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                Matt Rourke/AP PhotoHere's all you need to know about the 2025 general election in the Lehigh Valley, where scores of local races are on the ballot — including county and municipal offices, plus school boards and Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention questions getting an unusual amount of attention.
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                Courtesy/Dischinat familyNancy Dischinat served as executive director of Workforce Board Lehigh Valley for the past 27 years, helping build an environment of skilled workers that created a sought-out business environment.
 
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                        Lehigh Valley Planning Commission officials last month held the first regional climate planning workshop of the year, WorkshopLV: Environment.
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                        Forecasters are calling for calling for “quite the icy slop of wintry precipitation across the region, including both sleet and freezing rain” as a quick-hitting winter storm descends upon the region late Wednesday.
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                        Republicans balked at Gov. Josh Shapiro's $51.4 billion budget proposal Tuesday, saying the spending patterns did not align with Pennsylvania's financial realities. Lawmakers will debate the plan and determine its outcome.
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                        Justin Simmons, who served a decade in the Pennsylvania House, is the first Republican to announce a bid for the county’s top job.
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                        According to a release issued by ICE, Luis Gualdron-Gualdron, “a citizen and national of Venezuela who previously entered the United States without inspection,” was arrested on Jan. 31 without incident near the prison shortly after an immigration detainer was not honored.
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                        Tom Shortell and Chris Borick discuss the areas likely to be included in the state budget, including education funding, school vouchers and a possible bailout for SEPTA.
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                        Gov. Josh Shapiro is scheduled to deliver his budget proposal for 2025-26 to a joint session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. He is expected to seek more money for public schools and public transit.
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                        Last week, just two leases for Big Lots locations in the Lehigh Valley were listed for sale by Gordon Brothers Retail Partners. Now leases for all locations in the area are for sale as the asset liquidation company enters phase two of its sales.
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                        Residents can comment on a draft of the 2025-2029 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, or SCORP, through March 3. There's a public input form, as well as scheduled webinars.
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                        February is "going to be loaded,” meteorologist Bobby Martrich said, describing an “overrunning pattern” that goes through mid-month and could potentially bring the Lehigh Valley no fewer than three — and possibly four — storm chances before Valentine’s Day.
 
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                        When people are looking for help from Social Security, it's often because they are experiencing a major life event.
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                        Gov. Wolf's spending plan creates a $200M scholarship program for people entering health care fields.
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                        The governor's office estimates there are 30 to 50 pregnancies per year in the state prison system.
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                        The state is also distributing grants to encourage electrifying fleets for local governments and police forces.
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                        Wolf is reaching for the big bucks in his final year in office, despite the immediate protest from Republican lawmakers in the majority.
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                        The little guy with the cleft lip was rescued from Harley's Haven Dog Rescue.
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                        Carbon and Schuylkill are among the 43 counties that will benefit from the federal funding.
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                        Advocates for immigrant rights argue detention is inhumane and unnecessary.
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                        Local legislators react with praise and caution.
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                        LEPOCO Peace Center organizes Lehigh Valley vigils in support of de-escalation.
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                        The state Supreme Court now will make the ultimate decision on congressional seat boundary lines.
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                        Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro sent lawmakers a letter with six proposals to fill vacancies.