The Morning Call

East Penn puts school realignment plan on hold — for now. Here’s what happens next

The East Penn School Board voted unanimously Monday night to pause plans to redistrict K-8 schools and enlarge Emmaus High School — the costs of which were estimated to be roughly $350 million and add thousands of dollars to district residents’ tax bills.

Emmaus High School exterior, June 17, 2019. (Kristen Harrison/The Morning Call)

The Black Keys perform Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, at Musikfest’s Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)

Rain-free Musikfest 2025 sets records for attendance and ticket sales, bringing nearly 1.5 million people to Bethlehem

Officials of the Resurrected Life Community Church host a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Allentown for a new early childhood learning facility. The project will allow for the renovation of the building currently housing the church’s child care center, Freedom School, STEM school and preschool program. The new building will host expanded education programs, employment opportunities, family support initiatives and food programs. It’s expected to be finished by June 2026. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Prominent Allentown church and nonprofit breaks ground on $7 million child care, learning facility

Developer Nat Hyman plans to redevelop the former book bindery building with this mural he commissioned in Allentown into 20 apartments. (GABRIELLE RHOADS/The Morning Call)

Historic Allentown building that was once the site of a Revolutionary War POW camp to get apartments

A sign for Bady’s Grove catering service and seafood store is seen Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Bushkill Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Plans withdrawn for Bulgarian cultural center at Bady’s Grove in Wind Gap

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Local News

Head and shoulders of Dr. Erwin EJ Antoni III speaking at a microphone.

Montgomery County graduate tapped by Trump to lead labor statistics agency

A 2006 Lansdale Catholic graduate has been tapped by President Donald Trump to be commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sports

Northwestern Lehigh’s Eli Zimmerman scores the game-winning touchdown against Avonworth to win the PIAA 3A title last December at Cumberland Valley High School's Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg. The Tigers begin the 2025 season ranked No. 1 in 3A. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Pennsylvania football preseason rankings: Northwestern Lehigh starts at top in 3A; Parkland, Emmaus earn 6A spots

Four programs from Lehigh County earn preseason recognition with season set to start next week

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.

Best of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS

See the best of our photos from Musikfest 2025.
Musikfest 2025 – Best of the Headliners | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Saturday, Aug. 9 | PHOTOS
The Black Keys headline final day of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS
Third Eye Blind performs at Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Friday, Aug. 8 | PHOTOS
Musikfest 2025 on Thursday, Aug. 7 | PHOTOS

Opinion

Browse political cartoons for the week of Aug. 11

View Town Square/Opinion cartoons for the week of Aug. 11, 2025.

Crime and Public Safety

Hanover Elementary School exterior shot June 8, 2019. (Kristen Harrison/The Morning Call)

Man charged in shooting at Bethlehem restaurant that injured 2

A New Jersey man faces charges alleging he opened fire in a restaurant, injuring two...

Best Reviews

Best Breville waffle maker

Our team of experts has selected the best Breville waffle maker out of hundreds of...

Business

FILE – Montenegrin police officers escort South Korean citizen, Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica, March 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic, File)

Crypto mogul Do Kwon, known as ‘the cryptocurrency king,’ pleads guilty to fraud charges

Authorities said investors worldwide lost money in Singapore firm Terraform Labs' cryptocurrency crash.

Pennsylvania News

Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich speaks to representatives of 23 Area Agencies on Aging on June 30, 2025, in Harrisburg. (Kevin Rist / Commonwealth Media Services)

State delays new contract with extra accountability measures for Pa. elder abuse agencies

The Department of Aging pointed to a new system to monitor whether counties are conducting...

National News

East German tanks are lined up at Warschauer Bridge in Berlin, Germany on August 13, 1961. Crossing points between East and West Berlin were heavily guarded after Communists prevented East Germans from crossing into the West sector in an effort to stop heavy flow of refugees. (AP Photo)

Today in History: August 13, East Germany closes Berlin border

East Germany sealed the border between Berlin’s eastern and western sectors before building a wall...

Allentown

Allentown received a $20 million federal grant to address unemployment. Here’s how it’ll spend that money

Allentown Works will target people who are aged 25-54, unemployed and living in some of...

Bethlehem Area

“Faces in the crowd on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, at Musikfest in Bethlehem. (Photo by Jonathan Broady, Special to The Morning Call)”

Musikfest 2025 on Sunday, Aug. 10 | PHOTOS

People enjoy the sights and sounds of the final day of Musikfest 2025 on Sunday...

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Rain-free Musikfest 2025 sets records for attendance and ticket sales, bringing nearly 1.5 million people to Bethlehem

Chick-fil-A submits plans for a new Lehigh Valley restaurant. Here’s where

Prominent Allentown church and nonprofit breaks ground on $7 million child care, learning facility

For first time in history, Lehigh Little League baseball team caps off memorable run with East Region championship

Best of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS

Historic Allentown building that was once the site of a Revolutionary War POW camp to get apartments

Parkland school mascots are getting an upgrade, with help from artificial intelligence. Take our poll on the new designs

Man charged in shooting at Bethlehem restaurant that injured 2

Pennsylvania football preseason rankings: Northwestern Lehigh starts at top in 3A; Parkland, Emmaus earn 6A spots

The 9,000-year-old pastime that is still alive and well in the Lehigh Valley

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