Lehigh County News

The tax and spending plan drew praise from Republicans for lowering taxes and funding border security, but Democrats condemned it for slashing Medicaid coverage and raising the deficit.

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.

The district attorney's office says Nothstein stalked a female acquaintance and her boyfriend.

Lehigh County had one of the largest percent jump in liquor sales in the state since the start of the pandemic.

Police say the "smash and grab" theft could be part of a bigger national trend.

A total of 261 mail-in ballots remain uncounted and could swing the outcome.

Pa. House Republicans have threatened to impeach the Lehigh County election board if the mail-in votes are counted.

Police say five masked men entered the Lower Macungie Township store and fled in under a minute.

The combination of supply constraints and the winter season is pushing energy prices up.

The number of drug overdoses in Pennsylvania has skyrocketed since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Holiday Hope Chest boxes include toys, toiletries and other essentials.

Most utilities will be raising electricity prices in December, according to the Pa. Public Utility Commission.

Lehigh County officials are not yet sure how much or when the Lehigh Valley will see infrastructure funding.

If the undated mail-in ballots are counted, state House Republicans have threatened to impeach the Lehigh County election board.