Lehigh County News

State education officials on on Monday visited Bethlehem Area Public Library’s South Side branch, 400 Webster St., to raise awareness about the Summer Food Service Program. Free, nutritious meals are available to those aged 18 and younger — no questions asked.

Dorney Park soon will host “Summer Nights,” an immersive Caribbean and Latin American celebration offering authentic food and entertainment.

Environmentalists say the Lehigh River is the cleanest its been in 175 years. A river snorkeling program at Lehigh Gap Nature Centers encourages residents to explore their local waterways and track river health.

Dozens of residents came out to support a private, publicly used recreation facility that was constructed without a permit and against zoning laws in Lower Macungie Township.

President Joe Biden nominated Montgomery County Judge Gail Weilheimer to a judicial vacancy in the U.S. District Court's Eastern District of Pennsylvania. U.S. Rep. Susan Wild said more attorneys from the Lehigh Valley ought to be considered for the postings.

Four or five cars on a 125-car train derailed while crossing a bridge over the Lehigh River under the Hill-to-Hill Bridge in Bethlehem Friday afternoon. Officials say no one was injured and the derailed cars were not carrying hazardous materials.

John Frederick Fifield, 21, pleaded guilty May 6 to charges in a 2021 crash of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence — both felonies.

Lehigh Carbon Community College will play intercollegiate sports one more year. But that's contingent on hiring an athletic trainer in the next 10 days, otherwise the Cougars have already competed for the last time, according to the college.

Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre in North Whitehall now has two party spaces available to rent for groups attending the theater.

The new docudrama "The Fries Rebellion" is a unique project. Spearheaded by Lower Macungie Historical Society and its president Sarajane Williams, who wrote the script, the 30-minute film spotlights local history without being either a documentary or historical fiction.

PennDOT plans to build a bridge that would bring Route 309 over Center Valley Parkway and West Saucon Valley Road. The department is currently seeking public comment.

The city was awarded the grant through the WalkWorks program. Officials now have $35,000 and a year to create an Active Transportation Plan aimed at bolstering connectivity across the city.

North Whitehall Planning Commission considered a plan to build a three-story, 40-unit apartment building at 3948 Portland St., the site of a former Lehigh Portland Cement Company building.

Whitehall-Coplay School District's board of education seemed pleased with a report of 2023-24 goals on Monday, with the superintendent pleased to report the results play into a series of even longer-term missions.

Upper Macungie supervisors recently waived a requirement to build a sidewalk along Hamilton Boulevard — even though the township's Vision Zero plan indicated there should be a sidewalk built in that area.

The Upper Macungie Planning Commission last week unanimously recommended final approval for a plan to expand XPO Logistics, a freight transportation company.

South Whitehall Township plans to put a referendum to create an open space tax on the May 20 primary in 2025.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, Lehigh County Democratic Chair Lori McFarland and political organizer Aidan Levinson said they could rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket. They are among the Lehigh Valley's contingent of delegates heading to the Democratic National Convention in August.

Development has divided wildlife habitats across Pennsylvania, leading to more vehicle-animal collisions. A new report from the state Legislature argues reconnecting the pieces through wildlife corridors would help.

Lower Macungie joins other municipalities in having to significantly raise their trash collection fees.

Tom Perez, a senior adviser to President Joe Biden, said a $208 million matching grant to Volvo will grow the middle class and help fight climate change.

An early part of the specific land development for Lehigh Valley Town Center project has taken shape, with more expected to come.