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

Flood watch issued for Lehigh Valley as severe weather expected Saturday

July 17, 2026 at 4:12 pm

Shock, sadness and determination: As Montgomery County meatpacking plant closes after 149 years, community braces for fallout

Plant shutdown on Aug. 14 will put 1,700 people out of work.

The JBS beef packing plant in Souderton. (John Worthington – MediaNews Group)

This map from the National Weather Service shows the excessive rainfall outlook for the region. (NWS)

Flood watch issued for Lehigh Valley as severe weather expected Saturday

Hazy conditions from Canadian wildfire smoke is seen over the Lehigh Valley Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

When will the air quality get better? Wildfire smoke forecast for Lehigh Valley

Allentown resident Andrea Serba holds a sign as the data center spokesperson gives a presentation on Thursday, July 16, 2026, during an Allentown planning commission meeting at Allentown City Hall. The commission had a meeting before voting on plans for a data center at 2401 W. Emaus Ave. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Is a data center better than a warehouse in south Allentown neighborhood? Residents get first look at plans

The Giant supermarket at Wind Gap Plaza is seen Friday, July 17, 2026, in Wind Gap. The plaza recently sold for $18.4 million to Highland Estate Developers LLC. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)

A Lehigh Valley shopping center was just sold for more than $18 million

Latest Headlines

Truck driver in fatal Route 29 truck crash in Upper Milford Township is identified [Updated]

9 hours ago
What is the Lehigh Valley air quality like right now? How to check it near you

24 hours ago
Lettuce at Taco Bell in 5 states confirmed as a source of diarrhea-causing parasite

2 hours ago
Things to do this weekend in Lehigh Valley: A little blues, a little disco and more

2 days ago
‘We are still losing too many lives’: Following youth homicides in Allentown, city leaders and activists call for action

9 hours ago
LANTA riders could face more cuts as state budget leaves out additional transit funding

13 hours ago
Knoebels amusement park announces death of longtime president

6 hours ago
Sign up for email newsletters
Sign Up

Most Popular

Truck driver in fatal Route 29 truck crash in Upper Milford Township is identified [Updated]
Truck driver in fatal Route 29 truck crash in Upper Milford Township is identified [Updated]
Lehigh Valley mobile home park is sold for a tidy profit
Lehigh Valley mobile home park is sold for a tidy profit
Pa. declares Code Purple air quality alert statewide as Lehigh Valley reaches ‘hazardous’ levels
Pa. declares Code Purple air quality alert statewide as Lehigh Valley reaches ‘hazardous’ levels
Easton declares ‘fire emergency’ due to underground blaze downtown, prompting power outage
Easton declares ‘fire emergency’ due to underground blaze downtown, prompting power outage
What is the Lehigh Valley air quality like right now? How to check it near you
What is the Lehigh Valley air quality like right now? How to check it near you
As wildfire smoke lingers and air quality worsens, here’s why you should stay indoors
As wildfire smoke lingers and air quality worsens, here’s why you should stay indoors
Daily Horoscope for July 16, 2026
Daily Horoscope for July 16, 2026
A new use is being pitched for the site of a former Allentown restaurant
A new use is being pitched for the site of a former Allentown restaurant
What will be done with Route 22? 4 things to know about new plan to overhaul Lehigh Valley’s busiest highway
What will be done with Route 22? 4 things to know about new plan to overhaul Lehigh Valley’s busiest highway
Bethlehem man who says he made ‘an honest mistake’ voting twice in 2020 election sentenced for voter fraud
Bethlehem man who says he made ‘an honest mistake’ voting twice in 2020 election sentenced for voter fraud

Local News

The BC Combo performs during the Blast Furnace Blues music festival Friday, July 17, 2026, at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. The two-day, free festival features musical performances from blues artists including Shane Guerrette, the Moga Family Band and Amani Burnham. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)

Blast Furnace Blues music festival brings tunes to the Steelstacks | PHOTOS

More performances are scheduled to take place Saturday

Sports

The Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter boys basketball program celebrates winning the small school title in the Lehigh Valley Summer Boys Basketball League. It was the first time the Jaguars, coached by Paul Sabino (holding trophy), won a championship. The beat Southern Lehigh 48-46 in the finals at Executive. (Keith Groller)

Summer basketball: Lehigh Valley Academy, Wilson West Lawn win league titles

Last-second shot by Anders Heiney beat Southern Lehigh and gave Lehigh Valley Academy its first championship of any kind

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.

Wildfire smoke descends on Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS

Wildfire smoke from Canada descended upon the Lehigh Valley on Thursday, casting a haze over the region. See photos.
Easton Heritage Day celebrates America 250 | 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

Opinion

The west entrance to the Pennsylvania State Capitol at Third and State streets in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 3, 2026. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

Opinion: Data center development in Lehigh Valley can be controlled

Opinion: A ban has zero chance of becoming law, and data center developers win.

Crime and Public Safety

Red and blue police lights.

AI chatbot tip leads to arrest of Florida man on child abuse, pornography charges

Broward detectives said a tip from Grok, the AI chatbot built into X, prompted an...

Best Reviews

<p>Adobe Stock</p>

Achieve better cooking results with these top-rated Hamilton Beach microwaves

Hamilton Beach is one of the better-known brands manufacturing microwaves.

Business

FILE – A shopper shops at a grocery store in Schaumburg, Ill., Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Milk prices at an all-time high, but most consumer costs slip in June after months of increases

The Tribune is tracking 11 everyday costs for Americans — eggs, milk, bread, bananas, oranges,...

Pennsylvania News

Hazy conditions from Canadian wildfire smoke is seen over the Lehigh Valley Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Pa. declares Code Purple air quality alert statewide as Lehigh Valley reaches ‘hazardous’ levels

The air quality will get worse before it gets better for most of Pennsylvania as...

National News

Jeremy Morrison, who says he was sent home with the wrong parents after he was born, shows what he believes is a baby photo of him, left, and of the other baby he says was switched at birth while recounting the story at his home in Colorado City, Colo., on Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)

Men sue hospital after DNA tests showed they were switched at birth 38 years ago

A hospital statement says there’s no evidence staff were responsible for the switch.

Allentown

This former Ruby Tuesday restaurant in west Allentown may soon be torn down. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

A new use is being pitched for the site of a former Allentown restaurant

Jaindl Land Co. presented a sketch plan for a two-story structure at 3995 Tilghman Street...

Bethlehem Area

The entry sign for the Landings apartment complex sits alongside Catasauqua Road on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Bethlehem. The apartment complex was recently sold for $97 million to Boyd Wilson LLC. (Jon Chiu/The Morning Call)

Large Lehigh Valley apartment complex is sold for nearly $100 million

The Landings, just off Catasauqua Road on Bethlehem's west side, recently sold for $97 million.