Lehigh County News

Join Megan Frank at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. every Friday for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, she's joined by Allentown reporter Jason Addy and reporter Phil Gianficaro.

Wednesday marked the end of the first round of a three-year initiative called TOWERS, or Tackling Obstacles for Women’s Engagement and Retention in STEM, at Cedar Crest. Through the program, incoming freshmen are paired with mentors to complete science projects, gaining confidence and community along the way.

Lehigh County Judge Michele Varricchio ruled on Aug. 8 that Core5 Industrial Partners’ warehouse plan at 7503 Kernsville Road was rejected with a quorum, meaning the supervisors’ denial will stand for now.

Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt, which features haunted mazes, elaborate scare zones and more, will return, the park announced.

Allentown School District's OneAllentown Back-to-School Bash was designed to show parents the caring nature of those who will prepare their children for their future.

City officials are planning a significant overhaul in downtown Allentown, with pedestrians and cyclists to be prioritized in the project.

Improvements at aging Steckel Elementary School and Whitehall-Coplay Middle School will begin with window replacements.

Upper Macungie supervisors soon may vote to adopt a new law meant to address resident complaints of loud noise. The draft of the new law would significantly reduce the maximum allowed noise levels in both the residential and industrial sections of the township.

Four farms in Lehigh and Northampton counties were the latest to be included in Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program. The program aims to ward off development and protect open spaces.

South Whitehall next year will start a pilot Hometown Heroes Banner Program, displaying banners with local veterans’ photos.

An investigation has not revealed any sexual contact had occurred between Eric Gratz and the victim. Gratz has served as borough manager since August 2021.

Three people were shot and killed in a span of seven hours between Thursday night and early Friday in Allentown. The mayor called gun violence "a toxin" in the city and pushed legislators to help get guns off the street.

A judge ruled Allentown City Councilwoman Candida Affa turned in enough signatures to make the Democratic ballot. Tina Jo Koren, a Republican candidate for Whitehall Township mayor, fought off an challenge to her statement of financial interests.

Developers are seeking support from Allentown to plug a funding gap for a 49-unit affordable housing project. The city is poised to allot more than $1.8 million in federal funding for the building.

The George Taylor House will be featured on an upcoming episode of "Ghost Hunters." Volunteers say paranormal events have become common at the Revolutionary War era property.

The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Jarrett Coleman.

A former pediatrician at Lehigh Valley Health Network's LVPG Pediatrics-Whitehall has been charged after sexual messages with a female minor in Washington Township, Warren County New Jersey

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he's long admired the Lehigh Valley's unique ability to build partnerships. It's a skillset he said he hopes to bring to other communities across the state to promote economic growth. Shapiro was keynote speaker at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. annual meeting in Bethlehem.

Public Safety Commission member Chris Peischl is running for a seat on the Board of Commissioners. He has worked in Emergency Management Services for the past 30 years and has served in several positions in the Greenawalds Fire Company, including firefighter and assistant chief.

World Down Syndrome Day is designed to raise awareness about people with an extra chromosome. People with the diagnosis have special health needs, that not every doctor knows about.

With the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and federal Environmental Protection Agency at odds over the acceptable levels of 'forever chemicals' in public drinking water, it’s become an expensive and frustrating process for at least one Lehigh Valley municipality.

A 2-time kidney recipient is sharing his story during Kidney Awareness Month. Organs from living donors last longer than those from the deceased, so a transplant surgeon is spreading the word about the process.