County News

Plans for the River Pointe Logistics Industrial Park Development Project in Upper Mount Bethel Township are inconsistent with those of FutureLV, according to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

Citing the financial concerns of taxpayers, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission member Richard D. Molchany suggests slowing down the Lehigh Valley Passenger Rail project.

The program will be operated by Mid-Atlantic Rehabilitation Services (MARS) and is paid for by lawsuits against opiate manufacturers.

This year's address focused on the success of the county's pandemic response, opposition to warehouse construction and plans for affordable housing projects.

The proposed River Point industrial park project for Upper Mount Bethel Township has residents questioning unanswered questions by Bethlehem developer Lou Pektor.

The development would consist of 96 units spread across two three-story buildings at 4406 Easton Ave. The developer has been working alongside township staff and other agencies to get conditional use approval.

Voter turnout was about 23.74% among Democrats and Republicans in Northampton County — only slightly better than Lehigh County’s 22.5% voter turnout rate.

Northampton County Council voted to eliminate 20 frontline jobs at the county's juvenile detention and treatment center, and create 13 new supervisor positions. A union for the detention center's workers argued the change is illegal.

The changes, introduced at a county council committee meeting Wednesday, would eliminate some youth care worker positions at the county's juvenile justice center, and create new assistant supervisor roles.

Six candidates were poised to move on to the general election for the Bangor Area School Board, eliminating half of the incumbents in the race.

An event featured speakers from the Lehigh County Conservation District, Penn State Extension, and Lehigh County Water Authority to show homeowners how they can best mitigate excessive runoff on their property.

Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley released an audit on Tuesday which is focused on the county's health care expenses. He says he found that taxpayers were paying about $4 million more than necessary.

As contracts between some municipalities and service providers in the Lehigh Valley expire near the end of the year, the new agreements that replace them could amount to major price hikes.

Judge Thomas Capehart has sided with the Lehigh County Board of Elections and will permit the county to use election boxes as planned - including allowing the use of a 24-hour drop box - in the upcoming election.

Lehigh Valley shelters for people experiencing homelessness are already getting busy. Management for two of the shelters has noticed an uptick in guests.

Lehigh County has halted the use of ballot dropboxes as the county awaits a ruling in an ongoing lawsuit over dropbox monitoring and hours of usage.

Pro Wrestling Workout aims to get everybody in the ring in a safe and fun way.

An amendment that would alter the budget for the District Attorney's Office was debated at a recent Lehigh County Commissioners meeting.

Pickleball, that fun sociable game, could soon be played on new courts in North and South Whitehall townships.

The change will substantially reduce the number of days Northampton County offers free vaccines to its uninsured residents, from five days a week to two days each month.

Lehigh Valley Voter's Guide: Statewide races including John Fetterman vs. Dr. Oz, Josh Shapiro vs. Doug Mastriano and Susan Wild vs. Lisa Scheller.

Lehigh Valley Voter's Guide: Local races for state senate and state representatives