Easton News

Broadway's "Rock of Ages" Band features the musician case of the Broadway show playing what it calls playing "the greatest rock hits from the glam metal bands of the '80s."

The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, in coordination with Greater Easton Development Partnership, has established the fund to help victims of Friday's devastating fire at the Hotel Hampton building, 462 Northampton St. Also, a Red Cross emergency shelter operation has been relocated.

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.

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.

Another attempt at an Israel-Hamas ceasefire resolution was turned down at Easton City Council on Wednesday, though a nonspecific advocacy for peace measure did pass.

Bethlehem-based Alloy 5 has won a bid to conduct a feasibility study for a new police station in Palmer Township following Monday's supervisors meeting.

Pennsylvania landed in the ‘yearly declines’ column in a recent report highlighting the greatest changes in rental prices, but it's not reflected in the Lehigh Valley market.

Lafayette College officials are preparing to host the U.S. vice presidential debate Sept. 25. Two watch parties are in the works, and the school is already seeking volunteers to help with the festivities.

Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta declined to discuss complaints about Taiba Sultana's petitions for state representative, saying he did not want to interfere with any potential investigation.

Wilson Intermediate School celebrated the opening of their new sensory hallway, a setup which allows students to safely expend excess energy, during a special event Thursday.

The first Easton Sweet Stroll will combine the excitement of a traditional pub crawl with the irresistibility of freshly baked goods. It's planned for noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, and will feature 11 local sweet shops in Downtown Easton.

Community members came together on Feb. 21 to rally in support of Lisa Campbell, the former associate director of the Easton Area Community Center, and contest her firing.

Following a hearing lasting nearly an hour, Easton's Zoning Hearing Board denied requests for a special exception and variances for a proposed South Side smoke shop.

Local business panel, networking strategies, discounts on art and more — it takes place from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Asante African Art in Palmer Park Mall.

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.