Lehigh County News

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.

WLVR's Brad Klein talks with Bethlehem's Backyard Astronomy Guy, Marty McGuire about planetary viewing in this week's Watching the Skies. Leading into the first week of July, viewers can snag a better view of the planet Mercury just after sunset.

Lehigh Valley Voter's Guide: Statewide races including John Fetterman vs. Dr. Oz, Josh Shapiro vs. Doug Mastriano and Susan Wild vs. Lisa Scheller.

Lehigh Valley Voter's Guide: Local races for state senate and state representatives

The Lehigh Valley now has one-stop shop for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. St. Luke's University Health Network opened the first clinic of this kind in the country.

Mayor Matt Tuerk of Allentown plans to release his proposed budget this Saturday. Residents are waiting to see what it holds.

Lehigh Valley Voter's Guide: An FAQ and what you need to know for the 2022 midterm election

A vigil hosted by Turning Point Lehigh Valley will honor people who have survived intimate partner abuse and remember those who have died

Vibe Power Yoga, offering yoga and other programs for all fitness levels, held a soft opening Oct. 8 at 7525 Tilghman St., Suite 107, in Upper Macungie Township.

Lehigh County's Board of Commissioners unanimously approved providing the IronPigs with up to an additional $3 million in order for the team to make necessary improvements to Coca-Cola Park.

Alternative rock band Lit, which became famous in the '90s with their hit song "My Own Worst Enemy," will be playing at 7 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 16. at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Hurricane ravaged Florida continues to get help from Red Cross volunteers from the Lehigh Valley. One Lehigh County woman said she’s been asked to extend her two-week deployment, as more help is needed.

The U.S. Supreme Court has nullified a lower court's ruling that supported the counting of mail-in ballots that were missing a date on an outer envelope. But, the ruling will not affect the outcome of a Lehigh County judicial race that hinged on these ballots.

An incident at an Allentown daycare shines a light on the importance of preventing and detecting carbon monoxide poisoning.