Lehigh County News

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.

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has opened applications for the first round of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub program. Rep. Susan Wild, author of the program, said the Lehigh Valley is the perfect candidate for the funding.

"Called to Serve" is a book featuring hometown heroes from the Lehigh Valley recognizing their sacrifices for the communities they served.

Pennsylvania's high court says officials aren't allowed to count votes from mail-in or absentee ballots that lack accurate, handwritten dates on their return envelopes.

The Downtown Bethlehem Association has changed the design of Christmas City Village’s huts, and added more vendors.

Casa Guadalupe will get $311,000 to use towards developing a new technology, science and arts education center in the residential building next door, which the organization recently purchased.

St. Luke's University Health Network released the findings of its triennial community health needs assessment. Police, public health officials, and school representative were all in attendance.

State Senator Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) has helped bring a $100,000 grant to the Lehigh County Historical Society in an effort to support historic property renovations and new programming.

At a Wednesday night meeting, Lehigh County commissioners heard a proposal to alter the county's current commissioner districts in order to account for a growth in population throughout the county.

Giana Jarrah wins StartUP Lehigh Valley's grand prize with her women's health brand With Meraki Co.

Democrat Mark Pinsley and Republican Jarrett Coleman traded verbal jabs during Thursday's half-hour debate hosted by Business Matters.

U.S. Chaos, which performed alongside some of punk rock's seminal bands, continues to tour with three original members 40 years later. It performs at Gas House Dance Hall in Catasauqua on Saturday.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley addressed about 150 donors at a Lisa Scheller political fundraiser Wednesday night. Scheller, a Republican, is attempting to oust Democratic incumbent Susan Wild from PA's 7th Congressional District.

In a statement released on Thursday, Lehigh County has committed to ensuring the Lehigh Valley IronPigs will be able to afford needed improvements to Coca-Cola Park. In a statement, the county says the team has signed to stay through 2052.