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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The day honors American prisoners of war and service members who remain missing in action, along with their families, by emphasizing the ongoing commitment to find them and bring them home. -
Easton resident Robert Morisie, 69, a retired New York City firefighter, shared his memories of responding to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center at an event in Hanover Township on Thursday evening.
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Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley received a $35,000 donation from The Giant Company.
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Tracy and Joshua Dechant, charged with attempting to starve their teen sons to death, have 60 days to find a defense lawyer, a judge said.
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Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley was inducted into the Whitehall High School Hall of Fame on Friday night.
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State Police, municipal police officers and members of the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office took part in virtual reality training at the Jane Scheller-Wayne Woodman Community Service Center at Lehigh Carbon Community College on Wednesday.
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Cindy Jakoby, of Barto, was selected on Tuesday night as the 10 millionth fan in the 17-year history of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
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The Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School in Allentown held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its $16.8 million school for fourth-to-eighth graders on Friday morning.
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Community Bike Works received more than $600,000 from the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study to fund its bicycle safety and repair program for students in the Lehigh Valley.
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The 173rd year of the Allentown Fair kicked off Wednesday night to large crowds enjoying food, live music, and the crowning of the 2025 fair queen.
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Andre Reed, the Allentown native, Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver, and four-time Super Bowl participant, offers advice to Eagles' young starting quarterback Jalen Hurts on how to deal with nerves during the game.
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Allentown native and three-time Grammy Award-nominated jazz singer, Denise Donatelli, recalls how the music of legendary composer Burt Bacharach she first heard as a teenager inspired her to record an album of his songs. Bacharach died Wednesday at age 94.
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A Northampton County Judge on Wednesday denied the request of Lower Saucon Township residents for a stay of a meeting on Feb. 27 relative to the proposed expansion of the Bethlehem Landfill.
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A 55,000-square-foot, five-story, 140-room hotel, with a bar and restaurant, and a 30,000-square-foot, two-story entertainment center are being proposed for Hamilton Street in Allentown.
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The 10th annual Lehigh Valley Winter Classic on Saturday was a fundraiser for Special Hockey of Lehigh Valley.
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Atty. Brian Panella pushed back on claims by Atty. Nancy Aaroe, his opponent in the race for Northampton County Court of Common Pleas, that he lacks trial experience.
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Attorney Nancy Aaroe repeatedly noted her many years of trial experience make her a better candidate than Brian Panella in the race for Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.
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DeSales University Homeland Security majors received first-hand knowledge of the challenges and requirements of the job at the third annual DeSales University Center for Homeland Security Conference on Wednesday.
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Freedom High School senior Jerry Rivera has been awarded a four-year scholarship to Princeton University by QuestBridge, a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with leading colleges and universities. A celebration of the scholarship was held at the high school on Tuesday morning.
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Pastor Tammie Rinker announced the church’s latest ministry — the pay-what-you-can Essentials Café— will provide breakfast and lunch five days each week for folks between 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
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After 50 years in business at Westgate Mall in Bethlehem, Hawk Music must vacate its location due to planned renovations at the mall.
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Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk held his Allentown State of the City event at the Renaissance Hotel on Thursday afternoon.
