State & Regional News

Forecasters have turned their attention to the end of next week, saying most model guidance indicates a storm system developing and affecting the East Coast — including the mid-Atlantic —around Thanksgiving Day and into Black Friday.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey conceded to Republican challenger David McCormick on Thursday night. The Pennsylvania Department of State ended the automatic recount in the unusually close race since the result was no longer contested.

The drought is far from over, but enough precipitation has fallen to boost the confidence of state officials when it comes to outdoor fires.

Join Megan Frank every Friday at 9:30am and 6:30pm for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, Brittany Sweeney takes her place, joined by politics reporter Tom Shortell and Easton reporter Brian Myszkowski.

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is conceding his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick. The concession came Thursday, more than two weeks after Election Day. A statewide recount is showing no signs of closing the gap and Casey's campaign has suffered repeated blows in court.

FirstEnergy sought to raise local customers' electric bills by more than 9%, but the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission blocked the higher rate.

The bipartisan House Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development Committee spent three days in the Lehigh Valley this week. Part of the visit included a hearing with local organizers to discuss funding celebrations of America's 250th anniversary.

After a steady – but not soaking – overnight rain, the area remains on track to break a pair of records that have stood the test of time. But more precipitation is on the way, including snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon for Carbon and Monroe counties in an "elevation-dependent system."

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild said the House Ethics Committee is split in deliberations over how to handle an investigations into former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz on allegations of sexual misconduct. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Gaetz to lead the Justice Department.

The officer was a former Lehigh County corrections officer and son of an ex-Allentown police chief. Said an Allentown councilman who worked with the former chief: 'It's devastating to me.'

The ban says public school teachers may not wear any “dress, mark, emblem, insignia" that indicates they are part of "any religious order, sect or denomination.”

In the aftermath of the derailment, which released toxic chemicals into the streams and air around East Palestine, many are wondering how the country’s regulations around rail traffic could have allowed a train with 20 cars of hazardous material not to be considered a “high hazard.”

The extra payments that participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, have been getting during the COVID-19 pandemic are ending this month in Pennsylvania, leaving food banks bracing for a surge in demand.

Former president and humanitarian Jimmy Carter has elected to forgo medical treatment to spend his remaining time with his family.

When U.S. Senator John Fetterman checked into the hospital this week to receive treatment for clinical depression, he joined thousands of others who experience this mood disorder after a stroke.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley, spoke about her experience with mental health issues and lauded U.S. Sen. John Fetterman for having the courage to publicly seek help.

The Pa. Department of Health is opposing Spotlight PA's request for information on the medical marijuana program, aiming to withhold data on how often physicians approve patients, citing confidentiality rules.

On the recommendation of a doctor, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is receiving inpatient mental health care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro says he won't allow Pennsylvania to execute any inmates while he is in office and calls for the state's lawmakers to repeal the death penalty.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sent a scathing letter to the president and CEO of Norfolk Southern on Tuesday, calling out the company for making emergency management decisions without consulting state and local leaders and for prioritizing its railroad operations over “a safer overall approach” for local residents and the environment, after a train derailment near East Palestine, Ohio last week.

The Lehigh Valley is a desirable place to live. But as more move to the region, the volume of affordable housing is shrinking. A quality-of-life survey shows it's a major concern of those who live here.