Molly Bilinski
Environment & Science reporterI cover environment and science for LehighValleyNews.com. Originally from Schuylkill County, I got my start in journalism writing obituaries for the Reading Eagle in 2014 after graduating from Kutztown University. I’ve also reported for The Press of Atlantic City, covering municipalities, crime and courts, and The Morning Call, where I was part of the audience team. In 2022, I won first place in the diversity category of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association’s Keystone Media Awards. Contact me at mollyb@lehighvalleynews.com or 610-984-8225.
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The annual scholastic competition combines classroom learning and outdoor activities to engage students in environmental science. The state competition is scheduled for May 22 in Mifflinburg. -
Carbon County officials on Thursday will sign on to a partnership with Northampton, officials announced. Their goal is to bolster farmland preservation efforts.
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Arcadia plans to tear down the SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western at 300 Gateway Drive off Route 512 and replace it with a 250,000-square-foot warehouse. If the permit is approved, developers will be allowed to discharge stormwater from construction activities into the Monocacy Creek.
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Two Lehigh Valley municipalities this year participated in Penn State’s Local Climate Action Program. Here's how the program works to create a greenhouse gas inventory and, from those findings, a climate action plan.
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Pennsylvania's third most populous region received a "C" grade from the American Lung Association and ranked fourth-worst in the mid-Atlantic for ozone pollution. But, it's better than last year’s rankings in the annual "State of the Air" report.
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Lehigh Valley went to the polls Tuesday for the Pennsylvania primary election, but voters were hard to find throughout the day. Poll workers and observers reported a trickle of a turnout at districts in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
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Fahy Commons was named the first project in the world to achieve a rigorous sustainability certification for buildings that reward projects for more energy than they use. The 20,000-square-foot, three-floor building cost $13.2 million and opened to students last January.
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“Public Participation, Public Power: A Community Guide to Local Land Use Decision-Making in Pennsylvania" was released Monday. The almost-100-page guide includes explanations of state and local land use laws and more.
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A new outdoor air quality monitoring project is coming to Allentown this summer. The data collected through the initiative, officials said, will help inform decision-making to improve residents’ health in the city, known for its poor air quality.
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This year’s Lehigh Valley Sustainability Summit was held Friday morning at The Club at Twin Lakes. Officials discussed upcoming projects, as well as efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
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Bethlehem Parking Authority officials on Thursday announced they were awarded the 2023 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for the authority's Park Green Program.
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Bangor Area High School's Team Maroon placed first at the Northampton County Conservation District’s annual Envirothon competition, held April 20 at Louise Moore Park. The school's Team White placed second.
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The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's Environmental Committee on Wednesday heard a presentation about two climate action plans that must be completed over the next two years to meet the funding's requirements.
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Palmer Township has earned a Tree City USA designation for 2022 through the Arbor Day Foundation. Officials said the advantages of healthy trees can range from environmental benefits to enhancing the visual appeal of a neighborhood and increasing property values.
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There are seven candidates on the primary ballot for one open supervisor's seat in Palmer Township. Here's why candidates said they're running.
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Mayors in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton are coming together to fight against worsening climate change and strengthen sustainability across the region. Two of the three cities have their own climate action plans.
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The first new building on Muhlenberg’s campus in more than a decade, the Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation, 2400 W. Chew St., opened in January. The 20,000-square-foot, three-floor building cost $13.2 million and is one of the first buildings in the world expected to achieve a rigorous sustainability certification for buildings that give more than they take.
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Puerto Rico's electrical grid has been devastated by hurricanes due to worsening climate change. Ruth Santiago, a Bethlehem native, has a solution.
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Swarms of non-biting midge flies last week were spotted in Bethlehem. LehighValleyNews.com spoke with Marten Edwards, chair of Muhlenberg College's biology department, to find out more about the insects.
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For the first time, the Lehigh River was included on American Rivers' list of most endangered rivers in the country. Environmentalists point to a proliferation of warehouses and distribution centers for putting the river at risk.
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Like the rest of the country, Pennsylvania has a litter problem. While state and local officials work to mitigate the issue, residents are rolling up their sleeves and doing the work themselves.
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Titan, a 12-year-old raccoon, was euthanized at the Lehigh Valley Zoo several months after he was diagnosed with a bladder tumor. A favorite to patrons, he will be sorely missed, officials said.
