Good morning, Allentown.

As Winter Driving Awareness Week begins, AAA + the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation remind local drivers to slow down and check their vehicles on icy roads; research shows 46% of crashes in inclement weather occur during the winter.

Lehigh Valley International Airport recorded over 1 million passengers and 301,979,109 pounds of air cargo in 2025—a 5.4% and 21% increase from 2024—marking its record-breaking year.

The airport also launched non-stop flights to Fort Myers and earned Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards recognition.

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites announced that the restored 1782/1834 Grist Miller’s House in Bethlehem’s Colonial Industrial Quarter won a Preservation Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award after an Oct.

16 ceremony in Pittsburgh and now welcomes visitors Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. to explore 18th- and 19th-century exhibitions.

Marking 30 years of giving, the Martin Guitar Foundation awarded $565K in grants to 98 nonprofits supporting music and community programs in Nazareth and the greater Lehigh Valley.

It will accept proposals for 2027 grants (June 1 to Aug. 31).

Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors will perform at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks on Aug.

25 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets (ranging from $65 to $69) go on sale Jan. 23 at the ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem.

ArtsQuest invites local chefs to warm up winter with Souper Bowl XVI, a culinary contest set for Sunday, Feb.

1 at 1 p.m. at Musikfest Café. Regional restaurants will compete in soup categories such as Cream-based, Meat-based, and Vegan while VIP tickets offer early entry and a complimentary drink.

PPL Corporation praised bipartisan moves to reform the power grid as the company addressed rising electricity demand and costs and outlined plans to build new dispatchable generation through its joint venture with Blackstone Infrastructure.

It said the reforms could prompt law changes soon to let utilities own generation assets.

Allentown School District and Pennsylvania College of Technology are launching a four-month Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship on Jan.

23 that runs through May 8, teaching students both theory and hands-on skills for entry-level manufacturing jobs.

At its Jan. 12 meeting, the Bethlehem Area School Board reported a positive audit with no deficiencies and an $11.7 million surplus, and announced a new communications internship for high schoolers that may include a TikTok channel.

Contractors are investigating cracks at Nitschmann MS (in progress).

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania launched Calling All Girl Bosses, a free program offering 12 Saturday workshops from September 2025 to May 2026 that teach leadership and community problem-solving for girls in grades 6-12 at One City Center in Allentown (free transportation is provided by EverDriven).

State Sen. Lisa Boscola announced that 11 community revitalization projects in the 18th Senatorial District were approved for about $2M in tax credit funding through the Neighborhood Assistance Program, targeting food banks, arts centers, and affordable housing improvements in Northampton County — boosting local support.

Freezing conditions today make once simple tasks, like pumping gas, risky, so Allentown Fire Department advises wearing multiple layers and using heaters safely.

Officials recommend keeping space heaters three feet from flammable items (and leaving cabinet doors open with faucets trickling to keep pipes from freezing).

The updated master plan for the 29-acre Waterfront project now focuses on housing, retail, and dining along the Lehigh River instead of office space.

Officials said technical coordination, permitting, and phased implementation will begin with architects, engineers, and city partners.

Hershey Bears vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms

7:05-9:05 p.m. — PPL Center — Tickets required — A thrilling AHL matchup featuring local hockey rivalries.

Downtown Allentown Restaurant Week

February 1-7 — Downtown Allentown — Variety of offers and prix fixe menus — Indulge in delicious specials at local eateries during this culinary celebration.

R&B ONLY

8 PM – 12 AM — Archer Music Hall — 21+ event — Sing, dance, and experience R&B music from past to present.

Simon Mulligan Jazz Performance

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Miller Symphony Hall — Tickets available — Experience the captivating blend of classical and jazz by acclaimed pianist Simon Mulligan.