Lehigh County News

South Whitehall Township recently launched Transportation PLAN, a comprehensive transportation planning initiative.

A Lehigh Valley resident was recognized as a “Volunteer of the Year” for 2023 by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, a statewide nonprofit that focuses on litter cleanups and community improvements.

Tuesday served as a preview of the political campaigns to come as candidates filed paperwork to appear on the April primary ballot. Voters will decide races for president, Congress and the General Assembly among others this year.

Whitehall Township commissioners selected new member Rob Piligian after several votes during a meeting Monday night, just shy of the deadline to do so.

A change.org petition opposing the new mascot chosen by the Whitehall-Coplay School District has attracted more than 1,200 signatures. The mascot, named Big Z, is so named in honor of the school name Zephyr, which was also a train that once ran through Whitehall Township.

Candidates for president, Congress, the General Assembly and Pennsylvania's row offices must file their petitions with the state by Tuesday. Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley could be a critical swing region at both the national and state levels.

One area of potential concern at the Allentown State Hospital had been the presence of dioxins in the soil. Dioxins are a group of toxic chemical compounds that take a long time to break down in the environment, and can cause health problems in people.

With an inconclusive prediction, Sunday's Super Bowl is up in the air — according to the Lehigh Valley Zoo's otters. The zoo in Lehigh County hosted its Otter Bowl XIII, which drew hundreds of spectators Saturday.

It’s a special year for cicadas, insects known for their high-pitched mating songs. Two adjacent broods are expected to co-emerge for the first time in 221 years. Here's the next time they emerge in the Valley.

Allen Issa, a former congressional aide and Penn State Law student, endorsed Maria Montero for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District race.

The first new building on Muhlenberg’s campus in more than a decade, the Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation, 2400 W. Chew St., has racked up three different sustainability awards and certifications.

The commission no longer has an investigator, forcing it to refer discrimination complaints about housing, employment and public accommodations to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

Upper Macungie's proposed 2024 budget does not include a tax increase, but would increase the refuse and recycling fee.

Lehigh Valley Breathes is a Valley-wide effort to monitor air quality amid emissions from trucking and warehousing. The project is expected to run for a year.

Data released by the Pennsylvania State Department Wednesday shows Democrats made up more than 72% of mail-in ballot requests this November. Despite efforts by the RNC and local Republicans to promote mail-in voting, that's actually worse than the divide in 2022.

Lehigh County commissioners will likely delay their investigation into potential reforms to the county’s Office of Children and Youth Services. The delay comes after the Greater Lehigh Valley Parents’ Medical Rights Group appeared to take steps toward litigation.

In an audit, Controller Mark Pinsley alleged Lehigh Valley Health Network may be over-diagnosing cases of medical child abuse. The attorney selected to pursue a lawsuit over the matter donated $50,000 to Pinsley's political action committee in October.

South Whitehall Township's proposed 2024 budget does not include a real estate tax increase or an increase of water and sewer fees.

Community Action Lehigh Valley met on Wednesday for its Annual Meeting, highlighting some potential moves to handle a lack of affordable housing in the area.

Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday against the Lehigh County Republican Committee.

Animals and insects use fallen leaves to live or find food — including birds and butterflies. Often, if leaves aren't composted, they end up in landfills. Here are some alternative ideas.

Seven candidates are vying for five open seats on the Whitehall-Coplay School Board in the upcoming Nov. 7 election. Candidates said fiscal responsibility, transparency and curriculum were key issues.