Lehigh County News

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's Environmental Committee on Wednesday heard a presentation about two climate action plans that must be completed over the next two years to meet the funding's requirements.

Proposed housing development Strawberry Acres may need a redesign after North Whitehall planners gave an unfavorable recommendation for a waiver.

Community leaders gathered to walk around — literally — and brainstorm ways to make things safer for those who don't drive. The effort will last into the fall and involves several communities in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

Mayors in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton are coming together to fight against worsening climate change and strengthen sustainability across the region. Two of the three cities have their own climate action plans.

The first new building on Muhlenberg’s campus in more than a decade, the Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation, 2400 W. Chew St., opened in January. The 20,000-square-foot, three-floor building cost $13.2 million and is one of the first buildings in the world expected to achieve a rigorous sustainability certification for buildings that give more than they take.

All guests ages 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old “in order to be admitted to, or remain in, the park” after 4 p.m. until close.

Behavioral health services are moving from the current Allentown VA clinic. Veterans will soon receive mental health treatment at a new office.

South Whitehall commissioners granted preliminary/final approval to plans for the new Parkland School District operations center at their meeting Wednesday.

Michael J. Marko, who was killed in a torpedo bombing of his ship 79 years ago today, is among World War II veterans whose stories are being kept alive by the nonprofit national storytellers.

A proposed new roller coaster at Dorney Park cleared the final hurdle from South Whitehall Township.

Daniel Klem Jr., director of the Acopian Center for Ornithology at the college, on Saturday was presented with the Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award. His most recent study found 3.5 million birds dying every day in a 365-day period.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman challenged over 500 mail-in ballot applications of former Lehigh County voters. Coleman said in a text that he will pursue other ways to challenge how counties register voters living abroad.

The former greenhouse and wholesale outlet at 8025 Spinnerstown Road, Zionsville became available after the company went out of business late last year.

Unofficial results from the Pennsylvania Department of State show U.S. Rep. Susan Wild trailing Republican Ryan Mackenzie by about 1 percentage point in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.

Ryan Mackenzie, a 12-year veteran of the state Legislature, declared victory in his campaign against three-term U.S. Rep. Susan Wild. It was one of the most coveted congressional seats in the nation.

The prior 14-year state House member is set to return to Harrisburg based on early results Wednesday morning.

Area Democrats held an election watch party at the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown.

Republican state Rep. Zachary Mako was well on the way to defeating Democrat Joseph Lenzi to win a fifth term representing the 183rd House District.

Several of the Lehigh Valley's state lawmakers are ucontested in the 2024 general election. That means they're shoe-ins for victory.

The Lehigh County Board of Elections will hold a hearing Friday morning to determine the status of 519 mail-in ballot applications of former residents now living abroad. Under federal law, they are entitled to vote in federal elections under their last address, but state Sen. Jarrett Coleman said the county neglected to register them in a voter database.

The Gap Fire, which erupted Saturday near Route 248 in Lehigh Township, has drawn hundreds of firefighters over four days. Crews have gotten the upper hand and are now searching for and extinguishing hotspots, officials said.

Vietnam veteran and former Steelers running back Rocky Bleier was the keynote speaker at the Lehigh Carbon Community College veterans fundraising event at Glasbern Inn in Fogelsville on Monday night.