BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Of the several thousand articles that LehighValleyNews.com published since Jan. 1, readers helped to establish a clear trend.
Top interests included environmental topics, politics, criminal justice and business news.
Here's a look at some of the most popular stories of 2024, as determined by what drew the most readers:
Sheetz declares independence from its Fourth of July gas price promo
After making headlines in previous years for causing traffic disruptions, the famed Sheetz gas promo that slashed prices to $1.776 per gallon piqued readers' interest for a different reason.
The story reached readers as far as California, shared to alert consumers that the Altoona-based company wouldn't offer its annual holiday deal at any of its East Coast locations.
150 acres scorched in Blue Mountain fire
Amid drought conditions, a fire erupted at Blue Mountain, affecting Northampton and Carbon counties.
Videos went viral on social media depicting the blaze both day and night as local and national headlines emphasized persistent dry conditions. LehighValleyNews.com followed up the article until the fire was announced as officially extinguished in December.
Election Day coverage
LehighValleyNews.com ran a live blog on Election Day to keep up with local and regional trends at the polls, which included extensive voter turnout in certain areas of the Valley.
Most notable was the hours-long voting line at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem. The polling place made national headlines with footage from PBS39 — part of Lehigh Valley Public Media, which includes LehighValleyNews.com — showcasing the line that wrapped around the building, leaving some voters confused as to where it started and where it ended.
Several free pizzas, one machine down, four extras brought in and several celebrity visits later, LehighValleyNews.com's updated coverage of the Banana Factory went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter, after being re-shared by numerous national media outlets.
In the week leading up to Election Day, the Lehigh Valley hosted visits by Donald Trump, who held a rally at the PPL Center in Allentown, and Kamala Harris, who rallied at Memorial Hall at Muhlenberg College.
Raising Cane’s 1st Lehigh Valley location
The Lehigh Valley was ready to embrace "One Love, One Dream," when it was announced that the area would get its first Raising Cane's.
The next closest location is 40 miles away. And by late July, customers had an answer on when they'd be able to make a closer drive to get their Raising Cane's fix.
LehighValleyNews.com also followed up when the Louisiana-based chicken finger fast food chain had its official grand opening, where hundreds flocked to the Lower Macungie Township restaurant.
Former student possessed child porn in home owned by Parkland administrator
Coverage of former Parkland administrator Frank Anonia and 2013 graduate William Preston Marshall wrangled readers' attention for days at a time.
Marshall was jailed on a charge of possessing child pornography, sentenced in April to Lehigh County Prison and placed on the state’s Megan’s Law registry of sex offenders.
Marshall lived in the 500 block of Berks Street in Allentown — a home owned by Anonia, according to Lehigh County property records.
Anonia resigned from his job as the Parkland School District’s performing and visual arts director in June and was later accused of secretly recording a student in a dressing room.
He was charged with multiple counts of invasion of privacy, criminal use of a communication facility and other offenses.
Anonia was ordered to Lehigh County Prison following his arrest and arraignment Oct. 15 on several charges. He posted a $50,000 bond as bail later that day, according to court records.
He is due back in court in January.
Lehigh Valley’s ‘best cheesesteak’ shop opening 2nd location
We get it. The Lehigh Valley is hungry for some good eats.
When we wrote that Giacomo’s Italian Market and Grille was opening a second location, it took social media by storm, with just under half of our readers coming from Facebook alone.
Giacomo’s has won numerous Lehigh Valley “best-of” awards and accolades for its cheesesteaks and its second shop at 4041 William Penn Highway in Palmer Township could build on that legacy after opening in early October.
Pa. DEP identifies source of foul-smelling odor that’s stinking up Bethlehem, surrounding areas
Sometimes, the news isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, it stinks — literally.
Our environment and science reporter followed complaints from nearby residents complaining of smells permeating throughout the Bethlehem area.
The company was later cited, and not for the first time.
“We take this matter seriously and are committed to addressing the concerns raised, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations, and preventing future occurrences," Spray-Tek said in an email to the DEP obtained by LehighValleyNews.com.
Trampoline park in Bethlehem Twp. announces closure, ‘effective immediately’
More business news — this story didn't appear to curb an appetite for food, but one for unanswered questions.
The Lehigh Valley's largest indoor trampoline park abruptly closed this summer.
FreeFall Trampoline Park announced its closure June 11 at 11 a.m. on Facebook.
It later reopened as Sky Zone Bethlehem.
Bethlehem cop who is a school resource officer accused of sex crimes against student
Another criminal justice story centered in Bethlehem also piqued reader interest.
A school resource officer at East Hills Middle School was charged with statutory sexual assault and related felonies against a middle school student.
LehighValleyNews.com later followed up on the story with further details, noting that Costas Alestas was also a soccer coach and was held at Northampton County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Easton staple sold
An Easton-area staple officially changed hands over in the spring, creating a buzz in the city and beyond.
Jimmy's Hot Dogs owners Frank and Polyxeni “Polly” Bounoutas closed on the sale May 3, capping their 33-year run in the 25th Street Shopping Center in Palmer Township for a business whose history goes back almost to the turn of the 20th century.
New owners Raj and Priya Muddu were no strangers to Easton. They’ve run Tandoor Grill the past six years at 9 N. Third St. — a popular Indian restaurant known for its affordable takeout.
Salisbury Township's $1 mansion
After sitting vacant for years following a fire that ravaged the inside of a once-36,800-square-foot mansion, Salisbury Township bought the property for $1.
The former owner of 3015 Barrington Lane donated it to the township in spring 2024.
The mansion previously went viral online and has been in the news more than once after crews battled a three-alarm fire in 2021 that took down the castle-like turret of the home and caused over $1 million in damage inside the home.
The township chose to sell the home and LehighValleyNews.com got an exclusive tour of the property before it sold for a fraction of its previous value of $6.4 million.
