Good morning, Bethlehem.

Bethlehem police started 'Caught Doing Good' on July 8 to reward kids with free ice cream vouchers redeemable at Bethlehem Dairy Store (Northside Linden Street or Southside Farrington Square) as Connell Funeral Home joins to promote positive community ties.

Seven entrepreneurs will compete for $26,000 in prizes (including a grand prize of $20,000) at StartUp Lehigh Valley hosted by Lehigh University on Aug.

4 at ArtsQuest at SteelStacks in Bethlehem; the event will be broadcast live on WFMZ Channel 69 and streamed online.

ArtsQuest’s SoccerFest drew over 38,600 fans to SteelStacks from June 11 through July 19 for free World Cup watch parties, youth clinics and cultural events that celebrated Bethlehem’s rich soccer history + community unity.

Historic Hotel Bethlehem is competing for USA Today's best historic hotel award for the sixth straight year (voting details are provided locally) as community support is sought for its continued legacy.

Musikfest 2026 draws over 1 million visitors each year and will start with a preview night Thursday before officially opening Friday in Bethlehem.

Hotel Bethlehem Platz will launch an exclusive Musikfest menu with creative dishes including a lobster mac and cheeseburger plus it will host live music from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, Aug.

9 at its festival tent.

Lehigh Valley employers and education groups will celebrate National Intern Day on Thursday, July 30 by hosting events that let students gain hands-on experience and build a local talent pipeline.

The summer intern series will end with a sendoff party at B. Social in Bethlehem.

Pennsylvania's 2026-27 budget, approved on July 12, includes tax cuts to save businesses $2.9 billion and invests in workforce development, including a new $125 million life sciences program that supports startups – coming as Eli Lilly’s $3.5 billion campus prepares to break ground in Lehigh Valley.

HNL Lab Medicine hosted its annual Student Immersion Program from July 13 to 16 and provided 10 high school and college-bound students hands-on lab experience in diagnostic testing.

The program connected local students with lab professionals to explore career opportunities in healthcare.

Flooding is affecting roads and local businesses along Route 309 near Coopersburg, and heavy rains have caused rising water near Bethlehem—warnings remain until 3:45 a.m. EDT as emergency crews advise drivers to avoid flooded roads.

On Monday, July 27, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission approved a new legal standard to measure fish—anglers must compress tail lobes for total length, and the rule will soon be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

This change supports uniform enforcement of size limits statewide.

Local music artists Maureen ‘Moe’ Jerant and Jim Donovan offer drumming and sound bath sessions that aim to boost focus and calm.

Their efforts bring sound healing research to life (improving alertness and wellness) and invite community members to experience a creative approach to well-being.

Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission granted a certificate on July 20 to remove a cedar shake pent roof at 115 W.

Fourth St so developers can inspect hidden historical elements; at 410 Polk St, landlord Michael Schonberger approved replacing a storm-damaged slate roof with GAF Slateline English Gray shingles.

Grupo Niche Concert

7-10 p.m. — Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza — Tickets available — Celebrate the rhythms of salsa and cumbia with the legendary Colombian group Grupo Niche.

AJR Concert at Musikfest

7 p.m. — Musikfest — Tickets from $94.60 — Experience the energetic performance of AJR in the beautiful setting of Bethlehem Musikfest.