Easton News

An estimated $450,000 is needed for the next step in the process of studying passenger rail. While Lehigh County officials say they will pay half, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said he thinks other local agencies should foot the bill.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. swore in firefighter Joseph Liecht as lieutenant earlier this week. Liecht led efforts to combat the July 5 fire that routed nearly 20 people in the 1100 block of Lehigh Street.

Easton officials paid respect Saturday to 43 African Americans whose grave sites have been built over. The city expects to honor their memory with a new memorial in the months to come.

College Hill PorchFest, a celebration of music and community across the Easton neighborhood, will return in September, with applications for performers and porches being accepted until July 31.

The Buffalo Soldiers are set to ride from Allentown to Easton's Nesquehoning Street Park in remembrance of the men interred at a forgotten site as part of the "Forgotten Soldiers Ride" on Saturday.

Join Megan Frank at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. every Friday for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, she's joined by Allentown reporter Jason Addy and Easton reporter Brian Myszkowski.

Weeks after a dam was removed from the Bushkill Creek in Easton as part of a years-long effort to improve stream health, officials continue to restore its banks. A stabilization project will close the bridge for several hours on weekdays over the next couple weeks.

The Northampton County Coroner's Office says the cause and manner of death have yet to be determined. The victim was a 60-year-old man from Easton.

Easton City Council approved a new Project Stabilization Agreement with the Greater Lehigh Valley Building and Construction Trades Council that could lead to more local union workers scoring high-cost government projects.

Tickets for the 50 shows in the new season go on sale to theater members at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 and to the public at 10 a.m. Aug. 8 at www.statetheatre.org, or at the box office at 453 Northampton St., Easton.

Catherine Henry, a senior litigator in the Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to fill the vacancy left by the death of U.S. District Court Judge Edward Smith.

The 2024 Easton Twilight Criterium will be held Saturday in Downtown Easton. Festivities are planned throughout the day and several streets and traffic patterns will be affected.

Easton City Council approved a pair of resolutions which will allow them to apply for $15 million in federal grants, which they hope to use to improve the wastewater plant and sewage lines in the city.

Gas prices are up about 10 cents a gallon in Pennsylvania from this time last year, and up 11 cents in the Lehigh Valley region, according to AAA.

Easton Area School District approved a preliminary budget of over $210 million on Tuesday night, despite concerns over several details.

State revenue generated by Wind Creek Bethlehem and Mount Airy Casino will help Bangor renovate a fire hall, Lower Nazareth Township purchase a new police vehicle and improve seating at a Freemansburg amphitheater.

A proposal to develop the old Dixie Cup factory in Wilson Borough into 405 apartments advanced after review by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's Comprehensive Planning Committee.

Chrin V-7 Associates plans to make a cornfield at the southwest corner of Hope Road and William Penn Highway in Bethlehem Township home to 264 garden apartments, 12 buildings and a 5,700-square-foot amenity structure.

Dwayne Tillman has been Easton's acting planning and codes director for months. On Monday, the nine-year city employee was confirmed to take on the role permanently.

The Diocese of Allentown announced several moves among priests in its 78 parishes — part of an annual process led by an advisory board of priests and approved by Bishop Alfred Schlert.

Thrift store and cat lounge Project Paw has become a standout in Easton, offering up cool vintage finds alongside a special area to congregate with kitties.

Mi Casa Restaurante in Easton serves traditional dishes from Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico.