Local News: Top News

Totally Rad run in Bethlehem

By Sam Kennedy, Of The Morning Call — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:16:00 GMT

Runners pelted with colored corn starch.

It was as if Disney's animation department was put in charge of the napalm scene in the movie "Apocalypse Now."

Locally penned 'Mommalogues' opens Off-Broadway

By Kathy Lauer-Williams , Of The Morning Call — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:37:27 GMT

Show featuring 20 monologues about stages of motherhood gets New York premiere. It was written by two local women.

Vastly different women united by the common thread of motherhood — a new mom, a teacher whose mother said she'd never get married, a mother who lost a daughter, a battered mom, a women putting her mother in a home and a daughter with two mothers — are some of the characters in "Mommalogues," a locally written play getting its New York premiere.

What I'm Reading: Macungie student mixes action novels, comic books

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

•Name: Nikhil Sharma

Morning Call takes first in Sandusky coverage

Of The Morning Call — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:25:44 GMT

The newspaper was singled out for work on the eight-day sexual abuse trial.

The Morning Call was recognized by the Associated Press this weekend with a first-place award for its coverage of the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse trial in June.

Newsmaker Q&A: Pat Halpin-Murphy

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:25:22 GMT

Pat Halpin-Murphy is president and founder of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. The coalition, founded in 1993, is a statewide nonprofit providing public awareness of breast cancer and encouraging increased public and private funding for research, legislative advocacy and high quality screening, diagnosis and treatment. She was asked about Angelina Jolie's recent prophylactic breast cancer surgery and is the subject of this week's Q&A.

Area Reunions

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:25:00 GMT

POWERHOUSE CROSSING/ROOSEVELT SCHOOL

Should the county undergo a reassessment?

By Samantha Marcus, Of The Morning Call — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:24:37 GMT

Most, but not all, candidates oppose revaluation. Cost of the process is a concern.

Editor's note: Reassessments are about restoring equity to property values that are no longer uniform. Property values change over time, and properties and neighborhoods don't all appreciate or depreciate at the same rate. So the tax burden, which is based on property values, becomes inequitable. Reassessments re-establish property values, and then the county redistributes the tax burden based on those new values. The county does not receive additional tax revenue from a reassessment. Those whose tax bills go up counterbalance those whose tax bills go down. And, of course, some tax bills stay the same.

Another payday loan debate on the horizon

Paul Muschick — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:23:53 GMT

Supporters, critics already lining up

Get ready for another debate on whether payday loan stores should return to Pennsylvania.

Lower Nazareth church celebrates 250 years

By Daniel Patrick Sheehan , Of The Morning Call — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:23:00 GMT

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, which predates the United States, plans to mark its Pennsylvania German roots as it looks to next 250 years.

The elegant Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church is in its 250 t h year, older than the nation. It's been serving a certain segment of the Christian community in and around Lower Nazareth Township for all that time, and the people in charge there today speculate quite convincingly of what the church will be up to in the next 250 years.

What's in a name? A lot.

By Sam Kennedy, Of The Morning Call — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:21:00 GMT

Legal battle pervades Jim Thorpe's annual celebration of namesake

Dark clouds — both the real and the metaphorical varieties — cast a pall Saturday over Jim Thorpe's annual birthday celebration of the borough's namesake.

Law in Jim Thorpe dispute aims to prevent Native American plunder

By Peter Hall, Of The Morning Call — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:21:00 GMT

It might clear way for legendary athlete's remains to be moved.

It was a sweat lodge ceremony in Texas where Jim Thorpe reached out to his grandson through a medicine man.

Angelina Jolie's decision to get double mastectomy isn't unusual in Lehigh Valley

By Milton D. Carrero, Of The Morning Call — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:20:00 GMT

Some in the Lehigh Valley have agonized over whether to have a preventive double mastectomy

Kelly Vanek, a runner, cyclist and triathlete, was listening to sports talk radio in the car when the conversation shifted to Angelina Jolie.

Easton Police investigate suspicious car fires

By Emily Opilo, Of The Morning Call — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:05:26 GMT

Easton police are investigating a series of car fires that are considered suspicious.

Hit the graveyard trash to spruce up your garden

Spencer Soper — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:42:00 GMT

Discarded flowers are a cheap option for getting spring bulb plants and hardy mums.

Being a bona fide cheapster takes dedication, forcing folks to ask themselves just how far they are willing to go.

See Lower Nazareth native on HBO's 'Veep'

By Kathy Lauer-Williams , Of The Morning Call — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:41:00 GMT

As a stunt and sports performer for film and TV, Lower Nazareth Township native Matthew Bishop shot hoops with Justin Timberlake and appeared as a baseball teammate of Owen Wilson.

Fire damages Allentown home

By Emily Opilo, Of The Morning Call — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:19:55 GMT

A home in Allentown's west end was damaged by a fire Friday night.

Boy dies after pony kicks him

Of Lancaster Newspapers — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:12:48 GMT

Police say 6-year-old was unable to breathe

A 6-year-old boy died Friday after being kicked in the throat by a pony on a Lancaster County farm.

Amtrak crash limits service between New York and Boston

Of Bloomberg News — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:22:19 GMT

Investigators are trying to determine what caused one of the worst passenger rail accidents

Amtrak service between New York and Boston was limited Saturday as investigators gathered evidence from Friday's collision between two Metro-North Railroad commuter trains in.

Gun T-shirt gets Bucks student in trouble

The Philadelphia Inquirer — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:44:15 GMT

At Warminster high school, M-16 rifle image violates dress code

John Doerffel never thought his clothes would land him in the in-school suspension room for a half-day, but that's what happened to the William Tennent High School senior this week.

Fugitive in 1994 Bethlehem cold case homicide pleads guilty

By Riley Yates , Of The Morning Call — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:44:40 GMT

He admits to deadly 1994 stabbing in Bethlehem, will serve 10-20 years for murder.

When Jorge A. Velazquez Jr. was stabbed to death after a game of dominoes in Bethlehem in 1994, he left behind a 5-year-old son and a family looking for closure.

New Jersey moves toward online gambling with proposed regulations

REUTERS — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:44:25 GMT

Key measures require rules to ensure that players are betting within state borders.

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey announced another step on Friday that will bring it closer to launching online gambling, with plans to publish proposed regulations for Internet wagering on June 3.

New Jersey to use federal funds to buy homes that are flood prone

By Sarah Watson, Of The (Atlantic City, N.J.) Press — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:44:03 GMT

Houses hit hard by Sandy or those in flood-prone areas will be bought with federal funds from owners who agree to sell.

New Jersey will use $300 million in federal aid to buy out about 1,300 Hurricane Sandy-damaged and flood-prone homes in the state.

Northampton County court administrator Onembo retiring

By Riley Yates , Of The Morning Call — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:43:12 GMT

'The public face of this court' is stepping down after 37 years with the county.

Northampton County's longtime court administrator is retiring after 19 years with the court and nearly four decades with the county.

Church seeks possible move into Lower Macungie roller rink

By Patrick Lester , Of The Morning Call — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:40:10 GMT

Lifechurch Ministries is seeking to relocate its suburban campus.

Callahan endorses Reynolds for Bethlehem mayor

By Nicole Radzievich ", Of The Morning Call — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:39:32 GMT

Bethlehem incumbent picks 31-year-old over 18-year councilman Donchez.

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, who has guided Bethlehem over the last decade, on Friday threw his support behind Councilman J. William Reynolds to be his successor, snubbing veteran City Councilman Robert Donchez.