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

Girls basketball player of the year: Record-breaking season earns Liberty’s Ava Kopetskie top honors

Senior finishes as the schoo's all-time leading scorer and will continue her career at Loyola Maryland

Liberty’s Ava Kopetskie is shown here driving down the court against Hazleton in a PIAA Class 6A girls second-round playoff game Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Martz Hall in Pottsville. Kopetskie is The Morning Call’s player of the year for the 2025-26 season. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

The exterior of St. Luke's Hospital-Anderson Campus is pictured Oct. 16, 2011, during open house at the Bethlehem Township facility. (Harry Fisher/The Morning Call)

Opinion by St. Luke’s president: Lower health-care costs by giving top hospitals a break from burdensome regulations

People grieve as they comfort each other outside the scene of a mass shooting, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Man kills 7 of his children plus another child in shooting in Louisiana neighborhood

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 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. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Allentown mayor delays sweep of homeless encampment following public backlash

This rendering shows the plans for a redesigned Center Square in Allentown, which will reduce travel lanes for motorists while adding a bike lane through the intersection (Omnes Studio/Courtesy City of Allentown).

Allentown Center Square redesign set to begin. What to know about project, travel restrictions

Latest Headlines

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

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

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Pennsylvania county bans poll workers from using election prediction markets

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

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PA 7th Congressional District Election 2026: Where the Democrats stand on issues including immigration, rising costs

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Lehigh Valley insider’s guide: Enjoy classics, new releases with these local movie theaters

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These are the top ranked Lehigh Valley high schools on U.S. News list

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Man kills 7 of his children plus another child in shooting in Louisiana neighborhood
Man kills 7 of his children plus another child in shooting in Louisiana neighborhood
Fire damages well-known Poconos pub, one person rescued
Fire damages well-known Poconos pub, one person rescued
After near record-breaking warmth, Lehigh Valley in midst of cooldown. A freeze watch has been issued
After near record-breaking warmth, Lehigh Valley in midst of cooldown. A freeze watch has been issued
Dave’s Hot Chicken to open new restaurant in the Lehigh Valley
Dave’s Hot Chicken to open new restaurant in the Lehigh Valley
Outdoors: Pulling at heartstrings, bald eagles have landed in southeastern Pennsylvania
Outdoors: Pulling at heartstrings, bald eagles have landed in southeastern Pennsylvania
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
Lehigh County wants to create a joint juvenile detention facility in Berks. But critics are trying to put on the brakes
Lehigh County wants to create a joint juvenile detention facility in Berks. But critics are trying to put on the brakes
Actress Christina Applegate reportedly hospitalized since late March
Actress Christina Applegate reportedly hospitalized since late March
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

Local News

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

Following near-recording breaking warmth last week, the Lehigh Valley is in for a cooldown that includes a freeze watch early this week.

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

Freedom High School’s Fife & Drum Corps marches Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, during the Bethlehem World Heritage Community Celebration in the city. The city and the Moravian settlements organization hosted the event commemorating the Moravian Church Settlements recognition as a UNESCO world heritage site. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Things to do in the Lehigh Valley this weekend: Heritage Day, concerts and anniversaries

From the anniversary of the Easton Public Market to the return of Community Heritage Day in Bethlehem, there's something for everyone in the Lehigh Valley this weekend.

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

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Texas truck driver charged in fatal hit-and-run on I-78 in Berks [Update]

State police say defendant was located in Louisiana.

Best Reviews

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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 plate of chicken tender with a slider and fries at Dave’s Hot Chicken in Ontario on Thursday, April 7, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Dave’s Hot Chicken to open new restaurant in the Lehigh Valley

Dave’s Hot Chicken will open a new restaurant this year in the Lehigh Valley.

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

The Walnut Square Apartments site Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Allentown. Walnut Square is downtown Allentown’s first new affordable housing development. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

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

A one-bedroom apartment at the Walnut Square affordable housing project in downtown Allentown will start...

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...