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

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

Some members of the Bethlehem Historic Architecture Review Board said that the seven-story building planned on the former Walnut Street parking garage site was too tall.

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)

Army Air Corps veteran Joseph Haenn talks with an attendee at the V-J Day event Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Emmaus. The event was held by Lehigh Valley Chapter 55 of the Battle of the Bulge Association to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. While Sept. 2, 1945, was the day Japan formally surrendered to Allied forces, some commemorations recognize the date as Aug. 14, 1945, the day fighting with Japan ended and the armistice was declared. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)

‘Let us never forget their sacrifices:’ Lehigh Valley area World War II veterans, some 100 years old, mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day

Shrimp & Grits — jumbo shrimp, grits, andouille sausage, red eye gravy — is one of the menu items Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at the new Bethlehem Barrel & Drafthouse restaurant in The Outlets at Wind Creek in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

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

Waves roll in towards the beach Sept. 21, 2024, in Ocean City, New Jersey.(Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

Bill White: Turning off life’s cruise control for special moments

Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, holds a copy of the Easton Express that documents the damage from Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

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

Latest Headlines

Trump says no agreement on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine as Putin says there was an ‘understanding’

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

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

21 hours ago
Pa. congressman Rob Bresnahan, fiancée threatened on social media ahead of wedding

15 hours ago
‘Chill, snow, repeat’: How bad will this winter be in Lehigh Valley? What the Farmers Almanac says

1 day ago
Monroe County motorcyclist, 31, dies after crash

22 hours ago
Celebrate National Roller Coaster Day at Pennsylvania amusement parks

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‘Chill, snow, repeat’: How bad will this winter be in Lehigh Valley? What the Farmers Almanac says
‘Chill, snow, repeat’: How bad will this winter be in Lehigh Valley? What the Farmers Almanac says
A crispy arrival: Chicken chain to open first Lehigh Valley restaurant
A crispy arrival: Chicken chain to open first Lehigh Valley restaurant
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
Mack wins contract to produce more Army dump trucks in Allentown
Mack wins contract to produce more Army dump trucks in Allentown
Route 309 ramp to Tilghman Street to close as reconstruction continues
Route 309 ramp to Tilghman Street to close as reconstruction continues
Coplay man sentenced to 20-40 years in prison for raping children, DA says
Coplay man sentenced to 20-40 years in prison for raping children, DA says
Allentown brothers charged in ‘large scale drug distribution network’, $500,000 worth of cocaine seized, DA says
Allentown brothers charged in ‘large scale drug distribution network’, $500,000 worth of cocaine seized, DA says
1 suspect surrenders, another wanted in Easton shooting that left one person injured [Updated]
1 suspect surrenders, another wanted in Easton shooting that left one person injured [Updated]
A fish in a streetlight, an indescribable stench, the last car over the Cementon Bridge: More memories from when Diane flooded the Lehigh Valley
A fish in a streetlight, an indescribable stench, the last car over the Cementon Bridge: More memories from when Diane flooded the Lehigh Valley
Whitehall motorist who fatally hit grandfather, 75, on Christmas Day charged with vehicular homicide, DA says
Whitehall motorist who fatally hit grandfather, 75, on Christmas Day charged with vehicular homicide, DA says

Local News

The Northampton County Courthouse in Easton. (Cameron Hart/The Morning Call)

Coplay man sentenced to 20-40 years in prison for raping children, DA says

A Coplay man will spend up to 40 years in prison for raping two children, according to authorities.

Sports

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran gets carted off of the field during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Phillies say X-rays negative on closer Jhoan Duran

The Phillies said X-rays were negative on Jhoan Duran after he was hit on the ankle with a comebacker.

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.

Allentown School District Back to School Bash | PHOTOS

Families attend Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, the Allentown School District’s back-to-school bash at Cedar Creek Park in Allentown.
Hotel Bethlehem celebrates USA Today Best Historic Hotel award for 5th straight year | PHOTOS
Best of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 – Best of the Headliners | PHOTOS
Resurrected Life Community Church holds groundbreaking ceremony for new facility | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Sunday, Aug. 10 | PHOTOS
The Black Keys headline final day of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS

Opinion

Gene Weierbach stands outside his auto repair shop Friday, June 20, 2025, in North Whitehall Township. Weierbach has run the shop on his North Whitehall property for 24 years. Two years ago someone complained to the township that it wasn’t permitted under zoning, so he has been fighting to get an exception to stay open. His latest bid was denied. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Letters to the editor: Township’s vendetta against garage owner is shameful

Letter: This vendetta against Gene has drained him of over $40,000 in legal fees and...

Crime and Public Safety

allentown-police-day-2-webstock-police

Allentown brothers charged in ‘large scale drug distribution network’, $500,000 worth of cocaine seized, DA says

Two Allentown brothers are accused of running a drug distribution network that included $500,000 worth...

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

Demonstrators peacefully gather Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, at the site where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. The Missouri Highway Patrol seized control of a St. Louis suburb Thursday, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority after four days of clashes between officers in riot gear and furious crowds protesting the death of an unarmed black teen shot by an officer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Today in History: August 16, state of emergency declared amid Michael Brown shooting protests

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in the...

Allentown

The chicken chain Zaxbys plans to open its first Lehigh Valley location in Allentown. (Photo courtesy of Bridget Peterson)

A crispy arrival: Chicken chain to open first Lehigh Valley restaurant

The chicken chain Zaxbys plans to open its first Lehigh Valley location in Allentown.

Bethlehem Area

Hotel Bethlehem staff, local officials and business owners celebrate Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, after the hotel was named the best historic hotel for the fifth year in a row in USA Today’s 10Best Historic Hotel competition. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Hotel Bethlehem named Best Historic Hotel for 5th straight year. See what iconic hotels it beat out for the top honors

Hotel Bethlehem first won the top spot in 2021 after finishing second in 2020 and...