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.

Easton will soon have another option for health care. Valley Health Partners is expanding their services to the city's South Side and will offer care on a sliding fee scale.

Easton's Nurture Nature Center may be able to add a new immersive dome theater to their location, provided they receive a parking variance and government clearance to use funding for the project.

Easton is looking for a new conservation management apprentice, a position which will entail planting and maintaining urban trees throughout the city.

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.

Easton Restaurant Week is back and better than ever, with 22 restaurants offering special selections at fixed prices, covering everything from everyday eats to haute cuisine.

It's a best-of lookback with WLVR's Megan Frank in this week's episode of Insights.

Folks can volunteer or celebrate the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at these events happening in Allentown, Easton and Bethlehem.

The original store's roots go back 50 years in Easton. Now Giacomo's Italian Market and Grille plans to expand into a second location, selling lunch and dinner, deli meats and imported Italian dry goods.

The Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas are under a flood watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

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.

Easton's Jeremy Joseph is aiming to launch a new project, a drumline focused on educating and inspiring young aspiring musicians in the city's West Ward.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with reporters Tom Shortell and Brian Myszkowski.