State & Regional News

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, addressed protests outside his office, criticisms of how President Donald Trump has rolled out tariffs and shifting thoughts on how to approach the war in Ukraine.

This month, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie has voted on a crackdown on opioids, debates on President Donald Trump’s tariffs and small business taxes.

Fire Marshal Jeff Tomczak, who died last summer after a 15-month battle with cancer, had his name added to the International Association of Fire Fighters Fallen Fire Fighter Wall of Honor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Daughters of the American Revolution, with help from a local Girl Scout troop, commemorated the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution by ringing bells in Easton's Centre Square on Wednesday.

The shooting occurred in the area of North Codorus Township in York County — about 115 miles west of Philadelphia, not far from the Maryland line. The shooter was killed by police, authorities said.

Pennsylvania saw 201.6 million visitors, generating $49.9 billion in visitor spending and $83.9 billion in economic impact in 2024. In the Lehigh Valley, visitor spending increased 1.5%, generating just over $2.5 billion.

Last week, SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit were permitted to use capital funds to finance operations in 2026. LANTA officials hope PennDOT will grant them same exception to avoid service cuts and fare hikes.

Like last year, the Valley’s cool temperatures, coupled with a lack of precipitation, could cause an earlier and shorter fall foliage season. But, it's still expected to be vibrant.

Gas prices are going up for UGI customers in the near future, but the rate hike will be lower than expected after a settlement announced Thursday with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

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.

Lafayette College will host the 2024 vice presidential debate this coming September, drawing the world's eyes to its Easton campus. Nicole Hurd, the college's president, hopes it will be an opportunity to highlight the liberal arts school and the greater Easton community.

Lawmakers in Harrisburg passed nearly three dozen laws last week in a final burst of action as they held their last voting session of the year.

Nippon Steel is set to pay more than $14 billion to acquire Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel in a deal that Rep. Susan Wild said is “really kind of heartbreaking."

Pennsylvania's gas tax– the highest in the nation in 2023 – will drop from $0.611/gallon to $0.576/gallon and will remain in place through 2024.

It might seem counterintuitive, but harvesting holiday trees year after year is better for the environment than using an artificial one, experts said, especially amid the proliferation of plastic piling up in landfills.

Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott said these types of incentives will help to attract “the best and brightest” candidates to serve the city.

More than three dozen projects in the Valley were awarded grants, receiving about 7% of the total funding awarded. Statewide, $335 million in grants were announced Wednesday.

Driven by $8.1 billion in manufacturing, the Lehigh Valley's Gross Domestic Product grew to a record $50.2 billion in 2022. The region's economy now ranks above Vermont and Wyoming.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola said it's a fallacy if the U.S. Postal Service thinks it can save up to $7 million by shipping outgoing mail from the Lehigh Valley to Harrisburg for processing without cutting jobs. On Monday, she called on USPS to do further analysis of its plans.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission at 11 a.m. on Wednesday is holding a meeting at its Allentown office to brainstorm and prioritize ways to decarbonize transportation across the region. Decarbonization is the process of reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide emissions.

Amid the joy and festivities, environmental advocates are urging residents to keep sustainability in mind during what can be a time of year when trash and waste spikes.

State environmental officials on Thursday evening hosted the last of five public engagement sessions, as they work to create a Priority Climate Action Plan, or PCAP, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emission statewide and mitigate further effects of climate change.