State & Regional News

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission officials last month held the first regional climate planning workshop of the year, WorkshopLV: Environment.

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.

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.

Justin Simmons, who served a decade in the Pennsylvania House, is the first Republican to announce a bid for the county’s top job.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fetterman says he expects to make a full recovery and return to the campaign trail soon.

Students told to attend classes about puberty based on sex assigned at birth.

The problem is getting worse, she says.

Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Leigh Chapman warns the move may have a 'chilling effect' on voters.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania and several voting rights advocacy groups have asked Martin to drop the plan.

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) said the Supreme Court would turn pregnant people into 'second class citizens' if the draft becomes the official court ruling.

GOP gubernatorial candidates strongly support keeping or expanding Pa.’s abortion restrictions, while House and Senate leadership isn’t ruling out bills to do that.

Some states, like West Virginia and Ohio, have 'trigger bans' that would immediately ban the procedure.

The four will be listed alongside 98 others who have died in the line of duty since the state police agency’s founding in 1905.

The ID will be required to board an airplane in the U.S., enter a military base and enter a federal facility.

The average hourly wage for direct support professionals is under $15.

Low polling numbers have kept Alex Khalil out of debates and largely out of public view.