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

After near record-breaking warmth, Lehigh Valley in midst of cooldown. A freeze watch has been issued

April 19, 2026 at 10:20 am

Lehigh County wants to create a joint juvenile detention facility in Berks. But critics are trying to put on the brakes

While there hasn't been a large spike in juvenile crime over the last decade, the number of available places to put teens who need to be locked up has dropped sharply.

Lehigh County has not had its own juvenile detention center since 2014. A new partnership with three other counties to form a regional facility is up for a vote. (Rich Schultz/ TMC)

Flowering cherry blossoms bloom with color Sunday, April 5, 2026, during a rainy Easter afternoon in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

After near record-breaking warmth, Lehigh Valley in midst of cooldown. A freeze watch has been issued

City trucks collect and dispose of pallets, tarps and other personal belongings Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, at the Jordan Creek homeless encampment in Allentown during a sweep by city officials to clear residents out of the site. While many residents were able to grab their belongings, others said they lost a lot because they didn’t have help. Allentown officials announced in early August that the camp would be cleared, citing flooding concerns. After an initial deadline of Aug. 25, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk extended the evacuation date to Monday to coincide with the opening of the Allentown YMCA’s warming station. Despite the advance warning, however, some of the residents stayed up until the last possible moment, saying they had nowhere else to go. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Allentown mayor delays sweep of homeless encampment following public backlash

firetruck webstock

Fire damages well-known Poconos pub, one person rescued

Commemorative mugs line the shelves Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage’s new headquarters in Hanover Township, Lehigh County. The company recently relocated from New Jersey. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Retail Watch: Craft soda company ready to hire veterans as it relocates near Allentown

Latest Headlines

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The Lehigh Valley keeps being honored on national 10 best lists. Here’s why.

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Bill White: Get it (rite, right, write) the Grammar Police are back

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Affordable apartments in Allentown with ‘really elevated look’ get closer to completion. Take a look inside

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Actress Christina Applegate reportedly hospitalized since late March
Actress Christina Applegate reportedly hospitalized since late March
Dave’s Hot Chicken to open new restaurant in the Lehigh Valley
Dave’s Hot Chicken to open new restaurant in the Lehigh Valley
Fire damages well-known Poconos pub, one person rescued
Fire damages well-known Poconos pub, one person rescued
Affordable apartments in Allentown with ‘really elevated look’ get closer to completion. Take a look inside
Affordable apartments in Allentown with ‘really elevated look’ get closer to completion. Take a look inside
Retail Watch: Craft soda company ready to hire veterans as it relocates near Allentown
Retail Watch: Craft soda company ready to hire veterans as it relocates near Allentown
Allentown Center Square redesign set to begin. What to know about project, travel restrictions
Allentown Center Square redesign set to begin. What to know about project, travel restrictions
Notre Dame-Green Pond community mourns the loss of legendary ‘Coach’ Art Corrigan
Notre Dame-Green Pond community mourns the loss of legendary ‘Coach’ Art Corrigan
Texas truck driver charged in fatal hit-and-run on I-78 in Berks [Update]
Texas truck driver charged in fatal hit-and-run on I-78 in Berks [Update]
Allentown mayor delays sweep of homeless encampment following public backlash
Allentown mayor delays sweep of homeless encampment following public backlash
Parkland High School grad, West Chester student fatally hit by vehicle is mourned: ‘He was the brightest light’
Parkland High School grad, West Chester student fatally hit by vehicle is mourned: ‘He was the brightest light’

Local News

Promise

Adoptable pets in the Lehigh Valley: Snickers and Promise

Do you have room in your hearts, and your home, for Snickers and Promise?

Sports

Emmaus’ Michael Carwell won the 1,600-meter run in 4:29.28 at the Southern Lehigh Track and Field Invitational on Saturday. (Derek Bast photo)

Track and field: Emmaus’ Carwell, Salisbury’s Lozada shine at inaugural Southern Lehigh Invitational

Salisbury's Steven Lozada wins three field events

Things to Do

Jeff Mucklin of Nurture Nature Center in Easton holds a glass tube of liquid warmed by his hand during a demonstration on energy at an Earth Day celebration Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Fairview Park in Palmer Township. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Earth Day 2026: A guide to events and cleanups around the Lehigh Valley

Here's where to find community cleanups and other events in celebration of Earth Day.

Opinion

A magnolia tree blooms Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Faith & Values: Spring’s quiet promise of renewal

None of us lives a perfect life. We all face mistakes, regrets and hardships. Yet...

Crime and Public Safety

(GETTY IMAGES)

Members of Maryland motorcycle club stole bikes from dealerships in Lehigh, other Pa. counties, AG says

The three members of a Maryland-based motorcycle club are accused of stealing motorcycles from five...

Best Reviews

<p>Adobe Stock</p>

Safe, secure and fun playpens your child will love

Playpens can keep toys from being scattered by containing everything to a designated play area....

Business

A worker fuels an Air Canada jet

Air Canada will suspend flights to JFK for nearly 5 months as jet fuel costs soar

It's the latest move in an industry struggling with high fuel costs and falling supplies.

Pennsylvania News

The view of the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg from State Street. (Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA)

Shapiro wants to eliminate three ‘niche’ tax credits. Supporters say they should be expanded.

The Democratic governor wants a more flexible tax credit that’s focused on job creation.

National News

A firefighter protects a giant sequoia tree.

Wildfires killed nearly 20% of the world’s giant sequoias. How crews are racing to save the rest

Fires in 2020 and 2021 killed nearly 20% of the world’s giant sequoias.

Allentown

William Oplinger, 2,of Phoenixville, plays in a colorful house Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in the Winter Wonder Lab exhibit at the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Da Vinci Science Center gains NASA grant to celebrate moon mission with Lehigh Valley youth

The Da Vinci Science Center is celebrating America's return to the moon with a Saturday...

Bethlehem Area

Main Street in Bethlehem bustles with people on Monday, March 9, 2026. The downtown won USA Today’s 10Best Main Street competition for a second year in a row. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Bethlehem’s Main Street is again voted the best in US in nationwide poll

A panel of USA Today travel experts selected the top 20 finalists. Then it was...