Phil Gianficaro
General Assignment ReporterA native of northeastern Pennsylvania, I've been a journalist for more than four decades. I've reported on events like the pope's visit and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, local appearances by Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, covered the Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals, and the Eagles in the playoffs. However, the stories that have touched me most involve ordinary folks in our community. A 12-year-old boy getting the better of cancer; Holocaust survivors sharing horror stories they know the world needs to hear again and again; a little girl from Bucks County who grew up to become Miss America. These are the stories I'm committed to finding and sharing with our readers. About me: Married with a son and a daughter in college. Golf when I can. Morning coffee's a must; Favorite quote from my late mother: "There are givers and takers in this world, which do you want to be?" Contact me at PhilG@lehighvalleynews.com or 267-222-0540.
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A Pride flag was vandalized after being stolen from the front porch of a rabbi's Lehigh Valley home. The recovered flag, in tatters, is flying once again. "What they did to the flag has an added measure of hostility and danger associated with it," the rabbi said. -
A renewable natural gas plant adjacent to the Bethlehem Landfill opened on Tuesday morning.
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The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts conducted a brainstorming seminar in Allentown on Monday to advance a statewide arts and culture plan.
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Raising his young children to be good citizens and leaving the door to the 2028 Olympics open just a smidge are among the topics Lehigh Valley native Darian Cruz discussed as he returned from competing in wrestling at the Paris Olympics.
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Two elementary schools and one middle school in the Bethlehem Area School District distributed free backpacks to incoming students on Friday.
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The Historic Hotel Bethlehem has been voted as the USA Today's best historic hotel/resort in America for a record fourth consecutive year.
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Allentown School District's OneAllentown Back-to-School Bash was designed to show parents the caring nature of those who will prepare their children for their future.
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Improvements at aging Steckel Elementary School and Whitehall-Coplay Middle School will begin with window replacements.
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Lehigh Valley's Darian Cruz lost his Olympic bronze medal bout to India's Aman Sehrawat, 13-5, on Friday evening at the Paris Olympics. Cruz, the Bethlehem Catholic and Lehigh University champion, was representing Puerto Rico in honor of his grandparents who are native to the US territory.
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Bethlehem's Darian Cruz will wrestle for an Olympic bronze medal on Friday in Paris.
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The Coalition for Appropriate Transportation moved into a 2,500-square-foot space at the new Walnut Street parking garage in Bethlehem. Advocates say it will enhance the alternative transportation cooperative's outreach and mission.
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Residents of South Whitehall Township voiced their opposition to a proposed 5-million-square-foot data center near Parkland High School.
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La instalación de 15,100 pies cuadrados se construiría en terrenos consolidados en 1415 y 1425 Lehigh St.
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The 15,100-square-foot facility would be constructed in consolidated lots at 1415 and 1425 Lehigh St.
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A total of 44 one- and two-bedroom apartments will be offered at the Walnut Street location.
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The project would consist of a Lehigh Valley Health Network medical facility and 190 residential units near Lehigh Street and MacArthur Road.
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As America approaches its 250th birthday in 2026, we take a look back at the role Allentown played in hiding the Liberty Bell from British troops during the Revolutionary War.
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Jessica "Jess" Lee, 67, served PBS39 viewers in the Lehigh Valley for nearly a half-century. The Bethlehem native and Liberty High alum died Thursday after a battle with cancer. She joined the station in 1980.
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Subclade K, the new flu variant, emerged after U.S. pharmaceutical companies developed their vaccines for the current flu season.
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Taylor Stakes and Lee Christman were sworn in as new board members.
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Lehigh County Commissioner Geoff Brace was re-elected as board chairman for a sixth year during the commissioners' reorganization meeting Monday.
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Families of children who are patients at Lehigh Valley Health Network were treated to a toy giveaway on Tuesday morning.
