Morning Call - Lehigh Valley & Allentown PA News, Sports, Weather, Business & Things to Do

70 years after Hurricane Diane, is the Lehigh Valley better prepared for major floods?

In many ways, weather forecasters in 1955 could hardly be blamed for the Diane forecasts.

EASTON, PA. 20060628SK 11/16 ‘ Elevated view of the Free...

EASTON, PA. 20060628SK 11/16 ‘ Elevated view of the Free bridge and the Delaware River, looking east from Easton in to Phillipsburg, NJ. The Delaware River again exceedes its banks where it merges with the Lehigh River. The Lehigh came up towards the Larry Holmes Building on Riverside Drive, engulfing Scott Park, submerging cars in surrounding parking lots, and the Exxon station at the intersection of Third Street and Riverside Drive in Easton, Wednesday, June 28, 2006. (STEVE KLAVER / SPECIAL TO TMC)

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EASTON, PA. 20060628SK 11/16 ‘ Elevated view of the Free bridge and the Delaware River, looking east from Easton in to Phillipsburg, NJ. The Delaware River again exceedes its banks where it merges with the Lehigh River. The Lehigh came up towards the Larry Holmes Building on Riverside Drive, engulfing Scott Park, submerging cars in surrounding parking lots, and the Exxon station at the intersection of Third Street and Riverside Drive in Easton, Wednesday, June 28, 2006. (STEVE KLAVER / SPECIAL TO TMC)

Corinna Schneck and Meg Cunningham enjoy the festivities Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, during Lehigh Valley Pride at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. The theme of this year’s event, which was hosted by Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, was Ridin’ with Pride in 2025. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

‘Show that we exist’: Lehigh Valley’s LGBT community celebrates openness at annual Pride festival

Since the start of the year, there have been more than a dozen fatal motorcycle crashes in the Lehigh Valley. (Kevin Mingora / The Morning Call)

After a dozen fatal motorcycle crashes in Lehigh Valley this year, experts urge caution

Lehigh Valley food safety inspection reports

Lehigh Valley food safety report: repair sewage backup, use soap to wash dishes

An architect’s rendering of the proposed Ironside Lofts apartment complex on the site of the former Walnut Street parking garage in Bethlehem, from the view of Guetter and West Walnut streets. The rendering was created by Minno Wasko Architects and Planners. (Courtesy of City of Bethlehem)

Is a 7-story apartment building too tall for Historic Bethlehem? Concerns raised over Walnut Street garage replacement plans

Latest Headlines

Game of the Week Challenge: Pick Week 1 Lehigh Valley high school football winners

1 hour ago
A fish in a streetlight, an indescribable stench, the last car over the Cementon Bridge: More memories from when Diane flooded the Lehigh Valley

3 days ago
Retail Watch: Find fine dining and local history without breaking the bank at this new Bethlehem restaurant

2 days ago
Phillies ace Zack Wheeler has blood clot in right arm, placed on 15-day IL

21 hours ago
Route 309 ramp to Tilghman Street to close as reconstruction continues

3 days ago
Deadline extended for Lehigh Valley Top Workplaces nominations

5 days ago
Game of the Week Challenge 2025: Pick Lehigh Valley football game winners for chance to win weekly prize

1 hour ago
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Allentown police looking for missing woman with dementia
Allentown police looking for missing woman with dementia
‘Show that we exist’: Lehigh Valley’s LGBT community celebrates openness at annual Pride festival
‘Show that we exist’: Lehigh Valley’s LGBT community celebrates openness at annual Pride festival
Is a 7-story apartment building too tall for Historic Bethlehem? Concerns raised over Walnut Street garage replacement plans
Is a 7-story apartment building too tall for Historic Bethlehem? Concerns raised over Walnut Street garage replacement plans
A crispy arrival: Chicken chain to open first Lehigh Valley restaurant
A crispy arrival: Chicken chain to open first Lehigh Valley restaurant
Letters to the editor: Township’s vendetta against garage owner is shameful
Letters to the editor: Township’s vendetta against garage owner is shameful
Retail Watch: Find fine dining and local history without breaking the bank at this new Bethlehem restaurant
Retail Watch: Find fine dining and local history without breaking the bank at this new Bethlehem restaurant
Police officer involved in early morning head-on crash in Slate Belt
Police officer involved in early morning head-on crash in Slate Belt
Remembering the worst natural disaster in Lehigh Valley history, 70 years ago this month
Remembering the worst natural disaster in Lehigh Valley history, 70 years ago this month
Route 309 ramp to Tilghman Street to close as reconstruction continues
Route 309 ramp to Tilghman Street to close as reconstruction continues
Shooting in a crowded New York club leaves 3 dead, 9 wounded
Shooting in a crowded New York club leaves 3 dead, 9 wounded

Local News

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Allentown police looking for missing woman with dementia

Allentown police are looking for a missing 80-year-old woman with dementia who is unfamiliar with the city.

Sports

A Parkland High School football player wears a shirt with the 2024 Parkland slogan on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in South Whitehall Township during practice. The Trojans, the District 11 6A football champs, finished the regular season last year at 11-3, and are the favorite to defend their EPC and District 11 titles in the upcoming season. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Parkland football preview: Trojans will bank on defense to be successful

Parkland football will rely on its defense early in the 2025 season

Things to Do

Opera singer Grace Lerew will perform with the Allentown Band on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, and Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Allentown. (Photo courtesy Sarah Kappes)

‘Something for everyone’: Upcoming Allentown performances feature trained opera singer, civilian concert band

The Allentown Band will perform opera and Broadway favorites at two shows this week, featuring Parkland graduate and opera singer Grace Lerew.

Opinion

Reforms to Pennsylvania's Act 129 would help the state's residents save money on energy costs, by among other things, installing heat pumps, the author asserts. (Austin De Dios/The Oregonian)

Opinion: Transforming Pennsylvania’s energy future by reforming Act 129

Opinion: Gov. Shapiro is backing reforms to Act 129 as part of his Lightning Plan...

Crime and Public Safety

Naji Gillison, 29, left, and Oscar Delgado, 22, are charged in connection with a robbery turned shooting early Thursday morning, Aug. 14, 2025, in the 1000 block of Ferry Street in Easton. (Courtesy of Easton police)

1 suspect surrenders, another wanted in Easton shooting that left one person injured [Updated]

Easton police are looking for two men charged in connection with a robbery turned shooting...

Best Reviews

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Best healthy cookware for nontoxic everyday cooking

When you're ready to replace your old pots and pans with healthy cookware, you’ll need...

Business

FILE – In this May 30, 2018, photo, shoppers look through the updated cosmetic department at a Target store in San Antonio. AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Target and Ulta mutually agree not to renew partnership launched in 2021

The Ulta Beauty experience will continue in stores and online until next summer.

Pennsylvania News

Gov. Josh Shapiro shakes hands with state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, right, in 2023. (Commonwealth Media Services via Spotlight PA)

The conflicting visions to fund SEPTA and Pa.’s other public transit agencies, explained

Lawmakers have missed SEPTA’s deadline to act to forestall cuts, divided over where money for...

National News

Serial killer Dennis Rader stands before Sedgwick County District Court Judge Greg Waller Thursday afternoon, Aug. 18, 2005, in Wichita, Kan., as sentencing is read. Rader was ordered to serve 10 consecutive life terms Thursday during an emotional hearing in which relatives of his victims called him a monster and said he should be “thrown in a deep, dark hole and left to rot.” (AP Photo/Bo Rader, Pool)

Today in History: August 18, serial killer BTK sentenced

A judge in Wichita, Kansas, sentenced BTK serial killer Dennis Rader to 10 consecutive life...

Allentown

An architects rendering, created by firm Alloy5, depicts plans for a new “Life Safety and Wellness Center” in Allentown at the intersection of 4th and Chew Streets. (Image by Alloy5, courtesy of City of Allentown)

Allentown weighs taking out $134 million in bonds to finance new fire and police HQs, public health bureau

Allentown City Council could soon vote to approve purchasing up to $134 million in government...

Bethlehem Area

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Musikfest attendance was up in 2025, but what about crime? What the numbers show

Musikfest attendance was up significantly in 2025, but what about crime? Here's what the numbers...