State & Regional News

New regulations require more direct care hours for residents and tighter staffing ratios at nearly 700 long-term care facilities statewide.

Maria Montero, a member of former Gov. Tom Corbett's administration, declared her candidacy for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District with the FEC this week. She'll aim to unseat Democratic incumbent Susan Wild in the 2024 congressional race.

Pennsylvania’s Democratic-controlled House passed a new, $45.5 billion state spending plan after a days-long stalemate over education funding. The chamber approved the main bill, 117-86, Wednesday night.

Sen. Bob Casey's reelection campaign announced he raised $4 million in the last quarter. The Scranton native will need the money if the 2024 race is anywhere near as expensive as the $167.2 million U.S. Senate campaign in 2022 ultimately won by John Fetterman.

State environmental officials, along with conservationists across the U.S., are partnering this summer for a firefly observation program called the Firefly Watch Community Science Project.

Talks between Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, the Republican-controlled state Senate, and the narrowly Democratic-controlled state House fell apart last week thanks to a deadlock over whether to include private school vouchers in the spending plan.

Police say a gunman in a bulletproof vest has opened fire on the streets of Philadelphia, killing five people and wounding two boys before he surrendered to responding officers. The shootings took place over several city blocks, and dozens of spent shell casings were found.

O'Hanlon retired at Lafayette in 2022 after 27 seasons. His hiring at Cardinal O'Hara in Delaware County brings him back to the Philadelphia Catholic League, where he played high school ball in the 1960s.

Megan Ryan, the VP for enrollment at Muhlenberg College, said the college will not change its diversity goals following the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.

Earlier this month, the state Senate approved Sen. Lisa Boscola's bill, which would increase the fine and direct any fees collected towards bald and golden eagle conservation efforts across the commonwealth.

As we look back on 2022, we wanted to share a few of our favorite moments of joy from the year to bring a bit of hope, whimsy and humor to the end of the year.

A patron said he witnessed two men wearing shirts marked 'It's Okay To Be White' as part of a group blaming Jews for the 9-11 terrorist attacks. ArtsQuest and the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley are condemning the incident.

Last month, Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) had 73,128 passengers passing through the airport, a 3.6% increase from November of last year.

A state advisory board is questioning the rigor of telemedicine appointments for marijuana cards and advertising by marijuana businesses.

“We don’t want to see any more individuals die from an opioid use disorder that don’t need to die,” said Barbara Durkin, director of Lackawanna/Susquehanna Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is one of three hospital systems in the country chosen to participate in the study. Oncologists with LVHN are looking for patients to participate.

The annual tradition for many doubles as a science fair you can take part in.

Starbucks workers around the country are walking off the job starting Friday, in what will be a three-day strike. It will be the longest work stoppage in the year-old unionization campaign.

“I’m going to be second-guessing myself until the day I die,” Wolf, a two-term Democrat, said during a live public interview with Spotlight PA on Thursday.

Pennsylvania House Republican leader Bryan Cutler is seeking to wait until the May primary before holding special elections in two vacant districts.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, perhaps the most powerful politician ever from the Lehigh Valley, made his farewell address on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon.

A website, Fallen Firefighters of New Tripoli, details the men's lives, contains their obituaries and displays several photos. Funeral services are set for Saturday.