Northampton County News

Based on themes of home in the Lehigh Valley and executed via improvisation on the piano, former Nazareth native Dominic Billett's new record “Truer is the Valley, the River, the Pale Sky" paints a thoughtful, vivid picture perfect for walks throughout the region.

At its Nov. 11 meeting, Northampton Area school directors considered five partial renovation options for Moore Elementary.

Northampton Area school directors approved the second round of financing for the East Allen Elementary School and education center project at their meeting last week.

Bethlehem Area school directors approved the purchase agreement for 315 Columbia St. in South Bethlehem at their Monday meeting. The space would serve as a satellite campus for the Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School.

A partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and the GIANT Company will make sure a thousand families have a Thanksgiving dinner.

Northampton Area School Board approved Kovalchik's retirement at Monday's school board meeting. It will be effective July 1.

Addison Agen, who finished second to Chloe Kohanski on the show's 13th season, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the center at 30 E. Belvidere St., Nazareth.

State Rep. Joe Emrick won Pennsylvania's 137th House District in his battle against Democratic challenger Anna Thomas.

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.

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.

Bradbury-Sullivan Center presented findings from the Pennsylvania LGBTQ Health Needs Assessment, focusing on responses from Lehigh Valley residents.

Stephen Baratta and Terry Houck exchanged more salvos Thursday in a heated race for Northampton County district attorney. Houck said he's considering filing an ethics complaint against the retired judge.

Fountain Hill, East Penn, Northampton and other restaurant weeks look to bring together various local restaurants and attract people to locally owned and operated businesses

County Executive Lamont McClure announced that the county is conducting a broadband study and will gather public input through a survey.

The Saucon Valley School District authorized use of its facilities to the After School Satan Club. Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty said the law prohibits the district from discriminating against religious groups wishing to use space.

City of Bethlehem Police will be making upgrades to their camera surveillance system throughout the city using a state grant from American Rescue Plan funds

“It’s clear that our safety culture and our investments in safety were not enough to prevent this accident," CEO Alan Shaw said. "We’re going to learn from it. We’re going to improve. And we’re going to make Norfolk Southern a safer railroad.”

A 28-year-old man is charged with multiple drug crimes after a raid Friday by the Northampton County Drug Task Force. Authorities say they also recovered a stolen firearm.

Browsing an online auction, a Roseto man came across items being stored at an Easton warehouse that were part of a cache of architectural salvage. The lot contained signs from the Hotel Easton, which opened in the 1920s.

The council signed off on a new incentive to develop "deteriorated" parts of South Side Bethlehem, plus a raise for shift supervisors at the Juvenile Justice Center.

As the region diversifies, relations across racial groups are seen as a key element of quality of life. A new survey finds overall ratings as mostly positive, but different age groups rate the state of race relations differently.

WLVR's Brad Klein interviews Chris Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, about life in the Lehigh Valley and a newly-released quality of life survey.