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New round of storms in Lehigh Valley downs trees and cuts power to thousands in Allentown, forcing early fireworks displays [Updated]

Storms caused damage in the Lehigh Valley for the second night in a row, just as Fourth of July fireworks displays were going off. This time Allentown was hit hard.

Storm damage is seen in the area of Elm and South Fulton streets in Allentown on Saturday night, July 4, 2026. A severe storm downed numerous trees and wires around western portions of the city as area Fourth of July fireworks displays were under way. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

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Robert Levers, played by Bachmann Players Artistic Director Christopher Black, reads the Declaration of Independence during America 250 celebrations at the George Taylor House on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Catasauqua. Taylor was one of four Founding Fathers honored with a Liberty Legacy Garden by America250PA, the others being Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)

Lehigh Valley celebrates America’s 250th birthday

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Jocelyn Schienholz, a barista at Plants + Coffee, sets up for the grand opening of her new book shop, Jojo’s Book Nook, on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Easton. The book shop is in the corner of the coffee shop, and will offer romance, mystery, thriller, fantasy and Pride-themed books, along with other merchandise like candles, stickers and bookmarks. (Avery Folmar/The Morning Call)

Retail Watch: Barista opens new book shop in Lehigh Valley cafe

Independence Hall in Philadelphia. (Shutterstock)

Letters: Lehigh Valley residents reflect on America’s past, present and future on its 250th birthday

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Bangor’s Chayse Panczer looks for a hit against Southern Lehigh on Thursday, April 23, 2026, during a boys baseball game at Bangor Area High School. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

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David Hunsicker, Sons of the American Revolution’s America 250PA chairman in The Valley Forge Chapter, addresses the crowd at Covered Bridge Park in Allentown, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Representatives, reenactors and local history enthusiasts gathered for a public reading commemorating the 250th anniversary of May 1776 petitions supporting American independence. (Avery Folmar/The Morning Call)

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Fourth of July storm downs trees around Allentown | PHOTOS

Severe thunderstorms moved through the Lehigh Valley for the second night in a row on the Fourth of July. See photos of storm damage.
‘Liberty Ignited’ at Coca-Cola Park features fireworks, drone light show | PHOTOS
Storms down trees around Lehigh Valley ahead of Fourth of July | PHOTOS
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Opinion

In this 2003 file photo, women reach to touch and kiss a flag as they participate in the Shi'a Muslim holiday of Ashura in Kuwait City. Ashura is the Shi'a Muslim anniversary of the martyrdom of Hussain, the grandson of Muhammad. Hussain was killed along with his troops during a raid in the ancient city of Kerbala along the Euphrates River around 680 AD. (CHICAGO TRIBUNE PHOTO BY JOHN LEE)

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Damage from an early evening storm caused road closures and snarled traffic on July 3, 2026, in Lower Macungie. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)

Lehigh Valley road closures due to storm damage

Several roads in Lehigh and Northampton counties remain closed Saturday morning due to damage from...

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Pennsylvania News

An electric meter. (Emily Robson/The Morning Call)

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National News

FILE – This Feb. 9, 2011 file photo shows Spam on a shelf in a Bethel Park, Pa. Cans of Spam have become a common item that’s being stolen from Honolulu stores and then sold on the streets for quick cash, according to authorities. Honolulu police said they took a report of a man lifting a case of the canned meat from a store earlier in Oct. 2017. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

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Allentown

Fireworks presented by IBEW Local 375 light up the sky Friday, July 3, 2026, during the Liberty Ignited celebration to mark America’s 250th birthday at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)

‘Liberty Ignited’ at Coca-Cola Park features fireworks, drone light show | PHOTOS

Coca-Cola Park in Allentown hosted what was billed as the largest fireworks and drone light...

Bethlehem Area

The Hoover Mason Trestle in Bethlehem. (Donna Fisher/The Morning Call)

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