Consumer Affairs

No one matched all five Powerball numbers, plus the red Powerball, on Monday night's drawing, but one Lehigh Valley resident matched four out of five white balls to win $200,000. It was among three winning tickets sold in Pennsylvania for the Dec. 15 drawing.

A new AP-NORC poll finds this holiday season isn’t quite so merry for American shoppers as large shares of them are dipping into savings, scouring for bargains and feeling like the overall economy is stuck in a rut. The vast majority of U.S. adults say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for groceries, electricity and holiday gifts.

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.

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.

Lehigh Valley residents attended a state Public Utility Commission hearing on Tuesday to oppose a proposed rate increase by PPL Electric Utilities. It would be the first rate increase in almost a decade.

The Northeast PA Regional Counter-Terrorism Task Force said customers in Lehigh and Northampton counties have been affected by a recent data breach.

A Lehigh Valley man was hunting when the lithium ion battery in heated insoles in his boots caught fire. A surgeon from Lehigh Valley Health Network said these incidents are causing devastating burn injuries.

"Too many families are discovering that their gift was emptied by a scammer before it was ever used. We should not allow criminals to take advantage of this season of generosity," State Sen. Lisa Boscola said.

General real estate taxes will stay flat in South Whitehall Township next year, its fire tax will rise 0.28 of a mill and residents will see a new 0.1% income tax to fund open space preservation.

After persistently dry, windy weather last year triggered concerns over the longevity of holiday trees, this year’s crop is shaping up well, Lehigh Valley growers said, with many different varieties available.

Township commissioners on Monday approved a resolution requesting a grant of $154,402.17 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program for the Ironton Rail Trail Paving and Gates Project.

The hearing later this month in Bethlehem is the first step in the 5-year license renewal for Wind Creek Bethlehem. The initial public hearing by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board had been set for June 26 but had to be postponed because of severe storms and power outages.

Allentown City Council agreed to raise parking fines next month if the parking authority's board agreed to those initiatives.

The Libre Initiative, a conservative national organization, was founded more than 10 years ago but kicked off its Pennsylvania efforts a few months ago.

Officials with the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority said Tuesday that the airport's future growth will come from Allegiant Air, the ultra-low-cost carrier that accounted for 60% of their passengers in 2023.

For a chance to win a gift card to each participating restaurant, snap a photo of your meal, post it to the Visit Historic Bethlehem Instagram and/or Facebook pages, and tag that particular restaurant you’re dining at.

PennDOT announced its list of upcoming seasonal driver license, photo and other service centers, as well as road trip tips and travel construction delays.

Easton and Nazareth are home to breakfast spots that offer food flights that are often favorites. Owners say they're tedious dishes to prepare, but worth it for the customer satisfaction.

The bank at 52 W. Broad St., and just a stone’s throw from Main Street, is set to end its business operations at 11 a.m. Aug 28.

Free, 7-week course covers essentials from power tool use to drywall, trim, scaffolding, safety and more, and offers employment interview opportunities for those who qualify.

BPA Executive Director Steven Fernstrom said, “This selection marks the initial stages of the project, and we look forward to sharing more details as they are made available in the coming months."

In his State of the County address Tuesday, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure offered a 'test' for residents to evaluate his government. His conclusion: "It may be as strong as it's ever been."