Lehigh County News

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.

The Clean Trucks PA Coalition report identified more than 600 schools, childcare centers, playgrounds and parks near major roadways and trucking corridors across the state.

Some prep time now will make it easier on the household when a family member tests positive.

Cruz is set to endorse U.S. Senate candidate David McCormick in an appearance in Lehigh County.

The legislation would place fewer restrictions on where amusement parks can serve drinks on their property.

Meeko is on a mission to save the planet from single-use plastic.

It's best to plan ahead make an appointment to get a vaccine booster.

To help ease the strain of surging COVID cases, officials are considering letting some inmates go home on work release.

Many of the ceremonies will be restricted and streamed online because of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

More than 5,000 Pennsylvanians died from overdoses last year.

Wintertime and the post-holiday doldrums can contribute to the condition.

Mark Pinsley says it would reduce food waste and provide job training for the incarcerated.

Keeping kids in school is a challenge as wages rise.

Both Allentown and Bethlehem would be split into different Senate districts under the plan.