Business News

Black Friday is almost upon us, when retailers kick off the holiday season with offers meant to get customers in the shopping mood. A number of stores that were closed on Thanksgiving, including Walmart and Target, reopen early Friday as the holiday shopping season begins in earnest.

The state Public Utility Commission announced a proposed settlement that also requires the Allentown-based utility company to absorb about $16 million in costs associated with corrective actions. It still requires approval by PUC commissioners.

Emmaus is among many Lehigh Valley communities to host Small Business Saturday events, to encourage residents to support locally-owned businesses.

Pennsylvania saw a nearly 50% increase in Hispanic-owned businesses between 2012 and 2019, according to Census data. Non-Hispanic businesses increased by 9.3%, which means Latinos are creating businesses at a higher rate than their non-Hispanic peers.

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.

A 95,750-square-foot, 144-bed behavioral hospital planned for Hanover Township in Northampton County expected to create more than 300 jobs was among two development projects reviewed by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on Thursday night.

A new robotics center is now open at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Center Valley. The Fleming Center for Robotics in Rehabilitation opened Thursday thanks to a significant gift from the Fleming Foundation.

The mysterious and sometimes sacred symbols are meant to bring good fortune and wins to players and fans.

Passengers will soon be able to fly from Lehigh Valley International Airport to all three of Orlando's main airports.

Mack Trucks threatened to replace any employees who don't return to work if the latest offer wasn't accepted. Points of dispute included job security, labor demands and retirement safety nets.

PPL will hold a small appliance recycling event, scheduled for Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 20, that will accept room air conditioners and dehumidifiers in working condition, according to a release.

Easton City Councilman Frank Pintabone's workforce housing ordinance passed council on Wednesday, launching a new program to promote affordable residences for those who fall in the middle income bracket.

The venue on Thursday touted the installation of a massive, high-definition videoboard that nearly doubles the size of the original display installed in 2014.

Gas prices are going up for UGI customers in the near future, but the rate hike will be lower than expected after a settlement announced Thursday with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Plainfield Township's board of supervisors voted Wednesday to exempt landfills from steep slope rules to allow Grand Central Landfill to expand. The body voted down a measure allowing dumps by right in the township's waste processing zone.

New partnerships with Bethlehem Parking Authority and Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority resulted in less traffic congestion at Musikfest this year, despite record attendance, the city said.

Developer Manny Makhoul wants to put 180 housing units on an undeveloped lot north of East Hamilton Street that covers about 17 acres.

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley received a $35,000 donation from The Giant Company.

Lehigh County took another look at the 2026 budget, highlighting some key areas of concern including a state budget shortfall which has forced the county to fall back on its stabilization fund.

Parkland School District will seek to join a lawsuit that will decide the future of Nexus 78, a proposed warehouse near district property in North Whitehall Township. The warehouse would be unsafe for students, board members said.

The Allentown City Planning Commission first approved plans at the proposed Commerce Park site in 2016.

Parkland School Board plans to vote Monday to join a court battle to decide whether a 501,000-square-foot warehouse will take shape in North Whitehall Township.