Lehigh County News

North Whitehall Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval to a plan for a business park with a Wawa, an Autozone and a new traffic circle.

The Upper Macungie Planning Commission recommended approval to a plan to expand Americold Logistics' cold storage warehouse. Nearby residents brought a lawyer to express their concerns.

An application by the Lehigh Valley STEAM Academy Charter School to open in the Whitehall-Coplay School District was unanimously rejected by the school board Monday night.

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.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center requires about 350 blood donations every day to meet the needs of regional hospitals. Sunday's big winter storm forced the cancellation of multiple blood drives.

Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio confirmed Monday that three deaths reported Sunday are being attributed to snow shoveling and snow removal activity.

The storm dropped a record 11.8 inches of snow on Lehigh Valley International Airport, breaking the old record of 10.4 inches for the date set in 1988.

The Lehigh County Coroner's Office said the 27-year-old died Saturday night at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest — hours after being shot during a standoff with Pennsylvania State Police in a North Whitehall Township driveway.

Yaniel Fermin, 17, is charged with homicide, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a minor in the death of Jeomy Miguel Soto, 19. Soto was shot Thursday in Allentown.

Lehigh Valley shelters are adding capacity as meteorologists forecast between 10 and 16 inches of snow starting Sunday.

Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio announced that a 93-year-old Lower Macungie Township woman died outside her home of hypothermia. She is Lehigh County's first weather-related fatality of 2026.

State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, introduced a bill this week to more sharply define when local governments can forgo a requirement in the Sunshine Act of publicizing meeting agendas at least 24 hours in advance.

Allentown declared a snow emergency ahead of Sunday's major winter storm. Enforcement efforts in the city will begin Saturday morning.

Residents of South Whitehall Township voiced their opposition to a proposed 5-million-square-foot data center near Parkland High School.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has used county office space but hasn't paid rent in three years despite a 2022 memorandum of understanding, county officials said. Said Controller Mark Pinsley: "We're going to deport ICE."

Several celebrations and church services in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. have been postponed due to weather. Check back for updates.