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

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

A largely rain-free Musikfest led to record-breaking attendance at the 2025 festival in Bethlehem.

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)

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

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

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Plans withdrawn for Bulgarian cultural center at Bady’s Grove in Wind Gap

Latest Headlines

South Whitehall man who raped child will spend up to 40 years in prison

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Purple martins, a once-abundant bird, come home to roost at this Lehigh Valley hospital

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LANTA’s new fare system goes into effect. Here’s how it works.

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

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

11 hours ago
How much of an economic impact do colleges and universities have on the Lehigh Valley? New study reveals numbers

18 hours ago
The dry, pleasant summer weather in the Lehigh Valley is ending. Here’s when to expect rain to return

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Rain-free Musikfest 2025 sets records for attendance and ticket sales, bringing nearly 1.5 million people to Bethlehem
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
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
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
For first time in history, Lehigh Little League baseball team caps off memorable run with East Region championship
Best of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS
Best of Musikfest 2025 | PHOTOS
Historic Allentown building that was once the site of a Revolutionary War POW camp to get apartments
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
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
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
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
The 9,000-year-old pastime that is still alive and well in the Lehigh Valley

Local News

A Stack Burger — an angus patty, romaine, red onion slaw, aged cheddar and five-hour onions on a brioche roll — is one of the menu items Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at the new Bethlehem Barrel and Drafthouse restaurant in The Outlets at Wind Creek in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

First look at the new Bethlehem Barrel and Drafthouse at The Outlets at Wind Creek in Bethlehem | PHOTOS

First look at the new Bethlehem Barrel and Drafthouse at The Outlets at Wind Creek in Bethlehem

Sports

Coach Joel Rupp talks to his players Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, during an Allen High School football practice in Allentown. Allen football is trying to build off its late-season win over Dieruff last season which gave the Canaries 3 wins, which was much better than their 0-10 season in 2023. Third-year coach Joel Rupp is hoping for more improvement. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Allen football preview: Canaries coach Joel Rapp ‘extremely optimistic’ entering his third season

After going 0-10 in 2023, Allen football started 2-0 and closed the regular season with a big win over Dieruff in 2024 and seeks more success in 2025.

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

Town Square Cartoons

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

<p>Adobe Stock</p>

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

This image released by the City of Chino Police Department on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, shows boxes of stolen Labubus that were recovered in Upland, Calif. (City of Chino Police Department via AP)

Police in Southern California find $30K worth of Labubus stolen from warehouse

Thieves stole the collectible items in a series of trips that spanned multiple days.

Allentown

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk speaks Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, during the unveiling of the Allentown Works program at Casa Guadalupe Center in Allentown. One year ago, Allentown was awarded $20 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Recompete program, one of only six communities nationwide to receive this historic investment. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

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...