
Jason Addy
Allentown Area reporterI cover Allentown and have worked for news outlets in Pennsylvania, Chicago and Minneapolis since graduating from Penn State. It’s great to be much closer to home — I was born and raised in Lehighton — and I’m excited to help share Allentown’s stories. If you've got an idea, I want to hear it. You can reach me any time at jasona@lehighvalleynews.com.
-
The anonymous questionnaire focuses on opioids and illicit substances. Officials say it builds on the Allentown Health Bureau’s other work to address the ongoing opioid crisis.
-
Fewer people voted in this year's primaries than four years ago, when most of the same local offices were up for grabs. But Mayor Matt Tuerk found much support in his second campaign.
-
Top-prize-winning projects include plans for an outdoor classroom at Trexler Middle School, several garden spaces and a free bike tune-up day.
-
Councilman Ed Zucal earned almost 500 write-in votes from Allentown Republicans, plenty to win the party’s nomination for mayor.
-
Nonprofit officials and supporters paid tribute to local firefighters and staff members and celebrated hitting the halfway mark in the “Rising from the Ashes” capital campaign to raise $100,000 to refurnish its space after a July 2024 fire.
-
Albert Granger, the late former owner of the Glasbern Inn in Fogelsville, funded the expansion project with a $500,000 donation before his death last year.
-
Ed Zucal had almost 500 Republican write-in votes as of Thursday afternoon, several hundred more than Mayor Matt Tuerk.
-
Cristian Pungo, the candidate Daryl Hendricks trails by just 25 votes, was hesitant to claim victory Wednesday.
-
J.P. Mascaro & Sons is due to take over from Waste Management at the start of June.
-
Unofficial results show incumbent Mayor Matt Tuerk handily defeating Councilman Ed Zucal. The mayor has earned just over 80% of the 5,100-plus votes counted by 10:30 p.m.
-
An expansion of the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program “delivers the largest targeted tax cut for Pennsylvania seniors in nearly two decades,” according to the Department of Revenue.
-
Jim Martin, who has served as Lehigh County district attorney for a quarter-century, played a major role in the launch of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center.
-
The county’s legal department urged commissioners to wait until their next meeting to ensure any changes to the bill could be properly advertised, as required by Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act.
-
Mayor Matt Tuerk’s firing of a human-resources employee who filed complaints against the city was “an act of revenge,” Councilman Ed Zucal said. On Tuesday, Tuerk made his first public comments regarding the matter.
-
Karen Ocasio, who worked in the human resources department, repeatedly called for an investigation after detailing what she said were her experiences of racism and discrimination while working for the city. One council member labeled her firing "an act of revenge" and "blatant retaliation and retribution” by Mayor Matt Tuerk.
-
The Lehigh County Authority is raising its water fees in 2024, but Allentown residents will also have to pay more for sewer services.
-
Mayor Matt Tuerk must convince at least one of four Allentown City Council members who voted Wednesday against his latest 2% tax-increase proposal to change their minds.
-
Council members Ed Zucal and Ce-Ce Gerlach led an unsuccessful push Wednesday night to override Mayor Matt Tuerk’s veto.
-
Allentown Planning Director Jennifer Gomez said her staff had “concerns” about Ideal Concepts’ plans to build more than a quarter-million square feet of office space.
-
The interactive map is meant to “foster transparency and provide residents with a clear understanding of the proposed 2% tax increase,” Allentown communications manager Genesis Ortega said.
-
Allentown zoning officials saw no issues Monday night with Blackstone Structures’ request to convert a former commercial building that once was the home of Gen. Harry Trexler into housing and retail space.
-
Joshua Steven Gonzalez, 39, of South Whitehall Township, is accused of possessing child pornography after a detective allegedly traced videos to his computer.