Allentown is facing pressure from data center developers for speedy review and approval, emails reveal

Emails between Allentown officials and the developer of a data center reveal that the city is facing pressure to quickly review and approve the data centers plans, including a possible legal challenge.

With an artist rending of the purposed data center behind her Allentown Chief city planner Melissa Velez speaks Thursday, July 16, 2026, during an Allentown planning commission meeting at Allentown City Hall. The commission had a meeting before voting on plans for a data center at 2401 W. Emaus Ave. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Volunteers serve food on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, during New Bethany’s annual free Thanksgiving meal in Bethlehem. Working with other volunteers to help people is one way stereotypes and barriers get broken down, the author asserts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Opinion: The simple surefire way to stop bigotry in the Lehigh Valley

Festivalgoers enjoy food, music, and the atmosphere as they gather ahead of the evening’s headlining performance during Musikfest on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Bethlehem. The annual festival runs through Aug. 9. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)

Musikfest 2026 on Saturday, Aug. 8 | PHOTOS

Nancy Sankari, co-owner of SMP Steaks, shows a vodka parm ccutlet with pesto, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at the business in Whitehall Township where they will serve cheesesteaks, breakfast sandwiches, cutlets, gyros, pierogis, wings burgers and bowls. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Retail Watch: Cheesesteak shop aiming to become Whitehall staple with new location

Slatington Senior Community Center Manager Rachel Swedberg, left, intern Maddie Newman and Lehigh County Senior Center Services Director Ann Milne lead older adults in the the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education program Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 at the center. The wellness program focuses on the misuse of medication and offers communication skills that can help participants avoid making mistakes or not getting correct information about their meds. WISE is being rolled out in four Pennsylvania counties with the highest rates of senior drug overdoses, including Lehigh and Berks. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Pa. seniors have a high rate of overdoses. New plan to stop them rolled out in Lehigh Valley

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Local News

Kaden Santiago, 7, of Allentown chooses a free book bag Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, during the 9th Annual Back To School Event hosted by Puertorrican Culture Preservation Inc at Buck Boyle Park in Allentown. The event featured 500 free backpacks, snacks and back-to-school supplies given by local organizations. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Puertorrican Culture Preservation Inc’s 9th annual Back To School Event | PHOTOS

Puertorrican Culture Preservation Inc’s 9th annual Back To School Event

Sports

Notre Dame-Green Pond basketball coach Pat Boyle poses on Monday, April 6, 2026, at the school in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Pat Boyle: The Notre Dame-Green Pond coaching legend has a new job, but remains in charge of the Crusaders

Boyle has coached 30 seasons at Notre Dame-Green Pond and won 555 games

Things to Do

Milo Mill, 9, goes for a Ferris wheel ride during Carbon County Fair in 2016. (Chris Shipley / The Morning Call)

Things to do this weekend in Lehigh Valley: Lehigh Valley history, music in the park, run at the zoo and a county fair

Explore Lehigh Valley history, run for the animals and take in the last days of the Carbon County Fair this weekend.

Opinion

Trays of printed social security checks are ready to be mailed from the U.S. Treasury in 2005. (AP Photo/Bradly C. Bower)

Letters: To save Social Security, limit cost of living adjustments

Letters: Addressing the inability of Social Security to meet obligations requires a comprehensive response.

Crime and Public Safety

Motorists use the new Cementon Bridge over the Lehigh River between Northampton and Whitehall Township on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. The 585-foot-long concrete span, which has been under construction since March 2023, opened to traffic Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The older span to the right has been demolished. (Scott M. Nagy/Special to The Morning Call)

Major bridge over Lehigh River to be closed for a weekend later in August

Crews began constructing the 585-foot-long bridge that carries Route 329 over the Lehigh River in...

Best Reviews

Need a fun workout? Try the best smart hula hoops

Unlike standard hula hoops, which spin around your body and can easily fall, smart hula...

Business

BMX GaNSTA 140W LCD Laptop World Charger.

Tech review: 4 accessories for heading back to school

Everyone should have their own laptop, and along with it, they’ll need some accessories.

Pennsylvania News

The 911 Center in the Lehigh County Emergency Management Center in Allentown. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Pa. counties face rising emergency costs. The Legislature didn’t include an increase to the 911 phone fee in the budget to help them.

Pennsylvania lawmakers once again declined to increase the state’s 911 surcharge in this year’s budget,...

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Retail Watch: Cheesesteak shop aiming to become Whitehall staple with new location

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Plane carrying baseball players reportedly hit by lightning near Lehigh Valley airport

Pat Boyle: The Notre Dame-Green Pond coaching legend has a new job, but remains in charge of the Crusaders

After lightning hits plane, Banana Ball players visit Allentown Dunkin’

Perkins restaurant in Lehigh Valley sets closing date

2 rafters rescued from Lehigh River during storm

Woman, 89, dies one week after car goes into pond near Mount Airy Casino Resort

Major bridge over Lehigh River to be closed for a weekend later in August

Lehigh Valley social clubs rally to save skill games before Pa. Supreme Court order makes them illegal

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