Environment & Science

The weather pattern this week will be a tale of two halves, with sunny skies and comfortable temperatures before things heat up in a big way. The region's first heat wave could also be looming, forecasters warn.

In this week's Watching the Skies, Brad Klein and Marty McGuire talk about how China landed a spacecraft on the far side of Earth's moon on June 1 to gather rock and soil samples.

The release is the first of a long list of fun summer activities planned for young readers at the library.

Officials gathered at the Lehigh Valley Zoo Thursday evening for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of Rothrock Red Panda Peak. It's the first time the zoo has had red pandas in residence.

The complaint alleges Sunshine Act violations from the township supervisors and legal filings from the township solicitor with no official approval beforehand.

The Storm Prediction Center has maintained a marginal risk (1 out of 5) for the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas Thursday, with the primary threat being damaging winds.

Environmental and county officials this week began dismantling a dam over Bushkill Creek in an effort to restore the creek. The removal will improve water quality, stormwater function and connectivity for fish and other organisms.

“The pleasant stretch of weather we encountered early in the week is beyond us,” the National Weather Service said in its latest forecast discussion, with the Lehigh Valley at risk of excessive rainfall Wednesday.

After a raging fire on Saturday night destroyed his Center Valley barn, tractors, trucks and equipment, Leroy C. Stahler Jr. vows to rebuild and continue the Stahler family legacy of farming, said his daughter, Tracy Beers.

While monitoring continues, Lehigh Valley Breathes officials used the most recent project update to explain results from the research this spring at Lehigh University.

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture on Wednesday held virtual town hall focused on the current freeze on U.S. Department of Agriculture grants earmarked for farmers implementing climate-smart production practices.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s Environment Committee on Tuesday reviewed plans to update sewage infrastructure in two municipalities.

Lehigh Gap Nature Center from Feb. 14-16 held its annual Lehigh Gap Area Feeder Watch. The long-term research project focuses on monitoring winter bird populations.

Light pollution has made seeing the Milky Way galaxy difficult, unless you're in a state park in north-central Pennsylvania that's a three-and-a-half-hour drive from the Lehigh Valley.

A recent bald eagle rehabilitation and release is a bright spot amid a dangerous time for bald eagles in the Lehigh Valley and the rest of the commonwealth. Bird flu continues to threaten wild bird populations, causing more than a dozen bald eagles to be euthanized across Pennsylvania.

The first-of-its-kind report, “Wildlife Corridors: How reconnecting habitats is protecting Pennsylvania’s native species," highlights 10 innovative wildlife corridor projects around the state.

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture officials say they're owed more than $3 million in outstanding reimbursements from the federal government. The lawsuit includes six other organizations and five major cities.

The spring equinox officially arrived at 5:01 a.m. Thursday, but the upcoming pattern is cold, blustery and rainy for the Lehigh Valley and the rest of the region.

According to the USDA, wholesale prices for large cartoned shell eggs fell as low as $4.78 per dozen in the Northeast region — a decline of 33% month to month.

Fahy Commons on March 3 received certification through Phius, a Chicago-based nonprofit that sets standards and certifies high-efficiency buildings.

Through April 25, a section of Institute Drive is closed in the Totts Gap Conservation Area. Officials aim to protect breeding frogs, toads and salamanders from being crushed by vehicle tires.

The spring equinox is right around the corner — this week to be exact. This week, Brad Klein and Marty McGuire talk about the upcoming celestial event.