Environment & Science

Aryash Shyam, a rising eighth-grader at Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School, created the GreenBeam to kill weeds with a laser. The project got him named the Pennsylvania State Merit Winner in the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

South Whitehall Township commissioners on Wednesday approved an ordinance that asks to add a ballot question requesting a tax increase intended to help support the preservation of open spaces.

Held at DeSales University’s Gerald White Conference Center, the day-long event drew several dozen participants, including students, teachers and local environmental advocates and leaders.

In the Lehigh Valley, 22 out of just the last 30 days have seen dew points at or above 70, meaning nearly three-quarters of recent days have been sticky enough to feel more like Florida than eastern Pennsylvania.

A project of the Pennsylvania Municipal League and Sustainable Pittsburgh, Sustainable Pennsylvania is a voluntary program focused on helping municipalities improve sustainability to save money, conserve resources and improve residents’ lives.

Allentown police can hand out tickets to anyone caught swimming in natural waterways in the city, Mayor Matt Tuerk said, urging residents not to let a $100 fine “ruin your summer.”

The city was awarded funding through a state Department of Environmental Protection grant to buy seven electric vehicles. However, more funding is needed for charging infrastructure.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton areas until 9:30 p.m. In the Emmaus area, more than 2 inches of rain had fallen in two hours, a meteorologist said.

This week, Brad Klein and Marty McGuire talk about an observatory making waves in the astro-photography world: the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile.

Lehigh University now has six immersive learning experiences, or virtual reality games, aimed at engaging students, residents and visitors.

Allentown declared a snow emergency ahead of Sunday's major winter storm. Enforcement efforts in the city will begin Saturday morning.

Residents of South Whitehall Township voiced their opposition to a proposed 5-million-square-foot data center near Parkland High School.

In a briefing package released early Thursday, the National Weather Service put the low end amount expected in the Lehigh Valley around 8 inches. But a “reasonable worst case” would see the area receive as much as 21 inches of snow.

EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich is sounding the alarm on cuts at the federal level he says are quietly eroding the reliability of weather forecasts across the country, from national outlooks to the local forecasts residents rely on every day.

A community meeting on the city's Urban Forestry Master Plan is slated for Feb. 2 in chambers of City Council. Residents are invited to shared feedback there, as well as through a survey.

The funding, through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Recreation and Conservation’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program, is aimed at protecting national resources and expanding outdoor access.

The developer behind the Easton Commerce Park project and Wilson Borough have filed a lawsuit against Easton's planning commission after it rejected its plans for a 1-million-square-foot warehouse on Wood Avenue.

Two 4-H state project ambassadors for expressive arts presented “Trash to Treasure — Recycling and the Art of Upcycling,” Tuesday at the PA Farm Show.

Easton was able to secure $1.25 million of grant funding in December 2025, supporting various projects including infrastructure, public safety and Easton's parks and festivals.

This week on Watching the Skies, Brad Klein reviews upcoming astronomical highlights this year with Bethlehem's "Backyard Astronomy Guy."

Two presentations were given during the city Environmental Advisory Council’s Thursday meeting.

Through Easton Eco-Swap, residents’ food scraps are collected and turned into nutrient-rich compost in lieu of being sent to area landfills.