Lehigh County News

Since it's not a presidential or midterm election, the 2023 municipal primary election may have snuck up on folks. If that surprises you, here are some other things you may not know about how our local elections are run.

Gavin Holihan, the uncontested candidate for Lehigh County district attorney, has been endorsed by incumbent Republican Jim Martin and Democratic County Executive Phil Armstrong, among others.

Three candidates for the local office said they focused on juggling campaign tasks around full-time jobs in the lead-up to the primary election. All were driven by a desire to educate voters and help people understand county government and its services.

They have been working without a contract since last summer and say they are overworked and short-staffed.

National issues are seeping into local races, turning elections into proxy partisan fights over race and gender.

Local elections rarely get the same level of participation as presidential races, but the outcomes often have greater impacts on voters' quality of life.

Like all the other major cities in the Lehigh Valley, Allentown is a patchwork of neighborhoods, some with good tree cover and some without any. Officials plan to use a mapping tool as a starting point to make planting trees city-wide more equitable.

Former journalist Ann Wlazelek pays tribute to her mother in a new book.

Debates in the South Whitehall commissioners race have taken place on the candidate's Facebook pages. The posts have primarily debated candidate Ben Long's positions and campaign style.

Concerts on the Grange is a two-day music festival that continues at 5:30 p.m. today, May 13, with tribute acts portraying The Doors and The Grateful Dead. Tickets, at $22 and $34, remain available on the SteelStacks website.

Rangina Hamidi, Afghanistan's former Minister of Education, will give this year's Wallenberg Tribute Lecture

The City of Allentown gathered at Cedar Beach Park to honor veterans with a three-volley salute for Veterans Day.

LCTI students were either evacuated from the building or sent back to home schools if en route

Restaurants and small businesses are giving veterans free food, drinks and discounts this year to celebrate Veterans Day.

USA Today has a competition for the best holiday market in the country. Bethlehem's Christkindlmarkt is currently winning.

Lehigh County's chief clerk of elections said the vote tally went quickly and smoothly for the county's 158 precincts.

Incumbent Democrat Susan Wild pulled out a narrow victory over Republican challenger Lisa Scheller for the Lehigh Valley's seat in Congress.

Lehigh Valley Health Network warns that the triple threat of COVID, flu, and RSV could overwhelm health systems. Doctors are asking people to take extra precautions to protect themselves and avoid overwhelming hospitals.

Democrat Mark Pinsley conceded to Jarrett Coleman on Wednesday morning, a little more than 12 hours after the polls closed.

The Pennsylvania Health Care Association is asking people to be aware of their health before visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities. It's part of an effort to keep residents COVID free and visitation open through the holiday season.

After months of campaigning, commercials, ads and weeks of early voting, the day to decide has come and gone. We have the winners in our inaugural pet polls.