State & Regional News

In an effort to keep the community informed and help stop the spread of misinformation, LehighValleyNews.com has partnered with the Center for Media Engagement to look out for — and call out — election misinformation.

Gwen Walz's visit to the Lehigh Valley on Monday is one of two stops that day that will kick off a tour of Pennsylvania. She and Gov. Tim Walz — the Democratic vice presidential candidate — have been married for 30 years.

People in Florida are picking up the pieces of their lives as not one but two hurricanes batter the coast in as many weeks. Red Cross volunteers from the Lehigh Valley continue to lend a helping hand.

As of Friday, many airports had reopened and were resuming operations post-Milton, restarting flights from the Lehigh Valley to nonstop destinations in Florida. But at least one airport remained closed.

State officials this week called on residents to submit nominations for Pennsylvania’s 2025 “Trail of the Year.” In the last 10 years, a Lehigh Valley trail has only been picked once before.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries visited Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District Thursday to promote their parties candidates. Democratic incumbent Susan Wild and Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie are locked in one of the tightest U.S. House races in the country.

The Pennsylvania House Education Committee held a hearing on school safety and security in Harrisburg on Thursday. State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, leads the committee.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild leads state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie by six points, according to a Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll released Thursday. However, the results are still within the margin of error for the toss-up district.

The Pennsylvania Senate passed a resolution Tuesday giving Revenue Secretary Pat Browne three days to come before the body and explain why he hasn't turned over records regarding the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone.

The leading lawmakers for the Democratic and Republican parties will hold competing events in Northampton County on Thursday.

Police say a gunman in a bulletproof vest has opened fire on the streets of Philadelphia, killing five people and wounding two boys before he surrendered to responding officers. The shootings took place over several city blocks, and dozens of spent shell casings were found.

O'Hanlon retired at Lafayette in 2022 after 27 seasons. His hiring at Cardinal O'Hara in Delaware County brings him back to the Philadelphia Catholic League, where he played high school ball in the 1960s.

Megan Ryan, the VP for enrollment at Muhlenberg College, said the college will not change its diversity goals following the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.

Earlier this month, the state Senate approved Sen. Lisa Boscola's bill, which would increase the fine and direct any fees collected towards bald and golden eagle conservation efforts across the commonwealth.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several counties in eastern Pennsylvania, including Lehigh and Northampton. The watch will remain in effect until 11 p.m. Sunday.

Changing their tune? Pennsylvania lawmakers consider replacing the state's official song.

Lehigh Valley prepares for a humid Sunday with the possibility of severe thunderstorms and damaging winds. Showers and thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon, with a line of storms forming and moving eastward. There is also a small chance for brief spin-ups.

Officials and residents of several New Jersey shore towns say the state’s law decriminalizing marijuana use is having an unintended effect: emboldening large groups of teenagers to run amok on beaches and boardwalks, knowing there is little chance of them getting in trouble for it.

Pennsylvania received $7.3 billion in state and local pandemic relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. That money came with an expiration date: Funds must be allocated by 2024 and spent by 2026. Any funds that remain unused by that deadline will be returned to the federal government.

Speakers accuse public school officials, teachers' unions of trying to "sexualize children" or indoctrinating them. Some called for restricting LGBTQ books. Protestors traveled from the Lehigh Valley and beyond to stand against the Moms for Liberty's "extremism" and in support of LGBTQ people.

House Bill 1257 was signed into law as Act 74 of 2022. Effective September 9, 2022, it made some noteworthy changes to the state fireworks law residents should be aware of.

Experts say this latest round of Canadian wildfire smoke in the Lehigh Valley will not be the last, and that millions should prepare for this new normal.