Business News

Easton hair stylist Stephen Flowers only has one wish for his birthday: Providing a fresh haircut and a hot meal to homeless people in need.

Local restaurants in the Lehigh Valley are already embracing 2025 culinary trends from the National Restaurant Association's annual report. From sustainability efforts to emerging Southeast Asian flavors, businesses have already given customers a taste of what's in store for the new year.

It all started with a collaboration between a local bridal shop and Historic Hotel Bethlehem. Since then, all successive members of the owner's family have celebrated their nuptials there.

If you're looking to entertain guests with delectable beverages sans alcohol this New Year's Eve, there are more — and better — options than ever, including some locally-made drinks.

At least a half-dozen popular Lehigh Valley restaurants permanently closed their doors or released plans to shift operations in the final months of 2024.

Instead of becoming home to 240 apartments as once proposed, the former IQE property at 119 Technology Drive will house the U.S. headquarters for GfM Bremen, a German pharmaceutical company.

Easton Winter Village, the city's holiday market centered around Centre Square, opened Sunday for the last time in 2024. Business was slower this year than in years past, according to vendors.

The annual Trees of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites exhibit is now on display through Jan. 12.

Big Lots announced going-out-of-business sales would start in coming days, as it no longer anticipates its purchase agreement with Nexus Capital Management to go through.

Easton residents came together at the community center Thursday night to question developers behind the Easton Commerce Park warehouse, with many speakers stating the community did not want the project due to environmental and traffic concerns.

Zoners approved variances for lighting and signage as the Raising Cane's project heads again to the township's planning commission in July.

Lehigh Valley International Airport Executive Director Thomas R. Stoudt said Tuesday he is not opposed to additional hotels being built at the airport. A Courtyard by Marriott is slated to open there late in 2025.

One hookah lounge owner said he bought a metal detector and is doing all he can to ensure customers are safe, but he wants help from police.

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

'After-hours' establishments could face huge fines — and potential closure — for violating nuisance-abatement ordinances, under a resolution introduced by the city council. Council was critical of the Tuerk administration's response to violence.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with Julian Abraham and Jay Bradley.

There is $1.5 million in funds to be distributed to those in need by Community Action Lehigh Valley.

The Parkland School Board renewed a sports medicine and school health needs agreement with St. Luke's after state Sen. Jarrett Coleman urged them not to. He suggested the health network should find better ways to spend the money.

Pennsylvania's Democratic-controlled House of Representatives approved a measure that would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2026 in a close vote Tuesday. It has an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Senator Bob Casey visited the chemical and gas company Air Products at its headquarters. Company engineers took him for a drive in a new hydrogen-powered Toyota.

Officials with St. Luke's University Health Network on Tuesday said the children's hospital designation is the culmination of a coordinated effort within the system to reorganize pediatric care.

Following the release of a blog post alleging racism in the Lehigh Valley Health Network residency program by a graduate, LVHN has released a statement saying it has launched an investigation.