Easton News

One firefighter suffered serious injuries when he fell off a ladder escaping the fire. Several others received minor injuries. Authorities said the coroner was on scene Saturday "out of an abundance of caution" because they did not have an accurate count of people living in the Hotel Hampton building.

In December alone, there were 676 eviction filings and defaults in Lehigh County — the highest monthly total since August 2023.

In counties such as Lehigh, eviction filings have reached their highest point in years, even as rental vacancy rates have fluctuated. That apparent contradiction — rising vacancy estimates alongside persistent eviction volume — is part of a broader housing dynamic playing out across the region.

Xiaomin Fei, 34, on Thursday entered the plea in the June 3 shooting deaths of Robert and Gretchen Ackerman, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta announced.

Officials signed off on plans that call for 73 condominiums — 15 one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units and 22 three-bedroom units — and about 2,500 square feet of commercial space.

Jack Bennett grew up in the family hardware business and went on to lead it for nearly 25 years. He was one of Easton's most prominent business leaders in the 1970s and '80s. He died Jan. 29 at age 98. Friends say he left an impression on the Downtown business community that still can be felt today.

Affected customers are being asked to enroll in interest-free payment plans so the city can recover more than $35,000 in unpaid bills, its finance director said Wednesday.

Lawmakers voted 46-1 on Senate Bill 1014, bipartisan legislation that would require public schools to adopt "bell-to-bell" policies restricting student use of smartphones and other internet-connected devices throughout the entire school day.

Alton Brown, who started the Food Network’s “Good Eats” show, will perform An Evening of Alton Brown at 7:30 p.m. April 16, the theater announced. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30.

Allentown declared a snow emergency ahead of Sunday's major winter storm. Enforcement efforts in the city will begin Saturday morning.

Easton Area School District signed off an agreement with the city, which will see them contribute $30,000 to improve Vanderveer Park's basketball courts, with the city covering the cost of labor.

A West Easton smoke shop sold a jackpot-winning Match 6 ticket for the Wednesday, September 25, 2024 drawing, earning the purchaser $1.68 million, and the store owner a $10,000 bonus.

Easton administrators were able to avoid a budget overage for the fire department after shifting funds within the department, officials announced on September 25, 2024.

An art exhibit and auction are set to raise funds for a program that teaches children and adults about mindfulness. The Shanthi Project aims to use the funds to expand their programming in Lehigh Valley schools.

Easton Area School District's board approved a collection of goals for Superintendent Tracy Piazza covering the 2024-25 school year, including maintaining fiscal responsibility and improving reading and math proficiency.

College Hill PorchFest is back on Sunday, September 29, with its largest event yet, featuring around 70 performers across 35 porches, along with plenty of other community-based activities.

The weeklong art festival features free performances and concerts by saxophonists, dancers and poets.

Greater Shiloh Church celebrated its 120th birthday Sunday with a special joint worship service.

The Northampton County Department of Corrections hosted a bias training course for new hires taught by a Bethlehem-based organization that consults on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Greater Shiloh Church is commemorating 120 years of faith and community service this weekend, featuring a special expo and guest speaker Geoffrey Golden.

Volunteers from Crayola spent the day at the Children's Home of Easton sprucing up the grounds as part of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley's 31st annual Day of Caring.

Easton City Councilman Frank Pintabone announced Wednesday that two community health organizations will offer free and low-cost health screenings via mobile units on Oct.14.