Easton News

The drowning death of a Hanover Township, Northampton County, child in July has been ruled accidental, the district attorney said.

Easton City Council opted to remove a Welcoming City ordinance from its Wednesday agenda, leading to a debate among council and the public as to the need for and intent of the legislation.

City and county officials came together on Easton's Ferry Street on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of a four-unit affordable housing building which once served as the Italian Presbyterian Church.

Route 22 was initially closed in both directions in Northampton County between the Route 191 and Route 512 exits. A dump truck overturned, spilling ashpalt onto both sides of the highway; the driver was hospitalized, according to state police.

Yandiel Onil Gonzalez, 16, surrendered to authorities Wednesday and will be charged as an adult, police said in a news release. The shooting occurred July 12 on South Side.

Easton City Council at a Tuesday meeting took a look at the capital improvement plan for the next five years, highlighting projects such as pool rehabilitation, waterfront development, fire station work and more.

In January, a majority of faculty approved a no-confidence vote for Lafayette College President Nicole Hurd. This week, the college board of trustees approved an extension to her contract lasting until 2030. She joined Lafayette as its leader in 2021.

Threatened due to habitat loss and other factors, purple martins in the Lehigh Valley depend on man-made bird houses. For the first time, they've taken up residence at St. Luke's Arboretum in Bethlehem Township.

Cupid Foundations Inc. opened its design studio, CupidIntimates, on West Lehigh Street in Bethlehem in 1987. It's still designing original shapewear that it manufactures and sells in department stores and other national retailers.

Easton's Book & Puppet Co. will hold "Authenticity: A Celebration of Pride and Art," highlighting the diversity of the queer art community, on Saturday, Aug. 9.

The Confluence apartment complex project has secured two variances linked to the building's sizable square footage following a zoning meeting, meaning groundbreaking may begin as soon as summer 2024.

Jack Fisher pitched 11 years in the big leagues — four with the New York Mets from 1964 to 1967. The team is commemorating the 60th anniversary of old Shea Stadium this week. They've invited Fisher to deliver the first pitch, again.

Old Crow Medicine Show made a stop at Easton's State Theatre Saturday for their Jubilee Tour, playing 25 years of American roots hits with an energy all their own.

Longtime representative for the 136th District Robert Freeman will face off against challenger Taiba Sultana on April 23, essentially determining who will take the seat in the Democratic stronghold.

Deacon Anthony Koury, who served Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Easton for decades, died Wednesday.

District 131 is made up of parts of Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery counties. Here’s a brief look at the respective candidates, including the two Democrats hoping to take the spot of a Republican incumbent.

Easton City Council became contentious Wednesday evening when Councilmember Taiba Sultana read a letter from the PA ACLU urging the local government to vote against a bill focused on forcing landlords to evict tenants who engage in certain crimes.

Old Crow Medicine Show has spent 25 years exploring the depths of classic folk, country, and Americana, all the while making tunes distinctly their own. On April 13, the band is coming to the State Theatre as part of the tour in support of their latest album, Jubilee.

Despite the cold weather, dozens of anglers showed out to the Little Lehigh Creek in Allentown to mark the first day of trout season in Pennsylvania. The Fish and Boat Commission has been hard at work populating local waters with trout since February.

Some enthusiasts drove from hours away and stood on the roofs of their cars — just to get a glimpse of Apache, Chinook and Blackhawk aircraft at Lehigh Valley International Airport.

A Pennsylvania Supreme Court case delayed counties from sending out ballots, leaving voters with less time than usual to send them back in. Northampton County officials are encouraging voters to use drop boxes as a result.

Registered Democrats, Republicans and a few independents who register by Monday, April 8, can cast a ballot in the April 23 primary election.