State & Regional News

Voters are increasingly breaking with the Republican and Democratic parties. One national poll found a record 45% of Americans consider themselves politically independent.

The forum is set to start at 6 p.m. Monday at Resurrected Life Church in Center City Allentown.

Democratic voters in Pennsylvania's 16th and 18th Senate districts may have contested races this spring. Meanwhile, Republican Zach Mako is seeking re-election in Pennsylvania's 183rd House District.

Joining host Tom Shortell on this week's Political Pulse, Ryan Crosswell said his campaign is focused on two priorities: lowering costs for families and defending democratic institutions.

The early LIHEAP crisis numbers already represent a notable share of last winter’s total in the Lehigh Valley, according to data provided by the Department of Human Services.

An extreme cold warning, combined with a wind advisory also in effect, could mean wind chills as low as 20 degrees below zero for the region this weekend.

Lawmakers voted 46-1 on Senate Bill 1014, bipartisan legislation that would require public schools to adopt "bell-to-bell" policies restricting student use of smartphones and other internet-connected devices throughout the entire school day.

The rich got richer in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District race at the close of 2025. Campaign finance reports show Ryan Mackenzie, Bob Brooks and Ryan Crosswell raised nearly $1.4 million while Lamont McClure, Carol Obando-Derstine and Mark Pinsley each saw their campaigns lose money.

Amazon driver Troy Johnson, 30, of Philadelphia, also was ordered to face court on a felony count of accidents involving death and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person.

Gov. Josh Shapiro billed the agreement as the largest-ever investment by a pharmaceutical company in Pennsylvania history and the “largest-ever investment in the Lehigh Valley.”

Carly Grozier died as the result of injuries sustained in a gas explosion in off-campus housing at West Virginia University. "For us, this issue is much larger than Carly," her mother said.

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program. Officials said the program addresses lead-based paint hazards in homes but also enhances affordable housing options, revitalizes communities and improves public health outcomes in Pennsylvania.

In an effort to keep the community informed and help stop the spread of misinformation, LehighValleyNews.com has partnered with the Center for Media Engagement to look out for — and call out — election misinformation.

Gwen Walz's visit to the Lehigh Valley on Monday is one of two stops that day that will kick off a tour of Pennsylvania. She and Gov. Tim Walz — the Democratic vice presidential candidate — have been married for 30 years.

People in Florida are picking up the pieces of their lives as not one but two hurricanes batter the coast in as many weeks. Red Cross volunteers from the Lehigh Valley continue to lend a helping hand.

As of Friday, many airports had reopened and were resuming operations post-Milton, restarting flights from the Lehigh Valley to nonstop destinations in Florida. But at least one airport remained closed.

State officials this week called on residents to submit nominations for Pennsylvania’s 2025 “Trail of the Year.” In the last 10 years, a Lehigh Valley trail has only been picked once before.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries visited Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District Thursday to promote their parties candidates. Democratic incumbent Susan Wild and Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie are locked in one of the tightest U.S. House races in the country.

The Pennsylvania House Education Committee held a hearing on school safety and security in Harrisburg on Thursday. State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, leads the committee.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild leads state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie by six points, according to a Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll released Thursday. However, the results are still within the margin of error for the toss-up district.

The Pennsylvania Senate passed a resolution Tuesday giving Revenue Secretary Pat Browne three days to come before the body and explain why he hasn't turned over records regarding the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone.

The leading lawmakers for the Democratic and Republican parties will hold competing events in Northampton County on Thursday.