Environment & Science

A community healing garden is now open to patients and the public at Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg. Peter Yenawine, along with the Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital and master gardeners, teamed up to create the space incorporating native and medicinal plants.

The remnants of Ophelia will drift slowly southward and offshore through Wednesday, the National Weather Service said, bringing a raw start to the week for the Lehigh Valley.

In a recent national report, Pennsylvania received a failing grade in its regulation and treatment of lead in schools’ water. Six local schools have reported unacceptable levels of lead since 2018, and one expert says some of the remediation methods they used are less than perfect.

No longer a tropical storm, the remnants of Ophelia will have an impact on the Lehigh Valley weather at least into Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service forecast. Expect showers throughout Sunday.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

A sunrise observance was held Saturday at the private, nonprofit park to mark the transition from summer to fall. The park features dozens of stone settings strategically placed throughout more than 20 acres.

The storm is expected to cause heavy rainfall across the Mid-Atlantic states, potentially leading to flash and urban flooding. Easton's PorchFest has been postponed to Oct. 1.

A tropical system that was officially named Ophelia on Friday will drench the East Coast this weekend, including the Lehigh Valley, officials said.

The free festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center. The schedule includes nature walks, live animal presentations, monarch butterfly tagging, music and more.

Northampton County and its conservation district appear poised to split after a County Council committee meeting Wednesday showed deep distrust between them

A stalled front could bring rain, clouds, and cooler temperatures to the Lehigh Valley this weekend, impacting major events like Allentown’s Blues, Brews & Barbeque and Bethlehem’s Juneteenth celebration.

Activists gathered outside Nature Nurture Center in Easton on Wednesday to support a ban on fracking in the Delaware River Basin.

The survey aims to capture opinions from local restaurants and eateries about single-use plastics.

Join the Watching the Skies guys at Shankweiler’s Drive-In next Tuesday, June 17, for a special filmed presentation on the "red planet," followed by a screening of the 1985 film "Explorers."

The grant, part of a $650,000 round of funding, came from the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, a State College-based nonprofit.

Township officials held their first public meeting on the Bushkill Creek Greenway Master Plan. It's a comprehensive, community-driven effort aimed at mitigating flooding, updating facilities and increasing accessibility.

Temperatures climbed well into the upper 80s this week in the Lehigh Valley, teasing that classic summer milestone — the first 90-degree day of the year.

The $13 million contract was with the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. A pandemic-era program, commonwealth farmers were paid to supply local food banks with fresh produce.

CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, announced the scores Thursday. It’s the highest grade the city has received from CDP since officials started reporting in 2018.

Smoke drifted over the Great Lakes on Monday night and pushed east, the National Weather Service said, with forecasters warning it will result in smokier skies for the Lehigh Valley and large swaths of the eastern U.S. on Tuesday.

Antone “Tony” Pierucci has been selected to be the new executive director of The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

The National Weather Service said the haze could be more apparent toward the late afternoon and evening hours, particularly at sunset.