Environment & Science

Mayors in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton are coming together to fight against worsening climate change and strengthen sustainability across the region. Two of the three cities have their own climate action plans.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 22, in the Lehigh Valley.

The first new building on Muhlenberg’s campus in more than a decade, the Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation, 2400 W. Chew St., opened in January. The 20,000-square-foot, three-floor building cost $13.2 million and is one of the first buildings in the world expected to achieve a rigorous sustainability certification for buildings that give more than they take.

A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in the region on Saturday, with the main threat being damaging wind gusts, according to the National Weather Service.

Puerto Rico's electrical grid has been devastated by hurricanes due to worsening climate change. Ruth Santiago, a Bethlehem native, has a solution.

Swarms of non-biting midge flies last week were spotted in Bethlehem. LehighValleyNews.com spoke with Marten Edwards, chair of Muhlenberg College's biology department, to find out more about the insects.

For the first time, the Lehigh River was included on American Rivers' list of most endangered rivers in the country. Environmentalists point to a proliferation of warehouses and distribution centers for putting the river at risk.

“Twitter is now limiting automated tweets and as a result this account can no longer post all watches/warnings/advisories as they are issued,” a tweet from NWS Mount Holly said Saturday morning. Things seemingly changed Saturday night.

Like the rest of the country, Pennsylvania has a litter problem. While state and local officials work to mitigate the issue, residents are rolling up their sleeves and doing the work themselves.

Brad Klein reviews the week's astronomical highlights with Bethlehem’s "Backyard Astronomy Guy."

Pennsylvania is the biggest commercial producer of mushrooms in the United States. Foraging groups are popping up to find the fungus in the wild, while small farms are focusing on growing unique mushrooms.

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.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with reporters Molly Bilinski and Stephanie Sigafoos.

The Lehigh Valley was among six climate sites in the region that either tied or established record-high temperatures Thursday, but we'll flip the script in a big way next week.

The commonwealth’s fifth fall foliage report was released Thursday. Here's the forecast for the coming week in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection held two hearings regarding permit applications for two of the proposed warehouses in Lowhill Township.

Environment and Science Reporter Molly Bilinski, alongside Grace Oddo, social media specialist, trekked across the Lehigh Valley to map out the best leaf-peeping spots. Fall foliage is expected to peak across the region later this week.

South Whitehall Township hosted a wrap-up meeting for "South Whitehall Landscapes," a plan guiding preservation efforts in the township.

Members of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's Comprehensive Planning Committee voted Tuesday to advance a letter opposing the planned expansion of Bethlehem Landfill.

Kids from five schools got live demonstrations of cow milking, beekeeping, apple farming and more. Organizers say it's meant to spark interest and explain an industry that they say sometimes goes unappreciated.

A November-like chill – one that prompted frost warnings for Tuesday morning – will give way to near-record-high temperatures by week’s end, forecasters say.