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.

Cetronia Fire Department has a new chief: Ricardo Diaz, who has served the all-volunteer agency for 10 years. Most recently the deputy chief, he was appointed after former chief Jay Heicklen retired on May 1.

Building projects that would address overcrowding in the Parkland School District will cost between $169 million and $391 million, according to a presentation at the school board meeting this week.

The water main broke late Tuesday and service has been restored to residents. Officials say the thoroughfare will reopen later today.

The Parkland School Board renewed a sports medicine and school health needs agreement with St. Luke's after state Sen. Jarrett Coleman urged them not to. He suggested the health network should find better ways to spend the money.

Senator Bob Casey visited the chemical and gas company Air Products at its headquarters. Company engineers took him for a drive in a new hydrogen-powered Toyota.

This week was the South Whitehall Township Emergency Services Youth Camp. The camp teaches youth ages 12 to 16 years old the basics of emergency services.

South Whitehall has a new policy that outlines the process for implementing speed reduction measures in the township.

North Whitehall supervisors granted preliminary/final approval to the plan for housing development Greenleaf Fields at Parkland.

Some parents and residents are asking schools to take books off library shelves. Others want a parental consent policy for children to take out some books.

Upper Macungie supervisors adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan, which has the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities in the township.

Upper Macungie Township is asking for community feedback during its review of the township's zoning ordinance and SALDO.

South Whitehall Commissioner Brad Osborne is launching a new radio show called Good Morning Lehigh Valley on May 30.