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.

South Whitehall commissioners granted preliminary/final approval to plans for the new Parkland School District operations center at their meeting Wednesday.

A proposed new roller coaster at Dorney Park cleared the final hurdle from South Whitehall Township.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman spoke at the latest Parkland School Board meeting about a bill that would allow public schools to apply for waivers of state-imposed mandates.

Upper Macungie’s Planning Commission will vote on whether to recommend approval for the final land development plan at their meeting in May.

The applicant Eric Moyer said he is considering appealing the decision or proposing a different development at the 3599 Broadway site.

Housing, speeding, upgrades and an open house next week took focus in the Upper Macungie Township Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday.

The large Ridge Farms development was granted an extension for meeting compliances, longtime firefighters in the township were given recognition, and a new self storage facility was given the okay by the township near the Ridge Farms development site.

A new North Whitehall Township plan that considers building a skate park, amphitheater, disc golf, splash pads and more as outdoors activities increase got township supervisors' approval Monday.

Former educator Mike Millo is running for the Parkland School Board again after withdrawing from the race in 2020. He said his legislative priorities are listening to resident concerns, fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Rep. Peter Schweyer, chair of the House Education Committee, said a short timetable will likely limit how much lawmakers can change basic education funding in Gov. Josh Shapiro's first budget.

North Whitehall planners discussed proposed housing development Greenleaf Fields at Parkland at their meeting Tuesday.

Warmkessel's legislative priorities include transparency in the board, not raising taxes and "lowering standards" for academics in the district. She says school staff are now "more concerned with kids' pronouns and their feelings" than curriculum.