State & Regional News

President Donald Trump campaigned on immigration enforcement and recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have gained national and local attention. This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell and political scientist Chris Borick look into the public's reaction to these raids.

After Monday brought rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rain, more severe weather is expected to target the region on Tuesday, forecasters say.

Xylazine, an animal-grade tranquilizer that's not approved for human use, has taken Pennsylvania's illicit drug supply by storm. Known on the streets as "tranq," it accounted for almost 1 in 4 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania by 2023. Last year in Lehigh County, it was a contributing cause of death in 20 of the 112 deadly overdoses, or 17.9 percent of cases.

Multiple media outlets report Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty. A change of plea hearing is set for Wednesday. Kohberger’s trial had been set to begin in August

The funding comes from the commonwealth’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Known as "tranq" on the streets, an animal tranquilizer named xylazine infiltrated drug supplies throughout Pennsylvania since 2019. Its presence in the Lehigh Valley has grown, with deadly consequences.

Life changed for Bethlehem's Moravian community as the Revolutionary War waged. "Suddenly, the world just descends," said one historian. This is the first in a recurring series exploring the Lehigh Valley's place in American history.

WLVR's Brad Klein talks with Bethlehem's Backyard Astronomy Guy, Marty McGuire about planetary viewing in this week's Watching the Skies. Leading into the first week of July, viewers can snag a better view of the planet Mercury just after sunset.

The Clean Trucks PA Coalition report identified more than 600 schools, childcare centers, playgrounds and parks near major roadways and trucking corridors across the state.

In the past four years, Lehigh and Northampton counties each saw a roughly 3% population increase, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday.

Denver Riggleman spent 8 months as an adviser to the Congressional committee investigating the January 6th Capitol Riot. Now he's written a book about his experience — called, "The Breach."

Divorced borrowers who have been on the hook for their ex's student debt are finally getting the fix they need. But the Education Department's radio silence makes the win bittersweet.

A Red Cross volunteer from Danielsville is heading to Florida to help after Hurricane Ian. She will assist people with mental health needs, helping them to "process the immediate aftermath" following the category 4 storm.

At a roundtable discussion, legislators in Washington sought new ways to support vocational training programs in light of President Joe Biden's efforts to help students reduce their student loans.

Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, will stop in Allentown on Thursday as part of a tour around parts of the country with U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman says more than 5 million residents have used mail-in voting since 2020.

District Attorney Jim Martin says someone should be stationed at the five drop boxes to ensure the law is followed.

Lawmakers this year approved an additional $79M for high-quality preschool programs.

Staff vacancies are the most pressing issue affecting Pa. schools, according to the PSEA.

Gov. Tom Wolf this week unveiled a plan to provide pardons for people who have been convicted of minor, non-violent marijuana crimes. It could affect thousands in the Lehigh Valley

Residents in affected areas are being asked to voluntarily conserve water.

Founded in 2017, the company develops semiconductors for several applications.