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These Lehigh Valley towns are throwing America 250 parties, and everyone’s invited

Whitehall and Emmaus are among the many communities preparing to celebrate America 250. They're hoping it becomes more than that.

America250

The remains of the American Atelier furniture factory on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Allentown. The building was destroyed by an overnight fire. (Avery Folmar/The Morning Call)

Allentown fire destroyed factory site with long history and plans for redevelopment

Matteo Amato is trained Tuesday, June 9, 2026, on how to serve ice cream at Get Joy Ice Cream & Coffee in Lower Saucon Township. The shop, which employs people with disabilities and high school students, will hold a soft opening starting June 30 and then a grand opening July 14. It will offer ice cream, Firehouse Coffee coffee and other refreshments. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Retail Watch: Find joy at this new Lehigh Valley ice cream shop

Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse, for his sentencing hearing, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho, for brutally stabbing four University of Idaho students to death nearly three years ago. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, Pool)

Kohberger murder case cost Idaho taxpayers millions. Defense expenses remain unclear

Rain falls in Asbury Park, New Jersey. A very strong El Nino could cause more rainy days on the Jersey Shore this year. (Andrew Mills /The Star-Ledger)

A ‘Super El Nino’ could be on its way. Here’s what that would mean for Lehigh Valley

Latest Headlines

Nominate a Lehigh Valley Top Workplace for 2027

12 hours ago
Opinion: Stroke survivor counts the cost and adjusts to ‘new normal’

2 hours ago
St. Luke’s was recently honored for its efforts treating a potentially serious type of birth mark. Here’s why

2 days ago
Allentown fire: 2 juveniles charged with setting massive blaze that destroyed old factory, damaged homes

2 days ago
America 250: You can dine at the Bethlehem inn that John Adams called ‘the best Inn, I ever saw’

2 days ago
Bill White: Which one of youse guys talks good?

1 day ago
Former Parkland school bus drivers illegally accessed student records, DA says

2 days ago
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Allentown fire: 2 juveniles charged with setting massive blaze that destroyed old factory, damaged homes
Allentown fire: 2 juveniles charged with setting massive blaze that destroyed old factory, damaged homes
Retail Watch: Find joy at this new Lehigh Valley ice cream shop
Retail Watch: Find joy at this new Lehigh Valley ice cream shop
A ‘Super El Nino’ could be on its way. Here’s what that would mean for Lehigh Valley
A ‘Super El Nino’ could be on its way. Here’s what that would mean for Lehigh Valley
America 250: You can dine at the Bethlehem inn that John Adams called ‘the best Inn, I ever saw’
America 250: You can dine at the Bethlehem inn that John Adams called ‘the best Inn, I ever saw’
Former Parkland school bus drivers illegally accessed student records, DA says
Former Parkland school bus drivers illegally accessed student records, DA says
St. Luke’s was recently honored for its efforts treating a potentially serious type of birth mark. Here’s why
St. Luke’s was recently honored for its efforts treating a potentially serious type of birth mark. Here’s why
Lehigh Valley radio personalities laid off as iHeartMedia downsizes, including longtime WAEB sidekick [Updated]
Lehigh Valley radio personalities laid off as iHeartMedia downsizes, including longtime WAEB sidekick [Updated]
Allentown fire: What we know about the blaze, its cause and what’s next
Allentown fire: What we know about the blaze, its cause and what’s next
These Lehigh Valley towns are throwing America 250 parties, and everyone’s invited
These Lehigh Valley towns are throwing America 250 parties, and everyone’s invited
Lehigh Valley weather: Spotty showers this weekend lead up to triple-digit heat next week
Lehigh Valley weather: Spotty showers this weekend lead up to triple-digit heat next week

Local News

Corn stalks grow in the summer sun Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Nazareth. While “knee high by the Fourth of July” is a classic farmer’s adage to indicate a crop is healthy, shifts in growing seasons have made it less accurate. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

“Knee high by the Fourth of July” | PHOTOS

“Knee high by the Fourth of July”

Sports

Philadelphia Phillies’ Zack Wheeler pitches dsecond inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, June 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Derek Hill’s sensational catch helps Wheeler and Phillies top skidding Mets 2-1

The recently acquired Hill continues to impress Phillies, robbing Juan Soto of a two-run homer with a leaping catch

Things to Do

Rumbamena, which focuses on honoring Latin culture through dance, performs Sunday, July 20, 2025, during Viva La Fiesta at Dorney Park. Viva La Fiesta, a tribute to Caribbean and Latin American culture, has returned through July 26. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Things to do this weekend in Lehigh Valley: Celebrate Latin culture and Pride month

Summer is in full swing, and this weekend brings plenty of opportunity to enjoy sunshine, music, food and more.

Massive Allentown fire breaks out at former factory [PHOTOS]

Photos: Fire engulfs the former American Atelier furniture factory on North Front Street in Allentown.
WATCH: Scope of massive Allentown fire seen from multiple angles [VIDEO]
Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski gives State of the County address | PHOTOS
President Donald Trump visits Mack Trucks in Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS
Sigal Museum Celebrates Lehigh Valley 250 | PHOTOS
Cops ‘n’ Kids Club “Rainbow Fish” Event | PHOTOS
Soccer fans watch USA defeat Australia at SteelStacks Viewing Party | PHOTOS

Opinion

A referee walks through the fog Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MEDIANEWS GROUP)

Faith & Values: God’s help in foggy weather

The phrase “let it be with me according to your word” is useful in situations...

Crime and Public Safety

Demolition continues Friday, June 26, 2026, on the former American Atelier furniture factory in Allentown. The building was destroyed and several nearby homes damaged by fire Wednesday that authorities said was set by two juveniles. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Allentown fire: Demolition begins on what’s left of former furniture factory as groups step up to help residents

Crews are still clearing the scene of the massive fire that destroyed the former American...

Best Reviews

<p>BestReviews illustration</p>

Shop these 10 Prime Day top-sellers before they’re gone

Amazon Prime Day offers exciting discounts on everything from socks to big-screen TVs. Check out...

Business

Daily News, other outlets, allege Microsoft urged Open AI to steal journalists’ work

The news organizations say Microsoft “expressly” encouraged ChatGPT users to republish reporting by journalists.

Pennsylvania News

Community members hold anti-data-center signs during a council meeting Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Olyphant. (FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY / Scranton Times-Tribune )

Shapiro wants to use incentives to push data centers to behave better. His own party wants to be more aggressive.

Many Democrats and Republicans in the state Legislature are backing a more aggressive regulatory approach...

National News

FILE – An exterior view of the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village section of New York, site of the 1969 riot that sparked the Gay Rights Movement. This photo was taken in May 1994. What became known as the gay liberation movement traces its roots to the 1969 police crackdown of patrons at the Stonewall Inn gay bar in New York City and three days of riots that followed. (AP Photo/Kevin Larkin, File)

Today in History: June 28, police raid at Stonewall Inn sparks gay rights movement

Riots broke out following a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ+ bar in...

Allentown

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2 people, including child, rescued from roof in Allentown house fire

Quick-thinking by neighbors is being credited with saving lives after fire broke out at an...

Bethlehem Area

PennDOT has plans to improve Route 22 in Bethlehem Township at Route 191. (Michael Kubel/The Morning Call)

PennDOT shows how it will improve Route 22 interchange in Northampton County

Imagine an easier exit and entrance to Route 22 with longer ramps.