Business News

Workers at a Starbucks store at Northampton Crossings are the latest to join a strike timed to Pride month, alleging unfair labor practices and disputes with the company over LGBTQ+ displays in stores. While striking, workers say they were kicked off of Starbucks property, with police involved.

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.

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.

Melani and Jason Hansche are aiming to open Tucker Garage & Grocery in Easton this October, providing the public with a community café and grocery store. They just need a little help, and they're more than willing to offer some fun rewards in order to get to the finish line.

Herr’s Fruit Farm has been operating Dan Schantz Greenhouse since the spring, after the Schantz family closed up shop in December. On Friday the Herrs announced they have bought the property and intend to keep it open as a greenhouse and farm market.

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission praised the in-progress multi-municipal plans at its first in-person meeting since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020.

Valley Youth House's THRIVE Program, which helps sex-trafficked folks, will receive $150,000 in state funding, Rep. Josh Siegel, D-22nd District, announced at a news conference on Wednesday.

The Bethlehem Co-op Market at 250 E. Broad St. will be a first of its kind in the Lehigh Valley, with 4,500 square feet of shopping space open to the public, free water, community room with Wi-Fi, pet area and bus stop and bike rack outside.

The early 2025 opening is later than City Center executives first projected for Allentown officials. It's one of two major projects in the 900 block of Hamilton Street.

Browne, who authored the one-of-a-kind Neighborhood Improvement Zone, has long worked to keep some tax revenue data out of the public eye. Releasing some categories of tax revenue would amount to publishing individuals' tax returns.

Whitehall Township's Zoning Hearing Board approved variances for a building's height and driveway width, part of an intended 190,400 square foot distribution facility.

A developer’s plans to build a 150,400-square-foot warehouse along Route 100 moves on to Upper Macungie Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday night.

Bethlehem Twp. will not appeal a ruling from a Northampton County judge that will allow an 866,000 square foot warehouse at 1600 Freemansburg Ave.

Plans call for a Tempo by Hilton hotel with a ground-level restaurant and bar, rooftop bar and expanded fitness center, with improvements to come later for the Greenway nearby.

The 2024-25 Pennsylvania State Budget introduced updates to the state's complex liquor laws, including extended happy hours and ready-to-drink cocktails. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board already received over a thousand RTDC applications and has begun permitting with the law effective Sept. 16.