Lehigh County News

Lehigh County commissioners approved a nearly $1 million contract with long-term vendor Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services Inc. though several commissioners and the county controller raised concerns about transparency.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved 36 new honorees for 2022, including the Allentown State Hospital and the President Pumping Engine in Upper Saucon Township.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro has announced the charges against 30 individuals and 21 businesses located in Lehigh, Lebanon and Philadelphia counties. They are accused of “title washing” and re-titling stolen vehicles.

The city removed the check box after concerns were raised over whether the question of legal status was overly intrusive and whether it could be discouraging requests.

The newly approved budget does not raise property taxes, but does have a deficit due to big projects planned in 2023.

A new resource for children with autism and their families opened in Bethlehem Township. The clinic offers evaluations that can lead to a diagnosis and treatment programs.

Upper Macungie Township’s newly adopted 2023 budget does not change the real estate tax.

Alleged unauthorized spending sparked the concept of the possible need, and forensic audits are typically done when there are specific allegations of misconduct, according to the district's solicitor and business manager. At least one school board member voiced early opposition to the audit.

The Grinch will be signing autographs and taking photos with shoppers amidst live music, games, gift wrapping, a photo wall and more.

Carol Birks discussed safety, learning and retention at a town hall meeting Wednesday at Hays Elementary School.

Since 2009, the Neighborhood Improvement Zone has invested $500 million of state tax dollars into redeveloping 128-acres of Allentown. State Sen. Jarrett Coleman has called for a review of the program to ensure Pennsylvania's making a wise investment.

A video clip showing auditor general candidate Malcolm Kenyatta telling a voter his Lehigh Valley-based opponent Mark Pinsley of not caring about Black people is circulating online, raising questions about the campaign.

Emergency crews were called to Sharp Packaging Solutions, a pharmaceutical packaging company in Upper Macungie, after some employees became ill Friday afternoon.

Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong credited the Lehigh Valley's history of collaboration for building the best place to live in the country. After his remarks, he denied allegations by Controller Mark Pinsley that his administration attempted to cover up a controversial audit.

Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley on Thursday called for an independent investigation into county officials to look into an alleged attempted cover-up of his report that alleges “systemic overdiagnosis” of medical and other types of child abuse in the county.

Three industrial buildings in Upper Macungie have plans to expand: Americold Logistics' cold storage warehouse, XPO Logistics' trucking terminal and ATAS International's manufacturing facility.

Francis Malofiy of law firm Francis Alexander on Friday filed a writ of summons for a class action suit against LVHN. Malofiy said this lawsuit will be similar to another filed last week, which alleges 12 families were falsely accused of child abuse.

The Parkland School District has been designated as a Great Pennsylvania School through a new initiative of the Pennsylvania School Board Association to recognize high-quality districts across the state.

More than 100 businesses, officials, organizations and environmental advocates statewide — including two from the Lehigh Valley — signed a letter to Shapiro arguing his economic development plan, “Pennsylvania Gets It Done,” fails to prioritize sustainable industries and instead doubles down on fossil fuels.

LANTA and UGI Energy Services have signed a three-year deal that will provide the transportation authority with compressed natural gas collected from landfills in eastern Pennsylvania.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission last week released a draft of its Priority Climate Action Plan, a document almost a year in the making aimed at tamping down the region’s carbon emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Five farms, three in Lehigh County and two in Northampton County, were the latest to be included in the commonwealth’s Farmland Preservation Program, along with more than a dozen others across the state.