Parkland News

A webinar Monday brought together regional planners, engineers and industry leaders to explain how data centers operate and what their growth could mean for local communities.

Democrat Geoffrey Whitcomb intends to campaign for the Lehigh County-based district that Republican Gary Day currently represents. The seat heavily favors Republicans.

The Lehigh County Coroner's Office said the 27-year-old died Saturday night at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest — hours after being shot during a standoff with Pennsylvania State Police in a North Whitehall Township driveway.

Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio announced that a 93-year-old Lower Macungie Township woman died outside her home of hypothermia. She is Lehigh County's first weather-related fatality of 2026.

Residents of South Whitehall Township voiced their opposition to a proposed 5-million-square-foot data center near Parkland High School.

A Lehigh County judge has denied an appeal that sought to clear the way for Nexus 78, a 501,000-square-foot warehouse proposed for North Whitehall Township. The ruling is unlikely to be the last word in the fight over the warehouse's fate.

In its review, the LVPC said the data center proposal lacks specificity needed to fully review the project in Upper Macungie Township.

Upper Macungie's planning commission voted Wednesday to recommend preliminary approval for a planned 203-home development connecting Schantz Road and Bastian Lane.

Parkland High School's planned $68 million, five-building expansion project is expected to begin early in 2026 and be completed by August 2028.

A new hyperscale data center could be on its way to South Whitehall Township, with the 5.1 million square foot Atlas Industrial project set to be constructed right across the street from Parkland High School.

Parkland School Board approved its final budget Tuesday, which will take the millage rate from 16.30 mills to 17.12 mills, a 5% increase. The average resident will pay about $200 more in school property taxes next year.

The Parkland School Board on Tuesday accepted district Director of Performing Arts Frank Anonia’s resignation, effective Friday, June 21. Anonia recently was the subject of an internal investigation.

Parkland School Board on Tuesday will vote on whether to accept district Director of Performing Arts Frank Anonia’s resignation, effective June 21, according to the meeting’s agenda.

South Whitehall Planning Commission recommended final approval for Phase 1C of Ridge Farms, a development that would include housing, shops and outdoor eateries.

Upper Macungie Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday approved a plan to renovate and expand truck stop Trexler Travel Center at 5829 Tilghman St.

North Whitehall Township has added several new events to its recreation calendar this summer, including a food truck festival, a back-to-school party and a community concert.

Recently, many of Wildwater Kingdom's rides have been temporarily closed. All of them have reopened, except one, which will soon be replaced.

The union at Gardner Cryogenics represents 184 members who manufacture specialized tanks to transport liquid helium and liquid hydrogen. The business is a subdivision of Air Products.

The owners of Let's Play Books announced they would be consolidating all retail operations at The End: A Bookstore near the west end of Allentown, while growing their focus on engagement events.

It all started with a wig, a Hannah Montana song and a sassy pose: this local vet is going above and beyond on social media to entertain and educate pet parents.

The Upper Macungie Community Center's proposed renderings are now public, as well as an estimated cost.

The North Whitehall Board of Supervisors hosted a conditional use hearing Wednesday for a revised plan of the Rising Sun subdivision, which would have 110 single-family homes on about 100 acres.