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

Tornado watch for Lehigh Valley canceled as severe storm threat diminishes; flood watch remains [Updated]

July 18, 2026 at 8:27 pm

Retail Watch: French bakery plans bigger menu for its bigger, new home in Allentown

Sophistiqué – French Bakery held a ribbon cutting this week at its new location at 960 Hamilton St.

The French flag flies Tuesday, July 14, 2026, above Sophistiqué’s new location at 960 Hamilton St. in Allentown. The bakery was originally opened in November 2024 at 924 W. Walnut St., with the bigger space expected to feature an expanded menu and a bigger team of part-time staff. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)

A tornado watch has been issued across most of eastern Pennsylvania through Saturday evening, July 18, 2026. (NWS)

Tornado watch for Lehigh Valley canceled as severe storm threat diminishes; flood watch remains [Updated]

Misty Vicky and her son, Wyatt, who is on the autism spectrum play in their backyard Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Allentown. Vicky, like many other parents in the Lehigh Valley, faces myriad struggles and challenges ensuring that her child receives the services and treatment that he needs and deserves. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

‘Nothing is easy’: Lehigh Valley parents of autistic children frustrated over long wait times, denials of service

The JBS beef packing plant in Souderton. (John Worthington – MediaNews Group)

Shock, sadness and determination: As Montgomery County meatpacking plant closes after 149 years, community braces for fallout

A LANTA bus pulls into the Allentown Transportation Center. The transit agency unveiled its new fare collection system on Tuesday. (Rick Kintzel/The Morning Call)

LANTA riders could face more cuts as state budget leaves out additional transit funding

Latest Headlines

A Lehigh Valley shopping center was just sold for more than $18 million

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When will the air quality get better? Wildfire smoke forecast for Lehigh Valley

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Is a data center better than a warehouse in south Allentown neighborhood? Residents get first look at plans

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Truck driver in fatal Route 29 truck crash in Upper Milford Township is identified [Updated]

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What is the Lehigh Valley air quality like right now? How to check it near you

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Lettuce at Taco Bell in 5 states confirmed as a source of diarrhea-causing parasite

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Knoebels amusement park announces death of longtime president

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A Lehigh Valley shopping center was just sold for more than $18 million
A Lehigh Valley shopping center was just sold for more than $18 million
Truck driver in fatal Route 29 truck crash in Upper Milford Township is identified [Updated]
Truck driver in fatal Route 29 truck crash in Upper Milford Township is identified [Updated]
Shock, sadness and determination: As Montgomery County meatpacking plant closes after 149 years, community braces for fallout
Shock, sadness and determination: As Montgomery County meatpacking plant closes after 149 years, community braces for fallout
Tornado watch for Lehigh Valley canceled as severe storm threat diminishes; flood watch remains [Updated]
Tornado watch for Lehigh Valley canceled as severe storm threat diminishes; flood watch remains [Updated]
Flood watch issued for Lehigh Valley as severe weather expected Saturday
Flood watch issued for Lehigh Valley as severe weather expected Saturday
When will the air quality get better? Wildfire smoke forecast for Lehigh Valley
When will the air quality get better? Wildfire smoke forecast for Lehigh Valley
Easton declares ‘fire emergency’ due to underground blaze downtown, prompting power outage
Easton declares ‘fire emergency’ due to underground blaze downtown, prompting power outage
Retail Watch: French bakery plans bigger menu for its bigger, new home in Allentown
Retail Watch: French bakery plans bigger menu for its bigger, new home in Allentown
Lehigh Valley mobile home park is sold for a tidy profit
Lehigh Valley mobile home park is sold for a tidy profit
What is the Lehigh Valley air quality like right now? How to check it near you
What is the Lehigh Valley air quality like right now? How to check it near you

Local News

Volunteer Deborah Sciarra tries to push rain water out of the dessert tent Saturday, July 18, 2026, during Bethlehem Blueberry Festival, organized by Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites at Burnside Plantation. The festival offers Colonial demonstrations, activities, vendor tents, blueberry-themed foods and live music. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Bethlehem Blueberry Festival on Saturday | PHOTOS

Bethlehem Blueberry Festival on Saturday

Sports

Palmerton’s Hailey George (8) pitches the ball against Northwestern Lehigh on Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Palmerton. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)

2026 all-area softball: Palmerton’s Hailey George pitched her way to being rookie of the year

George won 17 games and recorded 178 strikeouts in 125.1 innings for the Blue Bombers

Things to Do

Guy Davis at the Blast Furnace Blues Festival in 2011. The festival returns Friday and Saturday to SteelStacks in Bethlehem. (Monica Cabrera / The Morning Call)

Things to do this weekend in Lehigh Valley: A little blues, a little disco and more

Listen to some blues or the pop sounds of ABBA at these weekend events.

Blast Furnace Blues music festival brings tunes to the Steelstacks | PHOTOS

The 2026 Blast Furnace Blues music festival brought the community together Friday to listen to blues artists such as the BC Combo, Project 22 Band and Scott Tournet. More performances will take place on Saturday and feature tunes from Shane...
Wildfire smoke descends on Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS
Easton Heritage Day celebrates America 250 | PHOTOS
One Earth Reggae Festival at SteelStacks | PHOTOS
Preparing to read the Declaration of Independence at Easton Heritage Day | PHOTOS
Ryan Mackenzie, at housing-focused visit in Bethlehem with Trump official | PHOTOS
Crews clear debris and repair power lines | PHOTOS

Opinion

Cooling vent fans stand Nov. 12, 2025, on the roof next to generators on the lower level of a Digital Realty data center in Ashburn, Virginia. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Opinion: Blueprint for smart data center development can start in our region

Opinion: Data centers can bring jobs, economic development and revitalization to our region

Crime and Public Safety

Red and blue police lights.

AI chatbot tip leads to arrest of Florida man on child abuse, pornography charges

Broward detectives said a tip from Grok, the AI chatbot built into X, prompted an...

Best Reviews

<p>Adobe Stock</p>

Achieve better cooking results with these top-rated Hamilton Beach microwaves

Hamilton Beach is one of the better-known brands manufacturing microwaves.

Business

Eufy SmartTrack Card E40.

Tech review: For your consideration — several cool new gadgets

A few of the smaller gadgets include power banks and smart plugs.

Pennsylvania News

Hazy conditions from Canadian wildfire smoke is seen over the Lehigh Valley Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Pa. declares Code Purple air quality alert statewide as Lehigh Valley reaches ‘hazardous’ levels

The air quality will get worse before it gets better for most of Pennsylvania as...

National News

A Ford Tri-Motor airplane from the 1920s is on display at The Henry Ford.

Michigan played pivotal roles in shaping transportation over the last 250 years

Michigan has repeatedly helped redefine how Americans move, work, travel and live.

Allentown

Hazy conditions from Canadian wildfire smoke is seen over the Lehigh Valley Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Wildfire smoke descends on Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS

Wildfire smoke from Canada descended upon the Lehigh Valley on Thursday, casting a haze over...

Bethlehem Area

The entry sign for the Landings apartment complex sits alongside Catasauqua Road on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Bethlehem. The apartment complex was recently sold for $97 million to Boyd Wilson LLC. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)

Large Lehigh Valley apartment complex is sold for nearly $100 million

The Landings, just off Catasauqua Road on Bethlehem's west side, recently sold for $97 million.