State & Regional News

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact or that you might want to look at again.

Punxsutawney Phil was pulled from his tree stump at dawn on Thursday to 'predict' six more weeks of winter. But there's plenty of evidence that won't be the case in the Lehigh Valley and throughout the region.

LGBTQ community leaders in Pennsylvania formed Keystone Equality, a new statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization. Orefield resident Corinne Goodwin will be the Lehigh Valley representative on the board.

Medical experts say recent legislation could help reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths in Pennsylvania.

A spokesman for the center said the conservative attacks made them concerned about the safety of kids and parents.

Denise Snyder founded St. Luke’s Nurses Honor Guard for those dedicated to the profession.

The city is hoping to gain approval as one of only a handful of World Heritage Sites in the U.S. — and join with other locations in Europe as a single Moravian Church settlement site of significance.

Grants of up to $400,000 that focus on addiction treatment services for communities that were hard-hit by the opioid epidemic will be awarded later this year.

“When a bill jumps $200 or $300, that’s the difference between groceries on the table. So we have to see what legislative remedies there are at our disposal, because ‘you’ve gotta pay your bill’ is not the answer I want to give anybody," said Rep. Josh Siegel.

Rules around gifting have changed for top officials in Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration.

The U.S. DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration awarded more than $41 million Thursday, which provided funding toward Pipeline Emergency Response Grants. Bethlehem and Easton were on the receiving end of those grants.

The Historic Hotel Bethlehem has been voted as the USA Today's best historic hotel/resort in America for a record fourth consecutive year.

PennDOT contractors began moving in equipment onto Route 611 in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Wednesday to begin road construction. A rockslide in December 2022 shut down the road along the Monroe County-Northampton County border.

The Pen Argyl restaurant was brought into the limelight by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy several months ago. Now it'll join Portnoy for his one-day One Bite Pizza Festival.

Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed House Bill 829 and Senate Bill 688 into law. Both expand on the state's unusual and complex liquor laws, including an increase in happy hour and combo meal opportunities.

In the home stretch of summer, is the worst of the heat behind us? Here’s where things stand in the Lehigh Valley as we look ahead — and enter the peak of hurricane season.

The American Red Cross and Miller-Keystone Blood Bank are urging people to give blood to avoid a critically low situation. A summer slump and severe weather has impacted donations.

Four farms in Lehigh and Northampton counties were the latest to be included in Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program. The program aims to ward off development and protect open spaces.

The 11-day shindig spanning Bethlehem on both sides of the Lehigh River didn’t just blow into town overnight. What’s Musikfest without its volunteers and other unsung heroes?

Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, an amusement park that has drawn generations of families for nearly 100 years to the Ocean City boardwalk, will close at the end of the 2024 season. Operators say it's "no longer a viable business."

The Storm Prediction Center has extended a tornado watch until 10 p.m., and the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning until 6:45 p.m.

With Tropical Storm Debby on approach to the region, forecasters continue to refine key messaging on what the Lehigh Valley can expect. We're at a 'slight' risk for severe weather, with tornadoes the main threat. Both Lehigh and Northampton counties are also under a flood watch.