County News

Northampton County Council unanimously approved new ethics rules Thursday night limiting when county officials and employees can accept gifts.

Scott Parsons, a former member of county council and county government, was appointed Northampton County's new controller Thursday night.

Northampton County Council interviewed 4 candidates for a five-month appointment as the county controller. Council will chose one of them Thursday and voters will elect a new controller in the fall.

The Lehigh County coroner has identified a man who suffered “head and traumatic injuries” before he died Sunday in Allentown.

Following heavy rainfall and flash flooding over the weekend, Northampton County Emergency Management Services is compiling an inventory of damages reported by municipalities.

How much rain fell in the Lehigh Valley on Sunday, turning streets into raging torrents of water?

Body camera footage caught Phil Racciato identifying Christopher Ferrante to police as the alleged drug supplier who he says routinely provided his son Michael "Mikey" Racciato with illicit drugs.

Prosecutors presented data pulled from the cell phones of former state champion Pen Argyl wrestler Michael Racciato and defendant Christopher Ferrante, who stands accused of providing the fentanyl that led to Racciato's death in a Lower Nazareth Township parking lot.

Michael "Mikey" Racciato's father recounted the events leading up to his son's death in December 2020, including multiple overdoses, visits to rehab facilities and eventually discovering his son dead from a fentanyl overdose.

The AI model uses county Department of Human Services records to predict which kids will be removed from their families within one year. A similar system drew a federal investigation.

The FCC's equal time rule means Lehigh County commissioner candidates will be entitled to hours of air time on La Mega 101.7 — if they want it.

Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong credited partners and his administration for maintaining the region's high quality of life.

Stephen Baratta and Terry Houck exchanged more salvos Thursday in a heated race for Northampton County district attorney. Houck said he's considering filing an ethics complaint against the retired judge.

County Executive Lamont McClure announced that the county is conducting a broadband study and will gather public input through a survey.

Kevin Dellicker, a Republican who ran for the Lehigh Valley congressional seat, said federal investigators should look into the improper release of his military records.

As the region diversifies, relations across racial groups are seen as a key element of quality of life. A new survey finds overall ratings as mostly positive, but different age groups rate the state of race relations differently.

Members of the council's Finance Committee criticized County Executive Lamont McClure's handling of the studies they requested last year. He threatened to walk out.

Allentown City Planning Commission on Tuesday approved the construction of a 49-unit apartment building and parking garage on West Hamilton Street. The complex would house primary occupants 55-and-older and adults with disabilities. Representatives of the neighboring music school voiced concerns about increased traffic and the safety of students, parents, and staff.

The Lehigh Valley is a desirable place to live. But as more move to the region, the volume of affordable housing is shrinking. A quality-of-life survey shows it's a major concern of those who live here.

The cafe's union is among the nation's first to negotiate with the chain, on account of upcoming renovations.

The decision comes three months after Pinsley lost his state Senate race, running as a Democrat.

A quality-of-life survey commissioned by LehighValleyNews.com found a significant majority of Lehigh Valley residents rate life here positively. But our outlooks differ. It's the most comprehensive survey of life in the region in years.