Good morning, Allentown.

On Friday, Aug. 14, the Trexlertown Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary donated $1,000 to the Lehigh County Joint Incident Rehabilitation Task Force and $1,500 to PA Wounded Warriors, Inc. at its meeting where Linda Gorr was honored with a gold watch for her 60 years of service.

Upper Macungie Township hosted National Night Out on August 14 at its community grounds, offering games, laser tag, and bouncy houses.

Families met first responders and enjoyed interactive activities like rock climbing and inflatables.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donated $1 million to Helping Harvest, a Reading-based partner of the Central PA Food Bank, as part of a $26 million philanthropy campaign + spurred local contributions amid rising hunger and federal funding cuts.

On July 27 to 31, the Young People Making Peace Summer Day Camp was held at First Presbyterian Church for about 60 campers aged 5 to 13, featuring art, music and games that promote kindness, and the camp (started by LEPOCO Peace Center in 1990) is now a treasured tradition.

Get Joy Ice Cream and Coffee opened this summer at 3592 Route 378 in Lower Saucon, serving ice cream, coffee, and pastries.

The business provides jobs for people with different abilities—creating a welcoming space with indoor seating and an outdoor play area—and operates daily with varying hours.

On Aug. 12, Hotel Bethlehem was named America’s Best Historic Hotel by USA Today 10Best for the sixth year.

The 1922 hotel, located near Moravian church settlements with 125 guest rooms and several amenities (ice cream parlor, spa, candy shop), saw a boost in tourism due to strong community partnerships.

Lehigh University political science professor Chris Borick explained on his Political Pulse episode how US election rules create hurdles for minor political parties — the same rules challenge a new Green Party candidate in Pennsylvania’s 7th district and highlight issues with ballot access in the state.

Luke’s Allentown Campus is one of nine network hospitals that earned 2026 Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus awards (recognizing excellence in rapid diagnosis and treatment) from the American Heart Association, reflecting a strong commitment to improving stroke outcomes.

Health experts say there are no local cyclosporiasis cases from a multistate outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce recalled by Taylor Farms de México on July 17.

The outbreak nears its incubation end, and residents are advised to wash produce + stay hydrated + seek care for persistent symptoms.