- 
                Micaela Hood/LehighValleyNews.comU.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, has organized a food drive while pinning the ongoing government shutdown on Senate Democrats. SNAP benefits that help feed millions of low-income Americans are hours away from expiring.
- 
                Courtesy/Second Harvest Facebook PageThe United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation have launched a $500,000 fundraising campaign to strengthen food access and deliver rapid relief to families in need.
Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute now offers treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib) with a new system that uses pulsed electrical fields to target problematic heart muscle cells instead of extreme heat or cold.
        
        
    Health & Wellness News
    
- 
                        The River Crossing YMCA in the Lehigh Valley is enrolling people for free programs this fall. The programs include health and wellness classes for veterans, those needing mental health assistance, those struggling with diabetes, and 7th grade students.
- 
                        For Overdose Awareness Day, Easton will host a march from the free bridge to the amphitheater where community advocates will be recognized for their efforts, followed by an evening event where authorities and experts will share their thoughts and experiences concerning overdoses.
- 
                        This time of year can be hectic for families sending kids back to the classroom. A culinary medicine specialist has some quick, easy ways to add nutrients into meal time.
- 
                        A bike repair station donated by the Whitehall Area Rotary Club was dedicated at the Ironton Rail Trail pavilion on Monday.
- 
                        The court is optimized to offer a brief but effective workout experience if needed. Users can exercise for 45 seconds, follow that with 15 seconds of rest and be through each zone around the seven-minute mark.
- 
                        The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released new guidelines surrounding intrauterine device pain. A local doctor says talking about this with a medical professional is the key to a smoother procedure.
- 
                        There's often a spike in respiratory viruses and other illnesses as children head back into the classroom. A local infectious disease specialist is urging parents to take preventive measures despite vaccine fatigue.
- 
                        An eight-year-old girl dealing with a congenital heart condition cut the ribbon at Lehigh Valley Zoo to announce the American Heart Association of Greater Lehigh Valley and Berks County annual Heart Walk in September.
- 
                        “A Community Conversation: Path to a Healthier Valley” starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, and can also be watched streaming online on PBS39.org. The hourlong program touches on efforts to make the region a so-called "Blue Zone."
- 
                        The health of the Lehigh Valley is improving, but there is room to grow according to health experts. They are sharing where residents need to do better and how to get there.
- 
                        A cheaper, needle-free alternative to the EpiPen will soon be available following FDA approval. Neffy is a epinephrine nasal spray that can treat anaphylaxis.
- 
                        The CDC has reported over 400 cases of salmonella across 31 states and the District of Columbia, including 60 cases in Pennsylvania.
- 
                        The Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley offers mental health counseling to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and robbery. They also work with the families of murder victims.
- 
                        The fall sick season is upon us, so a local nurse is urging people to get vaccinated now so they don't get severely ill later.
- 
                        Howie Day, whose 2004 song "Collide" sold four times platinum and helped his album "Stop All the World Now" reach platinum sales, will perform at the free annual Harvest Fest street fair. The event will be noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 20 at Main and Broad streets.
- 
                        A holistic health and wellness fair was hosted by the Preventive Measures Foundation. The nonprofit aims to bring mental health care and other services to those who need it most.
- 
                        The playground cleanup at Stevens Park in Allentown is only one aspect of a collective mission to make all parks safe havens for the community.
- 
                        A couple from Easton who are in the midst of moving their business down to North Carolina are amassing contributions of necessities to deliver directly to victims of Hurricane Helene in their new community.
- 
                        A new $60,000 grant in Bethlehem will provide both necessary training for police departments countywide and related equipment for Project Lifesaver — a training and search and rescue operation run locally through the city Health Bureau.
- 
                        The next phase of construction is under way on a new Lehigh Valley behavioral health hospital as the last steel beam was placed Tuesday. The new facility will have 144 beds.
- 
                        Local Red Cross volunteers are in Florida helping with Hurricane Helene relief efforts. The Lehigh Valley chapter's executive director says this one is different than other storm system cleanups he's witnessed.
- 
                        The President and CEO of Miller-Keystone Blood Center is retiring. A new leader has been chosen and he's no stranger to the organization.
- 
                        Concussions in the NFL have a few players out of the game and fans are asking “how many is too many?” Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Eagles’ wide receiver DeVonta Smith are both sidelined due to their head injuries.
- 
                        Easton Area School District signed off an agreement with the city, which will see them contribute $30,000 to improve Vanderveer Park's basketball courts, with the city covering the cost of labor.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
