Good morning, Bethlehem.

Bethlehem’s SteelStacks will observe Patriot Day on Sept.

11 at 6:45 p.m. (with a national anthem performed by U.S. Navy veteran Velvet Salgado), followed by a 'Time to Remember' ceremony and a live performance by The Aardvarks.

Chobani will invest $1.2B in a new dairy facility set to open next year in the Lehigh Valley, adding 900 jobs at a historic food production site (the largest agricultural investment in Pennsylvania).

PPL Electric Utilities demonstrated its new smart grid technology today to U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Katie Jereza at the Walbert Training Center in South Whitehall Township as part of its $8 billion effort to prepare for a projected 20% rise in regional electricity use.

Christopher Borick joined Lehigh full-time in July (after teaching as an adjunct) and now teaches American Political Systems and Research in Politics and Public Policy while launching the Lehigh University Opinion Observatory next to the Alumni Memorial Building; the observatory is being renovated with graduate student help.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 540 measles cases in 36 counties, including 43 new cases since Aug.

31 and two deaths in Lancaster County. Health officials have started a vaccination campaign, giving over 3,700 MMR shots at local clinics to curb the outbreak.

Leading U.S. medical groups have urged everyone to get updated flu & COVID vaccines this fall; local pharmacies in Bethlehem are expected to offer enhanced shots and a new mRNA flu vaccine option for seniors and other high-risk groups soon.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation released its 2026 Asthma Capitals report, naming Allentown as having the highest rate of asthma-related ER visits in the Lehigh Valley — a trend seen in previous years amid wildfire smoke and seasonal illness.

Health experts stress proper management and preventive care.

Lehigh football will begin its 2026 season with a fresh coaching team led by newly-promoted head coach Rich Nagy + key transfers stepping in to maintain last season’s success; they will face Georgetown at Cooper Field in Washington, D.C. this Saturday.

Lehigh Valley girls cross country teams will start a busy fall season as defending champion Easton (led by coach Bobbi Jo Powell and key runners like Lyla Knoble and Vivian Clark) is favored, while Liberty, Parkland and P’burg build depth ahead of critical district meets.