State & Regional News

Dozens of Lehigh Valley projects cashed checks worth nearly $19 million in fiscal year 2023 thanks to support from U.S. Rep. Susan Wild and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. The Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation brought home $364.5 million in earmarks, which ranked in the top half of U.S. states.

Under the bill, gun owners could lose their license to carry if they try to take a loaded weapon onto a plane. This would be similar to losing a license for possessing a small amount of marijuana, one lawmaker said.

Executive Education Academy Charter has been waiting to appeal its application denial since 2021. Gov. Josh Shapiro's nominees were just confirmed by the State Senate earlier this month.

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s gift ban says he can’t take tickets from groups with “financial relations with the Commonwealth.” Team Pennsylvania was awarded $1.8 million in state contracts this year.

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.

Though the games are over, many people are still flocking to ice rinks and ski slopes.

The number of job vacancies across the state has been shrinking since May 2021.

Pennsylvania's election calendar is on hold amid the deliberations.

Gov Wolf appealed the Commonwealth Court's decision, triggering the move to the state's highest court.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will weigh and decide the latest ideas

There are workarounds to problems with technical problems regarding signature verification

The scandal involving 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva is drawing new calls to establish age restrictions on Olympic figure skaters.

The plan would require recipients to stay in Pennsylvania for a number of years.

When people are looking for help from Social Security, it's often because they are experiencing a major life event.

Gov. Wolf's spending plan creates a $200M scholarship program for people entering health care fields.

The governor's office estimates there are 30 to 50 pregnancies per year in the state prison system.

The state is also distributing grants to encourage electrifying fleets for local governments and police forces.