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                Micaela Hood/LehighValleyNews.comLeadership, mentorship and empowerment were themes at the 2025 ATHENA Awards held Oct. 30 at ArtsQuest. This year's honorees included Susan Wild, Veronica Gonzalez and MKSD Architects.
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                Brian Myszkowski/LehighValleyNews.comAbout 400 Allentown families came to The Salvation Army for The Give Back resource event Wednesday, where they received shelf-stable food, daily necessities, and more, just as federal assistance benefits are about to be cut off.
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                        Gov. Josh Shapiro is expected to visit the Bethlehem Steel General Office Building on Tuesday to promote his $500 million shovel-ready development program. The program was funded in the recently approved $47.6 billion 2024-2025 state budget.
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                        Gov. John Shapiro last month signed HB 1333 into law, which allows for recycled materials to be used in stuffed toys manufactured and sold statewide. In the Lehigh Valley, one toy manufacturer plans to launch a sustainable line.
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                        For decades, the land that is now Green Knight Industrial Park in Wind Gap, Plainfield Twp. and Bushkill Twp. contained a pile of 2,000,000 tires. On Thursday, officials cut the ribbon on the park's first completed building, a 50,000-square-foot warehouse.
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                        The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission issued 19 recommendations for PPL Electric to improve upon, including fixing its poor customer service and restoring power to customers faster following an outage.
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                        Former Lehigh Valley Dairy site approved for environmental study funding, may lead to revitalizationThe Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority approved a contract between Elias Property Group and Synergy Environmental Group for $67,000 for an environmental study at the former Lehigh Valley Dairy site.
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                        The $208 million will also produce 295 new union jobs, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s announcement said, though it’s unclear what cut of the funding the Macungie facility is getting or the number of new jobs expected locally.
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                        Northampton County officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for a new maintenance building for groundskeepers, replacing a more-than-century-old wooden barn the Parks Department currently uses.
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                        State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, is looking to force his predecessor, now Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne, to release tax returns about Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone. Browne, who crafted the NIZ, has worked to keep the information confidential for five years.
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                        With other communities around the state adopting bans on plastic bags, Lower Saucon could be on its way to something similar. if approved, it would involve a transition process to show shoppers the bigger picture and give time for businesses to properly offload plastic bags on hand.
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                        A $6.4 million mansion called Ravenwood Manor caught fire just a day after being sold. Three years later, the owners have donated it to the local government, reportedly as a sign of gratitude for local emergency responders.
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                        Upper Macungie’s Planning Commission discussed a sketch plan for a proposed warehouse at its meeting Wednesday. The warehouse would be located across from the municipal building.
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                        The first stage of the Lehigh Valley Passenger Rail Analysis project will be completed by October, it was revealed on Wednesday during a Lehigh Valley Transportation Study committee virtual public meeting.
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                        Lehigh Valley Pride will be free this year. It will be on Sunday, August 20, from 2 to 8:30 p.m. at the SteelStacks campus.
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                        Get ready for a mouthwatering fiesta at the annual Taco Fest in Easton, featuring delicious tacos from local food trucks, and refreshing beverages from breweries and bars.
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                        Lehigh Valley Public Media presents the Good Neighbor Awards to recognize community leaders and pay tribute to PBS icon Fred Rogers and his ideals of kindness. This is the 7th year for the awards, to be given May 23 at the Delta Hotel by Marriott in Upper Macungie Township.
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                        The U.S. Department of Commerce has opened applications for the first round of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub program. Rep. Susan Wild, author of the program, said the Lehigh Valley is the perfect candidate for the funding.
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                        Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, an agency and shelter dedicated to helping survivors of domestic and intimate partner abuse, has been awarded the Shelter/Program Turnaround of the Year Award from domesticshelters.org, a nationally recognized nonprofit.
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                        Feline Urban Rescue and Rehab Inc. (FURR) finds homes for cats in eastern Pennsylvania and northwest New Jersey. It received a grant to help save cats.
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                        The restaurant focuses almost entirely on its chicken fingers and sides of coleslaw, crinkle-cut fries, Texas Toast and signature "Cane's Sauce"
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                        The two events hosted in Bethlehem's Rose Garden will bring the city food and drinks, live music, artisans and more.
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                        Due to a lack of engineer review, the proposal for the 58.8 acre development was tabled until next month, when board members are expected to approve it.
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                        Developer Nat Hyman said he expects the Allentown Zoning Hearing Board to reject his newest proposal, and he’s prepared to fight that decision in court.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
