State & Regional News

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey conceded to Republican challenger David McCormick on Thursday night. The Pennsylvania Department of State ended the automatic recount in the unusually close race since the result was no longer contested.

The drought is far from over, but enough precipitation has fallen to boost the confidence of state officials when it comes to outdoor fires.

Join Megan Frank every Friday at 9:30am and 6:30pm for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, Brittany Sweeney takes her place, joined by politics reporter Tom Shortell and Easton reporter Brian Myszkowski.

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is conceding his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick. The concession came Thursday, more than two weeks after Election Day. A statewide recount is showing no signs of closing the gap and Casey's campaign has suffered repeated blows in court.

FirstEnergy sought to raise local customers' electric bills by more than 9%, but the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission blocked the higher rate.

The bipartisan House Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development Committee spent three days in the Lehigh Valley this week. Part of the visit included a hearing with local organizers to discuss funding celebrations of America's 250th anniversary.

After a steady – but not soaking – overnight rain, the area remains on track to break a pair of records that have stood the test of time. But more precipitation is on the way, including snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon for Carbon and Monroe counties in an "elevation-dependent system."

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild said the House Ethics Committee is split in deliberations over how to handle an investigations into former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz on allegations of sexual misconduct. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Gaetz to lead the Justice Department.

The Lehigh County Board of Elections voted 3-0 to certify 191,158 ballots Wednesday afternoon. Fights over how to count contested provisional ballots are already popping up in the neck-and-neck U.S. Senate race between Bob Casey and David McCormick.

A video clip showing auditor general candidate Malcolm Kenyatta telling a voter his Lehigh Valley-based opponent Mark Pinsley of not caring about Black people is circulating online, raising questions about the campaign.

Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta declined to discuss complaints about Taiba Sultana's petitions for state representative, saying he did not want to interfere with any potential investigation.

Medicare recipients will see cost-cutting measures take effect this year, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.

Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong credited the Lehigh Valley's history of collaboration for building the best place to live in the country. After his remarks, he denied allegations by Controller Mark Pinsley that his administration attempted to cover up a controversial audit.

State Senator Nick Miller is hosting two rental rebate programs at apartment complexes in Allentown on February 23 and March 1.

A bright meteor raced across the skies around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, with people near the Lehigh Valley reporting the sighting.

More than a dozen people pushed council to act, arguing the Israel-Hamas war is a local issue because Allentown taxpayer dollars are helping to fund Israel's military operations.

Such a cease-fire resolution would put Bethlehem among 70-something other municipalities across the country with some form of official public stance on the conflict.

More than 100 businesses, officials, organizations and environmental advocates statewide — including two from the Lehigh Valley — signed a letter to Shapiro arguing his economic development plan, “Pennsylvania Gets It Done,” fails to prioritize sustainable industries and instead doubles down on fossil fuels.

Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Susan Wild visited Lehigh Valley International Airport Tuesday, highlighting a federal grant to build new air cargo infrastructure.

Two recently formed super PACs are attacking Republican Ryan Mackenzie in the GOP primary for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. But Mackenzie and others allege it is an effort by Democrats to interfere in the crowded primary.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission last week released a draft of its Priority Climate Action Plan, a document almost a year in the making aimed at tamping down the region’s carbon emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.