Environment & Science

The 17-year-old Allentown Central Catholic senior has been monitoring the creek's surface lead concentrations, and plans to continue researching.

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.

Easton City residents can recycle their old, outdated electronics and appliances at 500 Bushkill Drive this Saturday. Most items can be recycled for free, while some others require a small fee.

It could take two weeks to fix operational issues at Kline’s Island Wastewater Treatment Plant on Union Street. Officials described the sewer odor as an ‘"earthy" or "rotten egg" smell, but said it is not harmful to human health.

This first round of designations included 483 tracts across the country, with only one in the Lehigh Valley. Officials said additional designations are slated for the next 12 to 18 months.

The eighth Martin's Guitar Wood Summit was held Thursday at Martin & Co. in Nazareth. The main topic centered on sustainability of forests that provide wood used for guitar construction.

Utilities reported thousands of customers without power early Friday in the Lehigh Valley after severe weather swept through the region Thursday night, and forecasters say another round of storms is on the way.

The storms on Thursday took out power across PPL's entire service area, spanning central and eastern Pennsylvania.

As the Lehigh Valley and beyond face extreme weather, officials shared weatherization techniques and options to make homes more energy efficient through federal funding.

A colony with tens of thousands of honeybees was removed Wednesday from beneath the roof of the government building. The honeybee population is shrinking. James Zdepski is looking to change that.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon for Carbon and Monroe counties in an "elevation-dependent system."

The precautionary measure across Pennsylvania comes at no cost to farmers. While the virus hasn't been reported in commonwealth cattle, other states have seen a marked uptick in cases.

Officials on Monday morning cut the ribbon on its per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, treatment plant at the Bethlehem Landfill in Lower Saucon Township. The system uses air to separate the chemicals from water.

Forecasters are watching a storm system expected to rapidly intensify Wednesday night into Thursday. It could bring more than an inch of rain to the area, and even snow in some locations.

Jared Isaacman, a Lehigh Valley entrepreneur who recently conducted the first commercial spacewalk as part of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, stopped by Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown Sunday to answer questions about his trip.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly issued the warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Join Megan Frank every Friday at 9:30am and 6:30pm for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, she's joined by Allentown reporter Jason Addy and Environment and Science reporter Molly Bilinski.

State officials announced the awards this week. Grants are earmarked for improving local parks to expanding trails and river access points, and creating more green space in local communities.

Mayor J. William Reynolds attributes the progress so far to the community’s belief in the mission and their “enormous buy-in,” stemming from 125 “Climate Action Champions” and over 30 area organizations.

It’s going to cost an estimated $100 million over the next decade to replace pipes made of lead, galvanized steel and unknown materials throughout the Lehigh County Authority’s service area.

Five public meetings are scheduled over the next seven months mapping out the future of Allentown's parks and recreational facilities.

Rodale Institute on Veterans Day celebrated $500,000 in state funding awarded for its Veteran Farmer Training program. The program draws trainees from across the U.S.