County News

In the April update for Lehigh Valley Breathes, a regionwide effort to monitor air quality amid emissions from trucking and warehousing, officials explained new EPA soot standards and how they could impact the project.

The Democratic-controlled House passed legislation that would let counties get a head start counting mail-in ballots. But Senate Republicans are unlikely to pass it without an unlikely compromise on voter ID provisions.

Carbon County officials on Thursday will sign on to a partnership with Northampton, officials announced. Their goal is to bolster farmland preservation efforts.

Ryan Mackenzie pulled off a comfortable win in the Republican primary for the PA-7 congressional race. He credited an army of campaign volunteers, but his 12 years in the state House and at least $419,000 of support from a super PAC helped, too.

Pennsylvania's third most populous region received a "C" grade from the American Lung Association and ranked fourth-worst in the mid-Atlantic for ozone pollution. But, it's better than last year’s rankings in the annual "State of the Air" report.

A rundown of how all the local races shook out in Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary election — and the races that are now set for the general election in the fall, according to the counties' unofficial election returns.

Registered Democrats and Republicans will pick their candidates for president, Congress and the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday. There are few contested races, but that will change in November's general election.

An investigation by Votebeat and Spotlight PA shows Northampton County had incomplete, disorganized and inconsistent records from its 2023 voting machine testing. Is legislation needed?

EPA officials last week announced the first-ever national drinking water standard regulating per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which are widespread, long-lasting in the environment and have been linked to long-term health issues.

For every Republican voting by mail this April, there are 2.75 Democrats voting by mail, according to state data. Political observers believe it could give Democrats an advantage heading into the November election should the pattern hold.

The health of the Lehigh Valley is improving, but there is room to grow according to health experts. They are sharing where residents need to do better and how to get there.

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts conducted a brainstorming seminar in Allentown on Monday to advance a statewide arts and culture plan.

Raising his young children to be good citizens and leaving the door to the 2028 Olympics open just a smidge are among the topics Lehigh Valley native Darian Cruz discussed as he returned from competing in wrestling at the Paris Olympics.

The Historic Hotel Bethlehem has been voted as the USA Today's best historic hotel/resort in America for a record fourth consecutive year.

Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed House Bill 829 and Senate Bill 688 into law. Both expand on the state's unusual and complex liquor laws, including an increase in happy hour and combo meal opportunities.

Local state lawmakers joined members of the Legislative Latino Caucus in Allentown on Monday to celebrate how the new state budget. Specifically, they note the more than $1.1 billion in new funding for school districts, including about $526 million to correct inequities in public education.

Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton have teamed up with Lehigh Valley Health Network to make the Lehigh Valley a Blue Zone. The initiative was launched this week and will take the next few years to earn the certification.

Taxpayers will foot the bill for lawyers on both sides if issues between Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk and council end up in court.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, Lehigh County Democratic Chair Lori McFarland and political organizer Aidan Levinson said they could rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket. They are among the Lehigh Valley's contingent of delegates heading to the Democratic National Convention in August.

Development has divided wildlife habitats across Pennsylvania, leading to more vehicle-animal collisions. A new report from the state Legislature argues reconnecting the pieces through wildlife corridors would help.

Applications for a seat on the council, launched in 2022 and aimed at growing public participation, are being accepted through the end of the month. Here's how to apply.

Other major goals for both parties fell by the wayside: Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro didn’t get recreational marijuana or a tax on skill games; legislative Democrats didn’t get a minimum wage increase; legislative Republicans didn’t get tax cuts.