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.

In past years, Peeps has held the title of No. 1 Easter candy in the country. This is no longer the case.

The local housing crisis spurred UWGLV partner PPL Foundation to create 'Be a Housing Hero,' a campaign through which the foundation made contributions in honor of every new or increased pledge to United Way.

The Lehigh Valley Brewers Guild met at Lost Tavern Brewery on Tuesday to begin preparations for Lehigh Valley Beer Week on April 29-May 6.

The Pa. Chamber of Business and Industry had its own bracket: “Coolest Thing Made in Pa.”

Linnette Ruiz-Perez said she hopes to welcome her first customers to Eminence Luxury Beauty Studio in May.

The recall of the 42-volt Jetson Rogue hoverboards comes after a 10-year-old girl and her 15-year-old sister died in a fire last year. Investigators determined the hoverboard was the fire's point of origin, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Walmart will layoff 597 workers at its South Bethlehem distribution center at 3215 Commerce Center Blvd. The cuts were anticipated for a few months. The official number of employees to lose their jobs was confirmed Monday from a Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry WARN notice.

The Allentown Parking authority is eyeing changes to its internal policies and is pushing the city council to update parking ordinances after months of complaints from residents.

The Emmaus Rotary, a service organization involved in many projects throughout the East Penn area, held their first "night shift" meeting to attract new members and volunteers

There are plenty of ways to enjoy the natural features of the Lehigh Valley this spring.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto highlighted the Confluence, an $80 million mixed-use development he's spearheaded, during a campaign event Friday. The project's groundbreaking has been pushed back to Fall 2023.

Hawk Music co-owners Phil Hawk and his sister, Pat Hawk Paulus, recalled the relationships made with customers at the store their late father founded 50 years ago.