Environment & Science

A Red Cross volunteer from the greater Lehigh Valley just got back from assisting displaced people in Hawaii following devastating wildfires there. Her job was to try and reconnect families.

Olivia Teel became the city’s forester in June. A native of the Lehigh Valley, who also studied environmental science at a local university, Teel’s devotion to the environment extends past working hours.

The Lehigh Valley's public pools will all be closed come Labor Day, rounding out a rather unusual August. But with blazing temperatures coming up at the beginning of September, it's vital to keep an eye out for heat exhaustion.

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

During National Preparedness Month, those with the American Red Cross are helping people stay ready for anything. They say they are responding to twice as many disasters than they were 10 years ago.

WLVR's Ryan Gaylor talks with reporters Molly Bilinski and Olivia Marble.

Sunny days and warm temperatures are ahead in the Lehigh Valley forecast. Outdoor plans for the Labor Day weekend should go off without a hitch.

While three out of four Lehigh Valley residents are either “very” or “somewhat” concerned with loss of open space, about a third expressed concerns about the quality of air and drinking water in the region. Read the latest in our "Life in the Lehigh Valley" series.

The panel approved the motion 3-2, rezoning 275.7 acres of farmland near Bethlehem Landfill from Rural Agricultural to Light Industrial. While some residents are outraged, officials say tax rates will stay low.

The program empowers high schoolers to be local leaders when it comes to caring for the environment.

This Sunday, Nestor Gil will premier his new work, LaJiraGira, at the Karl Stirner Arts Trail. The piece focuses on how simple concepts can be interpreted through the lens of art.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with reporter Will Oliver and managing producer Stephanie Sigafoos.

Wells Fargo Festplatz will host opening ceremonies Friday for Musikfest’s 40th year, but severe weather is targeting the region.

Called “Lehigh Valley Breathes,” the more than $100,000 project includes installing 40 PurpleAir monitors throughout the region. Officials plan to collect data for a year.

The update on the damage from the severe flash flooding that struck on July 16 has seen more municipal and residential damage costs.

A completely dry stretch of weather is almost unheard of this time of year, said meteorologist Bobby Martrich of EPAWA Weather Consulting, the official forecaster of Musikfest.

Pennsylvania may not be the most vulnerable state during the Atlantic hurricane season, but emergency planners were particularly blunt Monday about the dangers it faces.

The center's annual Bake Oven Knob Autumn Hawk Watch begins in just over two weeks. Officials are hosting an informational Zoom session at 7 p.m. Aug. 9 to share the history of the count and volunteer opportunities, as well as how to count migrating raptors and some tips for identification.

While the Canadian wildfire smoke is only the latest threat, experts and professionals said there are ways to monitor and improve the indoor air residents are breathing.

In the Lehigh Valley, one vape is thrown away every 105 seconds. When they end up as litter or in landfills, hazardous materials can leach into soil and contaminate groundwater.

Extending from Allentown to north of Coplay, the gap, made up of two main sections delineated by the Lehigh River, is expected to be closed in a little over a decade, officials said.

The roads were closed after damage inflicted by heavy rainfall on July 16.