January 28, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST

den cam.jpg — A mama bear and her cubs are sheltering under a homeowner's Pike County, Pa. deck this winter.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Welcome back to our Week in Review. We have chosen several stories, in no particular order, to take you back on the week. Enjoy, and thank you so much for reading.

1. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is keeping tabs on a mother bear and her cubs nestled under a deck in Pike County, and is offering an up-close look at the sow and her offspring 24/7.

Bear under deck.png — A mama bear is living her best life under a deck in Pike County, Pa.

2. Customers of PPL, an electrical energy company that serves the Lehigh Valley, are noticing unusually high bills — even when they didn't use more electricity.

Many PPL customers were recently billed for "estimated" usage instead of actual usage. This resulted in bills being higher than normal.

3. The only bank on Easton's South Side is shutting down, officials said Wednesday. Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said Fulton Bank at 280 Line St. will close. A corporate spokesperson for the bank said the shutdown will occur near the end of April.

221214 Easton budget.png — Easton Council members discuss 2023 budget concerns

4. As the Lehigh Valley treks through its least-snowy winter on record (thus far), there are signs emerging that we may be in for a large-scale change of our weather pattern.

5. A top economist at the country’s fourth-largest bank presented a mixed forecast to Lehigh Valley business leaders Tuesday as the United States tries to weather high inflation.

Jay Bryson forecast.jpg — Jay Bryson, the chief economist for Wells Fargo's Corporate and Investment Bank, discusses how the economy is weathering high inflation Jan. 24, 2023. His remarks came during the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce's Economic Outlook 2023 event at SteelStacks.

6. Eileen Mason-Newman, the owner of Mia & Maddie, has been selling her cookies, cupcakes, scones and more at the Easton Farmers Market for more than a year. Earlier this month, the city's Zoning Hearing Board approved Mason-Newman's application for a food processing (bakery) use at 34 North 2nd St., putting her on the path to opening a shop there.

Cupcakes of different flavors - chocolate, vanilla caramel, sprinkles sit in a display case — Rows of cupcakes with chocolate, vanilla caramel, sprinkles sit in a display case at a farmers' market ready for sale

7. A concert by two classic rock headliners will kick off the Great Allentown Fair's grandstand lineup for its opening on Aug. 30, it was announced Wednesday.

Other acts also have been announced for the annual end-of-summer event.

REO Speedwagon will headline Allentown Fair's grandstand on opening night, Aug. 30.