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

Allentown man admits beating pregnant Montgomery County woman, gets up to 8 years in prison

An Allentown man will spend up to eight years in prison after admitting he beat a Hatfield Township woman who was pregnant with his child, an assault that was caught on surveillance video.

Raymond Bautista is escorted by a deputy sheriff from a Montgomery County courtroom on March 3, 2026, to begin 4-8 year prison term for assaulting the mother of his unborn child. (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. – MediaNews Group)

Rural Lower Mount Bethel Township is the site of a proposed data center. (Madeleine Cook / The Morning Call)

Lower Mount Bethel sets date for data center town hall as overflow crowd demands answers

This image provided by U.S. Central Command shows aircraft on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) that are operating in support of the war in Iran, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (U.S. Navy via AP)

US soldiers who died in Iran war remembered as devoted parents and reservists

Neighborhood House coordinator Shellie Frichtman speaks Sunday, March, 1, 2026, with London Clifford in Allentown. Neighborhood House is one of just a few day programs offered on Sundays for homeless people in the region. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

With most homeless programs closed on Sundays, Allentown’s Neighborhood House serves as a ‘godsend’

Pictured is an example of food from the Lehigh Valley-based You Got Pork’D BBQ. (Photo courtesy of Brian Jones)

Barbecue concept looking for new home in Lehigh Valley as lease nears end

Latest Headlines

Three new No. 1s in next-to-last Lehigh Valley-area wrestling rankings

2 days ago
How does the Pa. Turnpike keep nearly 3,000 miles clear in the winter? It’s a year-round operation

23 hours ago
Vehicle hit by gunfire on Route 248, police say

14 hours ago
Lehigh County dad who fled to Mexico with teen in 2018 loses bid to have sex assault case thrown out

2 days ago
A warehouse in Northampton County just sold for $158 million, one of largest Lehigh Valley deals in years

2 days ago
Former LVHN executive files whistleblower lawsuit, claiming he was fired after raising fraud concerns

2 days ago
PIAA basketball schedule for District 11 boys and girls teams

17 hours ago
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Former LVHN executive files whistleblower lawsuit, claiming he was fired after raising fraud concerns
Former LVHN executive files whistleblower lawsuit, claiming he was fired after raising fraud concerns
Grammy award-winning rapper to headline Musikfest
Grammy award-winning rapper to headline Musikfest
A warehouse in Northampton County just sold for $158 million, one of largest Lehigh Valley deals in years
A warehouse in Northampton County just sold for $158 million, one of largest Lehigh Valley deals in years
Lehigh announces its new head football coach
Lehigh announces its new head football coach
Lehigh Valley food safety report: remove dead mice, expired milk, chewed food
Lehigh Valley food safety report: remove dead mice, expired milk, chewed food
Vote for Athlete of the Week: Here are this week’s nominees
Vote for Athlete of the Week: Here are this week’s nominees
Winter weather advisory issued for Lehigh Valley on Tuesday; snow and ice possible
Winter weather advisory issued for Lehigh Valley on Tuesday; snow and ice possible
Allentown man admits beating pregnant Montgomery County woman, gets up to 8 years in prison
Allentown man admits beating pregnant Montgomery County woman, gets up to 8 years in prison
Vehicle hit by gunfire on Route 248, police say
Vehicle hit by gunfire on Route 248, police say
Three new No. 1s in next-to-last Lehigh Valley-area wrestling rankings
Three new No. 1s in next-to-last Lehigh Valley-area wrestling rankings

Local News

A cardinal looks for a snack in the freezing rain on United Nations World Wildlife Day, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Bethlehem. Lehigh and Northampton counties were under a winter weather advisory 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. But while showers are possible most of the week, temperatures are expected to jump into the 60s. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Wintery weather in March | PHOTOS

Wintery weather in March

Sports

Southern Lehigh coach, John Arcidiacono, watches his team compete against Salisbury during an basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at Southern Lehigh High School in Center Valley, PA. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)

PIAA boys basketball: Surprising Southern Lehigh gives the Colonial League 5 teams in tourney

The Spartans came on strong with wins over Athens Area, Pottsville and Selinsgrove

Things to Do

Rod Stewart performs Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at the PPL Center in Allentown. (Chris Knight/Special to The Morning Call)

From Rod Stewart to Sebastian Bach, here are the top acts performing in the Lehigh Valley in March

There's something for everyone this month in the Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh Valley Top Workplaces 2026 Awards Banquet | PHOTOS

Did you make our gallery? See photos from the Lehigh Valley Top Workplaces 2026 awards ceremony and banquet at SteelStacks.
Purim Celebration | PHOTOS
Major winter storm dumps more snow on Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS
The calm before the snow as winter storm hits Lehigh Valley | PHOTOS
Dieruff High School students walkout to protest ICE | PHOTOS
Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena | PHOTOS
Northwestern Lehigh wins boys basketball Colonial League championship | PHOTOS

Opinion

The Tamaqua Area Middle School art club is painting Schuylkill County’s America250PA Liberty Bell recreation, pictured Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

Faith & Values: America’s 250th anniversary an opportunity to reflect on democracy, faith

The Lehigh Valley is asked to participate in Faith250, which invites people of various faith...

Crime and Public Safety

(Getty Images)

Man shoots out Northampton County laundromat window, police say

An Easton man shot out the window of a laundromat Sunday afternoon in Wilson Borough,...

Best Reviews

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Stay stylish and cozy in premium Adidas tracksuits

The Adidas tracksuit is an iconic wardrobe staple for athletes and leisurewear enthusiasts everywhere.

Business

Pentagon dispute bolsters Anthropic reputation but raises questions about AI readiness in military

Many experts applauded Anthropic's CEO for standing up for ethical principles.

Pennsylvania News

Basketball scores

Pennsylvania high school basketball scores from Saturday, Feb. 28

High school basketball scores from across the state

National News

The Beatles went up in smoke near Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., on August 12, 1966 as neighborhood youngsters severed once and for all their twoyear friendship with the four world figures. The Beatlemania bonfire, planned by Chuck Smith, 13, was in protest against John Lennon remark to the effect that the Beatles are more popular than Jesus. (AP Photo)

Today in History: March 4, Lennon’s ‘We’re more popular than Jesus now’ comment draws backlash

John Lennon of The Beatles was quoted in the London Evening Standard as saying, “We’re...

Allentown

Thousands of fans coming to the PPL Center to watch Penn State in the NCAA men's hockey tournament can bring in millions to the Lehigh Valley economy. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

Major sporting events are winners for the Lehigh Valley economy

Bree Nidds, chief operating officer of Discover Lehigh Valley, said that sports tourism is one...

Bethlehem Area

The wife of Philadelphia Eagles and Hall of Fame linebacker and center Chuck Bednarik, Emma Bednarik watches as her husband Bethlehem native and Eagles Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik had a plaque dedicated to him at Liberty High School in 2013. She died this week. (Donna Fisher/The Morning Call)

Emma Bednarik, wife of Eagles legend Chuck Bednarik, dies at 101

Emma Bednarik, the wife of Philadelphia Eagles legend Chuck Bednarik for 67 years until his...