https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/tags/top-stories Top Stories en-US All use of our RSS feeds is subject to our Terms Of Service and to the terms and conditions outlined on LehighValleyNews.com. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:17:53 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/northampton-county/allen-township-warehouse-could-become-lehigh-valleys-first-hyperscale-data-center Prologis is seeking permission to turn a million-square-foot warehouse into a data center. Allen Township supervisors unanimously approved those plans last month. ALLEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley looks set to see a wave of data centers in coming years, with developers lining up massive construction proposals, and municipalities racing to establish regulations.But an empty warehouse in Allen Township could give one company a much quicker entrance into the market.Prologis is seeking permission to turn a million-square-foot warehouse at 2500 Liberty Drive into a data center. Allen Township supervisors unanimously approved those plans in March.The facility is about a half-mile east of the township's border with Northampton. Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s comprehensive planning committee reviewed the plans Tuesday.Its members are required to “take a neutral position” as it reviews proposals, but Commissioner Christopher Amato pushed his colleagues to set a standard for future proposals.“This looks to be the first data center that might actually come to fruition in the Lehigh Valley," he said. "It is so important that we do it right.”He credited Allen Township’s “excellent” township manager, Ilene Eckhart, for giving him “a degree of comfort” about the data center project.Aligns with LVPC's goalsThe proposal to repurpose a warehouse rather than build a new facility aligns with the LVPC’s development and land-preservation goals.And the center likely would generate less traffic and parking than a warehouse, according to Jill Seitz, LVPC's chief community and regional planner.But Allen Township “should carefully review” the proposed center’s impacts on noise and light, Seitz said.The township also should “refine” its zoning ordinance to clarify how future data center proposals would be classified, Seitz said.The committee on Tuesday recommended the full LVPC approve a letter that asks the developer to provide more information on the center’s operations, water and electricity use, cooling systems and emergency response plans.“In this particular case, the facts as we know them are — by far — outnumbered by the facts that we don’t know,” Amato said.The full Lehigh Valley Planning Commission is expected to review the letter and vote on it Thursday night. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:17:53 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/northampton-county/allen-township-warehouse-could-become-lehigh-valleys-first-hyperscale-data-center https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/new-artsquest-country-music-festival-to-debut-at-steelstacks CountryFest, a free festival set for Aug. 21-22, "will bring the heart and soul of country music to the Lehigh Valley with two full days of live performances, great food and high-energy fun," ArtsQuest said in a release. BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Over the years, ArtsQuest has offered music festivals of many genres— and many continue today with blues, reggae, Latin music and the polka of Oktoberfest.Yet, the genre that has been most popular for ArtsQuest in recent years — country music — has never had its own festival.Until now.ArtsQuest has announced a new celebration of country music and culture that will take over the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks for a summer weekend.CountryFest, a free festival set for Aug. 21-22, "will bring the heart and soul of country music to the Lehigh Valley with two full days of live performances, great food and high-energy fun," ArtsQuest said in a release.It said CountryFest "will showcase a dynamic lineup of nationally touring country artists, rising stars and beloved local performers."Headlining the first CountryFest will be Clayton Mullen, Luke Borchelt and Peytan Porter.Also offered will be tribute performances" Kevin Kenny — The Chesney Show and Lainey Nation — a Tribute to Lainey Wilson.Completing the lineup will be some of the Lehigh Valley's country acts: Erin Kelly, Whiskey & Roses and Adam and the Armadillos.There also will be line dance lessons with Aleah Stomp & Shine, which has instructed crowds at area venues, as well as food, activities and local artisans and crafters.“ArtsQuest’s latest festival celebration, CountryFest, arrives not a day too soon for a genre that has been a mainstay for Lehigh Valley audiences for decades now,” ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said.“And what better time? Country music is everywhere, attracting fans of all ages and delivering some of the most engaging shows on tour today."We can’t wait to see where audiences take this festival in the years to come.”Headliners, activities, food, more Mullen has released two albums, with 2024's "Start at the End" compiling more than 25 million streams.He has a new EP due out this summer and had released two singles from it: “Love On The Radio” and “First Time Feeling Last.”Singer-songwriter Borchelt counts among his influences hip-hop and "the soul of country and city," and says he both blends genres and stays true to his roots.His debut album "Every Rain" was released in 2024.Porter's 2023 debut album "In My Head" leaned pop-country, but her more recent EP "Grown" features songs with a more rootsy spirit, such as “God’s Hotel,” “Speaking of Georgia,” and “Lemonade."She says on her website that she has shared the stage with artists including Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Jon Pardi and Brett Eldredge, and made appearances at the Grand Ole Opry.Aleah, the personality behind Stomp & Shine, has more than six years of dancing and three years of teaching and is known for high-energy, beginner-friendly instruction.Festival attendees can buy BBQ favorites from Red Cedar Grill and bacon from Bacon on a Stick; cool off with ice cream from Batch Micro-Creamery; and sip beverages.Also offered throughout the weekend will be interactive activities such as axe throwing and local artisans and crafters selling handmade goods, country-inspired pieces and one-of-a-kind finds "that celebrate the creativity of the region," ArtsQuest said.Festival schedule The festival's schedule is:Friday, Aug. 21:6–7:15 p.m. — Erin Kelly on Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square7:30–9 p.m. — Kevin Kenny: The Chesney Show on Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks 9-9:40 p.m. — Stomp & Shine (Line Dance Lessons with Whiskey and Roses), Community Stage on Town Square.9-11 p.m. — Whiskey and Roses, Community Stage on Town Square.Saturday, Aug. 22:4–5 p.m. — Luke Borchelt, Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks 5 p.m. — Clayton Mullen, Community Stage on Town Square.6:30 – 7:30 p.m. — Peytan Porter, Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks.7:30–9 p.m. — Lainey Nation – A Tribute to Lainey Wilson, Community Stage on Town Square.9–11 p.m. — Adam and the Armadillos, Community Stage on Town Square. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:55:13 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/new-artsquest-country-music-festival-to-debut-at-steelstacks https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/elections/democrats-running-for-lehigh-valley-congressional-seat-talk-tariffs-economy Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure and Carol Obando-Derstine this month discussed their goals to strengthen the economy and thoughts on tariffs during interviews with Lehigh Valley Public Media. EDITOR'S NOTE: Three Democratic candidates for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District — Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure and Carol Obando-Derstine — visited the Univest Public Media Center for one-on-one policy interviews with LehighValleyNews.com. The conversations are the basis of a five-part PA-7 Talks series this week ahead of the May 19 primary election. A fourth candidate, firefighter union boss Bob Brooks, initially agreed to participate but later canceled. His campaign did not respond to requests to reschedule. The winner of the primary is expected to face U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, in November. Mackenzie is uncontested in the Republican primary.BETHLEHEM, Pa. — For several years, affordability and rising costs have proven to be a driving issue in American elections.That may prove to be a critical issue again this midterm, with national polls finding Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of the cost of living.Given the persistent challenge, Lehigh Valley Public Media spoke with former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell, former Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and energy engineer Carol Obando-Derstine about how to address stubbornly high costs and Congress's role in tariffs.TariffsAll three Democrats were critical of President Trump's tariffs, which they said have contributed to high costs at the grocery store and across the economy. Crosswell and Obando-Derstine also pointed the finger at U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, saying the freshman lawmaker hasn't served as a needed check on the president's authority."This is one more place where the president has abused its power and Congress has abdicated its responsibility," Crosswell said. "The tariffs are driving up costs for groceries, home construction and electronics — essentials," Obando-Derstine said.McClure said, "This was supposed to help our trade imbalance, exports and imports. But our trade imbalance actually got worse." However, the candidates had different opinions on whether Congress needed to remove a president's ability to set tariffs or if Congress just needed to act as a check on Trump. While Congress traditionally has the power to set tax rates, it has granted the president leeway to set tariffs for about a century.McClure and Obando-Derstine said that Congress needed to reassert this power for itself. The power of the purse strings has long been the domain of Congress and tariffs should be no different, especially when American consumers are the ones footing the bill, they said."What we'll have to do is have legislation that makes it clear that the Constitution requires all taxation to start with the Congress and specifically in the House of Representation," McClure said. "And tariffs are a form of taxation."Crosswell, however, was more open to letting future presidents retain some tariff powers. Past presidents, he said, have had a better grasp of economics and worked within the powers granted to them by Congress."I don't think we need a fundamental change," he said. "I think we just need a president who abides by and follows the law."AffordabilityThe three candidates offered different strategies on how to best tackle the ongoing affordability crisis. Obando-Derstine focused her attention on raising wages and refocusing tax policy to assist the middle class. The federal minimum wage, she noted, hasn't increased since 2009. Addressing wages would directly put more money into working class Americans' pockets and help them pay for the essentials, she said."I've talked to families and parents specifically who are working two or three jobs just to make ends meet," she said. "This is not a personal failure. This is a policy failure."She also criticized the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Congress passed last summer, calling it a handout for the billionaire class. Thousands of households across Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District now pay more for food and health care. Restoring those programs would go a long way toward helping local families, she said.In addition to rolling back tariffs, McClure called for an end to the conflict of Iran, which he called an "unauthorized war." While America may have reliable access to oil, the closure of Straight of Hormuz sent global oil prices skyrocketing. Given the need for oil to transport goods and grow foods, the conflict has caused inflation to spike."The first thing we need to do is bring our brave young men and women home from the Middle East so we can calm those markets down, calm those oil markets down," McClure said.Crosswell, meanwhile, rattled off a host of policies, including creating universal pre-kindergarten, shifting some student debt onto colleges and making more affordable housing. He spent the most time speaking about the need to pass major tax reforms that would require the wealthiest Americans to pick up a greater share of the tax burden.That includes taxing assets and not just income, he said."We have, increasingly, a regressive tax system that gives tax breaks to the very, very wealthiest of the wealthy, and it shifts the burden on the middle and working class," Crosswell said. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:51:31 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/elections/democrats-running-for-lehigh-valley-congressional-seat-talk-tariffs-economy https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/state-regional-news/state-lawmakers-advance-pfas-foam-ban-aimed-at-protecting-firefighters “This is a proactive step in getting this out of firefighting foam,” Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, one of the co-sponsors of the legislation, said in a phone call Tuesday. BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lawmakers have advanced their latest effort to restrict firefighting foam containing so-called forever chemicals.The measure cleared a key hurdle in a renewed push to address longstanding concerns over toxic exposure among firefighters and environmental contamination.Senate Bill 980 was approved Tuesday by the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. It would prohibit the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — or PFAS — beginning later this year.“This is a proactive step in getting this out of firefighting foam,” Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, one of the co-sponsors of the legislation, said in a phone call.SB 980 was referred to committee in August — a companion bill to similar legislation passed unanimously in the state House a month before.Miller said despite several bills on the move in Harrisburg, there was “a lot of bipartisan support” on the issue.‘Our responsibility to those who risk their lives’PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s.According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, they persist in the environment and the human body, with growing research linking exposure to a broad range of health risks.Firefighters are at a particularly high risk of exposure, with PFAS found in firefighting foam and turnout gear worn for protection on the job."This bipartisan legislation takes decisive action to phase out dangerous substances, protecting the long-term health of our frontline heroes while preventing lasting contamination of our soil and water,” Miller said in a news release."It reflects our responsibility to those who risk their lives in service to our communities."I look forward to advancing this bill as we put the well-being of those who serve at the forefront, safeguard public health, and advocate for environmental protection."State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Bradford/Lycoming/Sullivan/Tioga/Union, acknowledged firefighters face disproportionately high exposure levels compared to other emergency responders, particularly through the use of legacy firefighting foams.“PFAS contamination is a national public health challenge, and this bill is a commonsense response, which has already been adopted by many states,” Yaw, the bill’s prime sponsor, said in the release.“This bill will undoubtedly protect firefighters moving forward, while also safeguarding our ground and surface water from contamination.”A broader health debateThe bill’s advancement comes amid continued scrutiny of PFAS exposure in firefighting, an issue that has been the focus of ongoing reporting at LehighValleyNews.com.Previous coverage highlighted how PFAS chemicals are found not only in firefighting foam, but also in turnout gear worn by firefighters, raising concerns about repeated exposure during both emergency response and routine training.Researchers and fire service advocates have pointed to the gear as a potential long-term exposure pathway, even as departments begin phasing out legacy foam products.At the same time, attention has increasingly turned to firefighter cancer rates and early detection efforts.Fire departments across Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley have expanded cancer screening programs and health monitoring initiatives in response to evidence that firefighters face elevated risks for several types of cancer, a trend linked in part to chemical exposures on the job.Local fire officials and advocates have repeatedly pointed to PFAS as one piece of a broader occupational health challenge that includes smoke exposure, contaminated equipment and the cumulative effects of long-term service.Cancer caused 66% of the career firefighter line-of-duty deaths from 2002-19, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters.Multiple Lehigh Valley firefighters have died from cancer more recently including Allentown fire training instructor Chris Koskeravage, former city fire marshal Jeff Tomczak and Emmaus and Lehigh Township firefighter April Lubenetski.SB 980 would let fire companies use Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant funding to cover the cost of disposing of PFAS-containing foam.Disposal would be overseen by the State Fire Commissioner in coordination with the state Department of Environmental Protection.It also includes exemptions for certain high-risk facilities such as airports, chemical plants and refineries where specialized foams may still be required.The legislation now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:10:13 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/state-regional-news/state-lawmakers-advance-pfas-foam-ban-aimed-at-protecting-firefighters https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/free-music-festival-focused-on-protecting-our-planet-returning-to-steelstacks The fourth annual No Planet B Jamboree, a free festival featuring music, sustainable vendors and more, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Town Square Community Stage outside ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A Wilkes-Barre blues rocker and former guitarist for a band that in the 1990s had charting hits will headline the return of a free festival dedicated to "protecting our planet."Dustin Douglas and The Electric Gentlemen be among three music acts to perform at the fourth annual No Planet B Jamboree at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, it was announced. For the second time, the festival, “aims to raise awareness about sustainability and the importance of taking care of our planet” will be at the ArtsQuest Town Square Stage at SteelStacks. In case of rain, it will move inside to Palette & Pour restaurant at ArtsQuest Center.It also will feature Nervous Nikki & the Chill Pills, a suburban Philadelphia indie rock/punk energy band, and The Hot Mamas, an eclectic femme collective of Americana singer-songwriters.Local organizations and vendors also will offer eco-friendly products, sustainable services and "practical ways to live more sustainably, according to a release."The music discovery component has a killer line-up of next fav bands like always," said Philip Reese, whose Your Next Favorite Band podcast organizes No Planet B with ArtsQuest. New this year will be Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds updating attendees on the city's Climate Action Plan, the city's recently announced "40 in 10" public parks revitalization plan and "the various ways Bethlehem is adopting conservation and sustainability initiatives," Reese said.Fun run, then musicThe day again will kick off at 1 p.m. with a 5K Fun Run, welcoming runners and walkers of all levels "to get moving for a greener future."The run will finish where the music starts, at the Town Square stage outside ArtsQuest Center.Music will start at 2 p.m. with Nervous Nikki & the Chill Pills, who mix indie, folk, garage rock and even hip hop. The band released an EP, "Nerves of Glass," in July 25.The Hot Mamas will perform at 2:55 p.m., offering what it describes as "swingy Appalachian folk pop punk."Bethlehem's Mayor Reynolds then will speak at 3:45 p.m., with Dustin Douglas & the Electric Gentlemen performing at 4 p.m.Douglas (nee Drevitch) previously was guitarist for Northeast Pennsylvania roots rockers The Badlees, who in the mid-1990s had the Top 30 Mainstream Rock chart hits "Fear of Falling" and "Angeline is Coming Home."The Electric Gentlemen is a swaggering band that captures the vibe of late 1960s and ‘70s blues-laced rock ‘n’ roll of Jimi Hendrix Experience, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Led Zeppelin and Black Crowes.A new designation for festivalNo Planet B's number of participating organizations also "has increased and expanded, and includes a mix of nonprofits, for-profits and governmental entities, which is very exciting," Reese said.Scheduled to participate are The Energy Co-op, The Running Kind, Green Pond Packaging and Master Gardeners of Lehigh/Northampton Counties.Also, Reclaim Planet Earth, City of Bethlehem Sustainability Initiative, Bethlehem Environmental Advisory Council and Conservation Voters of PA.And Green Building United, The Foundry Recording Studio, Lehigh Valley Girls Rock and East Spruce Design/Build.Reese said No Planet B also has achieved “Certified Festival” status from Musicians for Sustainability.One element of the designation was to have the food served by Levy Restaurants on plastic-free plates and using flatware and napkins, he said."Chef Julie Marble has been incredibly supportive of this adjustment to the food service and worked with Lisa Pammer of Green Pond Packaging to make it happen," he said. Further, One Compost Can from New Jersey will provide receptacles for the compostable items and taking them for handling after the event, he said."Such a very, very cool thing that came together because all of these people cared and put the effort in to make it all happen," Reese said.Reese also said the festival is encouraging "everyone to take part in simple, impactful actions" when they come to No Planet B."Bring a reusable cup or mug (like your favorite Musikfest mug!) to help cut down on single-use waste," he said. "Choose eco-friendly transportation — walk, bike, carpool take public transit or drive an electric vehicle if you can."This family-friendly event brings people together to celebrate music, movement and meaningful climate action ... Because there is no Planet B." Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:12:17 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/free-music-festival-focused-on-protecting-our-planet-returning-to-steelstacks https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/arts-culture/entertainment/homecoming-wxw-return-ties-allentowns-past-to-wrestlings-future World Xtreme Wrestling is set to relaunch in Allentown, returning to Mountainville Memorial Hall, the longtime base of the promotion founded by the late WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoaʻi Sr. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — For decades, Allentown has been less a stop on the pro wrestling map than the ultimate proving ground.Inside Agricultural Hall at Allentown Fairgrounds, the then-World Wrestling Federation turned a modest venue into a television factory in the late 1970s and early 1980s, taping matches that helped define what pro wrestling would become.Week after week, future headliners cycled through — not yet icons but close enough to test what worked. If a character connected in Allentown, it had a shot anywhere.Now, that lineage is circling back to one of its most important homes.World Xtreme Wrestling soon will relaunch in Allentown, returning to Mountainville Memorial Hall (Mountainville Youth Center), the longtime base of the promotion founded by the late WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoaʻi Sr.Presented by Battlefield Pro Wrestling, the revival will begin May 3 with “WXW: Homecoming,” with plans to run shows the first Sunday of every month.It seeks to revive a dynamic that made the city a pipeline for pro wrestling — where wrestlers came through to sharpen personas, refine timing and learn how to work in front of a crowd that knew the difference.Stars such as Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Sgt. Slaughter, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper all passed through, part of a steady churn of talent using Allentown as a launching pad to worldwide stardom.Later, names including Yokozuna, Billy Kidman and Dave Bautista followed in those footsteps, training locally under Afa Anoaʻi Sr., who operated The Wild Samoan Training Center.That influence still resonates. On WWE "Raw" last month — broadcast to a global audience on Netflix — CM Punk reflected on his early days making the trip from Philadelphia to Allentown, where he said he was “paid in knowledge sitting under the Wild Samoans learning tree.”'Has always been home'For Afa Anoaʻi Jr., the return is more than nostalgia. It’s an attempt to re-establish Allentown’s role in the wrestling ecosystem, not just as a place that remembers its history, but as one that actively builds what comes next.That vision is rooted in place as much as ambition.“WXW, to me, has always been Allentown,” Anoaʻi Jr. said. “That’s where my dad lived. That’s where the whole WXW idea was born — in the Lehigh Valley.”He traces that history through a network of now-defunct venues and training spaces, from the first gym tucked under Jordan Lanes to television tapings at the Days Inn & Conference Center off Route 22.But Mountainville, he said, remained the constant.“Mountainville specifically has always been home, and that’s always been the monthly show for all these guys getting ready to go on TV,” he said.“It was a place, a platform for my father’s students to always, you know, chop it up with the best in the business.”'The next pipeline'The goal now is not just to return, but to rebuild that function.“Allentown is always in our plans, as far as being the next pipeline,” Anoaʻi Jr. said.That pipeline already exists in pieces. Anoaʻi Jr. runs a training center in the Poconos and has spent recent years rebuilding a roster that now approaches 100 wrestlers, enough to sustain multiple brands under the Battlefield umbrella.The intent is to develop talent locally, give them consistent ring time and, ultimately, position them for opportunities with larger promotions.“We’ve helped KC Navarro. He just recently returned to TNA,” Anoaʻi Jr. said. “We have guys in NWA right now. We also have guys on AEW. We had guys sign with NXT. We had Jacob Fatu here right before he went full time" with WWE.Fatu was on the largest stage of them all over the weekend, battling the “Scottish Warrior” Drew McIntyre in an “unsanctioned” match at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.But for those chasing that level, the path is neither quick nor uniform, he said.“From my experience and people within my family, it’s usually around 10 years that you’re on this journey,” Anoaʻi Jr. said. “Now, guys are able to fast forward that journey a lot. But to me, you can’t beat experience.”That emphasis on repetition and live crowds is central to the WXW model. Anoaʻi Jr. pointed to a broader industry shift away from house shows (non-televised events), which he believes have limited opportunities for wrestlers to develop in front of audiences.“To me, a first-time match should never be on TV first,” he said. “You should get a couple of house shows in before you bring it to TV, just to see if it works or not.”The monthly schedule in Allentown is designed to recreate that environment, both for performers and fans.Mountainville Memorial Hall, with a capacity of roughly 300 to 350, offers a smaller, more immediate setting than modern arena shows.“I can’t wait,” he said. “People have been always asking, when’s WXW coming back? When’s it coming back to Mountainville? And now we’re back.”What fans will see, he said, is a blend of tradition and updated production.“You could expect the quality that WXW has always given," he said. "However, now you could expect a little more bells and whistles.“It’s a mix of old mixed with new, and it’s more produced. We’re all in-house now, everything that we’re doing.”That includes not just the wrestlers, but the broader operation, from camera work to music, much of it handled by trainees within the system."It’s all our students, and we take great pride in that,” he said.‘The foundation that built this business’For Anoaʻi Jr., the project also carries the weight of family legacy. His father was a foundational figure in the industry and in the Lehigh Valley wrestling scene in particular.His cousin Joe Anoaʻi, better known by his ring name Roman Reigns, beat CM Punk in Sunday’s WrestleMania night two main event to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship — Reigns’ 11th time in a WrestleMania main event.Jonathan and Joshua Fatu (Jimmy and Jey Uso), who opened night one of WrestleMania with a match simulcast on ESPN, also are part of the renowned Anoaʻi family.That reach underscores a family dynasty that has shaped the highest levels of the industry.“I just want to carry on my father’s legacy the best that I can and make sure that his name lives forever as it should,” Anoaʻi Jr. said. “Because my dad was part of the foundation that built this business.”Asked what his father might say about the relaunch, he didn’t hesitate.“I think he would tell me that he’s proud of me,” he said.The first show will offer a snapshot of what that legacy looks like in practice: a two-hour card, roughly 10 matches and direct interaction between fans and wrestlers.“You’re gonna experience hard hitting live action like you’ve never seen it before,” Anoaʻi Jr. said. “There’s no commercial breaks. You’ll be able to feel the action up close and personal. You’ll be able to meet all the wrestlers and mingle with them.”It is, in many ways, a return to the fundamentals that once made Allentown essential to wrestling’s growth. The difference now is that the city is not just revisiting its past, but positioning itself to shape what comes next.“We’re great for the community. We love the Lehigh Valley,” he said. “Come on out and give us a shot. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”What: WXW HomecomingWhere: Mountainville Memorial Hall (Mountainville Youth Center) in AllentownWhen: 5 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Tickets and information: https://wxwprowrestling.com/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:32:01 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/arts-culture/entertainment/homecoming-wxw-return-ties-allentowns-past-to-wrestlings-future https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/allentown-mayor-postpones-creekside-homeless-camp-clear-out Mayor Matt Tuerk said more officials should have been involved in the process that led to eviction notices being posted at the camp last week. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A small group of people living in a row of tents along the Little Lehigh Creek will be allowed to stay there while seeking safer alternatives.Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk on Friday morning postponed the creek-side camp’s pending clear-out, which was slated to start Monday. City officials made that decision after reviewing the process that led to no trespassing and eviction notices being posted there April 10.A draft administrative policy on encampment “evacuations” was under review last week but not in place until Thursday. It would have required more approvals from city officials and notification for service providers, Tuerk said. He maintains his concerns over the safety of the creekside camp, but he said he recognizes he must balance its flood risk against the serious risks that come with forcing people to vacate. “We understand the consequences of asking a person to leave a source of stability,” Tuerk said. “We do not take that lightly.”Danielle Mineo, the city's unhoused services coordinator, is set to lead the effort to connect residents to “safe alternative housing,” Tuerk said Friday morning in a message to council. Mineo and a service provider visited the camp Friday morning to inform residents they could stay past Monday, according to city Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach.Gerlach said she learned of the mayor's decision from a camp resident, who told her, “I feel like I can breathe.”Hearing “that is enough” to know council's efforts to stop the eviction were worthwhile, she said. Gerlach on Wednesday introduced an emergency resolution — unanimously approved by her colleagues — that urged Tuerk to delay. Council also is calling on city and Lehigh County leaders to find a place for homeless residents to safely camp. They need “a temporary solution that doesn't have to be perfect,” Gerlach said. “It just has to be better than what we have now.”Whose call? Managing Director Frank Kane said this week that the city Public Works Department made the decision with little input from officials or service providers. He walked that back Friday evening. The decision to shut down the camp was made without proper input from all departments that should've been consulted, Kane said, but he didn't identify who made the final call.He said he misspoke when laying the decision on the Public Works employees, who physically posted the signs at the camp. Councilwoman Cynthia Mota called that mischaracterization "really unfair" and said the Public Works Department was scapegoated. Mota, who chairs council's public works committee, said the department is often among the last to get involved with encampment evictions. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:29:00 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/allentown-mayor-postpones-creekside-homeless-camp-clear-out https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/elections/political-spending-in-lehigh-valley-congressional-race-tops-3-2-million Campaign spending in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District already is trending ahead of the $30 million record set in the 2024 election. BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Two years after the Lehigh Valley saw $30 million spent in its battleground congressional race, the candidates in this year's midterms already are on pace to top that record.Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie and the four Democrats hoping to claim his seat have spent a total of $3.2 million this election cycle as of March 31, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission.They're all competing to represent Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, one of the country's few toss-up U.S. House races.The seat represents all of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties plus a sliver of Monroe County.By comparison, the 2024 race saw Democratic incumbent Susan Wild and her three Republican challengers spend $1.7 million through the first quarter of that election year.Mackenzie, a freshman lawmaker in Congress, is uncontested in this year's Republican primary but already has spent $1.1 million in his bid to defend his seat.On the Democratic side, former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell leads the pack in political spending. His campaign has spent $916,552 since he entered the race last spring. He's followed by firefighter union boss Bob Brooks ($502,664 in disbursements), energy engineer Carol Obando-Derstine ($415,266 in disbursements) and former Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure ($215,704 in disbursements).Christopher Borick, a political scientist at Muhlenberg College, said the jump in spending reinforces the Lehigh Valley's reputation as some of the nation's most coveted political real estate.Mackenzie managed to flip the district two years ago in a hard-fought race during a competitive political cycle, Borick said.Public polling shows Americans now are growing frustrated with President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, so Democrats may be motivated to step up their campaigns to win back PA-7 and potentially the House majority, he said."I expected it to be high, and this might be even higher than I thought," Borick said of the spending.While campaign spending doesn't guarantee victory, better funding lets candidates more easily reach a wider swath of the electorate, Borick said. Historically, candidates who find themselves being outspent by an order of magnitude struggle to compete against their flusher rivals, he said. Ryan MackenzieMackenzie, who previously represented parts of Lehigh County in the state House for over a decade, added $893,161 to his campaign coffers through the first three months of 2026, according to his campaign's 1,800-page report.He had nearly $2.5 million on hand at the close of March.The lion's share of Mackenzie's funds came from political action committees run by Republican members of the U.S. House.Speaker Mike Johnson's Grow Our Majority PAC was Mackenzie's single largest backer this quarter, transferring $194,341 toward his campaign. Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, transferred the Mackenzie campaign $66,893 more through his Emmer Majority PAC. The Republican National Committee transferred the campaign $57,723 as well.Technically, Mackenzie, a Lower Macungie Township, supported himself by donating to his main PAC from a second one. He transferred himself more than $37,000 from his Mackenzie For America PAC. Donors to his secondary fundraising organ include former Bethlehem Steel Chief Executive Officer Hank Barnette ($1,000); Gary Iaccoca, owner of the Yocco's Hot Dogs ($1,000); and auto dealership owner Andrew Wright ($2,000).Individual donors who contributed $200 or more to Mackenzie's primary PAC accounted for than $180,000 of Mackenzie's funding over the three-month period. Notable donors include Hotel Bethlehem owner Bruce Haines ($1,000), former Emmaus area Magisterial District Judge Donna Butler and her husband Michael Butler ($2,500) and Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets and President Donald Trump's former ambassador to the United Kingdom ($158).Poarch Creek Band of Indians, the Alabama-based tribe that owns Wind Creek Bethlehem Resort & Casino, contributed $7,000 to his campaign, as well.The report did not include money Mackenzie raised from a fundraiser last week featuring Speaker Johnson, R-Louisana, as the headliner. Prominent guests listed to attend the event included Liz and Dick Uhlein, the billionaire owners of the shipping materials company U-Line; Tony Salvaggio, founder of the Allentown IT firm Computer Aid Inc.; and Joe Topper, chair of the fuel distributor Cross America Partners. Topper also sits on Lehigh Valley Public Media's Board of Directors.Ryan CrosswellCrosswell led the Democratic field in fundraising last quarter with $479,808, according to his FEC report. The majority of that came from large individual donors from across the country, records show. He had more than $715,000 on hand by the quarter's end.Crosswell, a Marine and Pottsville native, initially struggled to attract donors from the Lehigh Valley. He launched his congressional campaign last year shortly after moving to Allentown. His rivals have attacked him as an opportunist and carpetbagger, but the latest donor rolls suggest he's winning over some local voters.While a significant portion of his financial backers remain out-of-district, Crosswell's prominent Lehigh Valley supporters last quarter include ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks ($3,000) and former Rodale Chief Executive Officer Maria Rodale ($4,500).Also, Lexus of Lehigh Valley Chief Operating Officer David Cooper ($3,500), developer and former Republican candidate for Allentown Mayor Nat Hyman ($1,000), Lehigh County Commissioner Dan Hartzell ($100) and Northampton County Commissioner Lori Vargo Heffner ($250).Crosswell also is being backed by New Politics, a left-of-center political action committee that supports congressional candidates who have served in the military. The group transferred him $823 from a joint fundraiser last quarter.Other than Hartzell's political action committee, the only other PAC to contribute to Crosswell's campaign was the American Association for Justice, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. The group contributed $5,000 toward the campaign.Bob BrooksBrooks' fundraising nearly matched Crosswell's, collecting $423,221 in the first quarter. About 60% of that total came from individual donors contributing more than $250. The Brooks campaign had almost $544,000 at the end of March, according to his FEC filings.The campaign finance report shows Brooks, who has built his campaign around his working-class bona fides, appears to have successfully connected with white-collar donors through the early months of 2026. His backers include Sarah Iselin, president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts ($1,000); Guarav Kapadia, founder of the New York City investment firm XN ($7,000); and former Goldman Sachs partner Eric Mindich ($3,500).Brooks drew financial support from donors closer to home, as well. Lehigh Valley-based donors included Martin Guitar Chief Executive Officer Christian Martin ($3,500); Darrell Crook, former principal of Northampton Area Elementary Schools, and his wife Linda Crook ($7,000); and Jeremy Warmkessel, president of International Fire Fighters Association Local 302 in Allentown ($1,200).Also, $79,000 came from political action committees, including groups associated with some of Brooks' high-profile endorsements.They include U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland ($4,000), U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, ($5,000) and U.S. Rep. Chris Diluzio, D-Pennsylvania, ($1,500). A PAC associated with U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pennsylvania, contributed $5,000 toward his campaign, but she has not formally endorsed Brooks.Carol Obando-DerstineThere was a significant gap between the Mackenzie, Crosswell and Brooks and the rest of the field, with Obando-Derstine raising a total of $111,283. Her campaign would have had two straight quarters in the red if not for a $20,000 loan and a $4,000 donation she provided her campaign. She entered April with $127,936 on hand.Aside from the loan, nearly all of Obando-Derstine's funding came from individual donors. Donors of note include former Lehigh Valley congressional candidate Greg Edwards ($500); Karen Cooper, the former owner of Lexus of Lehigh Valley ($3,500); and Lafayette College instructor Tara Gilligan ($3,500).Obando-Derstine's PAC donations totaled $4,500. Of that, $2,500 of that came from Moms Fed Up PAC, which supports mothers running for public office.The remaining $2,000 came from Square One Politics PAC. Square One Politics supports Democratic women, people of color and LGBTQ candidates running in districts with a history of Republican control.Lamont McClureMcClure's campaign spent just $22,678 last quarter, but still lost money after raising only $20,166 over the same time period. However, he still has $285,077 on hand as he entered the primary's home stretch. Most of that funding has derived from a $200,000 loan he floated his campaign last year.Many of McClure's biggest donors have ties to his time in Northampton County. His financial supporters include state Rep. Tim Brennan, D-Bucks, a former county solicitor ($1,000); former Northampton County solicitor Melissa Rudas ($500); and former Northampton County Executive Glenn Reibman ($500). McClure raised $2,500 from political action committees, most of which stemmed from a donation by the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers PAC ($2,000). A PAC associated with Roseto Borough Councilman Dan Engle provided the other $500. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:30:00 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/elections/political-spending-in-lehigh-valley-congressional-race-tops-3-2-million https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/homeless-camp-eviction-shelters-closing-reignite-calls-for-safe-camping-in-allentown The Allentown YMCA's expanded 80-bed shelter served 108 people this winter. They all must figure out a new place to go. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — More than 100 people who have used the city's only winter shelter in recent months must find a new place to lay their heads.And soon they'll be joined by at least nine others who have been living outside a few blocks away, with city crews set to continue last year's creekside-camp clearings next week.The Allentown YMCA closed its shelter for the season Thursday morning, though officials have said it will reopen Sunday through Tuesday under Code Blue protocols, with temperatures set to plummet below freezing.The Y's expanded 80-bed shelter served 108 people this winter.Forty-six were homeless for the first time and 57 became homeless after the shelter's early opening at the end of September, according to Danielle Mineo, who has served as Allentown's unhoused services coordinator since June. They all must figure out a new place to go, with the YMCA's shelter no longer an option. About a dozen people were gathered outside the shelter about 90 minutes before it opened for the final time Wednesday night.Among them was Edgardo Antonio Caraballo, a 58-year-old man from Puerto Rico who had nothing but gratitude for the shelter and its staff.“I’m just grateful for everything,” Caraballo said, also thanking Allentown churches for helping him and other homeless people get through the winter.“You don’t want to be wandering around the streets.”“I feel good about myself,” Caraballo said Wednesday, even though he said he did not have a plan for where he’d go the next night.Revisiting safe camping? Several others said they’d likely look to set up tents wherever they can find a decent spot, with few other options available.And Allentown's Commission on Homelessness is pushing city and county leaders to quickly find that spot and revisit “safe camping,” an initiative that found success in Harrisburg last year.There, Marsha Curry-Nixon established the “Miracle Community” in August on a 3-acre gravel lot where tractor-trailers recently had parked.It offers tents and a safe space to stay for about 100 people.Many of those who moved to the Miracle Community were pushed out of a nearby encampment, known as Tent City, so the state Transportation Department can widen Interstate 83.Residents at the space get a tent and an almost-200-square-foot plot, along with access to an array of services from nearby nonprofits, and a budding sense of community, Curry-Nixon told LehighValleyNews.com last year.They also can use the property for their mailing address, a major hurdle many homeless people face while trying to secure IDs and other important documents for employment, housing and more.Advocates pushed Allentown officials to find a similar site in the city where people could stay without fear of eviction. And several people living in camps last fall said they’ve been “safe camping” for years.'Literally no place for people' Council in September gave Tuerk 30 days to find a suitable location for safe camping.The mayor initially said he was “cautiously optimistic”; later that month, he told council the city owns no property that could support safe camping. Talks about safe camping “kind of just got shelved” after that, Allentown Commission on Homelessness Co-Chairwoman Christina DiPierro said during the group’s meeting Wednesday.The commission this week sent a letter to Tuerk and Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel, asking the city and county leaders to immediately identify “a specific plot of land where individuals can reside legally without fear of being swept or ticketed.”“A designated, stable location is the only way to prevent the dangerous scattering of this population into hidden or unsafe areas,” the commission said in its letter.And it would ensure continued medical care and connection to services for those who stay there, the commission said.“Moving people around from place to place is not right,” Co-Chairwoman Christina DiPierro said during the commission’s meeting Wednesday. “Having no solution behind it is not right.”“There is literally no place for people to lay their heads down in the city of Allentown,” she said.Siegel’s administration is exploring a project to convert the vacant corrections center into temporary housing for about 400 people. But she warned it’s in “the very early stages” and not “clear cut” as it would require extensive intermunicipal cooperation.Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach, who led the body’s push for a safe-camping study last year, urged county officials “bypass the red tape” and work faster to find a “short-term, emergency solution.”“To say that … there’s no parking lot that exists, there’s no land that exists where people can temporarily put their tent — I don't buy that,” Gerlach said.A safe camping spot would be “another Band-Aid,” she said.“But if you get a wound, you put a Band-Aid on, and then you go get surgery,” Gerlach said. “That's where we're at right now.” Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:00:23 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/homeless-camp-eviction-shelters-closing-reignite-calls-for-safe-camping-in-allentown https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/united-way-annual-campaign-tops-previous-record-by-1-5-million The $27,731,984 raised this year tops last year's record of $26,231,833. When including donations to United Way’s Critical Support Fund and contributions through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, United Way raised $30,436,542 this year. BETHLEHEM, Pa. — United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley again set a record in this year's annual fundraising campaign, eclipsing last year's total by nearly $1.5 million.The $27,731,984 raised this year tops last year's record of $26,231,833.When including donations to United Way’s Critical Support Fund and contributions through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, United Way raised $30,436,542 this year.It was the 16th consecutive year of growth for the campaign, led this year by campaign co-chairs Mike Molewski of CAPTRUST financial advisors and his wife, Diane.The results of the campaign were announced at a gathering of hundreds who celebrated Thursday night in ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks during the United Way’s Celebration of Caring.The campaign ran from April 2025 to March of this year.“As one of seven children and the first in my family to attend college, I know how hard it is to reach your goals when you’re just trying to make ends meet,” Molewski said in a news release.“I was fortunate to receive support from mentors who greatly influenced the path of my life. Diane and I are proud to be a part of the life-changing programs at United Way that empower so many in the Lehigh Valley to achieve their dreams.”'Move at the speed of need' The United Way said the money raised will help nearly 250,000 people through education, healthy aging and community stability.“This year, our community showed what it means to respond with care and consistency,” United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chief Executive Officer Marci Lesko said.“What stayed true throughout was our responsibility to respond with care and to move at the speed of need. "Mike and Diane’s leadership, generosity and long history of dedication helped set the tone for this campaign and inspired others to step up in meaningful ways.”Celebrating community impact Thursday's event celebrated organizations and individuals who have made a significant impact in the community in partnership with United Way. “United Way’s work is made possible by partners, donors and volunteers who continue to show up for this community,” United Way Board Chairman Joe Savage, Victaulic chief financial officer said. “That kind of responsiveness is built on strong partnerships and deep trust. When challenges intensified for families and nonprofit partners, we stayed steady by providing flexible support, listening closely and acting quickly so people couldcontinue to access the resources they rely on.”PPL Corp. employees, retirees and corporate foundation contributed more than $10 million this year — a first for the local United Way and its fifth consecutive year raising more than $5 million in support of the community.Air Products raised more than $5 for the fifth straight year. City Center Group, Crayola, CAI, Victaulic, CAPTRUST Financial Advisors–Allentown and Keel Infrastructure each raised more$1 million.Award recipients Thursday included:PPL Live United Award — B. Braun Medical Inc.Campaign Chair’s Award — Dan and Susan BarnesCommunity Builder Award — Greater Community Development CorporationAir Products Leonard Pool Impact Award — The Century PromiseLifetime Achievement Award — Robert and Susan Gadomski Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:02 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/united-way-annual-campaign-tops-previous-record-by-1-5-million