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

Dying Pa. coal town a ‘blank slate’ for minority newcomers. Can they spur a rebirth?

Demographically, Girardville has been utterly transformed in recent years. Based on the most recent borough records, officials peg the demographic breakdown as 70% white, 25% Hispanic and 5% Black.

Michael Zangari is near the end of his second term as mayor of Girardville borough. Girardville is a coal town in Schuylkill County.
December 8, 2025.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

High-voltage transmission lines provide electricity to data centers in Ashburn in Loudon County, Virginia, on Sunday, July 16, 2023. The centers house the computer servers and hardware required to support modern internet use, including artificial intelligence. (Associated Press)

Developers propose ‘responsible’ data center in rural Northampton County community. Neighbors are skeptical

Quakertown Police Department (Bucks County Courier Times)

Court documents reveal details of clash between Quakertown police, student ICE protesters

An Amazon Web Services data center is situated near single-family homes in Stone Ridge, Va. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images/TNS)

One of the Lehigh Valley’s largest municipalities just passed a law setting limits on data centers

Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel speaks about his Transition Team Report on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at the Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown. The report provides strategic guidance and solutions to help shape the next phase of his administration’s work on behalf of Lehigh County residents. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Lehigh County executive, commissioner butt heads over budget changes, new hires

Latest Headlines

The Lehigh Valley got a dusting of snow Wednesday. Will we get more soon?

15 hours ago
Pa. House special election results: Democrat Ana Tiburcio becomes first Latina to represent Lehigh Valley in state House

10 hours ago
What Pennsylvania’s new housing plan means for the Lehigh Valley

18 hours ago
Police video shows Vince McMahon’s 100 mph car crash in Connecticut

5 hours ago
‘All about the conversation’: Teen dating violence tackled at Northampton County forum

14 hours ago
Lehigh County commissioner pushes for separate hearing in drug case, prosecutor says more charges coming

1 day ago
Popular Lehigh Valley restaurant closes indefinitely following owner’s death

2 days ago
Sign up for email newsletters
Sign Up

Most Popular

Court documents reveal details of clash between Quakertown police, student ICE protesters
Court documents reveal details of clash between Quakertown police, student ICE protesters
One of the Lehigh Valley’s largest municipalities just passed a law setting limits on data centers
One of the Lehigh Valley’s largest municipalities just passed a law setting limits on data centers
Pa. House special election results: Democrat Ana Tiburcio becomes first Latina to represent Lehigh Valley in state House
Pa. House special election results: Democrat Ana Tiburcio becomes first Latina to represent Lehigh Valley in state House
Developers propose ‘responsible’ data center in rural Northampton County community. Neighbors are skeptical
Developers propose ‘responsible’ data center in rural Northampton County community. Neighbors are skeptical
Trump uses longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that US is ‘winning so much’
Trump uses longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that US is ‘winning so much’
Popular Lehigh Valley restaurant closes indefinitely following owner’s death
Popular Lehigh Valley restaurant closes indefinitely following owner’s death
Police video shows Vince McMahon’s 100 mph car crash in Connecticut
Police video shows Vince McMahon’s 100 mph car crash in Connecticut
Plan to allow industrial development on Northampton County farmland near school gets thumbs-down
Plan to allow industrial development on Northampton County farmland near school gets thumbs-down
Poconos man who ‘needed to kill the spiders’ sets fire to his house that spread to 3 others, police say
Poconos man who ‘needed to kill the spiders’ sets fire to his house that spread to 3 others, police say
Route 512 reopens at Route 22 in Northampton County after steel object gets stuck underneath overpass [Updated]
Route 512 reopens at Route 22 in Northampton County after steel object gets stuck underneath overpass [Updated]

Local News

Parkland’s Blake Nassry looks to score against Pocono Mountain East’s Christian Varkanis and Dominic McManus on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, during District 11 6A boys basketball semifinals at Easton Area Middle School. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

District 11 6A boys basketball semifinals at Easton Area Middle School | PHOTOS

District 11 6A boys basketball semifinals at Easton Area Middle School District 11 6A boys basketball semifinals at Easton Area Middle School

Sports

Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht answers questions Wednesday during his first media availability in State College. (Rich Scarcella–Reading Eagle)

Quarterback Rocco Becht’s commitment to Penn State football is all about family

Quarterback stays with former Iowa State teammates, moves closer to relatives

Things to Do

The popular marketplace at the Philadelphia Flower Show will bring a taste of spring home. (Photo by Becca Mathias)

Philadelphia Flower Show will be perfect respite for the winter-weary

The 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show, "Rooted: Origins of American Gardening," comes at the right time after the cold, icy winter.

Opinion

US-VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-HOME

Faith & Values: Placing your trust in God

Trust is a powerful word that reflects positivity and security. But what is it really?

Crime and Public Safety

Sean McDermott, 36, of Pocono Pines is wanted on arson and other charges after police say he set fires inside his townhouse at 616 Uncus Lane that spread to three adjoining units, according to Pocono Mountain Regional Police. According to a witness, McDermott said he “needed to kill the spiders within the residence,” police said.

Poconos man who ‘needed to kill the spiders’ sets fire to his house that spread to 3 others, police say

A Monroe County, Pennsylvania, man who was apparently trying to rid his townhouse of spiders...

Best Reviews

<p>Adobe Stock</p>

Are those expensive vibrating skin brushes worth it?

Vibrating brushes have been all the rage because devotees rave about their ability to exfoliate...

Business

President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Trump’s portrayal of ‘golden age’ is out of sync with how Americans see economy

Trump faces a skeptical public with a much gloomier view of the economy.

Pennsylvania News

Basketball scores

Pennsylvania high school basketball scores from Tuesday, Feb. 24

High school basketball scores from across the state

National News

“No parking” signs stand along one side of the road that Nancy Guthrie lives on in Tucson, Ariz., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, while canopies and vehicles of people covering the investigation line the other side. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca)

No-parking zone in Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood widened amid complaints about journalists, streamers

The new restrictions take effect Thursday.

Allentown

Democrat Ana Tiburcio, left, and Republican Robert Smith Jr. are candidates in the Feb. 24, 2026, special election in the 22nd state House district, representing parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township. (Staff and contributed photos)

What to know about Tuesday’s Pa. House special election in Lehigh County, which could sway control of chamber

Two candidates are facing off Tuesday in a highly consequential Pa. state House special election...

Bethlehem Area

Jack Silva, superintendent of schools, speaks as Bethlehem Area School District officials host a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fountain Hill Elementary School on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Bethlehem. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Bethlehem Area School District superintendent to retire after 40 years in public education

Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Jack Silva will retire at the end of the school...