Lehigh County News

Republicans balked at Gov. Josh Shapiro's $51.4 billion budget proposal Tuesday, saying the spending patterns did not align with Pennsylvania's financial realities. Lawmakers will debate the plan and determine its outcome.

Justin Simmons, who served a decade in the Pennsylvania House, is the first Republican to announce a bid for the county’s top job.

Ron W. Beitler is seeking reelection to the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners, he announced in a news release Tuesday.

At a North Whitehall Township Board of Supervisors meeting, residents showed up to voice concerns around the planned Nexus 78 project, and asked why they weren't being told more about it.

Whitehall Township Commissioners detailed an ordinance to initiate a referendum on the upcoming ballot to amend the township charter to eliminate the treasurer position.

Residents can comment on a draft of the 2025-2029 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, or SCORP, through March 3. There's a public input form, as well as scheduled webinars.

Three former Public Utility Commission chairmen say PPL is changing its tune on utility-owned generation. They say the Allentown-based utility company unnecessarily wants consumers to fund its power generation venture and profits.

David Isaiah Rivera, 26, was arraigned on charges alleging he fired at a group of people around 4 a.m. outside BKK Lounge, 1500 Union Boulevard, after a fight between two groups inside the club spilled into the parking lot.

A 32-year-old man died and three other people were wounded in a shooting in the parking lot of BKK Lounge, 1500 Union Blvd., early Sunday, according to Allentown police. It was the city's first homicide of 2025.

Many interchanges on Route 22 and Route 309 are badly outdated, leaving drivers to navigate increasingly unsafe roads. PennDOT has plans to address several of them, including trouble spots in Fullerton and Center Valley.

Rosalyn Glass, 39, and Rianna Glass, 16, died of "sharp force injuries" Sept. 14 inside Rosalyn's home in North Catasauqua, according to authorities. Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek ruled the cases homicides, but investigators say the public is not in danger.

Released Tuesday, results from Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion’s National Surveys on Energy and the Environment show Americans want to prevent future global warming, and also believe adaptation to climate change will require major lifestyle changes.

Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate last week's double homicide in North Catasauqua. A search warrant filed in district court revealed new details in the investigation.

Members of United Auto Workers Local 667 have voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike against Mack Truck Lehigh Valley if a new contract is not reached by Oct. 1.

Lehigh Valley's Long-Range Transportation Plan got its first scutiny at a meeting at the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on Monday. The project is a $5.36 billion investment in more than 500 road, bridge, trail and transit projects throughout the Lehigh Valley over the next 25 years.

Congresswoman Susan Wild is advocating for $16 billion in additional dollars to support the sector.

This year's Bake Oven Knob Autumn Hawk Watch has so far recorded more than 1,000 migrating birds of prey, not including the dozens logged Thursday morning.

The Connect Lehigh County program will make police aware of where participating private groups and residents have installed security cameras. Police hope this can help them quickly collect video evidence as they investigate crimes.

The controversial political action committee Back to School PA gave $5,000 to the conservative Republican candidate group Elevate Education at an event Monday.

Lehigh County commissioners began reviewing the $520 million budget proposed for 2024. It anticipates the hiring of new positions and wage increases for nonunion employees, but no new property taxes.

Kathleen Covalt, who teaches online classes through Northampton Community College for adults interested in learning about unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs, said there's hope for future disclosures.

Travelers departing from Lehigh Valley International Airport will have to use the arrivals lane upon entering the property because of a repaving project.