State & Regional News

The most popular names have been a constant the past few years, according to the major health networks. But one trend that emerged in 2023 in the Lehigh Valley seems to be tied to sports — specifically, the success and popularity of the Philadelphia Phillies. Taylor Swift also may be having an impact.

The Pennsylvania Department of State is starting a new office to help train county election workers, Pa. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said. It also plans to update its guidance for logic and accuracy testing that could have caught issues with the Northampton County voting machines.

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.

A crowd gathered — and cheered — as Luani the otter at Lehigh Valley Zoo made his Super Bowl LVII pick during the 12th annual Otter Bowl a day before the big game between the Eagles and Chiefs.

Anyone enrolled in Pennsylvania's Medicaid or CHIP programs will soon start getting information about benefits renewal – a process that’s been on hold for the last several years because of the pandemic.

The new senator from Pennsylvania was discharged from the George Washington University Hospital, his office said.

Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio said the official pronouncement will be completed by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

A judge in Pennsylvania found the public school funding system to be unconstitutional. But that doesn't guarantee change for poorer school districts.

Crews released and burned toxic chemicals from a wrecked train in Ohio near the Pennsylvania border, but residents remain in the dark about what toxic substances could be lingering in their evacuated neighborhoods.

Members of the Valley's Syrian and Turkish communities issue concerns for family overseas. They'll gather today at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Allentown and the Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh Valley lawmakers and educators were quick to react. One lawmaker said it was a victory for children in poorer school districts such as Allentown.

Easton Area Neighborhood Centers Inc. and the Seed Farm in Upper Milford Township are getting $50,000 and $27,754 respectively to put toward their greenhouses.

Independence and Bailey’s Island are now state forest lands.

91.3 WLVR's Brad Klein speaks with Capitol Bureau Chief Sam Dunklau about the balance of power in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Our daily list of useful information, chosen to inform and enhance your day, includes news you can use and then some!