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

After a dozen fatal motorcycle crashes in Lehigh Valley this year, experts urge caution

There have been more than a dozen fatal motorcycle crashes in the Lehigh Valley so far in 2025, with three of them happening in a single weekend earlier this month.

Since the start of the year, there have been more than a dozen fatal motorcycle crashes in the Lehigh Valley. (Kevin Mingora / The Morning Call)

An architect’s rendering of the proposed Ironside Lofts apartment complex on the site of the former Walnut Street parking garage in Bethlehem, from the view of Guetter and West Walnut streets. The rendering was created by Minno Wasko Architects and Planners. (Courtesy of City of Bethlehem)

Is a 7-story apartment building too tall for Historic Bethlehem? Concerns raised over Walnut Street garage replacement plans

Army Air Corps veteran Joseph Haenn talks with an attendee at the V-J Day event Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Emmaus. The event was held by Lehigh Valley Chapter 55 of the Battle of the Bulge Association to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. While Sept. 2, 1945, was the day Japan formally surrendered to Allied forces, some commemorations recognize the date as Aug. 14, 1945, the day fighting with Japan ended and the armistice was declared. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)

‘Let us never forget their sacrifices:’ Lehigh Valley area World War II veterans, some 100 years old, mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day

Shrimp & Grits — jumbo shrimp, grits, andouille sausage, red eye gravy — is one of the menu items Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at the new Bethlehem Barrel & Drafthouse restaurant in The Outlets at Wind Creek in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Retail Watch: Find fine dining and local history without breaking the bank at this new Bethlehem restaurant

Waves roll in towards the beach Sept. 21, 2024, in Ocean City, New Jersey.(Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

Bill White: Turning off life’s cruise control for special moments

Latest Headlines

A fish in a streetlight, an indescribable stench, the last car over the Cementon Bridge: More memories from when Diane flooded the Lehigh Valley

2 days ago
Hot and humid weather in Lehigh Valley to last through weekend. Cooler weather could be on the way.

20 hours ago
Trump reverses on the need for a ceasefire before a potential peace deal ending the war in Ukraine

15 hours ago
1 suspect surrenders, another wanted in Easton shooting that left one person injured [Updated]

1 day ago
Route 309 ramp to Tilghman Street to close as reconstruction continues

2 days ago
Pa. congressman Rob Bresnahan, fiancée threatened on social media ahead of wedding

2 days ago
‘Chill, snow, repeat’: How bad will this winter be in Lehigh Valley? What the Farmers Almanac says

2 days ago
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A crispy arrival: Chicken chain to open first Lehigh Valley restaurant
A crispy arrival: Chicken chain to open first Lehigh Valley restaurant
‘Chill, snow, repeat’: How bad will this winter be in Lehigh Valley? What the Farmers Almanac says
‘Chill, snow, repeat’: How bad will this winter be in Lehigh Valley? What the Farmers Almanac says
Is a 7-story apartment building too tall for Historic Bethlehem? Concerns raised over Walnut Street garage replacement plans
Is a 7-story apartment building too tall for Historic Bethlehem? Concerns raised over Walnut Street garage replacement plans
Route 309 ramp to Tilghman Street to close as reconstruction continues
Route 309 ramp to Tilghman Street to close as reconstruction continues
Retail Watch: Find fine dining and local history without breaking the bank at this new Bethlehem restaurant
Retail Watch: Find fine dining and local history without breaking the bank at this new Bethlehem restaurant
Easton rejects ‘Welcoming City’ ordinance for immigrants
Easton rejects ‘Welcoming City’ ordinance for immigrants
Mack wins contract to produce more Army dump trucks in Allentown
Mack wins contract to produce more Army dump trucks in Allentown
Remembering the worst natural disaster in Lehigh Valley history, 70 years ago this month
Remembering the worst natural disaster in Lehigh Valley history, 70 years ago this month
Coplay man sentenced to 20-40 years in prison for raping children, DA says
Coplay man sentenced to 20-40 years in prison for raping children, DA says
1 suspect surrenders, another wanted in Easton shooting that left one person injured [Updated]
1 suspect surrenders, another wanted in Easton shooting that left one person injured [Updated]

Local News

The Northampton County Courthouse in Easton. (Cameron Hart/The Morning Call)

Coplay man sentenced to 20-40 years in prison for raping children, DA says

A Coplay man will spend up to 40 years in prison for raping two children, according to authorities.

Sports

Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler delivers against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025. (Chris Szagola – The Associated Press)

Phillies ace Zack Wheeler has blood clot in right arm, placed on 15-day IL

The Philadelphia Phillies placed ace Zack Wheeler on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a blood clot in his right arm.

Things to Do

Opera singer Grace Lerew will perform with the Allentown Band on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, and Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Allentown. (Photo courtesy Sarah Kappes)

‘Something for everyone’: Upcoming Allentown performances feature trained opera singer, civilian concert band

The Allentown Band will perform opera and Broadway favorites at two shows this week, featuring Parkland graduate and opera singer Grace Lerew.

The 45th Annual Roasting Ears of Corn Festival Honoring Tradition Event | PHOTOS

The 45th Annual Roasting Ears of Corn Festival Honoring Tradition Event
Allentown School District Back to School Bash | PHOTOS
Hotel Bethlehem celebrates USA Today Best Historic Hotel award for 5th straight year | PHOTOS
Best of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 – Best of the Headliners | PHOTOS
Resurrected Life Community Church holds groundbreaking ceremony for new facility | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Sunday, Aug. 10 | PHOTOS

Opinion

Reforms to Pennsylvania's Act 129 would help the state's residents save money on energy costs, by among other things, installing heat pumps, the author asserts. (Austin De Dios/The Oregonian)

Opinion: Transforming Pennsylvania’s energy future by reforming Act 129

Opinion: Gov. Shapiro is backing reforms to Act 129 as part of his Lightning Plan...

Crime and Public Safety

allentown-police-day-2-webstock-police

Allentown brothers charged in ‘large scale drug distribution network’, $500,000 worth of cocaine seized, DA says

Two Allentown brothers are accused of running a drug distribution network that included $500,000 worth...

Best Reviews

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Best healthy cookware for nontoxic everyday cooking

When you're ready to replace your old pots and pans with healthy cookware, you’ll need...

Business

FILE – In this May 30, 2018, photo, shoppers look through the updated cosmetic department at a Target store in San Antonio. AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Target and Ulta mutually agree not to renew partnership launched in 2021

The Ulta Beauty experience will continue in stores and online until next summer.

Pennsylvania News

Gov. Josh Shapiro shakes hands with state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, right, in 2023. (Commonwealth Media Services via Spotlight PA)

The conflicting visions to fund SEPTA and Pa.’s other public transit agencies, explained

Lawmakers have missed SEPTA’s deadline to act to forestall cuts, divided over where money for...

National News

In this Tuesday, July 28, 2015, photo, a dirt lot stands, where 100 years ago, Jewish factory superintendent Leo Frank was lynched by the town’s citizens after the governor commuted his death sentence following Frank’s conviction for murdering 13-year-old worker Mary Phagan, in Marietta, Ga. The case, charged with race, religion, sex and class, exploded in a national media frenzy, cementing a North-South divide and exposing the resentments of economic upheaval. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Today in History: August 17, Georgia mob lynches Jewish businessman

A mob in Cobb County, Georgia, lynched Jewish businessman Leo Frank, 31, whose death sentence...

Allentown

The chicken chain Zaxbys plans to open its first Lehigh Valley location in Allentown. (Photo courtesy of Bridget Peterson)

A crispy arrival: Chicken chain to open first Lehigh Valley restaurant

The chicken chain Zaxbys plans to open its first Lehigh Valley location in Allentown.

Bethlehem Area

Hotel Bethlehem staff, local officials and business owners celebrate Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, after the hotel was named the best historic hotel for the fifth year in a row in USA Today’s 10Best Historic Hotel competition. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Hotel Bethlehem named Best Historic Hotel for 5th straight year. See what iconic hotels it beat out for the top honors

Hotel Bethlehem first won the top spot in 2021 after finishing second in 2020 and...