State & Regional News

Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered Pennsylvania flags on all Commonwealth facilities, buildings, and grounds be lowered to half-staff to honor the victims of the RM Palmer Company factory explosion.

West Reading's police chief announced two additional fatalities on Sunday evening, ending the search for two missing individuals. The search and rescue operation followed a chocolate factory explosion Friday night.

Reporter Julian Abraham spent the weekend covering the explosion that occurred Friday at a chocolate factory in West Reading.

As part of a yearlong investigation, The Associated Press obtained the data points underpinning several algorithms deployed by child welfare agencies to understand how they predict which children could be at risk of harm.

A chemical spill of a latex product late Friday in Bristol Township released contaminants into a Delaware River tributary, according to OEM officials.

Three people died and four remain missing in the explosion at the R.M. Palmer Co. chocolate-making plant in West Reading. The grim announcement Saturday night came after a day of hope spurred by a victim found alive in the wreckage early in the day.

Pennsylvania will again operate a water assistance program for low-income households behind in their water or wastewater bills, state officials announced last week.

While the report indicates positive trends, community advocates and leaders raised concerns about high rates of gun violence and educational outcomes. They called for more hyper-localized data to identify trends and correlations between issues impacting Black communities.

Thursday's March For Our Lives rally marks its fifth anniversary since its inception after a 2018 mass shooting at a Florida high school. Hundreds are expected at Thursday's rally in Harrisburg, which coincides with rallies this week in Florida, Michigan, California and Texas.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he's long admired the Lehigh Valley's unique ability to build partnerships. It's a skillset he said he hopes to bring to other communities across the state to promote economic growth. Shapiro was keynote speaker at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. annual meeting in Bethlehem.

The proposed legislation would prohibit sales of tickets that an agency doesn't actually possess, and prevent such organizations from using logos or images of venues with which they aren't affiliated.

About 300 to 500 people are expected Tuesday night at the Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley in Allentown, led by members of the region's Jewish clergy.

Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s support has raised the state’s profile in the national school voucher debate and given advocates optimism the program will become law.

Hamas has claimed responsibility for intense fighting and a barrage of missiles that rocked Israel Saturday. The attacks drew condemnations and concern for civilians caught in the crossfire.

Becky Bradley, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, was one of three speakers in a Friday morning webinar focused on local climate action planning.

It's in our coffee, our baked goods, our savory dishes, our beer... It's everywhere! Pumpkin spice season is in full swing, and we're here for the haters to hear why it's so awful.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with reporter Phil Gianficaro.

Former space shuttle astronaut Terry Hart, of Lower Saucon Township, believes the psychological impact of spending more than a year in space on a mission to Mars is impossible to predict.

VALOR Clinic Foundation gifted a group of companion puppies to several deserving veterans at their facility grounds on Wednesday, one of many services the organization offers to those who have served.

Every cellphone, television and radio in the United States will broadcast a message simultaneously on Oct. 4 as a test of both the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

The Executive Forum of the Lehigh Valley hosted a panel discussion Wednesday morning that explored the region's economic growth and challenges ahead, including workforce development, housing, warehouses and education.

Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton all have tracts designated as environmental justice areas. Here's what that means, and how residents can help shape state policy.