State & Regional News

A man who authorities said scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion where he set a fire had planned to beat Gov. Josh Shapiro with a hammer if he found him, according to court documents released Monday.

A fire that broke out early Sunday at the residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is an "act of arson," state police said. A suspect, 38-year-old Cody Balmer, of Harrisburg, was arrested later in the day, state police said.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who joined Congress in January, has been a vocal advocate for President Donald Trump while quietly testing the limits of his support in the battleground district of PA-7.

Almost 100 migrating birds of prey have been recorded since April 1, when this year’s count started. Officials at the sanctuary, as well as volunteers, have monitored the spring raptor migration since the 1960s.

The Allentown School District said it's working with BusPatrol and the City of Allentown to analyze the data it receives. Violations also have been high in neighboring municipalities.

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

Rasheed Quayle Tisdale faced a preliminary hearing Thursday on one count each of homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide in the death of Legious Minder, 46.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, defended the Trump administration's tariff policy and DOGE cuts during the 90-minute CNN "Town Hall: America Asks Congress" on Thursday night.

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley celebrated a record campaign and 15 consecutive years of growth with its Celebration of Caring at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania celebrated its 100th anniversary at a luncheon at Lehigh Country Club on Wednesday afternoon.

Guests enjoyed dinner Tuesday night at Bethlehem's United Steelworkers Union Hall before a panel of five women tried to make sense of rising costs for housing, groceries, healthcare and other essential needs.

Wonder, a fast-growing food and delivery concept that blends elements of a food hall, restaurant and delivery service, is coming to the Promenade this summer, it was announced Tuesday.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center requires about 350 blood donations every day to meet the needs of regional hospitals. Sunday's big winter storm forced the cancellation of multiple blood drives.

Month-to-date snowfall in the Allentown area now stands at 20.8 inches, nearly triple the normal January average of 7.7 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm dropped a record 11.8 inches of snow on Lehigh Valley International Airport, breaking the old record of 10.4 inches for the date set in 1988.

Forecasters say the Lehigh Valley region could see 10 to 16 inches of snow and sleet accumulations, with a wintry mix of snow and sleet expected Sunday afternoon and evening. A winter storm warning remains in effect into Monday afternoon.

The Lehigh County Coroner's Office said the 27-year-old died Saturday night at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest — hours after being shot during a standoff with Pennsylvania State Police in a North Whitehall Township driveway.

Forecasters now expect widespread snow totals of 12 to 18 inches across much of the region, with locally higher amounts possible. The warning replaces the earlier watch, signaling that severe winter weather is now considered imminent.

State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, introduced a bill this week to more sharply define when local governments can forgo a requirement in the Sunshine Act of publicizing meeting agendas at least 24 hours in advance.

Allentown declared a snow emergency ahead of Sunday's major winter storm. Enforcement efforts in the city will begin Saturday morning.

McClure, who recently completed his second term as Northampton County executive after serving 10 years on county council, is seeking the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.

In a briefing package released early Thursday, the National Weather Service put the low end amount expected in the Lehigh Valley around 8 inches. But a “reasonable worst case” would see the area receive as much as 21 inches of snow.