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.

Upper Macungie planners recommended preliminary approval to a plan for 132 residential apartment units and a daycare facility. It would be located at 8739 Hamilton Blvd.

South Whitehall Police Chief Glen Dorney requested the purchase of four new Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. But commissioners had questions about the long term benefits of the new model.

Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck announced police have charged John Bradley, 17, of North Whitehall Township, with two counts of homicide and car theft in relation to Thursday's double-homicide in North Catasauqua.

A new Wawa may come to 1810 PA Route 309 in South Whitehall. The plan first came before the township in 2021, but the developer needed to revise its design.

Developments consisting of hundreds of housing units came before the Upper Macungie Planning Commission during Monday's workshop meeting, one being the Sunset Orchard plan that drew ire from nearby residents. The developers are seeking preliminary approval.

Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate last week's double homicide in North Catasauqua. A search warrant filed in district court revealed new details in the investigation.

The controversial political action committee Back to School PA gave $5,000 to the conservative Republican candidate group Elevate Education at an event Monday.

The Whitehall Township commissioners gave conditional-use approval for the age-restricted residential community as well as a land development/major subdivision plan for a retail center on MacArthur Road.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Starting Friday, Sept. 15 is Halloween Haunt, a nighttime event meant to thrill and terrify in equal measure, running select nights through October 28.

The South Whitehall Board of Commissioners approved a five-year waste management contract with J.P. Mascaro & Sons after debate over multiple bids at a prior meeting. The approved bid, the lowest five-year quote the township received, is set to increase next year's cost for the township by 62.54%.

58 jobs at Coca Cola's Upper Macungie syrup plant are to be cut by the end of the year due to reorganizing effort by Coca-Cola to a third-party