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

PPL tops list in year for record power outages across Pa., PUC says

Pennsylvania experienced the highest number of electricity outages in 30 years in 2024, and utilities blame storms and tree damage.

A utility pole snaps Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, at 5500 Route 873 North Whitehall. Strong winds with gusts up to nearly 50 mph downed trees and power lines around the Lehigh Valley, causing thousands of power outages. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Karen Trinkle opens the Aug. 25, 2025 Southern Lehigh School Board meeting next to board president Stephen Maund on the night Trinkle officially took the reins as district superintendent. (Elizabeth DeOrnellas / The Morning Call)

Divided Southern Lehigh school board names permanent superintendent, approves $215,000 settlement with HR director

Leader of the Pack Canine Institute owners Lisa and John MacDonald’s dog Grace plays on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in a playroom at the business in Forks Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

From ‘ghost dog’ to ‘Amazing Grace’: The story of a rescue that united a Lehigh Valley community

Students arrive back to school Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Clearview Elementary in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

It’s back-to-school time for fewer kids in Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley

Saucon Valley quarterback Braden Rohn (2) accounted for 329 yards and four touchdowns in a season-opening win over Bangor. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Lineman’s dream leads Colonial-Schuylkill League football’s Week 1 stat heroes

Latest Headlines

Lehigh Valley high school football rankings: Where the 18 EPC teams stand after Week 1

11 hours ago
9 more Lehigh Valley farms saved from development. Find out where

1 second ago
18-year-old killed in one-car crash in Lehigh County, coroner says

14 hours ago
Allentown Fair: Here’s the complete schedule, from livestock judging to grandstand performers

21 hours ago
Vote for Athlete of the Week: Here are this week’s nominees

15 hours ago
A symbol of hate found spray-painted on a sign at well-known Lehigh Valley trail has community searching for culprit

1 day ago
Allentown City Council member Ce-Ce Gerlach to run for state representative

21 hours ago
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Most Popular

18-year-old killed in one-car crash in Lehigh County, coroner says
18-year-old killed in one-car crash in Lehigh County, coroner says
‘Total disruption’: Bethlehem neighborhood grapples with development; single-family homes being replaced with apartments
‘Total disruption’: Bethlehem neighborhood grapples with development; single-family homes being replaced with apartments
It’s been a year since LVHN became part of Jefferson. Here’s what’s changed, and what’s coming next
It’s been a year since LVHN became part of Jefferson. Here’s what’s changed, and what’s coming next
Lehigh Valley high school football rankings: Where the 18 EPC teams stand after Week 1
Lehigh Valley high school football rankings: Where the 18 EPC teams stand after Week 1
A symbol of hate found spray-painted on a sign at well-known Lehigh Valley trail has community searching for culprit
A symbol of hate found spray-painted on a sign at well-known Lehigh Valley trail has community searching for culprit
Lehigh Valley food safety report: roaches, meal moths, mouse droppings, old pierogi
Lehigh Valley food safety report: roaches, meal moths, mouse droppings, old pierogi
9 more Lehigh Valley farms saved from development. Find out where
9 more Lehigh Valley farms saved from development. Find out where
Allentown Fair guide: What you need to know about the concerts, demolition derby, food and more
Allentown Fair guide: What you need to know about the concerts, demolition derby, food and more
First day of school in the Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS
First day of school in the Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS
Divided Southern Lehigh school board names permanent superintendent, approves $215,000 settlement with HR director
Divided Southern Lehigh school board names permanent superintendent, approves $215,000 settlement with HR director

Local News

PennDOT's Driver License Center in Exeter Township opened Dec. 1, 2024 at 4365 Perkiomen Ave.

PennDOT driver license centers to close for Labor Day holiday

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online.

Sports

Freedom High School’s Xavier Dejesus drops a pass Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, during a season-opening game against Downingtown West at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium in Bethlehem. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Lehigh Valley high school football rankings: Where the 18 EPC teams stand after Week 1

It was a tough start for some marquee teams as the EPC football season began last weekend, but a much better start for others.

Things to Do

People enjoy the food, sights and sounds Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at the Allentown Fair. This year's fair returns Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)

Allentown Fair guide: What you need to know about the concerts, demolition derby, food and more

The 173nd Allentown Fair returns Wednesday with concerts, rides, food and plenty of family fun. Here’s what you need to know.

Faces in the Crowd Freedom Football | PHOTOS

Faces in the Crowd: Freedom High School plays a game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, against Downingtown West at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium in Bethlehem.
Freedom High School Football opens season | PHOTOS
Emmaus vs. Neshaminy football and Faces in the Crowd | PHOTOS
Bangor at Saucon Valley football and Faces in the Crowd | PHOTOS
Torpedo Restoration Project Dedication at V.F.W Post 7293 in Whitehall Township | PHOTOS
Eagles’ Brandon Graham ‘tailgates’ with fans at Dorney Park to raise money for charity | PHOTOS
Bosch Rexroth hosts Ground breaking ceremony | PHOTOS

Opinion

Town Square Cartoons

Browse political cartoons for the week of Aug. 25

View Town Square/Opinion Cartoons for the week of Aug. 25, 2025.

Crime and Public Safety

The Lower Saucon Authority has issued a boil water advisory.

Water main break in Lower Saucon leads boil water advisory

Following a major water main break in Lower Saucon Township on Sunday the Lower Saucon...

Best Reviews

<p>Adobe Stock</p>

The best doughnut pan

Discover the best doughnut pans for perfectly shaped homemade treats.

Business

Dr. Ateev Mehrotra, a professor at Brown University’s school of public health, and co-author of a study on how popular artificial intelligence chatbots respond to questions about suicide is photographed in his office on Monday, August. 25, 2025 in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Matt O’Brien)

Study says AI chatbots inconsistent in handling suicide-related queries

A study finds that popular AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude are...

Pennsylvania News

Gov. Josh Shapiro rides a SEPTA train to promote the need for transit funding. (Commonwealth Media Services)

Shapiro open to using special transit funding to combat SEPTA cuts as part of broader package

Gov. Josh Shapiro says he is open to using money from a special transit fund...

National News

AIDS victim Ryan White, of Kokomo, Ind., and his mother Jeanne White enter U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, Aug. 16, 1985. Ryan, a hemophiliac, has been barred from attending middle school because he has AIDS. He and his mother filed suit, alleging the Western School Corp. violated Ryan’s rights to equal protection and illegally discriminated against. him as a handicapped person. The Whites are seeking an injunction to allow Ryan to start school Aug. 26. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Today in History: August 26, AIDS patient begins school via phone hook-up

AIDS patient Ryan White began “attending” classes at Western Middle School in Kokomo, Indiana via...

Allentown

Johan Rojas has an eight-game hitting streak for the IronPigs after making an adjustment with his stance. (Lehigh Valley IronPigs)

Johan Rojas seeing mechanical adjustments paying early dividends

It is a small sample size, but outfielder Johan Rojas's mechanical adjustments at the plate...

Bethlehem Area

Students arrive back to school Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Clearview Elementary in Bethlehem. Monday was the first day of school for students across the Lehigh Valley. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

First day of school in the Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS

Students head back to school on the first day of classes around the Lehigh Valley....