Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

The House passed a bill Wednesday night to end the nation's longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.

Billions of dollars for Pennsylvania’s public schools and social services will soon start flowing after months of delay, as lawmakers on Wednesday approved a $50 billion spending plan to break the state’s budget impasse.

The historic 40-day federal shutdown could be coming to an end after eight members of the Democratic caucus broke ranks on a procedural vote Sunday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro says Pennsylvania's utility companies have stepped up to shelter low-income households this winter. The customers are usually covered by LIHEAP, but the federal assistance program has experienced delays due to the federal government shutdown.

“If my vote is the deciding vote … let me save you the suspense: No va pa sa. It’s not happening,” Councilwoman Cynthia Mota said during her Election Night speech last week.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, introduced the bill in 2023 after a student brought a knife to Schnecksville Elementary School. Parents didn't learn of the incident until a week later.

Three Democrats will join the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners in January. The trio appear to have become the first Democrats to be elected to the township governing body in more than a half century.

The winners, based on unofficial results, are Democratic candidates: Kimberly Jaramillo, Luis Melecio, Josh Rager and Chris Sykora — who ran together on a slate.

The councilman fell to defeat Tuesday in his bid for mayor, and his second term on the body ends soon.

With an unusually politicized Supreme Court retention question on the ballot Tuesday, Lehigh Valley voters overwhelmingly backed Democratic candidates.

The seat was created when legislative maps were redrawn earlier this year.

Fetterman says he expects to make a full recovery and return to the campaign trail soon.

An overwhelming number of mail-in ballot requests statewide and locally come from registered Democrats.

Acting DOS Secretary Leigh Chapman said her conversation with Lehigh County DA Jim Marting was 'brief' and 'cordial.'

At very least, the remapping has divided the city of Allentown, leaders say.

Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Leigh Chapman warns the move may have a 'chilling effect' on voters.

State official says physically monitoring drop boxes may be a form of voter intimidation.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania and several voting rights advocacy groups have asked Martin to drop the plan.

Low polling numbers have kept Alex Khalil out of debates and largely out of public view.

Michigan was a focal point in Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election. Zach Gorchow of Gongwer News Service tells NPR's Ailsa Chang that election misinformation still looms large there.

It comes as the Lehigh County DA plans to station detectives at mail-in ballot drop boxes.

County Executive Phillips Armstrong wants the upcoming primary to run as smoothly as possible.