State & Regional News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its plant hardiness map, showing a warmer Lehigh Valley. The region has moved into a warmer zone from the one where it was placed more than a decade ago. Experts say it has consequences for plant seasons and species.

If you're doing anything outdoors, do it Saturday. Rain will arrive Sunday and is forecast to intensify later in the day, with gusty winds. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Sunday afternoon into Monday afternoon.

In a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro, state Rep. Milou Mackenzie asked the Department of State to provide Northampton County with instructions on how to avoid more Election Day mistakes with their voting machines.

A sprawling storm system is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and snow to the region this weekend.

Almost 11,000 birds of prey were counted this year during the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s annual autumn hawk watch as they made their way along the raptor "superhighway" in the Valley’s backyard.

Amtrak officials previously said passenger rail between Allentown and New York City could be restored as soon as 2024. However, a $300,000 study exploring the proposed connection is more than a month overdue.

Forecasters say the Lehigh Valley will see a mixed bag of precipitation in the days ahead, with snow showers possible Wednesday and Thursday and a potent storm system expected this weekend.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a visit to Allentown that as part of his 2024-25 budget, he will fund a program providing scholarships to students in poor-performing school districts.

State lawmakers on Monday held a committee hearing titled “Minimizing Risk & Harm: Preparing for Pennsylvania’s Hydrogen Future.” It comes almost two months after President Joe Biden announced seven regional clean hydrogen hub projects, including two in Pennsylvania.

A state mandate requiring schools to identify sexual content in books could cost Lehigh Valley school districts significant time, money and resources.

Thirteen speakers urged a packed house of Lehigh Valley Democrats in Bethlehem on Monday night to go to the mat for their candidates in state and federal races this November.

The Lehigh Valley has been reshaped by a massive wave of development, both in industrial and residential, that has swept over the region the last three decades. While the development boom may be slowing, the impacts to the region’s economy and the environment are clear. (First of 5 parts)

Coming this week and starting Monday, LehighValleyNews.com explores the Lehigh Valley's warehouse economy — an examination of where we are today, how we got here and where we’re going.

Roughly 2.9 million Americans' personal data was leaked this month in a National Public Data security breach. Some of the affected data includes Social Security numbers, mailing addresses and phone numbers.

An attack ad targeting U.S. Rep. Susan Wild left out important context over her record on the U.S. border while an ad supporting her appears to overstate a speaker's credentials as a police officer.

The Philadelphia Eagles announced a trade with the Washington Commanders that will bring wide receiver Jahan Dotson to Philadelphia. Dotson is a 2018 Nazareth Area High School graduate who played his college ball at Penn State. He joins fellow local star and PSU alum Saquon Barkley with the Birds.

Lehigh Valley International Airport saw a record rate of traffic in July 2024, with nearly 102,000 passengers, a near 12% increase over July 2023.

Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte and accompanying pumpkin-flavor coffee customizations are set to return Thursday. Local coffee shops plan to bring back — or already have — seasonal favorites, too.

As part of the Multimodal Transportation Fund, Easton will receive over $83,000 to improve the intersection of Pearl and Bushkill Streets.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh, Monday night in his bid to defeat U.S Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley, in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.

In the inaugural episode of Political Pulse, Tom Shortell and Chris Borick try to get a bead on how Democrats feel about a presidential ticket remade on the fly.

Several local Democratic organizations are hosting a Unity Rally for Democracy at the Steelworkers Union Hall in Bethlehem at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26.