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LEHIGH DAILY NEWS

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Editor-in-Chief

Jai Smith

Jai Smith is the founder and editor-in-chief of Lehigh Daily, an independent, reader-funded news outlet covering Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, Pennsylvania. Since launching it in June 2024, he has reported on Lehigh Valley government, development and community life, and he shoots the photos and video and builds the site himself. He has spoken on Lenfest Institute panels about local news, appeared on WHYY, and works with Free Press on Pennsylvania legislation to fund local journalism. He lives in Bethlehem.

349 articlesSince 2024

Latest from Jai Smith

Country star Luke Bryan to bring ‘Word on the Street Tour’ to PPL Center

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Country music superstar Luke Bryan will perform at PPL Center on June 25 as part of his newly announced “Word on the...

Jan. 23, 9:39 a.m.

Astound Broadband outages hit Lehigh Valley as major fiber upgrades begin

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — Astound Broadband customers across the Lehigh Valley are experiencing service disruptions as the company’s fiber network upgrade project moves through area...

Jan. 20, 1:55 p.m.

Emmaus grad Jason Kushy amasses 43,000 Spotify listeners as EDM career takes off while serving as Navy officer

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — By day, Jason Kushy forecasts weather for the U.S. Navy. By night, he’s building an electronic dance music career that has landed...

Jan. 19, 8:54 p.m.

Lehigh Valley comedian brings one-woman show exploring religious groups to SteelStacks

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A Lehigh Valley comedian is bringing her one-woman show examining religious groups and cult dynamics to ArtsQuest’s SteelStacks venue on Jan. 30....

Jan. 19, 1:35 p.m.

PennDOT knocked down your mailbox? Here’s what the state will — and won’t — pay for

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — As back-to-back winter storms blanket the region this weekend, PennDOT plows are out in force on state roads across Lehigh and...

Jan. 18, 11:42 a.m.

Caribbean-inspired Bincho-Don to take over longtime Easton Public Market space

EASTON, Pa. — A new Caribbean-influenced restaurant will take over a longtime vendor space at Easton Public Market next month, bringing island-style rice plates and...

Jan. 17, 4:42 p.m.

New Jersey man sentenced to prison for stealing $500K in gold from Lehigh County senior

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A New Jersey man was sentenced Thursday to up to three years in state prison for scamming a 74-year-old Whitehall Township resident...

Jan. 16, 5:14 p.m.

Chick-fil-A says ‘my pleasure’ one last time at Lehigh Valley Mall

WHITEHALL, Pa. — The Chick-fil-A location inside Lehigh Valley Mall served its final chicken sandwich on Wednesday afternoon, closing permanently after 27 years. The restaurant...

Dec. 31, 2025

Mother’s Bar & Grille, Easton fixture for decades, to close its doors on New Years

EASTON, Pa. — Mother’s Bar & Grille, a downtown fixture known for its dive bar atmosphere and Lebanese-influenced pub fare, will permanently close at midnight...

Dec. 26, 2025

Lehigh Valley to ring in 2026 with two New Year’s Eve celebrations featuring iconic drops

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — Lehigh Valley residents have two signature events to ring in 2026, with Bethlehem’s PeepsFest and Allentown’s downtown celebration offering distinct ways...

Dec. 25, 2025

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