Lehigh County News

In a move that Santander Bank said aligns with the financial institution's digital shift nationwide, seven Lehigh Valley branches will be sold to Community Bank. Branches will remain open and employees will be offered continued employment during the transition, which is expected to complete by the end of the year,

South Whitehall Township's board of commissioners voted Wednesday to purchase upgraded radios for first responders in the township through a five-year payment plan provided by Lehigh County.

Nearly a year after the Biden administration designated xylazine as an "emerging threat" to the United States, Gov. Josh Shapiro classified it as a schedule III drug, making unauthorized possession a crime in Pennsylvania. Experts say the move has partly served to clear the way for new illicit substances to enter the drug market.

Allentown's Redevelopment Authority is applying for up to $2.5 million that could be used to rehab 10 single-family homes for low-income residents.

Despite not being approved for human consumption, veterinary tranquilizers are infiltrating the illicit drug supply in Pennsylvania. Harm reduction specialists and health care professionals say these overdoses can't be approached solely with naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug.

Newhard Farms Corn Shed opened Tuesday for sweet corn sales. While it opened a few days later than in recent years, there's expected to be a good supply this season.

The bill would limit the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firefighting foam containing PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, beginning in 2026.

Xylazine, an animal-grade tranquilizer that's not approved for human use, has taken Pennsylvania's illicit drug supply by storm. Known on the streets as "tranq," it accounted for almost 1 in 4 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania by 2023. Last year in Lehigh County, it was a contributing cause of death in 20 of the 112 deadly overdoses, or 17.9 percent of cases.

The funding comes from the commonwealth’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Known as "tranq" on the streets, an animal tranquilizer named xylazine infiltrated drug supplies throughout Pennsylvania since 2019. Its presence in the Lehigh Valley has grown, with deadly consequences.

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s Environment Committee approved comments on more than a dozen water and wastewater projects Tuesday. The projects are part of a five-year capital plan.

A zoning amendment that would allow for the possibility of warehouses near a residential neighborhood in Hanover Township, Northampton County was reviewed by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's Comprehensive Planning Committee on Tuesday.

State Rep. Josh Siegel has radical changes in mind for Lehigh County government, including a potential sales tax and a special housing fund. Meanwhile, former Allentown Police Chief Roger MacLean is running under a "if it's not broke, don't fix it" mentality.

Brenda Rodriguez entered the plea before Lehigh County Judge Robert L. Steinberg. She is scheduled to be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 5 and could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Challenges for would-be homeowners in Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley are even more evident, with housing reflecting a mix of aging stock, rising values and a growing divide between homeowners and renters.

Democrat Josh Siegel and Republican Roger MacLean are seeking election to a four-year term as Lehigh County executive – the leader of county government and its more than 2,000 employees.

Three Lehigh Valley projects are in the running for Green Building United’s 2025 Groundbreaker Awards. Winners will be announced Oct. 9.

Lehigh University and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation are collaborating to create a more successful connection between rehabilitation applications and improvement for individuals with a range of injuries and conditions.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is providing funding to assist the international medical equipment company in growing its apprenticeship program and boosting production.

Municipal elections typically see low voter turnout. A former Lehigh County official is holding a series of forums to allow voters and candidates the chance to change that by engaging with one another.

A Facebook fight between state Rep. Joshua Siegel, D-Lehigh, and Lehigh County Republican Committee Chairman Joe Vichot over Charlie Kirk and political violence spilled into public view Wednesday.

Whitehall Township Zoning Hearing Board heard from experts representing a developer that hopes to build a warehouse on South Church Street. The hearing ended after three hours and will resume next month.