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, 10 Jun 2026 12:06:33 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/easton/easton-officials-debate-costs-of-fixing-safety-gaps-exposed-by-hotel-hampton-fire Officials acknowledged Tuesday that the city lacks certified fire inspectors and does not have the staffing to meet key safety recommendations issued after February's Hotel Hampton fire. EASTON, Pa. — Officials acknowledged Tuesday that the city lacks certified fire inspectors and does not have the staffing needed to meet key safety recommendations issued after February’s Hotel Hampton fire.The admission came as council members questioned how years of missed inspections and fragmented oversight were allowed to persist.During a lengthy City Council committee meeting, Easton Fire Chief Henry Hennings and Planning and Codes Director Dwayne Tillman outlined the city’s response to a federal investigation into the Feb. 20 boarding house fire that seriously injured Wilson firefighter Bobby Lewullis.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report identified operational and oversight issues tied to the fire.They included deficiencies in staffing, Mayday procedures, air management, pre-incident planning and inspections of high-risk buildings.“All the recommendations will be done in compliance with the appropriate NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] standard that applies to the recommendation itself,” Hennings told council.But much of Tuesday’s discussion focused less on firefighting tactics and more on the city’s inspection system — and whether Easton has the personnel or structure needed to prevent similar problems in the future.Inspection system under scrutinyTillman said the city’s fire safety inspection program largely stopped around the COVID-19 pandemic and never was fully transferred into the city’s newer OpenGov software system.“After doing a deeper dive, they stopped right around COVID,” Tillman said, describing a process that “got left by the wayside.”Officials acknowledged the city currently has no personnel certified to conduct comprehensive fire inspections under broader state standards.“We don't have anybody that is certified to go,” Hennings said when asked who in the city can perform certified fire inspections.Tillman clarified that city staff still can perform fire safety inspections required under local ordinances, but said the city lacks broader International Code Council certifications needed for more comprehensive inspections.Councilman Frank Graziano repeatedly questioned whether the city’s current staffing levels make compliance with NIOSH recommendations realistically possible.According to officials, Easton has about 730 high-risk properties, including mixed-use buildings, multifamily housing and commercial structures.“The NIOSH report, they recommend the high-risk building to be on an annual inspection,” Graziano said. “It's a lot of inspections that we just do not have. There's no feasible way we could do it at this point.”Tillman agreed additional staffing would be required.“Annually you're not — I don't see it without additional staffing,” he said.'Fall through the cracks'Officials later acknowledged that even completing inspections on the city’s existing three-year cycle may be unrealistic with current staffing levels.When asked whether one employee could realistically complete all required inspections within a year, Tillman responded: “Probably not.”Councilman Frank Pintabone questioned whether overlapping responsibilities between the fire department and codes office had become too disorganized.“Just hearing about it, it just seems so sloppy, and such a mess from the outside,” Pintabone said. “It just seems like it makes it a lot easier for things to fall through the cracks.”Officials defended the overlap as intentional, arguing multiple departments involved in inspections creates redundancy rather than confusion.“There’s eyes in multiple areas when we get into these buildings,” Tillman said.Still, officials repeatedly returned to the same issue: staffing.Hennings estimated Easton likely would need at least three full-time fire inspectors to properly cover the city’s high-risk buildings. Bethlehem, he noted, has six full-time inspectors.“We would probably need, I would say, at least three full-time fire inspectors,” Hennings said.Tillman said only two people in the codes department currently are qualified to conduct fire safety inspections.Fire department outlines operational changesHennings also detailed several operational changes the department already has begun implementing following the federal investigation.That includes retraining firefighters on Mayday procedures and rescue operations.“He should have called the Mayday much sooner than he did,” Hennings said while discussing Lewullis, who ran low on air during the fire before falling from a ladder while trying to self-rescue.“Once you get past a certain point, you're out of air, and it's too late for us to really get into gear to come get you.”The department also is buying 127 bailout kits through a regional bulk order with Wilson, Palmer and Forks townships. The kits let firefighters anchor themselves to a structure and descend from upper floors during emergencies.“In Bobby's case, where he was calling for a ladder, if he'd had a bailout kit, it's a hook with a tethered line,” Hennings said. “You pull yourself out of the window, over the windowsill, and then you descend down.”Easton additionally plans to expand joint training with neighboring departments and conduct regional post-incident reviews after major fires.The city also is pursuing federal grant funding for a mobile air cascade system after officials acknowledged Easton now relies on neighboring departments to refill air bottles during large-scale incidents.“We don't,” Hennings said when asked whether Easton has its own mobile refill capability. “We ask for Forks Township or Nancy Run to come fill our bottles.”A mobile air unit could cost about $400,000, he said.Hennings also warned that mutual aid staffing levels can vary dramatically between departments.“In this instance, for this particular fire, a mutual aid fire department sent three junior firefighters,” he said. “While the bodies are there ... they can't be used for the actual firefighting or rescue.”The chief said Easton is evaluating broader regionalization efforts and has received grant funding to study closer coordination with Wilson’s fire services.“In the future, we should be looking at a countywide fire and EMS department,” Hennings said. “That would reduce the burden on the taxpayers.”Budget concerns surfaceAs the discussion stretched past an hour, debate shifted toward the cost of implementing the recommendations.Officials discussed potential staffing models that included full-time inspectors, part-time inspectors and even retired firefighters who could return in limited roles.But administrators cautioned that certification requirements, labor agreements and equipment costs could complicate those efforts.City Administrator Luis Campos said even creating part-time positions could require contract negotiations and additional training investments.The city estimates it costs $10,000 to fully equip a firefighter.Near the end of the discussion, Mayor Sal Panto voiced concern over the growing list of proposed additions.“Everybody here wants to hire more firefighters and inspectors,” Panto said.Graziano pushed back on the idea that the discussion was simply about increasing spending.“The point is, I think we need to talk about what the city needs going future, and I don't think we obviously aren't going to have it all this year," he said."But we need to make a long term plan, so we can do these things, so we're going in the right direction.“I don't think it's about spending all the money tonight, I think it's about looking at what we have to do and how we get there, that's the point of it.”The discussion comes as Easton officials begin preparing next year’s budget and as contract negotiations with the firefighters union are set to begin this week. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:06:33 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/easton/easton-officials-debate-costs-of-fixing-safety-gaps-exposed-by-hotel-hampton-fire https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/final-grandstand-show-announcement-sets-allentown-fair-on-crash-course J&J Demolition Derby, a Labor Day mainstay at Allentown Fairgrounds, will return for its closing-night grandstand entertainment offering at 5 p.m. Sept. 7. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The lineup of grandstand offerings at Allentown Fair this summer is on a collision course.J&J Demolition Derby, a Labor Day mainstay at Allentown Fairgrounds, will return for its closing-night grandstand entertainment offering at 5 p.m. Sept. 7.The demolition derby completes the grandstand lineup for the fair, which is set for Sept. 2-7. Tickets, at $29.20 adult and $22.55 for general admission grandstand seating, are on sale online on the fair website and t the fair box office on the Allentown Fairgrounds.The tickets include admission to the fair.The fair website says the derby "is a Labor Day tradition where fenders fly on the Allentown Fairground’s historic racetrack.""Drivers crash and smash into each other in qualifying heats until the last vehicle running becomes The Beast of the East Champion."The derby again will feature three heats, with full-size cars, from the ‘80s or newer and compact cars.The musical lineup or the grandstand was completed Monday with the announcement that iconic Motown singing group The Four Tops will perform backed by Allentown Symphony Orchestra on Sept. 2.Tickets for that show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June 12, at the fair's website or at the box office on the fairgrounds.Previously announced were Stars, Stripes & Slams wrestling on Sept. 3,fast-rising country singer Warren Zeiders on Sept. 4, platinum-selling pop-punk band All Time Low with up-and-coming fast-rising pop-punk singer Taylor Acorn on Sept. 5, and Local Legends Live, a celebration of local music, at 2 p.m. Sept. 6.Tickets remain available for all the shows. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:17:05 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/final-grandstand-show-announcement-sets-allentown-fair-on-crash-course https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/transportation-news/court-records-show-early-surge-in-hands-free-driving-citations-across-lehigh-valley A review of violations filed since June 5 found dozens of charges for the "prohibited use of interactive mobile device" across Lehigh and Northampton counties. BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Drivers in the Lehigh Valley already are being cited under Pennsylvania's new hands-free driving law.Court records show enforcement began almost immediately after the law's citation phase took effect Friday.A review of violations filed since June 5 found dozens of charges for the "prohibited use of interactive mobile device" across Lehigh and Northampton counties.The citations were issued by a mix of local police departments and state police, with troopers from the Fogelsville station accounting for many of the newly filed cases on Monday, June 8, across Lower and Upper Macungie townships. A review Tuesday morning of dozens of citations filed by state police in a 24-hour period found drivers cited under the law ranged in age from 20 to their 60s, suggesting the behavior spans multiple generations.The average age of the cited drivers against records pulled was 37.Municipalities where officers had written citations included the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem, along with the boroughs of Freemansburg, Fountain Hill and Walnutport.'Establishing good habits'The records offer one of the first local snapshots of how police agencies are enforcing Paul Miller's Law, which prohibits drivers from using a hand-held mobile device while operating a vehicle, even when stopped temporarily in traffic or at a red light.The law, signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in 2024, officially entered its citation phase Friday after a one-year warning period intended to educate motorists about the upcoming change.Drivers still may use hands-free technology for phone calls, navigation and music, and may use a phone to contact emergency services.Bethlehem Police Capt. William Audelo said starting in October, the department will have targeted Distracted Driving details through a PennDOT Police Traffic Services grant. During those details, officers will target distracted driving violations, Audelo said.He said police expect drivers also will need time to adjust to the new requirements."We like to remind the public that we do not author new legislation," Audelo said. "Our role is enforcing the laws of the commonwealth fairly and equally."Pennsylvania was one of the last states to enact a cell-phone ban and I would expect it will take some time for drivers to change any unsafe habits they may have developed. "While we are enforcing Paul Miller’s Law, we are also trying to educate the public about the law, so they have an understanding of what is allowed on our roadways," he said."I do believe younger drivers, who will only know driving without cell phones, will benefit from establishing good habits early in their lives. "So it may take an adjustment period, but we are hopeful to see a change in behavior and safer roadways for all Pennsylvanians."In Allentown, officers 'keeping an eye out'Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca said Tuesday officers also will be watching for violations as the department gathers data on where distracted driving is most common."As we build out our data, we will be identifying areas where targeted enforcement could potentially take place," Roca said. "Officers will be keeping an eye out for violators and cite if the violation is observed."He encouraged drivers to use hands-free technology whenever possible."I encourage motorists to purchase a mounted holder or if their respective vehicle has the capability to support the call through the dashboard, that would be appropriate," he said. "It is vital that motorists focus on operating the vehicle in a safe manner and avoid being distracted. If the course of conduct displayed by the driver is such that it creates a hazard, the appropriate enforcement action will take place."The chief said he supports the legislation and believes it will improve roadway safety."I am very pleased that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania codified this law as I feel that drivers need to focus on operating their respective vehicle without being distracted by physically holding a cellphone and attempting to have a conversation with someone or texting," Roca said. "Operating a vehicle requires the attention of the driver and to be prepared for any potential hazards. Road safety is a key component, and this law will impact driver behavior to make it safer for all."'It's not worth it'State officials delivered a similar message Monday during an event along Route 33 in Monroe County encouraging motorists to put their phones away while driving."Paul Miller’s Law is about saving lives," PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. "Your choices behind the wheel can change lives forever. Make the safe choice. "Put your phone out of reach and don’t text and drive. One text, one glance down — it could kill someone. And it’s not worth it."The law is named after Paul Miller Jr., who was killed in a 2010 crash on Route 33 when a distracted driver reached for a phone."Nearly 15 years ago, two Dunmore state troopers knocked on my door to tell me that my son was killed," said Eileen Miller, Paul Miller Jr.'s mother."My son did everything right — he was killed by someone else’s unsafe choices behind the wheel. This law is for every family in Pennsylvania that doesn't have to experience two state troopers knocking on their door to tell them that their loved one was killed by distracted driving. "Paul Miller’s Law will be a beacon of protection for every driver and passenger in Pennsylvania."'About preventing crashes, saving lives'State police again reminded drivers the warning period has ended and troopers are now issuing citations."Paul Miller’s Law is about preventing crashes and saving lives. As the warning period concludes, troopers will begin issuing citations to drivers using handheld devices behind the wheel," PSP Troop N Public Information Officer Trooper Anthony Petroski III said."Distracted driving is dangerous, preventable, and significantly increases the risk of crashes. Just seconds of inattention can lead to devastating, life-altering consequences. "The PSP urges all motorists to put their phones down and stay alert."According to PennDOT, Pennsylvania recorded 9,419 crashes involving a distracted driver in 2025, resulting in more than 5,500 injuries and 54 fatalities. Transportation officials believe distracted-driving crashes are underreported because many drivers do not admit they were distracted at the time of a crash.Drivers convicted under Paul Miller's Law face a state-mandated $50 fine. However, the exact total cost of the citation can vary because of state and local court costs, EMS fees and surcharges. In many PA jurisdictions, the additional fees bring the out-of-pocket cost to $203.25. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:01:53 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/transportation-news/court-records-show-early-surge-in-hands-free-driving-citations-across-lehigh-valley https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/lehigh-valleys-largest-drone-and-fireworks-show-ever-program-activities-more-set-at-coca-cola-park-for-america250 Television personality Carson Kressly, a Lehigh Valley native, will be master of ceremonies for Liberty Ignited: A Lehigh Valley Salute to America at 250 on July 3, a release said. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Fourth of July celebration that will offer entertainment, amusements, a century car show and what is being called "the region’s largest drone and fireworks show ever" is set for Coca-Cola Park.Television personality Carson Kressly, a Lehigh Valley native, will be master of ceremonies for Liberty Ignited: A Lehigh Valley Salute to America at 250 on July 3, a release said.The event will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the United States.The centerpiece show will feature at least 300 drones and a fireworks spectacular that will be nearly six times the size of a normal IronPigs post-game fireworks show, the release said.Liberty Ignited will also include "a full evening’s worth of entertainment ... ensuring there is something for the entire family for the momentous" celebration, the release said.Ballpark gates will open at 5:30 p.m. July 3 and ceremonies will begin about 6:15 p.m., according to the release.Tickets, starting at a field-level price of "a celebratory $17.76 (plus fees)" up to $36.50 are available at the IronPigs website. Group rates also are available by calling the ticket office at 610-841-PIGS (7447).Opening, entertainment, car showThe event will open with remarks by state Sen. Nick Miller, Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel and IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes.Following a color guard presentation, flag-raising and Pledge of Allegiance, Miss Pennsylvania Victoria Vespico will sing the National Anthem.PA Shakespeare Festival will perform the classic Abbott & Costello bit “Who’s on First?” and The Bachman Players will perform, with a town crier, musket salute, colonials in period clothing and a Declaration of Independence reading.Brandywine Colonials Fife and Drum also will perform, and there will be a first responders tribute, salute to veterans and a community sing-along.Also performing will be The Swing Time Dolls and Bagpiper Geoffrey Nicotia.There also will be a century car show, courtesy of The NB Center with showcased cars representing the history of the American Automotive Industry:1910 Buick Model 10 Touring1915 Ford Model T Touring1929 Willys Knight Series 66B 4-Door Sedan1933 Graham Model 64 Standard 8 Sedan (Blue Streak)1940 Lincoln Zephyr V-12 Coupe1953 Packard Clipper Deluxe Club Sedan1963 Buick Riviera Sport Coupe1970 Cadillac 60S Sixty Special Sedan1980 Buick Century Sedan1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate WagonDrone show climaxOther historical groups participating with exhibits featuring historical documents, information, experiences and more will be showcased along the ballpark’s concourse.They will include Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, League of Women Voters and a life-size papier mache Liberty Bell from Easton Rotary Club.Also, a Ben Franklin interactive hologram, an Allentown Fairgrounds exhibit with demonstrations of cream into butter, apples to applesauce and flax to linen.Mini American flags will be given away to attendees as you enter, and you'll be able to sign a giant replica copy of the Declaration of Independence.Coca-Cola Park staples Dani Long Legs, facepainting and other entertaining acts also will interact in and around the ballpark concourse.The night will climax with a show of hundreds of drones, illuminated and synced to music to produce dazzling displays, visuals and patterns across the night sky. It will be followed by the fireworks display.Special for the holiday, apple pie and apple pie a la mode and other patriotic and ballpark concessions staples will be available.Liberty Ignited is supported through an America250PA Semiquincentennial Grant, part of a statewide effort to honor the nation’s 250th anniversary, and by Pennsylvania Tourism Office funds. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:42:14 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/lehigh-valleys-largest-drone-and-fireworks-show-ever-program-activities-more-set-at-coca-cola-park-for-america250 https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/iconic-motown-group-backed-by-allentown-symphony-announced-as-allentown-fair-headliner The Four Tops, who in the 1960s helped define the Motown sound with hits such chart-topping hits as "Reach Out I'll Be There," will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 2, backed by Allentown Symphony Orchestra. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The legacy version of an iconic R&B/soul group will play a headline grandstand show with Allentown Symphony Orchestra on Allentown Fair's opening night, it was announced Monday.The Four Tops, who in the 1960s helped define the Motown sound with hits such chart-topping hits as "Reach Out I'll Be There," will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 2. The vocal group will be joined onstage by Allentown Symphony Orchestra, which is celebrating its 75th season."The Great Allentown Fair has always been about bringing exceptional entertainment to our community, and this performance is truly something special," fair Marketing & Entertainment Manager Jessica Ciecwisz said."The combination of The Four Tops' legendary catalog and the artistry of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra will create an unforgettable evening for music lovers of all generations."Tickets, the prices of which were not revealed, will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June 12, at the fair's website or at the box office on the fairgrounds. All show tickets include fair admission.Special box office hours will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday. The box office also is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Thursday.The announcement is the latest for this year's fair, which will run Sept. 2-7. Previously announced were Stars, Stripes & Slams wrestling on Sept. 3, fast-rising country singer Warren Zeiders on Sept. 4, platinum-selling pop-punk band All Time Low with up-and-coming fast-rising pop-punk singer Taylor Acorn on Sept. 5, and Local Legends Live, a celebration of local music, at 2 p.m. Sept. 6.Tickets remain available for all the shows. Hits in three decadesThe Four Tops from 1965-81 had 18 Top 20 hits, two of which went to No. 1 — "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" in 1965 and the 1966 gold hit "Reach Out I'll Be There."Along with The Temptations, The Supremes, The Miracles and Martha and the Vandellas, they established the Motown sound of pop-friendly soul and R&B.The group broke onto the charts in 1964 with the hit "Baby I Need Your Lovin'," which peaked at No. 11 on the Hot 100.It followed with "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)," the Top 5 "It's the Same Old Song" and the Top 20 "Something About You," all in 1965.It's 1965 self-titled debut album topped the R&B chart, and in all, 18 of its albums hit the Top 20 on that chart.It started 1966 with "Reach Out I'll Be There," then followed with "Standing in the Shadows of Love" and "Burnadette," both Top 5 hits.It continued having Top 10 hits through the 1973 gold hit "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" and 1981's "When She Was My Girl," which topped the R&B chart. From its start through 1997, the group had the same lineup. Lead singer Levi Stubbs died in 2008, and final original member Abdul "Duke" Fakir in 2024.The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and received a Grammy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Allentown Symphony Orchestra is under the leadership of Music Director and Conductor Diane Wittry, now in her 31st season.Many of its musicians also perform with major orchestras in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.The Four Tops performed with The Temptations at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem on Saturday. Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:03 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/iconic-motown-group-backed-by-allentown-symphony-announced-as-allentown-fair-headliner https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/lehigh-county/as-expenses-pile-up-lehigh-county-commissioners-kick-the-tires-on-a-potential-wealth-tax Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley has proposed bringing back an intangible asset tax. Supporters believe it could shift tax burdens away from working families while critics argue it would punish small business owners and invite lawsuits. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — After years of deficit spending, Lehigh County lawmakers are exploring outside-the-box solutions to raise new revenue, including a so-called "wealth tax" that would target stocks, second homes and S corporations.But a plan floated by county Controller Mark Pinsley hinges on a tax power that local officials and other counties abandoned decades ago after the state Supreme Court deemed elements of it unconstitutional. Enacting such a plan also would entail startup costs to set up a system to tax intangible assets, and invite litigation that would tie up resources.In an interview with Lehigh Valley Public Media last week, county Executive Josh Siegel said he does not intend to call for a wealth tax when he releases his 2027 budget proposal in August. However, Siegel offered broad support for the concept, saying Lehigh County and America as a whole needs to find a way to shift more of society's cost burden onto the ultra-wealthy."We need to crack this cookie," Siegel said. "I think we should explore it, we should look into doing it, but we should be doing our research and find out if we're in a place to do it."The need for actionThe need for some type of action is apparent. In four of the past five years, commissioners balanced the county budget by raiding its reserves. The 2026 budget anticipates outspending revenues by $3.7 million, Siegel said. Projections show next year's budget would necessitate taking $5.5 million from reserves. If the county doesn't do something, it will no longer have the recommended $25 million in its stabilization fund to weather cost overruns and cash flow challenges.The health of that fund let Lehigh County avoid cutting services or furloughing employees when state lawmakers failed to pass a budget on time and the federal government shut down last year. Siegel, who took office this year on a platform of expanding county government, said cuts are not on the table. The county's property tax rate is lower now than it was 13 years ago, even though the population has grown by about 25,000 people and inflation has climbed 43%. County services can't be compromised, either, Siegel said; the county employs nurses to care for the elderly, attorneys to prosecute criminals and engineers to maintain vital bridges, among other duties."We're sure as [expletive] not cutting our way out of this crisis," Siegel said. "If your solution is to cut, you tell me how many prison guards you want to fire or how many children and youth workers you want to let go or how many parks you want to defund."Targets of the taxCounties in Pennsylvania have limited options when it comes to steady sources of income. Unlike the state, it can't charge a sales tax. Unlike cities and townships, it can't enact commuter taxes or earned income taxes. For nearly 30 years, counties have been almost entirely reliant on property taxes. Currently, Lehigh County raises about $114 million through its property tax. The rest of the $558.8 million budget is mostly paid with state and federal pass-through funding.But in early May, Pinsley released a report exploring a 0.4% flat tax on intangible personal property. Counties have had the option of enforcing the tax for decades, and Lehigh County used it as recently as the 1990s, Pinsley said. Re-adopting the tax would let the county generate about $25.5 million by taxing sources what he described as traditional sources of passive income, he said. Those include:StocksBondsMutual fundsExchange traded fundsBrokerage investment accountsPartnership ownership interestsThe tax wouldn't touch residents' primary residence, cars, personal property, checking accounts, retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s or family farms operated by their owners, according to the report.The proposal, he said, was based on one put forward out of Philadelphia.'Maybe there's a better way'If cuts aren't an option, Pinsley said, the county will need to raise at least $5.5 million to cover the deficit spending in the near future. That number could get significantly larger depending on how the federal government reduces spending through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.Cuts to Medicaid and are scheduled to go into effect next year, but it's not immediately clear how those will be applied or whether county operations would be affected."What I'm saying is, maybe there's a better way of doing that so that the people that have the most pay the most," Pinsley said.In Pinsley's report, the tax would apply to all county residents across the board; the county's tax collector would get the information on the intangible assets from the IRS. It estimated that 91% of the generated revenue — about $23.3 million — would come from households with more than $200,000 of taxable assets.In an interview Tuesday, however, Pinsley said he supports adding a threshold so an individual's first $200,000 of assets wouldn't be taxed. That would provide some security for small business owners and people with moderate assets while still letting the county raise revenue from its wealthiest residents, he said. County commissioners also would be free to lower the property tax so the "wealth tax" is less of a tax hike and more of a tax shift, he said."The goal is to raise money," Pinsley said. "It's not to hurt anybody. It is to help the majority."Vocal oppositionThe proposal has drawn stiff resistance from some quarters.County Commissioner Ron Beitler has attacked it as an unconstitutional assault on responsible residents and small businesses, particularly ones that operate as S corporations.Unlike other business structures, S corporations pass along their income, losses, credits and deductions onto their shareholders. People who made savvy investments by putting money into stocks would be punished, while people who kept the same amount of money in a savings account would not, Beitler said.Government shouldn't be incentivizing constituents to make poor financial decisions, he said.If that wasn't enough, the tax was abandoned around the same time legal challenges mounted against it in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The state Supreme Court determined that provisions in the law that levied different taxes against stocks for foreign companies that didn't do business in Pennsylvania violated the U.S. Constitution. When informed that Pinsley had proposed a threshold on the tax to shelter most small businesses and lower earners, Beitler questioned whether the change would comply with the Pennsylvania Constitution's Uniformity Clause. The provision requires the state to apply taxes equally to all subjects the tax applies to; as a result, Pennsylvania doesn't have a tiered income tax."If this surviving a legal challenge on just the broad aspect of it is a Hail Mary, then trying to thread needle of the threshold plan?" Beitler said."I don't know, it's akin to a perfect game in baseball. I don't see it happening."Beitler expressed sympathy toward the goal of easing the tax burden on working families and seniors. Instead of a wealth tax, he said the county should explore using a provision of the Homestead Act to shift property taxes so that people with sprawling tracts and expensive homes pick up more of the bill.Under his plan, the county would calculate the median property value and would not apply taxes for the first half of that value. For example, if the median property is assessed at $200,000, the owner of a property with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay no property taxes, while the owner of a $1 million property would pay taxes on $900,000 of it."I want to have this conversation, and I am going to be putting an alternative on the table," Beitler said.Incoming discussionThe Lehigh County Board of Commissioners will explore the topic in more detail at its 6 p.m. June 17 Finance Committee hearing. Committee Chair Sarah Fevig has requested that county solicitors explore whether the intangible asset tax as a whole still is constitutional. While acknowledging she's not licensed to practice law, Fevig said she believes that passing a constitutional "wealth tax" would be tricky but not impossible.She said she intends to invite three experts to offer different opinions on the merit of the tax. The board of commissioners already has received significant feedback on Pinsley's proposal from constituents, she said.Commissioners are looking for an alternate site for the hearing to accommodate the anticipated crowd.In an interview Friday, she emphasized that the conversation is entirely exploratory at this point. No legislation has been proposed, and the board is not married to the version Pinsley put on paper. She, for one, said she would want to determine whether a threshold could legally be applied. "This to me is not at all a question of a tax increase or not," Fevig said. "It's a conversation about how we want to fund our government." Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:17:18 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/lehigh-county/as-expenses-pile-up-lehigh-county-commissioners-kick-the-tires-on-a-potential-wealth-tax https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/the-last-journey-classic-rock-balladeers-final-frontier-tour-to-stop-at-ppl-center-is-it-truly-the-end Tickets, starting at $126.65, remain available at the PPL Center website or the box office at 701 W. Hamilton St., Allentown. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — When rock band Journey in November announced its current tour, which stops Thursday, June11, at Allentown's PPL Center, it said it would be the band's last. That announcement had the extensive Final Frontier Tour starting Feb. 28 in Hershey and scheduled to wrap up July 2 in Laredo, Texas.The Allentown's show was to be near the end of the tour, with just 12 shows afterward.This month, Journey announced another leg of the tour, adding 42 more concerts through Nov. 28, when Journey will play San Francisco, California, where the band formed 53 years ago. Perhaps that homecoming is a signal that the tour truly will end there. Or not. Plenty of musical acts have announced their final tours, only to change their minds and continue on.But Journey insists this tour — however long it lasts — will be its farewell."For me, it is the final goodbye to our fans and the way to thank them for 45 years of being 'the faithful' — continuing to follow us through the many seasons of our band’s amazing run," keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Cain said in a statement.A publicist for Journey said members weren't available for interviews, but provided written statements from them. Cain and founder and lead guitarist Neil Schon are the only members remaining from the band's commercial peak.Lead singer Arnel Pineda joined the band in 2007, replacing Steven Perry, the vocalist on the band's biggest hits.Other current members are drummer Deen Castronovo, who first joined in 1998; keyboardist Jason Derlatka, who joined in 2020; and bassist Todd Jensen, who joined in 2021."This tour is our heartfelt thank-you to the fans who've been with us every step of the way — through every song, every era, every high and low," Schon said in a statement announcing the tour. "We're pulling out all the stops with a brand-new production — the hits, the deep cuts, the energy, the spectacle. It's a full-circle celebration of the music that's brought us all together."The concert, set to start at 7:30 p.m., will be in "An evening with" format — two sets by Journey with an intermission, with no opening act.Tickets, starting at $126.65, remain available at the PPL Center website or the box office at 701 W. Hamilton St., Allentown.Journey's historyJourney released its self-titled debut album in 1975, but had its biggest success from 1978 to 1987, starting with its triple-platinum fourth album, "Infinity." That disc included two double-platinum hits: "Wheel in the Sky" and "Lights."Its next two albums, 1979's "Evolution" and 1980's "Departure," also both sold triple-platinum, and produced the double-platinum hit ""Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" and the four-time platinum "Any Way You Want It," respectively.It was the tour for "Departure" that first brought Journey to the Lehigh Valley, to play Lehigh University's Stabler Arena in 1980.The band had its peak success with the 1981 album "Escape," which sold 10-times platinum and gave the band the hits "Who's Crying Now" (double-platinum) and "Open Arms" (triple-platinum).The album also included the song "Don't Stop Believin'," which has sold 26.5 million copies, making it the best-selling song of the 1980s.That success continued through the six-times platinum 1983 album "Frontiers," with the six-times platinum hit "Faithfully," and the 1986 double-platinum album "Raised on Radio."A 1988 Greatest Hits album sold 18 times platinum.More shows in the Lehigh ValleyJourney's success waned after that, but it returned to the Lehigh Valley to play Allentown Fair in 2002. Then it had a popularity revival when “Don’t Stop Believin'” was used in the series-ending sequence of the popular HBO drama “The Sopranos” in 2007.And when the song was used on the TV show “Glee” in 2009, it sold more than 4 million new downloads. The band's 2008 album "Revelation" became its first platinum disc in a dozen years, and it again played Allentown Fair in 2011, then its first show at PPL Center in 2016, in a co-headline show with Santana.The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.It played Wind Creek Event Center in 2019, then returned to PPL Center for its own headline show in 2023.PPL Center General Manager Brian Krajewski said that when the current tour was announced as a farewell run, "I was very much in conversation with [promoter] AEG early on to be sure we were at least on the radar for it.”“What I’m hearing is if there’s a farewell tour, they’re playing a lot of venues," Krajewski said. “We pursue every show here. Being close to venues in Hershey and Philly, there’s always that competition."Truely the end?After the tour, it's not entirely clear what will happen to Journey or its members.Cain last month said in an interview that he will leave the band at the end of the tour to concentrate on his Christian ministry and music."There are so many [memories], but hearing an entire stadium sing “Don’t Stop Believin’ louder than the band for the first time really hit me," Cain said in a statement."That’s when I realized the songs weren’t just ours anymore — they belonged to the fans. That’s a powerful feeling."Pineda has said that he even tried to back out of the tour, fearing the demand on his voice, and other issues.But earlier this year, Schon posted an image with the words "Journey Beyond" on his social media pages and has filed a trademark application for the phrase, suggesting there could be some sort of Journey project for him in the future.Asked whether he thought Journey's farewell tour would actually be the last time the audience would see Journey live, Krajewski, the PPL Center general manager, laughed and said, “Who knows?""Anecdotally, I can tell you in my previous building in Tulsa [Oklahoma], we had the Eagles on their Long Goodbye Tour," Krajewski said."And then going into it, we were told it was no longer the Long Goodbye; they had to get rid of that. And they continued touring — and they’re still touring.“I mean, I would have no way of knowing.” Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:31:15 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/the-last-journey-classic-rock-balladeers-final-frontier-tour-to-stop-at-ppl-center-is-it-truly-the-end https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/farewell-tour-shows-at-ppl-center-journey-is-just-the-latest-arena-says-it-reflects-success In PPL Center's nearly 12-year history, it has been host for a handful of "final" tours. On Thursday, June 11, ballad-rockers Journey will be the latest. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — When top-selling power balladeers Journey brings its Final Frontier tour to Allentown's PPL Center on Thursday, July 11, it won't be the first act to play a farewell tour in the arena.Perhaps the biggest final tour that graced the downtown arena was that of Elton John, who on Sept. 8, 2018, kicked off his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road farewell tour at the arena.But in the arena's nearly 12-year history, it has been host for a handful of "final" tours, starting with Ozzy Osbourne's on Aug. 30, 2018.PPL Center General Manager Brian Krajewski, who took his position at the arena 15 months ago, said that, "being completely honest with how the industry works ... I think farewell tours, honestly, are bastions of coincidence."But Krajewski said the broader idea is that such concerts "speaks of the level of talent PPL has had in the past."“The farewell tours are all well and fine, but I think the overall thing is the level of talent that we’ve been able to bring into the building — and into the Lehigh Valley, right?" he said."There’s a lot to offer here and these bigger artists recognize that, so we can bring them in.”'Farewell' not always the endKrajewski also noted that "farewell" tours often don't end up being the final performances for a lot of artists.He noted, for example that Osbourne's tour was cheekily named No More Tours 2 — a play on his 1992 "retirement" tour. But the tour that brought Osbourne to PPL Center actually was the end: He played just 17 full concerts after that one before his July 22, 2025, death.Another farewell tour that played PPL Center and truly was the end was painted-face rockers KISS, who played the arena on Feb. 5, 2020. Yes, the last concert of the group's final tour show came nearly three years and 238 shows later — including an eight-month layoff during the height of the COVID pandemic. But it was the same tour.Conversely, a PPL Center concert by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers — the arena's second concert ever — on Sept. 16, 2014, wasn't part of his farewell tour, but it ended up being closer to Petty's end than KISS's tour was.Petty played just 69 concerts after the PPL Center show to mark The Heartbreakers' 40th anniversary before his death three years later. Starts, not finishesKrajewski said that, while PPL Center has seen "farewell tours, we’re also having a lot more conversations around starting to kick off tours."That also wouldn't be a first. PPL Center, with its location near Philadelphia and New York, since it opened has been touted as a place to start tours.Neil Diamond, for example, kicked off his 2015 tour — his first in 2 1/2 years — with two shows at PPL Center after rehearsing the tour there. (Diamond retired less than three years later after a Parkinson's disease diagnosis.)And John also started his tour there, with about 20 tractor-trailers arriving at PPL Center a week earlier to prepare the setup."Hopefully in March, we'll kick off a tour that will be very big, so that’s something we have to look forward to," Krajewski said.“The thing about this building is we can kick it off and we can finish it. It doesn’t have to be a farewell tour — we’ve got the infrastructure and a really great asset here in the Lehigh Valley to do that and show people what we have to offer.”Farewell tours at PPL CenterHere's a look at the other farewell tours that have come through PPL Center:OZZY OSBOURNE — Aug. 30, 2018.Without Osbourne, heavy metal music would hardly be imaginable — so significant has his music, and his persona of the Prince of Bloody Darkness, was to that genre. Did the concert measure up to expectation? Perhaps what he played did — much of it still exciting and powerful. But in a set of just 12 songs in 95 minutes — one taking up 20 minutes of that — you could argue it didn’t.There were plenty of flashing lights and band bombast, though Ozzy delivered his part in a flat, if emphatic, tone for much of the night.On a seven-minute version of “Crazy Train,” which closed the main set, it was the crowd that was going off the rails — so much energy it was crazy, indeed.And he closed with Black Sabbath’s biggest hit, “Paranoid.” In the case of that song, a faithful version was precisely what was called for. These years later, it's still a strong song.But Osbourne skipped Black Sabbath’s biggest song, “Iron Man,” and, worse, skipped one of his biggest solo songs, “Flying High Again.”In such a compact set, those omissions were egregious. Hardly what you would expect from a proper farewell.ELTON JOHN, Sept. 8, 2018:In kicking off the tour, John approached the show not as the start of a marathon tour, but sprinting at full speed, ceding nothing to age as he roared though 24 songs over two hours and 45 minutes.That road has yellow bricks for a reason: It’s paved with gold — and platinum, as in the more than a dozen gold and platinum hits John played.Certainly the show was a stroll down memory lane, as he sang songs from throughout his career — 18 of them Top 10 hits.But it also was one of defiance. He opened the show with a roaring, forceful double-platinum “Bennie and The Jets.”“Good evening, Allentown, and welcome to the very first show of my farewell tour,” he told the crowd of 10,000 — a record-fast sellout for the arena.The highlights were many, and he closed the main set with a blazing version of “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”It’s telling that the biggest complaint was you wanted more.He opened with his encore with his breakthrough hit, “Your Song,” and, of course, closed it with the song that gave the tour its name, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”KISS, Feb. 5, 2020Paul Stanley, lead singer for the rock band KISS, stood onstage at PPL Center, two thirds of the way through its farewell tour concert, and addressed the nearly sold-out audience.“Yes, we play Philadelphia. Yes, we play Pittsburgh,” he said. “But tonight, no city has anything on you people.”And through the band’s effects-filled, 21-song, two-hour-and-six-minute concert, KISS performed as if that actually was true.From its start with an explosion and a deluge of sparks and flames, and the band’s four members being lowered to the stage on huge risers, KISS offered up a career retrospective of not just songs, but classic concert tricks.Bassist Gene Simmons, amid a roaring siren, spit fire and drooled “blood” all over his torso. Guitarist Tommy Thayer shot sparks out of the front of his instrument like a rifle at least a half-dozen times. Drummer Eric Singer played a 10-minute solo that included him rising atop a 30-foot riser. Then Simmons and Thayer rose on similar risers. Stanley flew over the crowd on a zip line.As could be expected, KISS played a career retrospective — songs from its earliest discs, and from 1980s discs.The hits were among the night’s best songs, but some deeper cuts stood up surprisingly well, too. Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:26:09 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/farewell-tour-shows-at-ppl-center-journey-is-just-the-latest-arena-says-it-reflects-success https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/with-bigger-soccerfest-artsquest-looks-to-include-everyone-games-activities-start-next-week "There are few events around the world that bring people together like the World Cup," ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel said at a news conference Friday. "And this year, our team will be taking it up a notch." BETHLEHEM, Pa. — When, in 2014, ArtsQuest started its SoccerFest festival to coincide with the FIFA World Cup, it quickly captured the interest of the sport's burgeoning society of fans.Since then, interest in the sport has only grown, and with attention expected to be especially high when Philadelphia hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup starting next week, ArtsQuest now wants to include everyone in SoccerFest.Starting at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 11, ArtsQuest will broadcast every World Cup match — 72 games in 34 days, through July 19 — live via FOX Sports on large screens across SteelStacks.Attendance will be free.ArtsQuest also will expand its SoccerFest youth programming to include an adapted clinic for challenged children, and another conducted in Spanish with coaches who speak the language."There are few events around the world that bring people together like the World Cup," ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel said at a news conference Friday."And this year, our team will be taking it up a notch ... even midnight games, which should be interesting."SoccerFest "will transform the [SteelStacks] campus into a regional hub for fans of all ages," ArtsQuest Communications Manager Tehani Boyer said at the news conference.'The passion runs deep'In addition to the game broadcasts — which in prior years drew thousands of people to Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks and the Community Stage at Town Square at ArtsQuest Center — SoccerFest will include cultural events, live music and global cuisine.There also will be a special new exhibit exploring Bethlehem’s historic role in American soccer.But Mosel said one of the things about SoccerFest about which ArtsQuest is more excited is expanding opportunities in its youth programming.There will be clinics, three vs. three tournaments and inclusive programming for young athletes of all abilities.While Latino children participating likely also speak English, having coaches conduct clinics in Spanish will seem more welcoming to them, Mosel said."It's important to creating the next generation of soccer fans," he said.Some participating coaches played professionally in their home countries, and many continue to play here, he said."More than just a sport, it's part of our culture," Miguel Perez-Soto, an ArtsQuest Performing Arts Board member and SoccerFest consultant, said, referring to Latinos, at the news conference."Here in the Lehigh Valley, the passion runs deep. In just a few days, we're going to experience that passion here."'Founders of Modern Day Soccer' Clinics will be led by regional soccer coaches including Dean Koski, men’s head soccer coach at Lehigh University and president of Allentown-based Penn Rising XI (formerly Lehigh Valley United).Also, Greg Ramos, executive director of soccer operations and technical director of Penn Rising XI; and Fernando Carrizo, assistant technical director of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer.A special exhibit at the Bethlehem Visitor Center at SteelStacks, “Forged in Steel: The Founders of Modern Day American Soccer,” will highlight the history of the Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club.Sponsored by Bethlehem Steel Corp., the team was an American soccer powerhouse from 1907-30, with 11 championships, including five U.S. Open Cup titles.Local historian Dan Morrison, a history professor at Manor College in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, will deliver talks on the team, and the history of soccer in the region, between matches at noon and 3 p.m. June 20.At the news conference, Morrison said Bethlehem Steel helped establish soccer in the United States."Bethlehem became one of the epicenters of the sport in this country," he said.There also will be Fourth of July festivities to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary during SoccerFest, with live music and fireworks.SoccerFest scheduleSoccerFest will kick off at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 11, with the match between Mexico and South Africa on the Levitt Pavilion screen. At 10 p.m., South Korea vs. Czechia will be on the same screen.Between will be a 5 p.m. performance by DJ Evolution on the Community Stage and a 7:30 p.m. performance by DJ Mojoflo on the Levitt Pavilion stage.At 7:30 p.m., there will be a 20th anniversary screening of the soccer-themed 2006 film "She’s the Man," starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum, in ArtsQuest Center's Alehouse Cinemas.It will be part of Kicks & Flicks: A Soccer on Film Series in Alehouse Cinemas.A 9 p.m. performance by DJ Evolution on the Community Stage at Town Square will proceed the 10 p.m. match.The next SoccerFest offering will be at 3 p.m. Friday, July 12, with Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first United States match will be at 9 p.m. vs. Paraguay.The first midnight game will be Australia vs. Türkiye on Saturday, June 13 — the last of four games that day, starting at 3 p.m. with Qatar vs. Switzerland.Other highlights of SoccerFest include the United States vs. Australia on June 19; games at 1 and 5 p.m. July 4 (teams to be determined), amid the Independence Day celebration at SteelStacks; and the United States vs. Türkiye on June 25.The World Cup championship game will be at 3 p.m. July 19 on the Levitt Pavilion screen.Details for all the SoccerFest offerings can be found on the ArtsQuest website."It's transformative when a World Cup comes to your country," Chris Branscome, chief executive officer of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and commissioner of U.S. Youth Soccer Council, said at the news conference."This event has grown so much, and this place has become known for what it does for the game." Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:26:52 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/with-bigger-soccerfest-artsquest-looks-to-include-everyone-games-activities-start-next-week https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/allentown-data-center-proposal-dropped-from-upcoming-planning-meeting-could-come-back-in-july The applicant requested the meeting be postponed, according to city officials. ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A data center project in South Allentown will not be reviewed by city officials next week.The planning commission was due to look at a proposal for a 247,000-square-foot facility at 2401 W. Emaus Ave., but the applicant — Zach Jordan of Langan Engineering — requested the meeting be postponed, according to the agenda for the body’s meeting Tuesday afternoon.That request came after dozens at a public hearing Wednesday night in City Hall spoke out against the proposal and in support of stronger regulations for data centers.'Disney villain-level' opticsLester Wenger voiced concerns about residents being priced out by the proposed facility’s potential electricity consumption and said he believes it’s “no coincidence” that a power substation is located on an adjacent lot.Wenger lives within a half-mile of the proposed data center, which he said would be “neither productive nor prudent.”The Emaus Avenue data center proposal has “Disney villain-level” optics, Julie Vitale said, as the property sits across the street from an apartment complex and Camelot for Children, a nonprofit serving children with special needs and medical complexities. A data center opening there would create an “impossibly miserable situation,” Vitale said.Mark Miller, a board member at Camelot for Children, urged council to do "whatever you can to protect the children, the families [and] volunteers of a 40-year community institution." The proposal is expected to be on the agenda for the planning commission’s July 14 meeting. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:44:23 GMT https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/local-news/allentown-data-center-proposal-dropped-from-upcoming-planning-meeting-could-come-back-in-july