County News

The Northampton County Council voted Thursday to ask a judge to fill the body's open seat after 12 votes and hours of debate ended in deadlock.

In addition to two Lehigh County fatalities, three people have died in Northampton County crashes since Saturday, according to the Northampton County Coroner's Office.

Lawmakers announced the $40 million infusion that they said will support a new Northside Logistics and Cargo Complex. It will include a new dock facility and direct truck-to-aircraft loading apron at LVIA.

Gov. Josh Shapiro was in Bethlehem on Tuesday to announce the expansion of the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. Older, disabled residents can apply for rebates up to $1,000. State Rep. Steve Samuelson authored the legislation.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure asked county council Thursday to repeal tax breaks for the developer of the planned River Pointe industrial park, less than a year after council voted to extend them.

The Pennsylvania Department of State is starting a new office to help train county election workers, Pa. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said. It also plans to update its guidance for logic and accuracy testing that could have caught issues with the Northampton County voting machines.

Only some of the newest Northampton County elected officials are actually new to county government. The new slate of county elected leaders will take office Jan. 2.

The new position will appear on the ballot in 2025. The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas had one of the higher caseloads for counties of its size.

If ultimately completed, the combined health care system would operate 30 hospitals and more than 700 outpatient sites, with more than 62,000 employees, according to LVHN and Jefferson Health.

Northampton County Council bid farewell to four members Thursday evening, including its first Black president, Kerry Myers.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved 36 new honorees for 2022, including the Allentown State Hospital and the President Pumping Engine in Upper Saucon Township.

PennDOT will spend millions of dollars to start construction on major transportation projects including bridges, traffic circles, milling, paving and patching roadways and updating interchanges.

In 2021, the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism tabulated 2,717 antisemitic incidents throughout the United States. It was a 34% increase from 2020 and the highest number on record since the ADL began tracking in 1979. The Lehigh Valley has seen numerous incidents.

Lehigh County commissioners are evaluating a proposal that would create a new program for individuals recently released from prison by engaging them before release and following them to ensure they stay employed and do not reoffend.

Living off the land and taking care of a historic property, as the current owners said, come with a commitment to see things through.

It's been less than 24 hours since the Lehigh County Executive vetoed a pair of bills that would increase the pay of several municipal officials—including the county executive. The County's Board of Commissioners has undone that veto.

Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong vetoed a pair of bills that would have increased the salaries for several municipal officials. Armstrong said that he couldn't "justify" the move while county residents deal with inflation.

Lehigh County Sheriff Joe Hanna announced Tuesday he will seek a third term in the 2023 election cycle.

The Northampton County coroner is investigating and has identified the remains as belonging to William Edelman Jr. of Catasauqua.

Community forum for Upper Saucon Township seeks long needed third communal space

Without any contested races, Northampton County quietly passed its risk-limiting voting machine audit Monday afternoon.

Northampton County and Lehigh Valley Habitat for Humanity spent a combined $1.3 million on land for 50 new houses in response to families in need.