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

Woman, 68, dead after Allentown house fire [Updated]

July 14, 2026 at 5:00 pm

South Whitehall data center developer says employee at hearing fired over texts

An employee of Scannell Properties, the lead developer on the Project Atlas data center proposal in South Whitehall Township, was fired as a result of the texts, company officials confirmed.

People crowd into a meeting of the South Whitehall Township Planning Commission involving the Project Atlas data center proposal Thursday, July 9, 2026, in the auditorium of Springhouse Middle School in South Whitehall Township. Project Atlas has drawn concerns from township residents due to its potential impacts to the nearby Parkland High School and surrounding community. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)

Then-Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski is pictured at the federal courthouse in Allentown for his criminal trial on public corruption charges in 2018. (Morning Call file photo)

Ed Pawlowski is out of prison and back in Allentown. Here is what he is up to.

Crews battle a fire Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in the 400 block of North Jerome Street in Allentown. A woman was pronounced dead after being pulled from the house, according to officials. (Dennis Wetherhold Jr./Special to The Morning Call)

Woman, 68, dead after Allentown house fire [Updated]

People cool off in the water Monday, July 13, 2026, at Memorial Pool in Bethlehem. The Lehigh Valley is under a heat advisory from the National Weather Service through 8 p.m. Wednesday. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)

Lehigh Valley will once again be under a heat advisory. Here’s how hot it will get

The proposed site of a data center at 2401 W. Emmaus Ave. on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Allentown. Businesses and homes sit in close proximity to the potential data center, plans for which will be heard by the Allentown Planning Commission on June 9. (Avery Folmar/The Morning Call)

Allentown Planning Commission to review plans for a data center this week. Here’s what to know

Latest Headlines

Newest Lehigh Valley Sheetz set to open, offer free coffee and soda this week

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Mack to produce more than 100 additional Army dump trucks in Allentown

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This ’90s alt rock group will play a free show at Musikfest

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Here’s what’s in — and not in — Pennsylvania’s $50.8 billion state budget

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Coca-Cola Park is getting $300,000 of taxpayer money for an upgrade. Here are the details

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Pa. state senator profited from $30 million property sale for massive data center development

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Jefferson to open Sidney Kimmel Medical School campus in heart of downtown Allentown

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Bethlehem pub owners to sell and say goodbye after eight years
Bethlehem pub owners to sell and say goodbye after eight years
Allentown man who died in South Whitehall house fire identified [Updated]
Allentown man who died in South Whitehall house fire identified [Updated]
Lehigh Valley food safety report: Pink slime, black mold, roach infestation, rodent-contaminated food, mop water in the flour
Lehigh Valley food safety report: Pink slime, black mold, roach infestation, rodent-contaminated food, mop water in the flour
Coroner IDs scooter rider, pedestrian who died in Lehigh Valley crashes last week
Coroner IDs scooter rider, pedestrian who died in Lehigh Valley crashes last week
Ed Pawlowski is out of prison and back in Allentown. Here is what he is up to.
Ed Pawlowski is out of prison and back in Allentown. Here is what he is up to.
Quakertown parents lost their daughter to suicide. Here’s what they want others to know
Quakertown parents lost their daughter to suicide. Here’s what they want others to know
Trans-Bridge Lines offering special fares to New York City. Here’s the cost and how long they will last
Trans-Bridge Lines offering special fares to New York City. Here’s the cost and how long they will last
Jefferson to open Sidney Kimmel Medical School campus in heart of downtown Allentown
Jefferson to open Sidney Kimmel Medical School campus in heart of downtown Allentown
Woman, 68, dead after Allentown house fire [Updated]
Woman, 68, dead after Allentown house fire [Updated]
One Earth Reggae Festival at SteelStacks | PHOTOS
One Earth Reggae Festival at SteelStacks | PHOTOS

Local News

Employee Karly Strohl arranges floral bouquets Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Buzas’ Greenhouse and Farm in Palmer Township. In the coming weeks, the greenhouse will offer cut-your-own flowers. The family-owned business has been in operation for more than 75 years as a producing farm.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Local farm offers produce and flowers for over 75 years | PHOTOS

Local farm offers produce and flowers for over 75 years

Sports

Kristi Tracey

Lehigh Valley physical therapist makes US Women’s International Masters Cup field hockey team

‘Do it and do it to your fullest,' says Kristi Tracey of Lehighton, who thrives on competition and handling pressure

Things to Do

Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters perform Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at Sellersville Theater. (Jess Gaedicke)

From The Used to Billy Bob Thornton, here are the top acts playing in July in the Lehigh Valley

Beat the heat with these musical acts playing this month in the Lehigh Valley.

Easton Heritage Day celebrates America 250 | PHOTOS

Easton celebrated Heritage Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, on Saturday. See 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
Storms damage West Park in Allentown | PHOTOS
‘Liberty Ignited’ at Coca-Cola Park features fireworks, drone light show | PHOTOS

Opinion

A wealth tax would help Lehigh County meet its financial obligations fairly, the author contends.

Opinion: Wealth tax is good way to shift some of Lehigh County’s financial burden

Opinion: Should we tax the pennies of the many or the fortunes of the few...

Crime and Public Safety

police-lights-night-3-webstock-police

Coroner IDs scooter rider, pedestrian who died in Lehigh Valley crashes last week

The Lehigh County coroner on Monday identified two people killed on area roads last week,...

Best Reviews

<p>Alvina Wang/BestReviews</p>

Away vs. Beis: Which is best?

If you’re in the market for new luggage, you may want to consider a suitcase...

Business

FILE – The Warner Bros. water tower appears at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif., on Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Writers Guild of America seeks to block Paramount’s buyout of Warner in latest merger challenge

The WGA’s complaint comes after 12 states filed their own lawsuit over the transaction.

Pennsylvania News

The Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. (Commonwealth Media Services)

Lawmakers break without addressing unconstitutional murder sentences, leave 1K Pa. lifers in limbo

Prosecutors and advocates are split over whether mandatory minimums or maximums are the best way...

National News

FILE – District Attorney General Danny Goodman speaks in court on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Tiptonville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, Pool, File)

Indictments show five inmate murders, assaults and other violence at a Tennessee prison

A grand jury has issued 50 indictments involving Northwest Correctional Complex.

Allentown

Dan Schantz, the founder of Dan Schantz Farm & Greenhouses, is seen inside one of his greenhouses on his farm in Zionsville in August 2002. Schantz died July 9, 2026, at the age of 92. (Rick Smith/Special to TMC)

Dan Schantz, iconic Lehigh Valley farmer known for his greenhouse outlet stores, dies at 92

Dan Schantz, one of the most recognized farmers in the Lehigh Valley known for the...

Bethlehem Area

Festivalgoers enjoy the sights and sounds of the One Earth Festival Global Music and Culture Festival at SteelStacks on Saturday July 11 2026. The fifth annual festival, presented by ArtsQuest in partnership with Movement Moves Media, celebrates global music, culture and community. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)

One Earth Reggae Festival at SteelStacks | PHOTOS

SteelStacks in Bethlehem celebrates the fifth annual One Earth Reggae Festival. See photos.