Parkland News

A Lehigh County judge heard arguments Monday in a case that will decide whether a 501,000-square-foot warehouse will rise on 71 acres near Route 309 and Orefield Road.

The $68 million, five-building expansion to the existing high school at 2700 N. Cedar Creek Blvd. will be voted on for final approval by the township board of commissioners in January.

The submission proposing the construction of 2.6 million square-feet of data center facilities closely aligns with Air Products' existing plan for warehouses on the 194-acre property.

Specifics for the plan are still under wraps as Upper Macungie Township is processing the application. The proposal would develop the data center at the former Air Products headquarters on Hamilton Boulevard.

Parkland School District officials on Monday presented early estimates for their 2026-27 budget. It includes a $20 million deficit, and could lead to a tax increase next year.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, introduced the bill in 2023 after a student brought a knife to Schnecksville Elementary School. Parents didn't learn of the incident until a week later.

Parkland Superintendent Mark Madson, Assistant Superintendent Michelle Minotti and Chief Financial Officer Leslie Frisbie were awarded five-year extensions on Tuesday, the district said in a news release.

Parkland's school board voted unanimously Tuesday to stop payments to charter schools until a state budget is in place.

A crop farm in Lehigh County was included in the latest round of Pennsylvania's Farmland Preservation Program. Twenty-three other farms across the state were also preserved.

A Lehigh County detective Monday explained his process for obtaining a cell phone from Francis Anonia, Parkland School District's former performing arts administrator charged with secretly recording a student changing clothes. Anonia's lawyer asked a judge to throw out key evidence in the case.

The Upper Macungie Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 to approve a list of conditions for a warehouse to be built at 110 PA Route 100.

South Whitehall commissioners voted unanimously to grant final approval for Phase 1B of Ridge Farms, which includes apartment buildings and twin homes.

South Whitehall commissioners will vote Wednesday on whether to grant final approval to Phase 1B of the controversial mixed-use development Ridge Farms.

Joshua Steven Gonzalez, 39, of South Whitehall Township, is accused of possessing child pornography after a detective allegedly traced videos to his computer.

Scouting for Food is organized by the Boy Scouts of America Minsi Trails Council, which includes Lehigh and Northampton counties.

Democrat Thomas Johns won a seat on the South Whitehall Board of Commissioners over the incumbents' preferred candidate, Republican Chris Peischl.

Coleman filed the transparency lawsuit in 2021 before becoming a Parkland School Board member, and ultimately, a state senator representing parts of Lehigh and Bucks counties.

Upper Macungie supervisors will hold a special meeting on Friday, Nov. 17, to discuss a potential agreement for a warehouse plan at 110 PA Route 100.

St. Luke's University Health Network is "very close" to buying three properties near the St. Luke's West End Medical Center. The original plan was to consolidate the three properties into one tract of 1.01 acres and construct a 3,400 square foot commercial building.

From North Whitehall to Danielsvile, veterans are being honored this week.

Check out searchable, unofficial returns for contested school board races in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

The unofficial but complete results for the 2023 Parkland School Board election results are in: the Democratic slate, made of mostly incumbents, has swept all six seats.