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.

Several Lehigh Valley high school performing arts students took home Freddy Awards at the ceremony held Thursday, May 25 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton.

Lafayette College has confirmed it will soon finalize the purchase of the Lafayette Inn, a historic mansion-turned-bed and breakfast located near the school.

Easton City Council approved amendments to the budgets for ARPA and CARES Act funds Wednesday, providing funding for community projects and small business recovery and retention.

The Easton City Council addressed a proposed program from resident Carol Free to allow for backyard chickens on Tuesday. No decision has been made, though councilmembers had numerous concerns over the idea.

WLVR’s Brad Klein speaks with reporter Brian Myszkowski about the prospects for backyard chickens in Easton.

After clearing more than 40 trees without city approval, college officials must resubmit plans to comply with the city's steep slope conservation ordinance. Failure to do so will halt the project.

Officials from said an industrial building that burned last month was too badly damaged to find how the fire started.

Republican William Rowe, a write-in candidate for the Bethlehem-area seat on Northampton County Council, will advance to the November election.

Carol Free, Easton's "Chicken Lady," is on a mission to allow for backyard chickens in the city. Check out her plan, the concerns with the birds, and what the city government is up to when it comes to chickens in the city.

The Easton Twilight Criterium returns to the city's Downtown district on Saturday, May 27. Streets will be closed to accommodate racers and pedestrians throughout the day.

An appreciative community packed Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown to bid farewell to Bishop Edward P. Cullen, 90, who died May 9. Cullen was the third Bishop of Allentown, having served from 1998 until his retirement in 2009 at age 76.

The Weyerbacher Hill Challenge 5K is set for this weekend, with runners set to explore the hills of Easton before getting back to the brewery to enjoy some brews.