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

What Pennsylvania’s new housing plan means for the Lehigh Valley

With a growing population, the Valley has a dearth of more than 9,000 according to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission that could grow to more than 50,000 by 2050.

A housing plan recently released by Gov. Josh Shapiro aims to cut down on a shortage of units in the Lehigh Valley and the rest of the state. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Rosalyn Siobal Glass, 39, and her daughter, Rianna Lynn Glass, 16, were killed early Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, at their home in the 1100 block of Railroad Street in North Catasauqua. (Handout Photo)

‘All about the conversation’: Teen dating violence tackled at Northampton County forum

Palmer Township sign.
/// – NEWS – MICHELLE MERLIN / THE MORNING CALL

Plan to allow industrial development on Northampton County farmland near school gets thumbs-down

High-voltage transmission lines provide electricity to data centers in Ashburn in Loudon County, Virginia, on Sunday, July 16, 2023. The centers house the computer servers and hardware required to support modern internet use, including artificial intelligence. (Associated Press)

Developers propose ‘responsible’ data center in rural Northampton County community. Neighbors are skeptical

Firefighters battle a three-alarm fire in Easton that has led to one person being hospitalized Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. The fire broke out at the Hotel Hampton at 462 Northampton St. around 10:45 a.m., leading to multiple agencies responding. (Dennis Wetherhold Jr./Special to The Morning Call)

Easton opens resource center for Hotel Hampton fire victims; downtown businesses plan weekend event

Latest Headlines

One of the Lehigh Valley’s largest municipalities just passed a law setting limits on data centers

19 hours ago
Court documents reveal details of clash between Quakertown police, student ICE protesters

17 hours ago
Police video shows Vince McMahon’s 100 mph car crash in Connecticut

11 hours ago
Lehigh County executive, commissioner butt heads over budget changes, new hires

1 day ago
Dying Pa. coal town a ‘blank slate’ for minority newcomers. Can they spur a rebirth?

2 days ago
The Lehigh Valley got a dusting of snow Wednesday. Will we get more soon?

21 hours ago
A Lehigh Valley high school’s new AP African American Studies course is drawing praise

3 days ago
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Most Popular

Court documents reveal details of clash between Quakertown police, student ICE protesters
Court documents reveal details of clash between Quakertown police, student ICE protesters
One of the Lehigh Valley’s largest municipalities just passed a law setting limits on data centers
One of the Lehigh Valley’s largest municipalities just passed a law setting limits on data centers
Pa. House special election results: Democrat Ana Tiburcio becomes first Latina to represent Lehigh Valley in state House
Pa. House special election results: Democrat Ana Tiburcio becomes first Latina to represent Lehigh Valley in state House
Developers propose ‘responsible’ data center in rural Northampton County community. Neighbors are skeptical
Developers propose ‘responsible’ data center in rural Northampton County community. Neighbors are skeptical
Trump uses longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that US is ‘winning so much’
Trump uses longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that US is ‘winning so much’
Popular Lehigh Valley restaurant closes indefinitely following owner’s death
Popular Lehigh Valley restaurant closes indefinitely following owner’s death
Police video shows Vince McMahon’s 100 mph car crash in Connecticut
Police video shows Vince McMahon’s 100 mph car crash in Connecticut
Plan to allow industrial development on Northampton County farmland near school gets thumbs-down
Plan to allow industrial development on Northampton County farmland near school gets thumbs-down
Poconos man who ‘needed to kill the spiders’ sets fire to his house that spread to 3 others, police say
Poconos man who ‘needed to kill the spiders’ sets fire to his house that spread to 3 others, police say
Route 512 reopens at Route 22 in Northampton County after steel object gets stuck underneath overpass [Updated]
Route 512 reopens at Route 22 in Northampton County after steel object gets stuck underneath overpass [Updated]

Local News

Selena White prepares the South Side Philly Omelettee which is steak meat, onion, sweet peppers, and Cooper cheese, with a side of bacon Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in her newly renovated diner called Selena’s Diner on W. Main St. in Kutzown. Formerly Letterman’s Diner, which originally opened in 1998, temporarily closed Jan. 4 so that employee Selena White could take over and rename it to Selena’s Diner. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

The latest Lehigh Valley business openings and closings

Here are February's business openings and closures in the Lehigh Valley.

Sports

Cedar Crest College freshman and East Stroudsburg North graduate Andi Bibeau recently completed her first year as a wrestling official while still competing. (Photo courtesy of Andi Bibeau)

Lehigh Valley wrestling officials chapter getting much-needed fresh faces

Lehigh Valley wrestling officials chapter is getting some much-needed fresh faces, including high school and college students.

Things to Do

The popular marketplace at the Philadelphia Flower Show will bring a taste of spring home. (Photo by Becca Mathias)

Philadelphia Flower Show will be perfect respite for the winter-weary

The 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show, "Rooted: Origins of American Gardening," comes at the right time after the cold, icy winter.

Opinion

US-VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-HOME

Faith & Values: Placing your trust in God

Trust is a powerful word that reflects positivity and security. But what is it really?

Crime and Public Safety

Sean McDermott, 36, of Pocono Pines is wanted on arson and other charges after police say he set fires inside his townhouse at 616 Uncus Lane that spread to three adjoining units, according to Pocono Mountain Regional Police. According to a witness, McDermott said he “needed to kill the spiders within the residence,” police said.

Poconos man who ‘needed to kill the spiders’ sets fire to his house that spread to 3 others, police say

A Monroe County, Pennsylvania, man who was apparently trying to rid his townhouse of spiders...

Best Reviews

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Are those expensive vibrating skin brushes worth it?

Vibrating brushes have been all the rage because devotees rave about their ability to exfoliate...

Business

President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Trump’s portrayal of ‘golden age’ is out of sync with how Americans see economy

Trump faces a skeptical public with a much gloomier view of the economy.

Pennsylvania News

A view of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

Rape crisis centers say Shapiro’s budget will worsen staffing, service challenges

Rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania have been flat-funded for six of the last 10 budget...

National News

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 28: People along with New York City Council members attend a press conference to call for justice in the February 26 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, on the steps of City Hall March 28, 2012 in New York City. Martin was killed by George Michael Zimmerman while on neighborhood watch patrol in the gated community of The Retreat at Twin Lakes. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

Today in History: February 26, Trayvon Martin shot to death

Trayvon Martin, 17, was shot to death in Sanford, Florida, during an altercation with neighborhood...

Allentown

Democrat Ana Tiburcio, left, and Republican Robert Smith Jr. are candidates in the Feb. 24, 2026, special election in the 22nd state House district, representing parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township. (Staff and contributed photos)

What to know about Tuesday’s Pa. House special election in Lehigh County, which could sway control of chamber

Two candidates are facing off Tuesday in a highly consequential Pa. state House special election...

Bethlehem Area

Jack Silva, superintendent of schools, speaks as Bethlehem Area School District officials host a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fountain Hill Elementary School on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Bethlehem. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Bethlehem Area School District superintendent to retire after 40 years in public education

Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Jack Silva will retire at the end of the school...