Lehigh County News

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, along with local legislators and officials, on Thursday morning held a news conference focused on energy efficient programs frozen due to cuts enacted by President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency.

Obadiah Whack, 31, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and possession of a prohibited firearm, in the Sept. 29, 2023, death of Giselle Trabal, 35, at 628 N. Law St.

Commissioners voted to award a contract to Construction Masters Services LLC, of Berks County, whose $534,859 bid was the lowest of three firms that submitted proposals.

South Whitehall Township Commissioners advanced a transportation plan Wednesday identifying six priority areas. They represent specific locations where commissioners said crash history and roadway conditions warrant immediate action.

It's Earth Month, and there are many opportunities to get involved. Here are the events scheduled in the Lehigh Valley.

Allentown's climate action plan survey is live. When completed, the city will be the third of the Lehigh Valley’s major cities to create a climate action plan.

The Whitehall-Coplay School Board is considering a request to start a varsity girls wrestling program.

In addition to the coroner’s office, the Coopersburg Police Department, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and the Lehigh County Crash Team also are investigating.

During National Library Week, local libraries celebrated their community role amid uncertainty. A federal order to shut down the Institute of Museum and Library Services threatens essential funding for many library programs.

A pedestrian died early Sunday after he was hit by a tractor-trailer in Coopersburg, according to authorities.

Farmers markets add to the local economy, driving tourism, officials said. Supporting them is also important for farmland preservation and strengthening community, advocates say.

“Cutting Edge: Inventive Nineteenth-Century Quilts” opens Saturday, Aug. 9. The new exhibit explores over 30 unique quilts from Arlan and Pat Christ’s collection and will run through Oct. 26. Admission is free.

"I would love to have a weekend free of crash-related deaths, and I am certain families would appreciate their loved ones returning home safely," Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio said Friday.

More than a month past the budget deadline, Lehigh Valley state Sens. Jarrett Coleman and Nick Miller offered little optimism a deal was around the corner.

The proposal will be the subject of a committee-of-the-whole meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 13 in City Hall.

In June, North Whitehall supervisors rejected plans for a 500,000-square-foot warehouse called Nexus 78. The proposal could return from the dead, after developers filed a land use appeal in Lehigh County Court.

Between delayed state funding and federal cuts, Second Harvest Food Bank does not have enough food to meet demand, its leaders say.

Allentown's 111th annual Romper Day celebration was held at J. Birney Crum Stadium on Monday night. About 400 students who participated in the summer playground program exhibited skills including dance and calisthenics.

Lehigh Country Controller Mark Pinsley criticized President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie for gutting the social safety net and Democratic leaders for failing to offer effective resistance.

The first weekend of August was a deadly one for motorcyclists in the Lehigh Valley, with three fatal crashes reported in Northampton and Lehigh counties.

Tenants at Oak Hollow Apartments in Bethlehem say significant rent increases are forcing them to look elsewhere for housing. The increases reflect market rates, according to the complex's owner. A housing advocate says renters throughout the Lehigh Valley are experiencing similar situations as housing costs rise and inventory stays low.

The tract, spread across Penn Forest and Kidder townships, includes Mud Run, a key tributary of the Lehigh River. It was purchased through a $1 million grant from the Open Space Institute.