Jim Deegan
Executive editorI’ve lived more than 25 years in the Easton area and worked as a reporter, producer and editor for longer than that. Since 1996, I’ve led news teams and covered virtually every major news story in the Lehigh Valley – and lots of little ones, too. It’s a privilege to work in a newsroom with people who care about our corner of Pennsylvania and share stories that hopefully make an impact. It’s an even greater privilege to have your attention – and earn your trust – as we cover your communities. Contact me at JimD@lehighvalleynews.com or 610-984-8224.
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Before ESPN, before social media, before the 24-hour news cycle, Muhammad Ali paid a surprise visit to Easton on Jan. 23, 1973, to appease a young, up-and-coming fighter named Larry Holmes.
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A rockslide shut down Route 611 north of Portland, Pa., in early December. Last week, PennDOT said the road isn't expected to reopen for another 7 months. On the heels of pandemic losses, many merchants said they don't know if they can withstand this hit.
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Our Lady of Good Counsel and Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishes will merge and keep those churches open. However, the Chapel of St. Vincent de Paul in Portland will be closing, the Diocese of Allentown announced.
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The busy road has been closed since early December, when heavy rain washed out a roadside rock facing and sent boulders onto the blacktop. A protracted closure is expected.
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The 71-year-old victim was found unresponsive in his garage on Dec. 25, two days after a winter storm knocked out power to thousands in the region.
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Allentown police say four people were shot Sunday night in the 1100 block of East Clair Street — site of the nonprofit East Side Youth Center. On Tuesday, folks played pickleball inside with the doors locked.
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Officers found one victim at the scene Sunday night. As they were investigating, three more victims showed up at the hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds.
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Need continues to grow for emergency food services. With the end of pandemic-era benefits and inflation still not letting up, demand is higher than ever, according to food pantry managers.
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Police said they have yet to locate a murder weapon. But they indicated the arrest of Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, in the Poconos early Friday was a breakthrough. “What I can tell you is we have an individual in custody who committed these horrible crimes and I do believe our community is safe,” Police Chief James Fry said.
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The child died Tuesday after he was shot in the basement of an Allentown home. Authorities said his 10-year-old brother accidentally fired a handgun the boys found.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Lehigh Valley Public Media organiza el debate entre la demócrata Ana Tiburcio y el republicano Robert E. Smith Jr. Será el jueves 12 de febrero en Da Vinci Science Center en Allentown. La elección especial es el 24 de febrero.
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Lehigh Valley Public Media is organizing the debate between Democrat Ana Tiburcio and Republican Robert E. Smith Jr. It will be held Thursday, Feb. 12, at Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. The special election is Feb. 24.
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Miller-Keystone Blood Center requires about 350 blood donations every day to meet the needs of regional hospitals. Sunday's big winter storm forced the cancellation of multiple blood drives.
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The Lehigh County Coroner's Office said the 27-year-old died Saturday night at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest — hours after being shot during a standoff with Pennsylvania State Police in a North Whitehall Township driveway.
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Sal Panto Sr. was the father of Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and longtime proprietor of Sal's Meat Market on College Hill.
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La última misa en Our Lady of Good Counsel en Bangor será el 7 de febrero debido a la baja asistencia y a costosas reparaciones.
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The final Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Bangor will be held Saturday, Feb. 7. Declining attendance and the need for costly repairs factored into the decision, church leaders said.
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Víctima 'se aferró a la vida' en atropello mortal en Allentown con conductor de Amazon, dice policíaLa víctima, Rigoberto Hernandez Arias, murió el 21 de noviembre tras ser atropellado en Allentown. Un repartidor de Amazon, Troy Johnson, de 30 años, está detenido en Lehigh County con una fianza de $500,000.
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The victim, 29-year-old Rigiberto Hernandez Arias of Allentown, died Nov. 21 after being run over near Emaus Avenue and South Fourth Street in Allentown. An Amazon delivery driver, 30-year-old Troy Johnson, is in Lehigh County Jail on $500,000 bail.