Health & Wellness News

This week, Megan Frank is joined by Allentown reporter Jason Addy and health reporter Brittany Sweeney.

A seizure survivor breaks her self-harm silence to raise awareness, so that others with the condition feel heard.

Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4. With the summer season upon us, an Allentown lifeguard instructor is sharing some of the ways they train their team to spot a distressed swimmer as well as an active or passive victim.

Palmer Township has nearly doubled its number of pickleball courts with the opening of six courts at Fairview Park. They're free, lighted and open to the public every day until 10 at night.

The time between Memorial Day to Labor Day is known as the '100 deadliest days,' according to AAA. The traffic safety non-profit says teen driving fatalities increase during that time, especially at night.

The Dup15q Alliance is observing 30 years and raising awareness about the rare condition. A mother and advocate shares her family story in her quest for a cure.

A significant amount of infrastructure needs to be “looked at or rebuilt” to get all the city’s water fountains in working order, said Councilwoman Rachel Leon. Only “five or six” out of 19 are operational.

The ribbon was cut Thursday on the new building at a South Whitehall Township senior living community. The complex added nearly 70 new apartments.

Chris Norton, known for his viral videos and Netflix documentary, will speak at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation in Allentown. The Wednesday evening event is free to the public.

True Motion — a German-engineered running shoe — is available for the first time in the United States through an Allentown-area startup, with Keystone Running Store as the first official retailer.

Both major health networks in the Lehigh Valley are on the receiving end of money for their neonatal ICUs. The donations are from the Lehigh Valley Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Foundation.

The Boutique at the Rink cancer fundraising shopping event kicked off its 48th year on Tuesday afternoon. Proceeds from the new and gently used donated clothing, household goods, antiques, toys, sporting equipment and more benefit three organizations serving cancer patients and their families in the Lehigh Valley.

Jillian Mercado, a model and advocate who has spastic muscular dystrophy, urged those with challenges to continue fighting for equality at an event at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation on Wednesday night.

Planned for completion in Fall 2026, Lehigh Valley Health Network, now part of Jefferson Health, says the new facility will just about double the size of the existing emergency room at its 2545 Schoenersville Road hospital campus.

The Giant Company has made a $50,000 donation to the River Crossing YMCA to buy nearly 13,000 gallons of milk for its preschool students.

Project drawings also show a footbridge over the nearby mill race — a channel once used to move water to the Heller-Wagner Grist Mill about a half-mile north of the park.

The fast-growing, Philadelphia-based chain honeygrow opened May 23 in Airport Shopping Center at 1872 Airport Road, Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

The debut of the $48.5 million Lifestyle Community Center in Upper Macungie Township took another step closer on Thursday afternoon at a walking news conference. The first of 18 heavy timber trusses, imported from Austria, was installed this month on 188,000-square-foot, multi-functional indoor facility.

The hourlong program will be broadcast at 6 p.m. It takes a deeper look at the 2025 Pennsylvania Health Survey by the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion — and how Pennsylvanians view key public health issues, such as vaccinations.

The anonymous questionnaire focuses on opioids and illicit substances. Officials say it builds on the Allentown Health Bureau’s other work to address the ongoing opioid crisis.

Sixty-eight state parks across Pennsylvania now offer free menstrual products. It's part of a broader initiative to make public spaces across the commonwealth more accessible and supportive for all.

Councilman Frank Pintabone reintroduced his marijuana decriminalization ordinance at Easton City Council on Wednesday, aiming to turn possession into a summary charge. A vote on the matter is expected in two weeks.

Top-prize-winning projects include plans for an outdoor classroom at Trexler Middle School, several garden spaces and a free bike tune-up day.

Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shows firefighters face a 62% higher risk of developing esophageal cancer and a 39% increase of dying from it. A two-minute test could be just what it takes for firefighters to get ahead of the disease.