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

Here are the Lehigh Valley communities that have, or are considering, data center ordinances

In recent months, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission has been busy reviewing data center ordinances. According to LVPC's latest count, 24 of the Valley’s 62 municipalities have passed or are working on them.

Linda Horne farm is photographed Wednesday, July, 8, 2026, at 7518 Martins Creek Belvidere Hwy, Lower Mount Bethel Township. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, is called on stage by President Donald J. Trump Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Mack Truck in Lower Macungie Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Ryan Mackenzie says he’s returned campaign contribution from GOP donor pardoned by Trump

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 nonprofit that works with terminally ill children files zoning challenge against data center plans

People enjoy the preview night of Musikfest on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Bethlehem. The annual festival runs through Aug. 9. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Musikfest 2026 preview night on Thursday, July 30 | PHOTOS

People enjoy food, sounds and the sights Thursday, July 31, 2025, during Musikfest’s preview night in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Here’s a look at some of the best free acts playing Musikfest 2026

Latest Headlines

Musikfest 2026 guide: Everything to know about Bethlehem’s famous festival, from lineup to food to parking

13 hours ago
What is the ‘dose zero’? Here’s what you need to know about Pennsylvania’s new recommendations for early measles vaccination

23 hours ago
After state citations and financial woes, Northampton County leaders are focused on Gracedale’s future. What it could look like

20 hours ago
Lehigh County, medical contractor sued over jail suicides

16 hours ago
Lehigh County woman, 83, dies weeks after Allentown crash

18 hours ago
Back to school: Here’s where to get free supplies, haircuts in the Lehigh Valley

24 hours ago
See which Lehigh Valley high schools have the highest and lowest graduation rates

16 hours ago
Sign up for email newsletters
Sign Up

Most Popular

A loss in Lehigh Valley sports: Former Southern Lehigh AD Kate Miller brought a smile, compassion to the job
A loss in Lehigh Valley sports: Former Southern Lehigh AD Kate Miller brought a smile, compassion to the job
Route 309 closed in Lehigh County for ‘extended’ period
Route 309 closed in Lehigh County for ‘extended’ period
Man shot by police during incident in Northampton County
Man shot by police during incident in Northampton County
Lehigh County, medical contractor sued over jail suicides
Lehigh County, medical contractor sued over jail suicides
One unconfirmed case of diarrhea-causing parasite has been found in the Lehigh Valley as nationwide outbreak continues
One unconfirmed case of diarrhea-causing parasite has been found in the Lehigh Valley as nationwide outbreak continues
Land for Eli Lilly plant in Lehigh Valley is sold. Find out the sales price
Land for Eli Lilly plant in Lehigh Valley is sold. Find out the sales price
Lehigh County woman, 83, dies weeks after Allentown crash
Lehigh County woman, 83, dies weeks after Allentown crash
Ryan Mackenzie says he’s returned campaign contribution from GOP donor pardoned by Trump
Ryan Mackenzie says he’s returned campaign contribution from GOP donor pardoned by Trump
How much rain did the Lehigh Valley get? Totals from around the region
How much rain did the Lehigh Valley get? Totals from around the region
Musikfest 2026 guide: Everything to know about Bethlehem’s famous festival, from lineup to food to parking
Musikfest 2026 guide: Everything to know about Bethlehem’s famous festival, from lineup to food to parking

Local News

Grupo Niche performs Thursday, July 30, 2026, on Musikfest’s Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza in Bethlehem. Grupo Niche is a Colombian salsa orchestra formed in 1979 that is widely recognized by critics and audiences as one of the most successful Latin music groups of the last four decades. Thursday was preview night at Musikfest, which runs through Aug. 9. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Grupo Niche headlines Musikfest’s preview night | PHOTOS

Photos: Grupo Niche performs on Musikfest's Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza in Bethlehem.

Sports

IronPigs starting pitcher Andrew Painter allowed only three earned runs combined in his last two road starts. (Photo courtesy of Cheryl Purcell)

Andrew Painter getting better at here and now with Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Andrew Painter getting better at the here and now with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He makes his next start on Friday against visiting Buffalo at Coca-Cola Park after back-to-back solid starts on the road.

Things to Do

Brian Becker of New, Ohio helps daughter helps Liberty, 5, with a craft project during the Free Summer Sundays event at the Moravian Historical Society in Nazareth on Sunday, July 23, 2017. The free Sundays program returns this year through the month of August.
(Harry Fisher / The Morning Call)

Things to do this weekend in Lehigh Valley: Bluegrass, history and classic cars

There are plenty of other things going on the Lehigh Valley this weekend that isn't Musikfest.

Storms bring torrential rain to Lehigh Valley, causing flash flooding | PHOTOS

Photos: Storms dump torrential rain on Lehigh Valley, causing flash flooding and even a mudslide.
Sunflower Festival starts at Seiple Farms in Bath | PHOTOS
Cirque de Paris presented by Anouchka Bouglione | PHOTOS
Plainfield Farmers’ Fair | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2026 preparations in Bethlehem | PHOTOS
Violent crash sends car into Allentown home | PHOTOS
Lehigh Valley Puerto Rican Parade and Festival in Allentown | PHOTOS

Opinion

Planes and equipment from World War II on display during the 35th annual World War II Weekend at the Reading Regional Airport on Saturday, June 6, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Papers serve as doorway to Holocaust understanding [opinion]

A Pennsylvania woman discovers the immense power of her family's story.

Crime and Public Safety

Northampton County Forensic Center in Nazareth. (File)

Skull found in Northampton County belongs to body found in Bucks, coroners say

A human skull found in Northampton County has been linked via DNA to a headless...

Best Reviews

<p>Adobe Stock</p>

Best homeschool planner

Homeschool planners are different from other types of lesson planners to accommodate all of the...

Business

An Amazon Zoox taxi with no steering wheel drives in front of The Sphere on the Las Vegas strip, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Some robotaxis approved to operate without steering wheels and losing the brake pedal could be next

Zoox and Tesla are working to catch up to the industry-leading Waymo.

Pennsylvania News

A view of the lake and evergreen trees at Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County. (Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PA)

Millions from state lands could be redirected to rural Pennsylvania to help make up for tax-exempt property

Counties, municipalities and school districts would get a share of the revenue generated by Pennsylvania’s...

National News

Astronaut James Irwin beside the Rover parked near the lunar module, looking northeast, Mount Hadley in the background. (AP Photo)

Today in History: July 31, Apollo 15 astronauts use a lunar rover for the first time

Apollo 15 crew members David Scott and James Irwin became the first astronauts to use...

Allentown

A memorial to Kandi Jo Heller of Slatington is seen Friday, July 24, 2026, at North Sixth and Cedar streets in Allentown. Heller, 44, died after a violent crash Wednesday that sent a car into a house nearby. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

‘Life of the party’: Friends remember Slatington woman killed in Allentown crash

A memorial for Kandi Heller is planned for July 31 at one of her favorite...

Bethlehem Area

Route 309 is flooded near Hopewell and Lanark roads, south of Center Valley Parkway, in Upper Saucon Township on Tuesday evening, July 28, 2026, as storms dumped torrential rain on the region. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Storms bring torrential rain to Lehigh Valley, causing flash flooding | PHOTOS

Photos: Storms dump torrential rain on Lehigh Valley, causing flash flooding and even a mudslide.