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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An application by the Lehigh Valley STEAM Academy Charter School to open in the Whitehall-Coplay School District was unanimously rejected by the school board Monday night. -
Catasauqua Police Chief Douglas Kish retired Friday, a month after a state report identified a litany of issues with his department.
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Emergency crews were called to Sharp Packaging Solutions, a pharmaceutical packaging company in Upper Macungie, after some employees became ill Friday afternoon.
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Players league wide are complaining about Major League Baseball's new uniforms, particularly the see-through pants. The uniforms were manufactured by Fanatics' facilities in Easton.
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Katarah A. Jordan has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown. She succeeds Deb Fries Jackson, who is retiring after 40 years of service with Girls Club of Allentown and the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown.
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Ten farms in the Greater Lehigh Valley have joined the Lehigh Valley Food System Coalition to develop a sustainable food infrastructure for organizations in the region. The mission: Combat food insecurity throughout the Lehigh Valley. According to the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 1 in 10 people locally are food insecure.
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Northampton County Elections Office is seeking 10 additional county registered voters to serve as poll workers for the primary election on April 23 and general election on Nov. 5.
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Nancy A. Walker, Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor & Industry, was in Allentown on Thursday to announce $4.2 million in Industry Partnership grants for projects statewide that will prepare state workers and high school seniors for family-sustaining jobs.
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A change.org petition opposing the new mascot chosen by the Whitehall-Coplay School District has attracted more than 1,200 signatures. The mascot, named Big Z, is so named in honor of the school name Zephyr, which was also a train that once ran through Whitehall Township.
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A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at a Wawa DriveThru in Lower Macungie Township on Thursday morning. The drive-thru is the second such Wawa store in the nation, the other located in Lower Bucks County.
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Proposals to increase the size and daily solid waste at the Grand Central Sanitary Landfill in Plainfield Township were reviewed by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on Thursday night.
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Proposals have been received by Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for work on Route 22 project.
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The Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley held groundbreaking ceremonies for its facility expansion on Wednesday in South Whitehall Township.
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The Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Wednesday held a news conference to announce yet another fan-friendly amenity — cabana seating — that will be available for the start of the 2026 season at Coca-Cola Park.
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The Bethlehem data of St. Luke’s recently completed triennial Community Health Needs Assessment was released at Nitschmann Middle School on Monday.
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The Nazareth branch of the River Crossing YMCA announced a $9 million renovation project that will begin in April 2026. The project is $1.5 million short of its goal.
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Sketch plans for an athletic complex for Allentown Central Catholic High School were reviewed by the Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Wednesday night.
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Plans for a 190,400-square-foot distribution facility along Main Street received unanimous conditional final approval from the Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Wednesday night.
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Billionaire and civilian astronaut Jared Isaacman discussed the importance of space exploration during an event at Lehigh University on Tuesday night.
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Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners advanced plans Monday to address the chronic vehicle speeding issue on Water Street in the township's Darktown neighborhood.
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The findings from St. Luke’s University Health Network’s recently completed triennial Community Health Needs Assessment revealed a host of medical-related conditions and concerns of Allentown residents.
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Low-income residents from in and around the Lehigh Valley met with UGI representatives Wednesday for assistance in managing their monthly heating bills.
