State & Regional News

Bethlehem native Ariel Torres became the first drag queen to perform at the Governor's Residence for its Pride Month Celebration Reception on June 26. Torres performed “I Was Here” by Beyoncé as his drag persona, Elektra Fierce St. James.

A dancing duo from the greater Lehigh Valley is heading south to compete in the Transplant Games of America. The couple is part of Gift of Life's Team Philly made up of 150 people.

Fireworks are a popular fun way to celebrate the 4th of July, but they can also be dangerous. Allentown's police and fire officials say every year they see a serious injury or fatality caused by fireworks.

The famous Sheetz $1.776 gas promo will not make a return this year, even though AAA East Central reports lower gas costs compared to this time last year. The Biden-Harris Administration is attempting to mitigate that.

Neither first lady Jill Biden nor U.S. Rep. Susan Wild addressed questions about President Joe Biden's fitness for office following his poor performance at last week's presidential debate against former President Donald Trump.

Victaulic, the pipe-joining manufacturer based in Forks Township, will undertake a $100 million expansion project in Tioga County, Pa., that will create at least 214 new, full-time jobs and retain 1,611 more across the state, it was announced Tuesday.

The Climate Prediction Center is favoring warmer than normal temperatures for the Lehigh Valley, which has an average daily high of 86.4 degrees in July, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Owowcow Creamery announced it secured two brag-worthy titles: third-best ice cream shop in the U.S. and first place on the East Coast. The creamery has two locations in the Lehigh Valley.

With first lady Jill Biden set to visit the region Tuesday, Pennsylvania State Police are warning of traffic delays in the Allentown and surrounding areas.

Zero tolerance on fireworks: “If we just kind of let people light things off, someone's going to get hurt or killed," Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott said.

Thousands came to Memorial Hall at Muhlenberg College on Monday as Vice President Kamala Harris held a rally on the final day of the 2024 presidential campaign.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president, is holding a rally at Muhlenberg College in Allentown on the final day of the presidential campaign. Election Day is Tuesday.

Around 10 p.m. Sunday, the evening operation was passed off to DCNR State Wildland Crews, the Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Co. said on social media. A planned backburn was underway to stop the spread of a fire burning since Saturday.

Kamala Harris will spend Monday criss-crossing Pennsylvania, with visits scheduled to Allentown, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Donald Trump will be in Pennsylvania on Monday, too, holding a rally in Reading.

Pennsylvania's political landscape has shifted dramatically since the last election. Many counties have switched party majorities, which could influence the outcome of the upcoming election.

The fire began early Saturday afternoon near Route 248 in Lehigh Township in Northampton County and burned through the night. Numerous aircraft and heavy equipment joined Sunday to help fight the fire, which was not yet been significantly contained. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters battling a blaze on Blue Mountain expressed gratitude to the community for an abundance of donations — so many that they have advised people to hold onto their contributions as they have reached capacity for storage.

A Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll of Pennsylvania voters released two days before Election Day gives a slight lead to Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump — well within the survey's margin of error. Results also show the U.S. Senate race for Pennsylvania has tightened.

Travel is expected to be tricky Monday afternoon as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are expected to be in the area on the final day of the presidential campaign before Election Day.

A three-mile stretch of Route 611 between Northampton and Monroe counties will reopen Tuesday morning. Portland Borough business owners say the protracted shutdown has crippled business.

The National Weather Service said there will be “no relief” to ongoing drought and fire concerns, with record-challenging temperatures expected by midweek across the Lehigh Valley and the rest of the mid-Atlantic region.

It's the second time in a week city schools will be closed for a presidential campaign rally. The potential for large crowds, heavy traffic and disruptions prompted the move, the school district said.